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

[getbak]

Originally Posted by macrov

What's the life of a pro-sports arena? 40-60 years on average? The dome was built in 1983...its only been 31 years. As much as we'd all love a new arena, its a giant waste of money.

And to all the people complaining it will be the oldest in the league before they replace it...isn't that a good sign? A sign that we actually used the dome to the end of its useful life? That money wasn't wasted.

What exactly is wrong with the dome that justifies $400 million? I don't get it. I can't believe I'm the only one...

The Corral was about 30 years old when the Saddledome was built. The Victoria Arena had been used as Calgary's main arena for about 30 years when the Corral was built. I don't believe Calgary really had anything before the Victoria Arena.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by macrov

What's the life of a pro-sports arena? 40-60 years on average? The dome was built in 1983...its only been 31 years. As much as we'd all love a new arena, its a giant waste of money.

And to all the people complaining it will be the oldest in the league before they replace it...isn't that a good sign? A sign that we actually used the dome to the end of its useful life? That money wasn't wasted.

What exactly is wrong with the dome that justifies $400 million? I don't get it. I can't believe I'm the only one...

The life is until rich guys can convince/con governments into giving them more money to pay for a new one.

[macrov]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Uhh... not in the NHL.

For nhl teams...

Boston Garden 1928-1995
Buffalo: 1940-1996
Detroit 1927-1979
Montreal forum: 1926-1996
Maple leaf gardens: 1931-1999
Devils: 1982-2007
MSG: 1925-1968
Flyers: 1967-1996
Penguins: 1961-2010
Capitals: 1973-1997
Chicago: 1929-1994
St Louis: 1929-1994
Jets: 1999-2011
Dallas: 1980-2001
LA: 1967-1999
Vancouver: 1967-1995

That's an average of 44 years. For the flames that would give us another 13 years.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Red Wings have got it done quicker then I thought then. It was only a few years ago that I recall any news of Red Wings looking to replace their venue. They've already struck a deal with the city to get it done. Seems all that's needed is the design and then the go ahead.

Flames have been talking about this since 2005? Maybe 2006/07 when they confirmed they would build a new venue rather than renovate? They've really hit some roadblocks.

Or maybe they are just acting at a different pace due to real urgency. True the Flames need an upgrade, but they don't need one desperately YET in the true sense of the word. All the teams mentioned had much more REAL needs for new buildings than Calgary currently does.

Probably to their own detriment, the Flames have been talking about a new building because it is exciting news for their fans, but it's probably nice for them to have begun the process and get to make decisions about their plans when they aren't desperate and truly under the gun. As much as I'd love them to make an announcement in the next few days, the fact of the matter is the Flames do need to make their minds up in the near future. Hopefully when we do hear, their planning and time will be all worth it with the end product.

[1stLand]

If we do build a new arena, we need to think ahead so it lasts 100 years. We need to build a parkade that can accommodate flying cars, a separate area for teleportation devices.

Instead of a jumbotron how about a holographic 3D scoreboard that can play replays?

Let's make the seating to accommodate 30,000 people.

Let's triple the amount of luxury boxes.

[macrov]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

If we do build a new arena, we need to think ahead so it lasts 100 years. We need to build a parkade that can accommodate flying cars, a separate area for teleportation devices.

Instead of a jumbotron how about a holographic 3D scoreboard that can play replays?

Let's make the seating to accommodate 30,000 people.

Let's triple the amount of luxury boxes.

The saddledome seats 19000. The new arena will seat 18000-20000

The saddledome is built near transit, and has parking on site. The new arena will be built near transit and will have parking on site.

The saddledome is close to downtown. The new arena will be close to downtown.

So...what is the difference?

The saddledome has fewer luxury boxes and more single seats. The new arena will have more luxury boxes and fewer single seats. The single seats in the new building will be more expensive because press level seating won't exist and a new arena surcharge will be added on for each ticket. As a result, attending flames games will become less affordable to the middle income fan, and more accessible to corporate workers who are more likely to be marginal fans. The games will be less loud, have less energy, and will have a worse atmosphere.

All the rest of it is bull####. More washrooms, nicer dressing rooms, nicer concourse, better sight lines. Are you seriously falling for that?

The ACC, Canadian tire center, and Bell Center all have line ups for the washroom in the intermission. The sightlines are no different for 95% of the stadium. And they have a slightly wider concourse.

the lower bowl in the dome is already pretty low energy. A new arena will make the game atmosphere worse and offers very cosmetic and marginal upgrades in return.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by macrov

What's the life of a pro-sports arena? 40-60 years on average? The dome was built in 1983...its only been 31 years. As much as we'd all love a new arena, its a giant waste of money.

And to all the people complaining it will be the oldest in the league before they replace it...isn't that a good sign? A sign that we actually used the dome to the end of its useful life? That money wasn't wasted.

What exactly is wrong with the dome that justifies $400 million? I don't get it. I can't believe I'm the only one...

I don't really get it either. I do get that the Saddledome is a little dated and concrete-bunkerish, but it still does the job. They filled it up tonight and had a pretty good hockey game.

Is it bad that the concourse doesn't remind hockey fans of a suburban shopping mall? That the seats aren't like barcaloungers, and there isn't any wood trim? I'm a hockey fan and that stuff doesn't seem important. I've never had any real issues watching the game, getting enough beers, or taking a leak at the Saddledome.

If the Flames owners want to buy some land and build a new building, then cool. I'll pay for tickets, buy $12 beers, and enjoy the swanky new digs, but...

I don't pretend to know how arenas get built, but we've heard how a new rink is "needed". Well, if they need it, what are they waiting for? These guys didn't get so rich sitting on their asses for years waiting to build something they "need". I gotta wonder if the waiting is about "waiting for someone else to pay for it".

