CalgaryNEXT Discussion pt. 2

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by MacFlame

Ugh...my lack of knowledge is really going to show when I as these questions...

Why would the city contribute cash for a McMahon renovation, but have concerns (at least optically) with contributing cash directly to a hockey arena?

Who owns the land at Stampede? The City? So, the stampede lands are city owned? I'm obviously confused.

I think the city is willing to contribute to McMahon because it is part of their whole field house vision for the McMahon/Foothills Athletic Park area.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I think the city is willing to contribute to McMahon because it is part of their whole field house vision for the McMahon/Foothills Athletic Park area.

Does the City own McMahon or the University?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by MacFlame

Does the City own McMahon or the University?

The UofC owns McMahon now.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

on HNIC they say there might be a breakthrough. King says they have made progress

Ken King told Hrudey that he is very encouraged by the city's determination for a new arena and he believes there could be a deal made.

The city wants the arena in the East village, the Flames want it in the proposed location

What King says and what's actually happening probably aren't 100% aligned.

[nik-]

The Flames really need to replace King as the point man on this. Just an embarrassing level of progress in ten years

[killer_carlson]

Put me in the category that Ken King is fantastic and doing exactly what he should be doing in relation to the arena.

The CP hate for him is absurd.

[nik-]

yeah, he's been knocking it out of the park.

[killer_carlson]

Part of his role is to generate publicity and discussion, as well as take the bullets during the negotiation. It doesn't happen overnight and options have to be explored, positions advanced, as part of the process. He's doing it very well.

I've seen how else it can be done - I live in Edmonton and went through the Lowe method.

We're lucky to have King in the fold.

[Mr.Coffee]

Oh he's generated publicity alright.....

Is "overnight" a decade with no deal in place and only a marginal amount of traction?

They low balled the city, brought the city in too late in the process and thus served an option that doesn't benefit the city whilst asking them to foot at least half (maybe and probably more) of the bill.

I could go on for paragraphs here but the point is this has been an unmitigated disaster and I am a little stunned anyone could possibly see otherwise. How many times did King say they were really close over the last 6,7 whatever years and in reality all they had were some of the worst mock ups possibly ever released by a pro sports organization on this side of the century? Then said hey can you guys pay for this #### sandwich thanks?

Laughable that people think he's done a good job.

[Mr.Coffee]

And before you go there ya, I know he's negotiating. doesnt mean their offer was worth even discussing though.

Let's be honest literally the ONLY reason King and the Flames are even being talked to anymore is because the city is after an Olympics and this is their only chance to build critical infrastructure to get it. Given this fact its imperative the city gets a good deal because of the future cost of everything and the Flames have to move an enormous amount to get there.

[Robbob]

IMO the only reason they went public with Calgarynext was because everything was moving at a snails pace behind the scenes. Bringing it forward made it a talking point. I also don't get why people keep bring up seven years. The flames acquiring the Stampeders hit the reset button. The flames were probably farther along for just the arena back then they are now for this.

[CedarMeter]

Edit. Wrong thread

[johnnybegaudreau]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

on HNIC they say there might be a breakthrough. King says they have made progress

Ken King told Hrudey that he is very encouraged by the city's determination for a new arena and he believes there could be a deal made.

The city wants the arena in the East village, the Flames want it in the proposed location

Why would anyone put any stock in this???
Have you people not been following a long or what?
KK has been saying these exact same words since 2008.

Why would that suddenly change in a hurry. Last i heard was the City and CSEC are meeting again January/February to rehash the Plan B debate and see if it's viable. Right now they're moving at a pace slower than a god damn snail. It will be 2030 by the time this thing is finally built.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by johnnybegaudreau

Why would anyone put any stock in this???
Have you people not been following a long or what?

What do you mean "you people"?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

What do you mean "you people"?

What do you mean "you people"?

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by jayswin

What do you mean "you people"?

Check please.

People now refer to the Fonz as replying to calgaryNEXT pt 2.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Spoiler!

https://www.thestar.com/sports/argos...-grey-cup.html

Toronto Argonauts slash ticket prices for Grey Cup at BMO Field
Citing slow sales, team is now offering tickets for CFL championship as low as $89, reduced from $169.

