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

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Locke

That patio one is awesome if you dont actually care about the game.

They're CFL games in Hamilton, Winnipeg, and Saskatchewan. *OF COURSE* I don't care about them.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Locke

That patio one is awesome if you dont actually care about the game.

Which there always is a percentage of. They're usually at the game since they're part of a group.

Since this is most likely part of the West Village, I'm trying to figure out how they intend to pack so much into that space. A new arena with an attached practice rink, plus a new football stadium with a field house (which I assume also an outdoor practice field) takes up a lot of space. And then add in residential and retail buildings, as well parkades needed for the arena and stadium. I'm interested to see how the whole land concept is laid out since the Bow Trail would have to be realigned, along with Crowchild interchange redesigned.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by Muta

Doesn't Safeco Field in Seattle have a grassy portion for people to sit on way up in the nosebleeds? Or am I delusional on this?

The Padres stadium in San Diego has one.

[shutout]

The nice thing about the west village site is that you don't necessarily need to have more than one parkade. Because downtown core is so close and has so many parking options people can park where they do for work and walk, cab, or shuttle service over to the new arena for very little cost.

If you design the one parkade so that you can enter and exit only on and off of 9th ave you will help to control the traffic flow from the site, and encourage people to park in the parkades in the core.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by shutout

The nice thing about the west village site is that you don't necessarily need to have more than one parkade. Because downtown core is so close and has so many parking options people can park where they do for work and walk, cab, or shuttle service over to the new arena for very little cost.

If you design the one parkade so that you can enter and exit only on and off of 9th ave you will help to control the traffic flow from the site, and encourage people to park in the parkades in the core.

I see it the other way. Downtown parking is horrible, thanks to city counsel's limit on parking in the core. The new venue would need significant parking and that could be a real nice source of funds for the owners, if they can use that as regular, workday parking for the masses. Just not sure how it all fits in that space.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

I see it the other way. Downtown parking is horrible, thanks to city counsel's limit on parking in the core. The new venue would need significant parking and that could be a real nice source of funds for the owners, if they can use that as regular, workday parking for the masses. Just not sure how it all fits in that space.

Games rarely happen when the downtown parkades are full though.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by nik-

No one builds soccer stadiums without seats anymore. There are some standing room areas in a couple Baseball and Football stadiums, but it's rare.

You are actually right, but there are ways around it. Despite the fact that there are seats, most fans in designated sections stand anyway. In Germany for instance, the fans insist on having terraces, so German architects built stadiums with terracing for German league matches, but fold out seats for UEFA & FIFA matches since those matches stipulate all-seater stadiums (it's easier to control crowds when individual seats are present)

There is no reason you can't build something like that in the NHL, is there?

Borussia Dortmund is a classic example, as is Allianz in Munich.

All the fans below are standing.

[questionmotives]

Not sure how much it has been discussed here (because I'm too lazy to read this whole thread), but I've heard from a reputable source that one of the leading ideas is to demo the Big Four building, drop the LRT underground at both Stampede Stations and build on the grounds.

Sounds like a good idea on the surface.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

I see it the other way. Downtown parking is horrible, thanks to city counsel's limit on parking in the core. The new venue would need significant parking and that could be a real nice source of funds for the owners, if they can use that as regular, workday parking for the masses. Just not sure how it all fits in that space.

I don't think many commuters into downtown would use parking options in the West Village even if it was dirt cheap. I walk in and out of downtown from 14th Street and Memorial and it is a solid 15 to 20 minute walk at a quick pace to the west end of downtown (8th Street and 5th Ave.)

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I like the idea, but I wonder if it would work in an arena. Stadiums are not only shaped differently, but generally a lot larger. Also, there's the roof dilemma. But it's a good idea. One for the architects to figure out.

It sure does work in arenas. Makes for a hell of an atmosphere.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

It sure does work in arenas. Makes for a hell of an atmosphere.

If I'm not mistaken, the arena in Davos, Switzerland has a large standing room section on one end behind the goal.

[Tyler]

Only thing is, we are not trying to replicate the atmosphere in Europe. We are trying to maximize seat revenue. Big difference.

[Table 5]

Europeans are a lot more willing to stand, and sing, and generally be engaged in sports events, so I can see standing areas working there. In North America, half the time we're too busy stuffing our face with nachos and beer to stand up for even a goal.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Games rarely happen when the downtown parkades are full though.

Understood, but I wouldn't rely on downtown parking (which is a decent hike from West Village) to fill an arena or football stadium. I think the benefit of having the arena and stadium in one place is that they can share the one parking lot.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Only thing is, we are not trying to replicate the atmosphere in Europe. We are trying to maximize seat revenue. Big difference.

Which is actually kind of sad if you think about it. I really dont care about owner's revenues, and they'd probably make more money if there was an intense atmosphere.

I think we've got out priorities mixed up.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I don't think many commuters into downtown would use parking options in the West Village even if it was dirt cheap. I walk in and out of downtown from 14th Street and Memorial and it is a solid 15 to 20 minute walk at a quick pace to the west end of downtown (8th Street and 5th Ave.)

But at least it is another option. My point is that downtown parking is horrible; one of the most expensive in North America. This project might help just a little. Or, it could make it even worse if they think they can skimp on parking based on existing parkades downtown.

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I don't think many commuters into downtown would use parking options in the West Village even if it was dirt cheap. I walk in and out of downtown from 14th Street and Memorial and it is a solid 15 to 20 minute walk at a quick pace to the west end of downtown (8th Street and 5th Ave.)

If the train station was there and you could ride it for free to the core, it might help.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Only thing is, we are not trying to replicate the atmosphere in Europe. We are trying to maximize seat revenue. Big difference.

My post on the previous page proposed an idea where everyone wins. Owners, fans & players. I think it can be done.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by questionmotives

Not sure how much it has been discussed here (because I'm too lazy to read this whole thread), but I've heard from a reputable source that one of the leading ideas is to demo the Big Four building, drop the LRT underground at both Stampede Stations and build on the grounds.

Sounds like a good idea on the surface.

This.

Bunk has made it clear ownership would be nuts to use west village due to the contamination and forcing the city to shift priorities away from the east village to some degree.

We all want it to be west village because that means the city gets massive, much needed road upgrades, but the Flames cannot bank on these being funded, and we would of heard of it by now if there were talks of funding.

A poster on here intimate with the new arena process 'thanked' a post by Bunk where he disputed the west village

West village is a red herring...

[Bunk]

Nah, I do think it'll be West Village. I don't think the Flames will ever go on the Stampede grounds. Stampede would, I assume, want to share parking and concession revenue, which obviously the Flames do not.

I'd like to see a new arena. I hope they can make the numbers work for everyone.