[dying4acup]

I'm hoping the silence means that negotiations with government are taking place, and that ownership is too classy to take meetings with Seattle, Kansas City, Las Vegas or Houston about relocation in order to get better leverage.

I also assume that what comes to fruition will make the monstrosity up north look like a joke and make rogers center/GM place look out dated?

[1stLand]

Yes they should keep the saddledome for another 20 years.
A new arena won't be any more cutting edge. Just bigger concourse and more luxury boxes.

I don't want any of my tax dollars paying for a billionaires rink.

I don't care about concerts skipping Calgary.
Lady Gaga is still coming here even though our roof is weak.
She is a big act. I don't see the issue here.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

If we do build a new arena, we need to think ahead so it lasts 100 years. We need to build a parkade that can accommodate flying cars, a separate area for teleportation devices.

Instead of a jumbotron how about a holographic 3D scoreboard that can play replays?

Let's make the seating to accommodate 30,000 people.

Let's triple the amount of luxury boxes.

By that time we'll all have a holographic room in our home, to watch sporting events. We won't need a big arena.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I could be wrong but I thought I read that city of Detroit isn't paying anything and any tax payer funds are coming from the state.

It says here maybe $45M from the city which isn't too bad and $284M from the state.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...s-stadium.html

[TjRhythmic]

Originally Posted by macrov

What's the life of a pro-sports arena? 40-60 years on average? The dome was built in 1983...its only been 31 years. As much as we'd all love a new arena, its a giant waste of money.

And to all the people complaining it will be the oldest in the league before they replace it...isn't that a good sign? A sign that we actually used the dome to the end of its useful life? That money wasn't wasted.

What exactly is wrong with the dome that justifies $400 million? I don't get it. I can't believe I'm the only one...

I'm with you, don't get it either.

I like the Saddledome, it's Calgary, stampede city... it's a saddle... IMO it's iconic to me. Maybe I'm more nostalgic then anything, either way I like the ol dome

[irrevocable]

Originally Posted by TjRhythmic

I'm with you, don't get it either.

I like the Saddledome, it's Calgary, stampede city... it's a saddle... IMO it's iconic to me. Maybe I'm more nostalgic then anything, either way I like the ol dome

No offence.. the Dome is disgusting. Travel a bit, see other arenas. I feel the nostalgia factor too.. but come one dude, it's a wreck.

[btimbit]

I prefer the exterior look of the saddledome to any of the boring cookie cutter arenas in the league. But the interior is awful

[jg13]

Originally Posted by irrevocable

No offence.. the Dome is disgusting. Travel a bit, see other arenas. I feel the nostalgia factor too.. but come one dude, it's a wreck.

Agree with this 100%. You never really notice it until you've been to a new stadium..

Went to the Staples Centre in November and the two aren't even comparable.

The dome is a dump.

[irrevocable]

Originally Posted by jg13

Agree with this 100%. You never really notice it until you've been to a new stadium..

Went to the Staples Centre in November and the two aren't even comparable.

The dome is a dump.

Nashville and San Jose ruined it for me.

[EYE_Overstand]

The only stadium that is a bigger dump then the dome is Wrigley field. You still have to piss in tubs. I've been to Yankee stadium - AT&T - Safeco - Kansas City - Skydome in terms of baseball and couldn't believe how bad Wrigley was.

For hockey... Comparing the Dome to Staples - MSG - United center - rogers - is also a joke. The dome is piss poor and everyone who says they like the dome is kidding themselves.

My friends that have been to Pittsburg - PHX - acc - the bell center for hockey also agree fully. Our dome is trash.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

The only stadium that is a bigger dump then the dome is Wrigley field. You still have to piss in tubs. I've been to Yankee stadium - AT&T - Safeco - Kansas City - Skydome in terms of baseball and couldn't believe how bad Wrigley was.

For hockey... Comparing the Dome to Staples - MSG - United center - rogers - is also a joke. The dome is piss poor and everyone who says they like the dome is kidding themselves.

My friends that have been to Pittsburg - PHX - acc - the bell center for hockey also agree fully. Our dome is trash.

I wouldn't say the Dome is trash but it looks and feels old, almost dungeon like. Going to a Flames game is akin to going to a Stamps game where the stadium/arena is more an obstacle than part of an experience. It's so outdated in every facet that it's not even remotely close to offering up the experience of not so new buildings like GM place. We are used to it and it's what Flames fans know but fans used to newer buildings would probably be appalled at the facility.

It's not just that the facility is long on the tooth, the building can't even make average NHL ice anymore.

[EYE_Overstand]

I sat beside a number of Blackhawk fans (traveling with the team through western Canada) in my section and Everytime they came back from the intermission they couldn't believe how bad out stadium was. They said you can't even move freely in the concourse and how crowed consession lines were... Which is completely true.

I was in line with SJ fans in the bathroom line up by 107 and overheard them just #### talking the stadium. Good thing they lost haha.

And I haven't been to a stamps game in 15 years... But everyone I know hates that stadium as well.

[EYE_Overstand]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I wouldn't say the Dome is trash but it looks and feels old, almost dungeon like. Going to a Flames game is akin to going to a Stamps game where the stadium/arena is more an obstacle than part of an experience. It's so outdated in every facet that it's not even remotely close to offering up the experience of not so new buildings like GM place. We are used to it and it's what Flames fans know but fans used to newer buildings would probably be appalled at the facility.

It's not just that the facility is long on the tooth, the building can't even make average NHL ice anymore.

I should clarify why I call it trash. Watching the game in the arena is amazing ... Maybe it's because is the home team... BUT I'm just speaking of the concourse and everything that goes with it... Food - Bars - Bathrooms - Grey concrete everywhere - Room to move etc