2026 - should Calgary bid?

[troutman]

Le Massif in Quebec has almost the same vertical as Nakiska:

http://verticalfeet.com

Deemed unsuitable?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Massif

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2010/...ter-games-bid/

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Mango

Some facilities need serious upgrades and/or facelifts, but getting a new multipurpose building that would house curling would be very exciting. When curling was a demo sport in 1988, the matches were played at the Max Bell. It could probably happen there again, but I would love something new.

You also need a small capacity second arena to house a number of the other hockey games. I'm not familiar enough with the arenas around the city and what might be feasible for the 2,000 - 4,000 range. Perhaps something already exists? (Max Bell?)

From off-hand, the ones I could see us re-using are:

• Oval (probably would need some sort of cosmetic/tech upgrades).
• Bobsled at COP (probably would need some cosmetic/tech upgrades).
• Canmore Nordic Centre (facility upgrades?).
• Winsport arena at COP could be used for something like short-track or curling?
• Whatever the new Saddledome is like (can't wait to see the plans in 3-4 months!).


New-wise, I think we would need:

• New main Stadium for Ceremonies (if not part of Flames plans).
• Secondary Arena if Winsport doesn't fly.
• New ski-jumping facility in a whole new location (it seems like the one at COP is a terrible location because of wind).
• Curling facility if not Winsport?
• New Athletes Village (would be a fantastic way to fast-track West Village development perhaps)
• New Olympic Plaza (old one would need some serious re-development, which might not be a bad idea anyway).
• Some really kick-infrastructure project to sneak in there. Fixing Bow/Crowchild situation, a new C-train loop around the inner city, some street-cars, etc.

I doubt we could just cheap out and use 40 year old facilities like Max Bell. You might have got away with Max Bell in the 80s, but there's no way that would fly today. It would be embarrassing.

[Resolute 14]

We would probably be using old facilities either way. The Stampede Corral would be ideal for secondary hockey, but would need to be gutted and rebuilt internally (much like Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto was). Winsport is perfect for either Curling or short track, but couldn't do both. I would suggest Max Bell would be good for short track, but again, an interior upgrade would be necessary. Or, if the Saddledome evades the wrecking ball somehow, that's secondary hockey, Corral curling and Short track at Winsport.

As far as "should we bid"? I say yes. But the question of Toronto isn't just for 2024. If the COC wants to host the summer games, and Toronto were a serious consideration for 2028, that would definitely impact hopes for a 2026 Winter Games.

[Minnie]

Didn't the Herald carry a story recently, that Calgary and Vancouver could both host the Olympics with only around a year's notice (or less)? The facilities Calgary has can't be completely #####e if that's the case.

[Resolute 14]

Oh, absolutely. But in the case of Calgary, there is a world of difference between "could host now" and "could excel now".

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

We would probably be using old facilities either way. The Stampede Corral would be ideal for secondary hockey, but would need to be gutted and rebuilt internally (much like Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto was). Winsport is perfect for either Curling or short track, but couldn't do both. I would suggest Max Bell would be good for short track, but again, an interior upgrade would be necessary. Or, if the Saddledome evades the wrecking ball somehow, that's secondary hockey, Corral curling and Short track at Winsport.

As far as "should we bid"? I say yes. But the question of Toronto isn't just for 2024. If the COC wants to host the summer games, and Toronto were a serious consideration for 2028, that would definitely impact hopes for a 2026 Winter Games.

I think if there is a bid they will keep the Saddledome around just long enough to use it for the games.

I am also in the yes camp. I was 8 when the games were here last time around, so I never really got to experience it.

[getbak]

New Flames arena = Main Hockey (18,000)
Saddledome = Figure Skating/Short Track (18,000)
WinSport = Secondary Hockey (3,000 - might not be big enough)
Corral (renovated) = Curling (6,000)


I believe the Oval and COP are still used for competitions in Speed Skating and Bobsleigh/Luge/Skeleton, so they shouldn't require significant work.

