[News] UPD: Aug 4 released renderings of Event Centre in OP (+ new ext. renders in post #704)

[Monahammer]

The second bowl looks fairly steep, but I will admit that I have no measurements to actually base this on. It appears to me that the relative width of the second bowl is equal to the width of the concourse, while comprising of ~13 rows of seating.

The concourse could be very wide I suppose.

13 rows of seating in the lower bowl seems only to be slightly wider though.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Muta

'Iconic' isn't limited to NHL arenas only, but to answer your question, I believe T-Mobile Arena, Barclays Center (when the Isles played there), the new Climate Pledge Arena and the Saddledome have distinct (iconic) structures. They definitely differ from the traditional arena mould. That's just my opinion though.

I think distinct, iconic, and actually visually appealling can be very different things though.

Barclay's looks a lot better in it's initial staged photos than it does in person. I've been there a couple times and never came way impressed thinking "Woah that's a nice looking building". And the inside of that building was very bland IMO.

I've never been to T-Mobile and agree that it's more unique, and does a good job in leveraging it's LED boards, but really it's still just a round stadium. Not sure it's really that unique.

The Saddledome is only really unique in that it's old and the standard it was built under is no longer used, but the "Saddle" shape was a staple of other buildings that were built during that time period.

And will be interesting to see what the Climate Pledge arena looks like, but yeah that one is keeping the Key Arena's unique shape.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am liking this more. I was hoping for something a bit more iconic, but again, this is still a render (though obviously a much higher quality one).


Things I like:
It doesn't look like a giant sperm (cough Edmonton, cough)
It doesn't look like a golf club (cough Edmonton, cough)
It doesn't look like it is trying so hard to be 'futuristic', which would then make it look really dated fast (again, cough Edmonton, cough)
I am also glad that it isn't Edmonton's arena.


I can't say there is any one thing I dislike about it. I find it a bit underwhelming - I was sold on "iconic" and "transformative". I don't think this is either of those things. It does look nice, and I do think it will fit-in with the existing area well by the looks of it. I do like it, and I am looking forward to actually seeing what the finished product ends up looking like, though I will be worried about cost-cutting measures if they end up being required.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by The Familia

Hahaha in typical Flames fashion it comes out as average and mediocre as possible. Not the worst thing in the world, certainly no where near the best. The Flames, Dialog, and HOK have just laid a massive turd of a building. Disappointing as hell.
Also, they just had to shove another parkade in there. Like WTF? There isn’t enough parking around the entire Stampede grounds? That could have been a practise rink. This entertainment “district” already looks like a failure on paper. I much preferred the previous concept which contained more glass and the wooden roof.

There it is ... had to see a response like that sooner or later ... "so Flames"

They are literally building this on top of two existing parking lots that are full every night, not to mention the other two or three that are just empty dusty lots that will soon be buildings.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think distinct, iconic, and actually visually appealling can be very different things though.

Barclay's looks a lot better in photos than it does in person IMO. I've been there a couple times and never came way impressed thinking "Woah that's a nice looking building". And the inside of that building was very bland IMO.

I've never been to T-Mobile and agree that it's more unique, and does a good job in leveraging it's LED boards, but really it's still just a round stadium. Not sure it's really that unique.

The Saddledome is only really unique in that it's old and the standard it was built under is no longer used, but the "Saddle" shape was a staple of other buildings that were built during that time period.

And will be interesting to see what the Climate Pledge arena looks like, but yeah that one is keeping the Key Arena's unique shape.

... to add to this, while the new Climate Pledge Arena looks good from the renders I think the finished product is also limited by the fact that it is a massive renovation of the existing Key Arena. The Key Arena was "distinctive" and "iconic," but beauty is so often in the eye of the beholder. Even the new structure looks weirdly out of place to me, and does not really shake my impression that it is an old arena with a face-lift.

[Table 5]

It definitely doesn't give you the impression that there was a passionate individual or team behind this project. Sure, it checks the boxes, but I'm not sure anyone truly gave a damn. After all the the hype, the political drama, the fighting, the promises...it's like there was no energy left for the design of the building itself.

[Cappy]

I personally like the subtly of it. It fits within a city block and doesn’t try too hard to be stand out. It’s hard to build a neighbourhood that works on the 42 nights a game isn’t on when it is designed around the building.

I worry about the materials used for the project. While I’m happy the city’s costs are capped and don’t trust CSE to not make aesthetic cuts if faced with rising costs. At this point, their goal is to maximize revenue at the expense of city beautification

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by The Familia

Also, they just had to shove another parkade in there. Like WTF? There isn’t enough parking around the entire Stampede grounds? That could have been a practise rink. This entertainment “district” already looks like a failure on paper. I much preferred the previous concept which contained more glass and the wooden roof.

Umm have you been to the saddledome area? Ever tried to find parking when there is a Flames game going on, and something going on at the BMO center.

A lot of the parking is getting eliminated with overall project, the BMO expansion, and the other work going on in this area.

Parkades are going to be needed in the area for sure, because it was already a pain to find parking at times in the area when events were going on, and will only be worse with less parking available now.

[Bingo]

I was hoping for something like Nationwide in that it fits the area around it and doesn't look like a rink.

The renders look pretty close to that.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I was hoping for something like Nationwide in that it fits the area around it and doesn't look like a rink.

The renders look pretty close to that.

So Camden Yards as a hockey arena then?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Since1984

So Camden Yards as a hockey arena then?

Yeah exactly.

The building fits into the general area, and isn't necessarily the focal point.

Been to Columbus a few times ... a bit sleepy of a town, but cruising up that road seen in the picture found a few pubs and a cool district to hang out in on busy nights.

[Freeway]

The elements borrowed from the inverted bowl design appear to be the suites slightly overhanging the lower bowl and the balcony/press box seating slightly overhanging the upper bowl.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I was hoping for something like Nationwide in that it fits the area around it and doesn't look like a rink.

The renders look pretty close to that.

And I think that was kinda what they were going for, albeit swapping out the old-timey brickwork of Columbus for more of a metal Art Deco thing to fit in with the new BMO Centre.

[getbak]

How many suites does the Saddledome have? This looks like it has 48, including a couple of large corner suites and an owner's suite that looks to be about the size of 3 regular ones.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by The Familia

Hahaha in typical Flames fashion it comes out as average and mediocre as possible. Not the worst thing in the world, certainly no where near the best. The Flames, Dialog, and HOK have just laid a massive turd of a building. Disappointing as hell.
Also, they just had to shove another parkade in there. Like WTF? There isn’t enough parking around the entire Stampede grounds? That could have been a practise rink. This entertainment “district” already looks like a failure on paper. I much preferred the previous concept which contained more glass and the wooden roof.

Were we paying for it to be world class?

[shogged]

Does the retail stretch all the way around? Or is 5th ave gonna be as dead as it looks with only mechanical and service entrances

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by shogged

Does the retail stretch all the way around? Or is 5th ave gonna be as dead as it looks with only mechanical and service entrances

Retail only on Stampede Trail side.

[carmenshoes]

What is the price tag of this arena?

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by carmenshoes

What is the price tag of this arena?

$608.5 million

[Ashasx]

My expectations have been low but I think it looks really good.

As others have mentioned, it will be key that the material choices are right. We don't want another corrugated metal prison like Marda Loop.