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

[Calgary4LIfe]

As long as the Flames do a great job on the new building, and doesn't include the taxpayers footing a stupid amount of money on it, I will be happy. Sure, I am a little bit frustrated with the '3-4 months' turning into '3-4 years'. However, as long they are doing this right and the end result is something that as a Calgarian I can be proud of, I have no issues putting up with these 'frustrations'. Just don't pull a Katz and hold the city ransom.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Well, the Flames have specifically invited me to season ticket holder events for at least 6 years now and then had KK stand up and give a talk at the event where he said there would be an exciting announcement in some completely unrealistic and unmet time frame.

My only problem with all of this is the continually saying 'exciting news in the next few weeks/months' and then years later no such news. If you don't know the time frame, then don't announce that you do! And don't do it again and again and again!

I've also attended events where he said nothing about the arena, and one of the first questions asked was always about the arena. He's basically damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.


I do agree with overstating the "soon" timeline is pretty annoying and he should probably stop doing it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

A project like this will transform Calgary's core I believe. I absolutely love Seattle for the fact they have the ball park/stadium district and bars all around. I love those types of districts.

I hope Calgary gets something like this.

I think thats what they want and thats what we're going to get. Since the Flames basically became a Calgary Sports Entertainment Conglomerate they're probably going to want to put everything together into exactly what you're describing; a sports entertainment district.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Muta

Believe it or not, SpaceX has been looking to have some sort of Canadian presence. That's all I'm going to say.

Haha I'm just kidding.

Or am I?

"Maybe the return is Luke Adam and a 1st?"

[Gaudfather]

With the slowdown in the patch and underutilized EPC firms - later this year could be an excellent time to be bidding a major construction project that this project will be.

We are probably looking at a project that would be ready for the 2018/2019 season - two years behind the Oilers new venue. Would also coincide with this rebuilt Flames team being at their prime time for chasing Lord Stanley.

[Muta]

To put things in a bit of perspective, the South Health Campus, one of the largest projects in Calgary's history, took eight years to design and build (2005 - 2013), and another ten years of discussions and pre-work before that. That project literally spanned almost two decades.

Large scale projects, especially ones that could involve public funding on some level (maybe there's even Olympic ambitions here), take time.

[Southside]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

With the slowdown in the patch and underutilized EPC firms - later this year could be an excellent time to be bidding a major construction project that this project will be.

We are probably looking at a project that would be ready for the 2018/2019 season - two years behind the Oilers new venue. Would also coincide with this rebuilt Flames team being at their prime time for chasing Lord Stanley.

40 years in the City. Break in the new building with the All Star game and draft as well.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

With the slowdown in the patch and underutilized EPC firms - later this year could be an excellent time to be bidding a major construction project that this project will be.

We are probably looking at a project that would be ready for the 2018/2019 season - two years behind the Oilers new venue. Would also coincide with this rebuilt Flames team being at their prime time for chasing Lord Stanley.

A part of me wants them to raise the Cup in the Dome before they retire it.

Call me sentimental...

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Muta

Believe it or not, SpaceX has been looking to have some sort of Canadian presence. That's all I'm going to say.

Haha I'm just kidding.

Or am I?

I hate you.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

We are probably looking at a project that would be ready for the 2018/2019 season - two years behind the Oilers new venue. Would also coincide with this rebuilt Flames team being at their prime time for chasing Lord Stanley.

No way they'd be ready that quickly, especially if they're looking at the West Village. They will first need to buyout the car dealerships and Greyhound station before construction can even start. Then, once the land is vacant, the environmental cleanup can start. Meanwhile, the Bow Trail (and likely 14th Street) rework will need to be approved and started.

A year ago, I asked King how long it will realistically be from the time an announcement is made until the Flames are playing in the new arena, and he said that if they announced it that day, it would still be at least five years before the building was open. The 2020-21 season is probably the earliest the arena will be open at this point.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by getbak

No way they'd be ready that quickly, especially if they're looking at the West Village. They will first need to buyout the car dealerships and Greyhound station before construction can even start. Then, once the land is vacant, the environmental cleanup can start. Meanwhile, the Bow Trail (and likely 14th Street) rework will need to be approved and started.

A year ago, I asked King how long it will realistically be from the time an announcement is made until the Flames are playing in the new arena, and he said that if they announced it that day, it would still be at least five years before the building was open. The 2020-21 season is probably the earliest the arena will be open at this point.

If I'm not mistaken GSL has already been bought out. I don't know about Greyhound and the Chrysler dealership.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

That's the same as debating which concerts are worthwhile. One persons awesome festival is another's flaky alternative party.

I agree that a city this size should offer all varieties of entertainment. What puts you on the map though are unique attractions, events and festivals.

When you think of Montreal, you think of Grand Prix, Jazz Festival and Just For Laughs. Not that One Direction had a concert there. This is what I mean by "world class".

We have the Stampede, the Rockies and a number of incredible festivals.

[Gaudfather]

Herald story just posted following KK comments this morning.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...downtown-arena

“When you see our project, people are just going to love it,” King said. “We’re not going to sneak in here and steal money from the city.”

[Bunk]

If it's West Village, my guess would be at minimum 5 years worth of remediation and infrastructure work before they could even break ground on the actual arena. It's a tough site from this point of view.

[skudr248]

Give me a 797, and a bulldozer and I'll get it done in a week

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by Bunk

If it's West Village, my guess would be at minimum 5 years worth of remediation and infrastructure work before they could even break ground on the actual arena. It's a tough site from this point of view.

The Flaming C doesn't stand for Creosote?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Herald story just posted following KK comments this morning.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...downtown-arena

“When you see our project, people are just going to love it,” King said. “We’re not going to sneak in here and steal money from the city.”

When we see? How about throwing Calgarians a bone after all these years of telling us how great it's going to be.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Herald story just posted following KK comments this morning.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...downtown-arena

“When you see our project, people are just going to love it,” King said. “We’re not going to sneak in here and steal money from the city.”

The first comment on the article is "NO PUBLIC MONEY". Some people need to learn economics is all I can say.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bunk

If it's West Village, my guess would be at minimum 5 years worth of remediation and infrastructure work before they could even break ground on the actual arena. It's a tough site from this point of view.

I keep hoping they find a way to build it on or around the Remington lands in Victoria Park. The area around the Stampede grounds is already a bit of an entertainment district, and would be a more natural fit for something like this. Trying to recreate the same thing in the West Village seems somewhat redundant, and would probably stunt a lot of Stampede/Victoria Park momentum as well. At the end of the day, the Stampede and Flames SHOULD be great partners, even though they seem to hate each other.

The only way I see West Village making more sense is if its a cohesive all-in push by all levels of government to fix the Infrastructure mess of Crowchild/Bow trail, a complete re-development of the waterfront into an entertainment/sports/condo district, and with it all being the central focus of an Olympic bid. But that to me sounds like at least a decade of work and several billions of dollars.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

When we see? How about throwing Calgarians a bone after all these years of telling us how great it's going to be.

no kidding.

Instead of force feeding us how much we're going to like it, maybe give us an opportunity to think for ourselves?