[News] Calgary Herald: Flames stay mum on timeline, location for new arena

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by JD

Just my opinion, but I hope that "fact" has absolutely no bearing on how the Flames decide where the new arena should go.

It probably wont, but logistically it would make the most sense. Nice use of Ctrl V though. Witty.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I can't say that I'm a fan of the Fire Park location. It would be missed opportunity to incorporate restaurants, hotels, shops into the plans if it is the middle of an industrial wasteland. Aside from game days, it would be desolate and uninviting. Being on the LRT line is a plus, obviously, but I'd put this location slightly higher than building it in on the outskirts of the city somewhere with a sea of asphalt parking lots around it.

Somewhere central (and Fire Park isn't central in my mind) is the best place for an ambitious project like this. Even if there is less parking on the actual site, there is an abundance of public and private parking available downtown that is under utilized in the evenings and weekends. Surrounding it with acres of parking isn't necessary when there are thousands of available spots nearby already.

Hogwash to the extreme.
The place is literally 5 minutes by C-train from downtown. 15 minutes up the deerfoot from as far as 22x and 20 minutes from as far away as Airdrie. What exactly is central to you...the calgary tower sidewalk?

As they say..build it and they will come,that includes restaurants, hotels and shops.

BTW the best war-won-ton is already across the street and if you win the 50-50 draw so are the Ferrari and Jag dealers!

[jaydub74]

Originally Posted by T@T

Hogwash to the extreme.
The place is literally 5 minutes by C-train from downtown. 15 minutes up the deerfoot from as far as 22x and 20 minutes from as far away as Airdrie. What exactly is central to you...the calgary tower sidewalk?

As they say..build it and they will come,that includes restaurants, hotels and shops.

BTW the best war-won-ton is already across the street and if you win the 50-50 draw so are the Ferrari and Jag dealers!

I'm sure the Flames will make a strategic decision based on the location of the majority of their season ticket holders. I would guess they'd prefer to be close to downtown, west first, east second. The lower section and boxes are entirely made up of corporate season ticket holders and their clients hence walking distance from downtown is a must. I would also guess a large percentage of those same people and those who purchase tickets in the second deck live in the downtown core, belt-line communities/ inner city communities and the SW. I don't see the building being placed in the NE under any circumstance as its away from their core audience and like it or not has a poor reputation.

For the record I neither work or live down town or live in the SW. Just an unbiased business decision.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by jaydub74

I'm sure the Flames will make a strategic decision based on the location of the majority of their season ticket holders. I would guess they'd prefer to be close to downtown, west first, east second. The lower section and boxes are entirely made up of corporate season ticket holders and their clients hence walking distance from downtown is a must. I would also guess a large percentage of those same people and those who purchase tickets in the second deck live in the downtown core, belt-line communities/ inner city communities and the SW. I don't see the building being placed in the NE under any circumstance as its away from their core audience and like it or not has a poor reputation.

For the record I neither work or live down town or live in the SW. Just an unbiased business decision.

I get that,but when you have a flames owner with central land (NE or not) it can't be overlooked,there aren't many options to build to keep the walkers happy. People in the extreme SE or even far in the NW could get to that location faster than going to stampede park(which frankly sucks donkey balls to get to anyway), It's not like the fans would cease to exist,the downtown fruit & berry people might have to take a 5 minute trainride. boo friken hoo.

[jaydub74]

Good points, I overlooked the NW but I think that just makes the West Village more attractive. To me that's got to be the number one location.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by T@T

Hogwash to the extreme.
The place is literally 5 minutes by C-train from downtown. 15 minutes up the deerfoot from as far as 22x and 20 minutes from as far away as Airdrie. What exactly is central to you...the calgary tower sidewalk?

As they say..build it and they will come,that includes restaurants, hotels and shops.

BTW the best war-won-ton is already across the street and if you win the 50-50 draw so are the Ferrari and Jag dealers!

I don't think it's hogwash - I like the dynamic of being able to walk from downtown to the arena in minutes. I like the idea of having truly urban amenities surrounding the arena. Firepark is close, but it's not urban (whether they plop a hotel and some restaurants there or not) - and that's an important distinction.

To me, one of the best urban arena/stadium projects is San Diego's Petco Park - it's been a catalyst for all sorts of very urban development and cool stuff around it - it's truly part of the city. That's what a new arena once it's eventually built should be for Calgary.



I still like the North end of Stampede or Railtown as locations best. West Village has potential but it'll take about $300-$400 million in infrastructure and remediation to open that area up to redevelopment - we already have ridiculous amounts of undeveloped and underdeveloped lands in the downtown and beltline to build up before we need to open up more land in West Village.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by T@T

I get that,but when you have a flames owner with central land (NE or not) it can't be overlooked,there aren't many options to build to keep the walkers happy. People in the extreme SE or even far in the NW could get to that location faster than going to stampede park(which frankly sucks donkey balls to get to anyway), It's not like the fans would cease to exist,the downtown fruit & berry people might have to take a 5 minute trainride. boo friken hoo.

