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

[Azure]

Originally Posted by nik-

Haven't they? Been to a game lately? There are a lot of empty seats. That's the precursor to the "sellout" streak ending. Unless they just keep giving the tickets away or buying the remainder like they likely have been.

They don't want a 21000 seat arena with 16000 people in it if this dip continues.

Are the empty seats actual single game tickets not being bought, or season ticket holders not showing up?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by fotze

Wasn't farming and ranching a major part of every place that wasn't a booming metropolis at the time?

Well, if you compare it to other provinces like Manitoba or Ontario, farming/ranching is a much bigger 'player' in Alberta than it is there.

I'm not saying that it is reason enough to keep the existing 'look.' But I do think that it has influence. Once you live somewhere else you see it much more when you come back.

[Bunk]

The thing that a lot of people don't realize with the saddledome is that it was not designed in any way with a Western theme in mind. The architect has stated that the reverse hyperbolic paraboloid was for the purpose of having expansive, column free roof which allows unobstructed views from all seats while minimizing the building's volume. It was only after that it occurred to people that it resembled the shape of a saddle - so when the naming discussion came up it was dubbed the "saddledome".

For the early 80s it in fact was 'avant garde'

[RM14]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Interesting. I would argue that it was the Canadian Pacific Railway that put Calgary on the map.

Fort Calgary put our city on the map, lets make it out of spiked logs! Really though, Additional concourses and stellar sightlines are all I care about.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by fotze

I will settle for non-######ed concession workers.

Seems when I talk about Calgary to foreigners, none have heard of the Stampede. The olympics yes, mountains, skiing. When I mention the stampede, they get a glazed look over their face.

Curious what percentage the Stampede is attributed to our tourism? I would bet the mountains attract more visitors.

I have always found this too. Banff and the Rockies are what most foreigners seem to recognize, I have found.

IMO, tieing the architectural theme to the Stampede is one-dimensional and small-time.

Please, give me a progressive state-of-the-art type structure every time.

[Red John]

Wonder what Max Foran would say about all this. Took one of his classes in university...the man really has his finger on the pulse of the city and its culture.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I think it's important to de-couple the city's day-to-day decisions around architecture, planning, cultural activity from Stampede. Stampede is a festival - one that's themed Western. But that has very little to do with the day-to-day reality of Calgary as a modern city. Sure, we should western the hell out of ourselves during those two weeks, promote people to come to the city to experience that unique vibe - during stampede. But we shouldn't pretend that's what we are the rest of the year. If people are coming in May to Calgary to experience cowboy culture, they're going to be pretty disappointed - unless you can somehow make Stampede Park a true year round tourist attraction. You don't see Quebec City building their city as if Bonhomme was of cultural relevance year round.

Otherwise our architecture is going to all start looking like this:

Barnes' version of the St. Patick's Island Bridge:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?p=3408708

I forgot about this. Did I win the design competition?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

For example, can you tell me what St. Louis' unique feature is? Phoenix? Minneapolis? Again, I just want to see Calgary keep it's heritage and all I see is Calgarians getting sick of the 'cowtown' stigma.

1. STL - Arch
2. PHO - Desert
3. Minneapolis - Twin Cities

Did I ace the quiz?

[GreenLantern2814]

How about we build a giant mountain shaped structure with a working chairlift that you can actually ski down? Now that would be unique.

[longsuffering]

I am far more concerned about the inside of the building that the outside.

As a taxpayer, assuming taxpayer funding is part of the project, I have no interest in paying for an architectural marvel. If I'm bucking up for the building, I'm happy with a plain exterior, with the majority of the money spent on the 'experience' inside the building.

If the Flames are footing the bill, then by all means, let's build the most technologically advanced, avant-garde design a world famous architect can dream up.

[Calgary '89]

Denver aced it when they built that state of the art airport that resembles white mountains. That to me is more descriptive of a city than the first people that inhabited it. For that matter Calgary should build the Teepeedome. Not such a popular idea, hey?

The Cowtown thing is so plain, lame and unimaginative, which is how Calgary looks every time they repeat the same mistake and build something western.

You want history? The Flames were the first pro sports franchise to ever move to Canada from the US. It happened because Calgary was a small city becoming an economic powerhouse and had the risk takers to pull it off. Oil or no oil, that's something to be proud of and a much better story than pioneers, horses, cowboys and saloons.

Build something big and risky, do it smart and work hard at it. That's Calgary.

[Bootsy]

The 'Dome has lived it's life, it has given many Calgarians and Flames fans some amazing memories and is an iconic visual in the Calgary skyline but it's definitely time for something more modern.
I don't care if the new arena has a western flair to it or not....if one happens to fit so be it, as long it's not an eye sore and is built in a good location that's all I'm concerned about.

With that said Calgary's western stigma is something to be proud of and should be embraced. To all those embarrassed about it I'm sure Toronto or Vancouver will have you
( just don't let on you're from "cowtown"or they may look down on you in their elitist way)

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by fotze

I will settle for non-######ed concession workers.

Seems when I talk about Calgary to foreigners, none have heard of the Stampede. The olympics yes, mountains, skiing. When I mention the stampede, they get a glazed look over their face.

Curious what percentage the Stampede is attributed to our tourism? I would bet the mountains attract more visitors.

"Have you been to the stampede yet?"

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

How about we build a giant mountain shaped structure with a working chairlift that you can actually ski down? Now that would be unique.

Already been done here.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Calgary '89

You want history? The Flames were the first pro sports franchise to ever move to Canada from the US. It happened because Calgary was a small city becoming an economic powerhouse and had the risk takers to pull it off. Oil or no oil, that's something to be proud of and a much better story than pioneers, horses, cowboys and saloons.

Well it has only happened twice in NHL history (a franchise moving from the US to Canada) so I am not sure how big of an accomplishment that actually was.

But I totally support a risk taker arena, built entirely from private money to salute our pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps history.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

But I totally support a risk taker arena, built entirely from private money to salute our pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps history.

It'd be hilarious to see Edmonton's reaction to Calgary building a completely privately funded arena.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I forgot about this. Did I win the design competition?

Yes. Have the flames contacted you about designing the arena yet?

[mikephoen]

The things that are important to me, in order are:

1. site lines/game experience
2. comfortable seats
3. tons of food options
4. large and plentiful bathrooms
5. huge concourse(s) that aren't choked off by a fleet of sponsor's vehicles
6. good ice
7. location within the city
8. what it looks like on the outside

I do hope it looks good, but function over form every time for me.

[nik-]

Most important to me

1. Sight lines
2. Enough facilities and concessions to allow me to pee and get a beer during intermission and not miss 5 minutes of the next period.

[Vulcan]

As has been said the Saddle Dome wasn't built with a western motive in mind. Someone just saw the connection and chose a great name which is easily identified across Canada. It will be a shame when it's gone but I don't think we should try to emulate the old Dome, just make a sound design and we'll see what kind of character it grows.