Originally Posted by Cappy

For the biggest game of the season, you're paying less than a regular season game between Calgary and Columbus

Uh ohhhh..... Flames can't sell out one of the biggest demand games of the year. Might as well call Flames hockey a dying ticket

http://www.ticketmaster.ca/calgary-f...0050EB99D557EB

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by RM14

Uh ohhhh..... Flames can't sell out one of the biggest demand games of the year. Might as well call Flames hockey a dying ticket

http://www.ticketmaster.ca/calgary-f...0050EB99D557EB

Or, you know, don't give them half a billion for a new arena...

[McG]

Cross post from e=ng thread...but my thoughts on rogers place in greaserville.

I was at the Greasers v Leafs game on Tuesday night and thought that I would pass along some thoughts.

The rink; obviously still being constructed, as well as the surrounding areas, so I don't want to be too critical. I thought that only having one place to eat and drink, in facility but not in the ticketed area, could be better done. I'm thinking that as the development work completes, they will be able to add more restaurants. I did like that the bar stayed open after the game, so that you didn't have to leave the facility if you wanted to debrief on the game with buddies. I thought that the entrances were misplaced and maybe this will get fixed going forward, but people tend to approach the rink from the east and west as well as north/south; instead of making people walk down a street where -30 will come soon enough, let them get into the building soonest. Bathrooms were horrendous in the section that I was in; I can't believe that they are worse than Rexall but they are. Long line ups. I also heard that many suites don't have bathrooms in them either, but this is hearsay as I wasn't in one. The food and drink lines seemed to move quickly, but the line management needs improving. What I mean by this is that while the lines moved quickly, once you got to the front, people were crossing in front of other lines as called by the server. I can also confirm that the beer gets filled to the rim of the cup now. I think that these are fixable, although not sure about the bathrooms.

the rink. it is big! there is a lot of air inside the rink itself although a leafs oilers game was loud enough. the sub woofers in the rink were awesome, and the scoreboard was good as well. There looked to be areas where extra seats could be added if needed up high. It had a feel of air Canada centre with the second tier boxes, and GM place with just the feel of the place. Neither are bad, I like both rinks, but it will take a little while I think for the oilers to have a distinct feel. the seats were better than rexall, but no cupholders (oh the humanity!) meant that people were kicking their food and drinks as well. I know drink holders can reduce capacity, but just mentioning it. the areas where I walked also seemed to have eliminated traffic jams; the concourses seemed to be wide enough to let people pass through, which has to be the goal of building design.

the fans; leafs oilers was always going to be a lot of chest thumping and in your face moments...I have been to plenty of games in the saddledome with opposing fans, and I have been an opposing fan at other rinks and stadiums myself many times. I just think that an increase in numbers of opposing fans makes everyone braver, and a lot of effort goes into taunting other fans instead of watching the game. In my section, we had one guy almost at the end of the game turn around and tell the guys behind him to shut up, and yet neither seemed to be wearing any team colours. really odd. maybe something was said that was over the line, but it was odd to ask people to be quiet at a hockey game. Nothing came of it, which was probably for the best for all but just an odd thing at an odd game.

One thing that was cool was the extra rink there; we got there early to walk around the rink and the Grant McEwan mens team was practicing on it. We watched a few drills and I just thought that it added to the ambience of the place, it felt like winsport a bit that you could sit down and watch some drills or scrimmages.

the area. I have worked in the rink area for a number of years, and the revitalization of the bars and restaurants looks really good. at one time, the rat hole dominated this area (although a bit farther down), and now many older brick buildings have a second life. to me, this is the biggest boost for the rink downtown.

the philosophy. having been to a few nfl stadiums, I know that the goal is to entice the fans to spend money on food and gear. I thought that the oilers were a lot more low key on this, good and bad, and yet at the end of the night, I had spent a chunk of loot on food and beer. So, if everyone treated it like an "event", the oilers would be able to get their non hockey related revenues up significantly.

My advice to the flames and other teams would be to make sure to work together off ice for the benefit of all fans. of course compete on ice, but off of it, help each other out as to what works or doesn't work in the design of facilities. I would also try to make each game as a unique event, I know that is a lot harder than it sounds, but every day games etc need to be boosted up. I heard people ask where the oil derrick was that the oilers used to skate through. when I was at gm place, they used to have an awesome musical start with lights etc that tested the sound system and was really cool. it made a hockey game an event, if that makes any sense.

I chomp on the greasers regularly in this thread, but wanted to share some info from actually going to the game.

tldr? E=ng

[burn_baby_burn]

No cup holders? That is the one thing I was looking forward to with a new rink in Calgary. That is my favourite thing about my seats in Arrowhead.