With all the new freestyle and snowboard events that have been added to the Olympics since 1988, I don't know if COP can be re-used. The COP Ski Jump wasn't great in 1988, and the big jump isn't Olympic "big" any more, so the old jumps would either need serious upgrades, or a completely new facility is needed. They will also likely need a new Alpine venue, so they could probably do all skiing and ski-jumping together at one new big facility.

[d_phaneuf]

it seems 2022 is going to most likely happen in Europe

in which case I think 2024 ends up being in the US and I don't know if they would do back to back in North America

would be great if they did but I don't see it, my guess is Canada's next olympics ends up being 2030 or 2032

[undercoverbrother]

I think Calgary should take another run.

I think we are in a better situation to bid than we were in 88

[getbak]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

it seems 2022 is going to most likely happen in Europe

in which case I think 2024 ends up being in the US and I don't know if they would do back to back in North America

would be great if they did but I don't see it, my guess is Canada's next olympics ends up being 2030 or 2032

They're doing 2018 and 2020 back-to-back in Asia, so there's no reason to think they wouldn't do two in a row in North America.

With 2022, it will either be Northern or Eastern Europe, so 2024 could easily be somewhere in Western Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Germany, etc). That said, I also wouldn't be surprised to see an Alpine country (Switzerland, Germany, Austria) get 2026.

[Fire]

Yes they most definitely should bid.

[CaptainYooh]

Yes, absolutely.

[Zach]

Calgary should for sure. 2010 in Vancouver was something I can't even put into words how amazing of an experience it was. Having the Winter Olympics in any Canadian City would be awesome!

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by getbak

I believe the Oval and COP are still used for competitions in Speed Skating and Bobsleigh/Luge/Skeleton, so they shouldn't require significant work.

Both are still used for competitions but not Olympic ready.

Olympic Oval - ice is still world class but would need significant upgrade in the seating as well as the capacity. I would also suggest big cosmetic changes to the locker areas and facilities.

Bob track - this would have to be torn down and rebuilt. It's generally considered to be too easy a track nowadays. Requires very little technical ability to drive.

[Reign of Fire]

[bossy22]

I think with the twinning of the transcanada you move the alpine events to Lake Louise.
COP is still on the world cup for bobsled/skeleton/luge.
Canmore Nordic Center is one of the best facilities in the world and hosts an early world cup because they now make snow
the Oval is still on the world cup circuit.
you'd have a new arena for the flames
you'd have to build new ski jumps and sort out where the new sports will be.
COP does have a half pipe that was used for a world cup freestyle ski event earlier in the year. They hired the guy from Aspen to come up to shape the pipe for the week. A week later for the ASA competition it was crap again.
They also have a slopestyle course, but it's not near the level as these are.
Nakiska may be a good place to host those. Parking at COP is pure shyte as well. On a regular weekend, it's impossible to get parking.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I think with the twinning of the transcanada you move the alpine events to Lake Louise.

I think the IOC has always had a problem with holding events inside a National Park. I believe that was cited as a key reason Calgary didn't win its earlier bids in the 70s, and why they had to build Nakiska for 1988.

[JonDuke]

I vote yes. I didn't live here in 88 and would love t experience it.

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by getbak

I think the IOC has always had a problem with holding events inside a National Park. I believe that was cited as a key reason Calgary didn't win its earlier bids in the 70s, and why they had to build Nakiska for 1988.

The people of Banff had a problem with it being in Banff National Park. In the 70s they sent a petition voting against it.

[Zarley]

We should definitely host another Olympics. I wasn't around in '88, but made it out to Vancouver and had an absolute blast. The infrastructure spinoffs would be great for the city as well.

Originally Posted by craigwd

The people of Banff had a problem with it being in Banff National Park. In the 70s they sent a petition voting against it.

Damn hippies.