Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[heep223]

Does anybody know who owns Kananaskis Golf Course? Would be an interesting parallel if it is in fact privately owned.



EDIT: Seems like it's owned by the province by the language in this article but can't verify.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/07/29...alberta-course

EDIT #2:

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by heep223

Does anybody know who owns Kananaskis Golf Course? Would be an interesting parallel if it is in fact privately owned.



EDIT: Seems like it's owned by the province by the language in this article but can't verify.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/07/29...alberta-course

EDIT #2:

It is owned by the province in the provincial park along with the lodge. I can't find the numbers but I am sure between the golf course, lodge and camping area that the province gets back more than the $18M they are spending on fixing it... and Eric Francis is a ######, I have seen him at many corporate functions at Kananaskis playing free golf.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

It is owned by the province in the provincial park along with the lodge. I can't find the numbers but I am sure between the golf course, lodge and camping area that the province gets back more than the $18M they are spending on fixing it... and Eric Francis is a ######, I have seen him at many corporate functions at Kananaskis playing free golf.

What do you expect from a privileged guy that has been riding mommy's coat tails his life? How many Flames or Stamps games has he ever had to actually buy a ticket? When you get everything including your jobs free and not based on merit you tend to lose perspective.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

It is owned by the province in the provincial park along with the lodge. I can't find the numbers but I am sure between the golf course, lodge and camping area that the province gets back more than the $18M they are spending on fixing it... and Eric Francis is a ######, I have seen him at many corporate functions at Kananaskis playing free golf.

What does he mean "in the name of tourism"? Why would that be a bad thing? Tourism, generates money, it's literally a revenue generator, so why wouldn't you invest in something that generates dollars?

Now, I have no idea how long it would take to break even on the $18M investment (if at all). That's what will dictate if the investment is worth while, but it blows my mind how short sited people are. Unless you invest money in infrastructure, health care or the homeless, people consistently fail to understand that investing in projects that actually make money, help fund the areas that they want the government to spend on in the first place.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

What do you expect from a privileged guy that has been riding mommy's coat tails his life? How many Flames or Stamps games has he ever had to actually buy a ticket? When you get everything including your jobs free and not based on merit you tend to lose perspective.

What an incredible slight to a guy who holds 3 high profile jobs and does amazing work in the community. You only wish you were THAT Eric, Erick

Boo hoo, Eric Francis gets his Stampeders tickets for free.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

What does he mean "in the name of tourism"? Why would that be a bad thing? Tourism, generates money, it's literally a revenue generator, so why wouldn't you invest in something that generates dollars?

Now, I have no idea how long it would take to break even on the $18M investment (if at all). That's what will dictate if the investment is worth while, but it blows my mind how short sited people are. Unless you invest money in infrastructure, health care or the homeless, people consistently fail to understand that investing in projects that actually make money, help fund the areas that they want the government to spend on in the first place.

I agree 100%. The province developed the park for tourism and to honor Peter Lougheed and it is a great place, which includes the lodge, camping, hiking trails and of course the golfing. If guys like Francis can't see that then too bad.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

It is owned by the province in the provincial park along with the lodge.

Doesn't one of the First Nations groups (I'm assuming it is the Stoney) have some percentage of ownership as well?

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Schraderbrau

"It’s embarrassing, the finest state-of-the-art 1988 building in the [NHL]."

The thing that bugs me most about that quote is that it was built in 1983.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

The thing that bugs me most about that quote is that it was built in 1983.

Maybe it was technologically 5 years ahead of it's time when it was built!

[getbak]

It was still state-of-the-art in 1988.

It was the newest arena in the NHL for a decade until The Pond and Shark Tanks opened in 1993 (the Panthers also started playing in the 1988-built dump that was the Miami Arena that season). Then, at least one new arena opened every year from 1993 through 2001, and the Saddledome was left behind.

By 2004, 23 teams were playing in buildings newer than the Saddledome (now, it's 25... or 26 if you count the billion dollar complete renovation of MSG). By 2016, it will be a race between the Flames and Wings as the last two teams to get a new building, with the Wings currently in the lead.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by getbak

It was still state-of-the-art in 1988.

It was the newest arena in the NHL for a decade until The Pond and Shark Tanks opened in 1993 (the Panthers also started playing in the 1988-built dump that was the Miami Arena that season). Then, at least one new arena opened every year from 1993 through 2001, and the Saddledome was left behind.

By 2004, 23 teams were playing in buildings newer than the Saddledome (now, it's 25... or 26 if you count the billion dollar complete renovation of MSG). By 2016, it will be a race between the Flames and Wings as the last two teams to get a new building, with the Wings currently in the lead.

Good, get the most use out of a depreciating asset before you replace it.

I keep going back and forth on this issue, the only thing I hope they do soon is purchase the land the future arena will eventually be on. This will allow the city to plan infrastructure accordingly and assure we have an optimally located arena. Let that sit for as long as it takes.

[Two Fivenagame]

I keep thinking this all has a 2026 Winter Olympic bid involved.

Would the use of tax-payer money to build a new arena be more palatable if it meant Calgary would be hosting the winter Olympics?

State of the art building in 1988 indeed....

[Muta]

I think the 2026 World Cup is just as likely, as well. I believe there's a plan here.

[Two Fivenagame]

Okay here is my theory for what its worth. Feel free to poke holes

Calgary will bid to be the host for the 2026 Winter Olympics (or World Cup)

AND

A new, world class, multi-sport stadium will be built, capable of housing NHL, CFL, NLL and MLS franchises along with perhaps a new track n' field area and maybe a Velodrome for cyclists etc. The new stadium will also incorporate all sorts of retail, bars and resto's along with high density housing with easy access via train. It'll be ready a few years before 2026....2018-2020 perhaps... Part of Nenshi's legacy.

Location
Of all the potential locations discussed so far, I really like the west village area, next to the river (near the science centre, Greyhound etc.) creating an all inclusive recreational zone in Calgary's downtown, similar to Melbourne Australia (photo) - a world class sports town.



^^^Imagine this is a photo of Calgary taken from the Crowchild/Bow Trail overpass.

[nik-]

It sucks that the district is bisected by a freeway

[Two Fivenagame]

Nik - I agree but the city just announced it will be constructing a new freeway. I wonder if that would improve things in the area? Maybe raise it up to create more space below or something?

[nik-]

What city just announced it will be constructing a new freeway? Calgary? ... Where? When?

[getbak]

That area in Melbourne is pretty nice. That picture doesn't even show the new 30,000 seat rectangular stadium just off to the left of that image.

I've long believed the new building(s) would go north of the present Saddledome, but increasingly, I'm thinking the West Village location makes a lot of sense. It's also probably their best bet to get funding from all levels of government. Before they can build anything in that area, there is going to have to be an extensive environmental cleanup, so that's one way to get money from the feds and province without it going specifically towards building sports facilities.

The current West Village plan already calls for rerouting westbound Bow Trail and reworking the 14th St interchange, so that's something the city will need to pay for regardless of what's built there, and isn't specifically for the arena/stadium.

[Finger Cookin]

The West Village site is depressing because of the timeframe. I never would have though the ring road through the reservation would get approved and done before the Flames new arena. Sigh.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

Calgary will bid to be the host for the 2026 Winter Olympics (or World Cup)

World Cup of what? hopefully your not thinking soccer!