[News] New Arena - Plan B - Victoria Park

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

Then why make the comment at all? everyone, including the mayor has stated they're working toward building a new arena.

Except that the City has not provided any information to the Flames about Plan B, despite promises and assurances they would, which was originally to be provided in October. Still nothing. The Flames simply want to know what their Victoria Park options are.

[flambers]

How is this even news, its obvious....

Flames have the oldest building in the league.

They need a new one....

[pylon]

Move then.

I only cheer for the Flames now out of basic nostalgia, and some sort of Stockholm Syndrome'esque loyalty. I'm a Flames fan only now, not an NHL fan. I used to watch out of market games, and been ultra immersed in the game. The game is getting so soft now, the officiating and suspensions so inconsistent, the players are such PC robotic cliché machines and the fact that we are probably 10 years from non-contact, women's rules, I might as well get off the teet now and move on.

The sooner they do this, the sooner I get back 60 or so nights a year I invest watching live and on TV, and the money I blow as a STH.

[FlamesAddiction]

I love the style and character of the Dome, but after having been to some of the newer arenas in the league, it is pretty obvious and depressing how outdated it is as an NHL facility. I have no doubt that the arena has become a limiting factor generating revenue.

The question for me is, does Bettman see Calgary as a Pittsburgh or Phoenix where he gets involved at a high level to make it happen? Or does he Winnipeg us but saying nice things while pushing away?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by codynw

If they want move then go ahead. Someone else that's not an idiot will just move a new team into this great hockey market.

Not without a new rink they won't.

People can get all up in arms over this, but it's actually true. If a deal for a new rink isn't worked out, of course the Flames will move. The same could be said for every single NHL team. Don't get me wrong, it's not something anyone should be worried about, and clearly this is part of the process of getting to a new rink, but there is nothing false about that statement.

What is very much up for debate is at what point would that happen. Despite needing / wanting a new rink, I very much doubt the Flames are actually close to the point where without a new rink they'd need to move, but at some point (and likely not 2 years from now, but also not 15 years from now) we'll hit that point.

People can be mad about this statement, but it's true, the Dome is on it's last legs, when it actually becomes completely obsolete, with out a new rink the team will move. But, by that point, there will be a new rink, because this is a great hockey market, and both sides involved have a vested interest in the Flames staying.

[Erick Estrada]

I would hope that if the city does play hardball that the Flames get the wheels turning behind the scenes and move without ongoing drama. It's their team and they have a right to move it if they see fit but I don't see Quebec City as a better option and Seattle has a similar arena issue. For any move to make sense it's going to have to be to a city that has a new or relatively new arena. They would still be my team until Calgary got another franchise that would likely eventually happen whenever a new arena gets built here.

[Table 5]

Nobody is stopping you from building an arena, Ken.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Nobody is stopping you from building an arena, Ken.

Sure they are, nothing gets built in Calgary without City approval...

Two sides have to find a way to work together...

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by flambers

Sure they are, nothing gets built in Calgary without City approval...

Two sides have to find a way to work together...

All they have to do is file the development paperwork like the rest of us, and it'll get approved!

Easy peasy.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by flambers

Sure they are, nothing gets built in Calgary without City approval...

Two sides have to find a way to work together...

They aren't looking for approval. They are looking for money.

[edn88]

Didn't the Oilers raise the same rhetoric while trying to get the new building built in Edmonton? It feels like it is part of the process.

I agree though, no new arena would eventually mean the Flames move. It does seem like crappy timing, but maybe this is the the time to get the news out there. Hey Joe Public - your super exciting hockey team is at risk of moving if your socialist mayor doesn't get moving along.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Table 5

All they have to do is file the development paperwork like the rest of us, and it'll get approved!

Easy peasy.

Not a chance, not in Calgary.....

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

They aren't looking for approval. They are looking for money.

Sure, so is every other NHL team...

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by flambers

Not a chance, not in Calgary.....

The only thing preventing the Flames from building an arena is their own greed.

[Southside]

The Flames just want to get on with things. If the mayor can start fires, why can't the Flames? Time to sit down and work this out like adults. Enough of the posturing. Everyone knows there will be a civic contribution, there has to be. So, get it done.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by flambers

Sure, so is every other NHL team...

And if every team, and their respective municipality, jumped off a bridge we should too?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

People can critique the Flames all they want, but you don't get things done with our current mayor without a battle or going into the trenches. This is not a unique situation to the Flames.

People are going to have to just get comfortable with this being a bit of a painful process until it gets done and not worry too much about it.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

And if every team, and their respective municipality, jumped off a bridge we should too?

Not sure, does Calgary want a professional team...

Ultimately that's the question

Is public money required to build the arena, in my opinion yes

[CaptainCrunch]

Its absolutely part of the process.

Its laying the cards on the table.

The bottom line is the viability of a market is about more then just the number of fans that come through the doors and the hockey arena is a huge part of that formula.

The Saddledome is an obsolete building, there's not a lot of new revenue streams that can come out of that building.

As much as people say that this is a great market, it is, but its also a market with a building that is going to limit the Flames ability to generate additional revenue down the road and as expenses rise the Flames will be put over a barrel.

At the same time its logical for the Flames to look at the deal in Edmonton where public money came into play and say if the City of Edmonton is supporting the Oilers in that way, then the Flames have to ask for and maybe expect some help from the City.

And anyone that thinks that if the Flames did leave due to arena concerns that another franchise would come along are fooling themselves, the NHL would block any move to Calgary or expansion to Calgary as long as there isn't a new rink.

[EldrickOnIce]

Don't get the undies in a bunch kids.
Of course they will eventually move if a new arena isn't built.
Good they will not pull the usual threat to move crap.
And don't kid yourselves. A 'free' building somewhere with a sweetheart arena deal will net them far more profit than the dome.
And yes, Calgary would immediately become the best place for relocation... but never without a new building.