Not that hard to remedy - and that area is fast redeveloping. More money will be going into improving the streetscapes as well. It won't be that long before it is a nice walking experience between downtown and stampede.

[nik-]

I want an MLS friendly stadium when they replace McMahon, I'm not even a huge Soccer fan, but I think I would buy a Season Card.

[TopChed]

If we had even a decent soccer venue, we could start with a team in the NASL like Edmonton has done. Even without being in the MLS, they compete against Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver in the Canadian Championship. And like others have said, it gives us the option to host national team friendlies or tournament games.

[EYE_Overstand]

Originally Posted by T@T

I get that,but when you have a flames owner with central land (NE or not) it can't be overlooked,there aren't many options to build to keep the walkers happy. People in the extreme SE or even far in the NW could get to that location faster than going to stampede park(which frankly sucks donkey balls to get to anyway), It's not like the fans would cease to exist,the downtown fruit & berry people might have to take a 5 minute trainride. boo friken hoo.

lol. first time i have heard that.....

but seriously as a proud down towner i am on the side of having an urban arena(s). it creates development and an area of vibrancy that severely lacks in the "steak and potatoes" suburbs.

[Cole436]

It should be kept on the Stampede grounds. It's a perfect location for transit, and it keeps the Flames downtown.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I still like the North end of Stampede or Railtown as locations best. West Village has potential but it'll take about $300-$400 million in infrastructure and remediation to open that area up to redevelopment - we already have ridiculous amounts of undeveloped and underdeveloped lands in the downtown and beltline to build up before we need to open up more land in West Village.

A new arena is a $400 or 500m project (minimum) with a 25 year lifespan and becomes one of the primary icons of the city for other planning and development.

Making a decision on location for short-term reasons is foolish - pick the right location, and deal with the infrastructure requirements as needed.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by T@T

Hogwash to the extreme.
The place is literally 5 minutes by C-train from downtown. 15 minutes up the deerfoot from as far as 22x and 20 minutes from as far away as Airdrie. What exactly is central to you...the calgary tower sidewalk?

As they say..build it and they will come,that includes restaurants, hotels and shops.

BTW the best war-won-ton is already across the street and if you win the 50-50 draw so are the Ferrari and Jag dealers!

Fire Park, no matter how amazing of a sports complex is built (even with hotels and restaurants) would be an isolated oasis in the middle of an industrial area. Being central, to me at least, is being part of the urban core of the city. Walking distance for the suits and collars who fork out the big bucks for season tickets, walking distance to more than the restaurants that the complex itself provides, etc.

If the goal is to make the new arena/stadium part of a vibrant, urban area, it makes a lot more sense to actually put it in a vibrant, urban area instead of trying to transform an industrial park into one.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Cole436

It should be kept on the Stampede grounds. It's a perfect location for transit, and it keeps the Flames downtown.

I doubt it'll happen. Even if the Flames broke ground the day after Stampede, the amount of land that would be completely unusable for an entire Stampede, not to mention the lack of parking and so on for other events on the grounds for the time of construction means HUGE financial losses for the Stampede. The rest of the Stampede grounds would have to complete their renovation/expansion before this is feasible but that is years away.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by FireFly

I doubt it'll happen. Even if the Flames broke ground the day after Stampede, the amount of land that would be completely unusable for an entire Stampede, not to mention the lack of parking and so on for other events on the grounds for the time of construction means HUGE financial losses for the Stampede. The rest of the Stampede grounds would have to complete their renovation/expansion before this is feasible but that is years away.

I don't see the downside.

[Vulcan]

I go along with putting it in Vic Park, north of the Stampede as the best location.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I don't see the downside.

You don't have to. As long as the Stampede and Flames do.

[MrMastodonFarm]

The west end would be a great spot... so long as the city decides to move along with clearing up the mess that is Crowchild trail in that area along with it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

The west end would be a great spot... so long as the city decides to move along with clearing up the mess that is Crowchild trail in that area along with it.

I think they would pretty well have no choice given the increase in traffic volume generated by the facilities. That Crowchild overpass over the river at Bow Trail and Memorial has long been a black eye for commuters. Problem is that it needs an extra lane all the way north to 24th Ave NW to completely fix.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think they would pretty well have no choice given the increase in traffic volume generated by the facilities. That Crowchild overpass over the river at Bow Trail and Memorial has long been a black eye for commuters. Problem is that it needs an extra lane all the way north to 24th Ave NW to completely fix.

That two-lane bottle neck and the lights north of it are a killer. I know the city had some impute sessions in the fall (?). It would be great to see the two projects go hand in hand.