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

[You Need a Thneed]

McMahon could still be great with a major renovation. A reno like that should cost less than a new stadium. However, if it's not my money being used, I'd love to see a new stadium.

Expanded/upgraded concourses would give McMahon many years of life, and wouldn't cost a lot of money. Spend a bit more, and cover some of the seats, or a little bit more yet, and demolish the back sections, and replace them with a cantilevered second deck.

[nik-]

It's not about all infrastructure. I have no problem contributing to a beautiful downtown library that I'll likely never use, or the roads that people drive on in some far off suburb.

When it comes to paying for a new building so some owners can subsequently squeeze me more on my ticket prices as a result of the new building, yes, I have a problem with that.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Hmmm, one thing here is definatley not like the others....

Edit: in case I need to add more, how in the world are you comparing vital pieces of our provinces infrastructure to a couple of "oldish" stadiums owned by a group of billionaires? What a joke.

Up to a certain point, how vital are these pieces of infrastructure though? Does an overpass really NEED to be built? Couldn't we just put up a 4 way stop sign on Stoney Trail or Anthony Henday and call it a day? Would that be functional? Of course. Would it be ideal? No

Same with hospitals. Couldn't we just set up some equipment in an unused building and call it a day? Why do we need to build a sparkling, new Children's Hospital by the UofC? Couldn't we just have expanded the old one?

See part of living in a developed, G8 country like Canada is being able to splurge a bit on things that aren't necessarily a must have. Do McMahon and the Saddledome do the job they are intended to do? Of Course. But if the Damascus or Islamabad National Football Stadiums are more modern than McMahon, you know that's a bit of an issue.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Up to a certain point, how vital are these pieces of infrastructure though? Does an overpass really NEED to be built? Couldn't we just put up a 4 way stop sign on Stoney Trail or Anthony Henday and call it a day? Would that be functional? Of course. Would it be ideal? No

Same with hospitals. Couldn't we just set up some equipment in an unused building and call it a day? Why do we need to build a sparkling, new Children's Hospital by the UofC? Couldn't we just have expanded the old one?

See part of living in a developed, G8 country like Canada is being able to splurge a bit on things that aren't necessarily a must have. Do McMahon and the Saddledome do the job they are intended to do? Of Course. But if the Damascus or Islamabad National Football Stadiums are more modern than McMahon, you know that's a bit of an issue.

What?

And what are you on about with the Damascus references?

[Cheese]

^^^it depends whether you want Canadian infrastructure to resemble the 3rd world.

[CaptainYooh]

I think the thread is quickly turning into the discussion of public funding priorities, which eveyone of us sees differently. It could be valid in an Off-Topic forum but not here, I don't think. This should be only about the new arena news and information, sorry.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by valo403

What?

And what are you on about with the Damascus references?

I'm saying that third world countries have better Stadiums than Calgary.

Maybe a bit of hyperbole, but the Damascus stadium was renovated in 2011 to be an all seater stadium. Something Calgary still doesn't have.

[Stanley]

I live in West Downtown, I don't see how the heck they would build the arena there, I suppose in place of the car dealerships/greyhound/millenium park, but it would be a traffic nightmare! Just an odd spot really...I see the area just north of 12Ave south of East Village more realistic...but who knows...

[valo403]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I'm saying that third world countries have better Stadiums than Calgary.

Maybe a bit of hyperbole, but the Damascus stadium was renovated in 2011 to be an all seater stadium. Something Calgary still doesn't have.

A bit of hyperbole? It's an outright lie. All seater doesn't mean all chairback seats, it means no areas that are basically nothing more than stairs for fans to stand on. It's been outlawed by UEFA for decades. McMahon, and pretty much every NA stadium is an all seater.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Up to a certain point, how vital are these pieces of infrastructure though? Does an overpass really NEED to be built? Couldn't we just put up a 4 way stop sign on Stoney Trail or Anthony Henday and call it a day? Would that be functional? Of course. Would it be ideal? No

You're asking the wrong guy, I'd prefer all Calgarians who choose to move out to new suburbs to have a 5-10 year supplement on their property taxes to pay for the additional infastructure. With that said, infastructure (including roads, schools and hospitals) are all primary needs of our citizens - hockey and footballs stadiums will never be even close, sorry.

Originally Posted by _Q_

Same with hospitals. Couldn't we just set up some equipment in an unused building and call it a day? Why do we need to build a sparkling, new Children's Hospital by the UofC? Couldn't we just have expanded the old one?

I guess we could. See, personally I think ever comparing education and health spending to 'new stadium for billionaire' funding is the first sign someone has no idea what their talking about - but yes please continue making these amazingly deep points.

Originally Posted by _Q_

See part of living in a developed, G8 country like Canada is being able to splurge a bit on things that aren't necessarily a must have. Do McMahon and the Saddledome do the job they are intended to do? Of Course. But if the Damascus or Islamabad National Football Stadiums are more modern than McMahon, you know that's a bit of an issue.

What a ######ed statement. There are so many things this city (and province) need with regards to important infastructure so maybe when every one of those important things are checked off the list (see: never) we can talk about funding the billionaries again.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by valo403

A bit of hyperbole? It's an outright lie. All seater doesn't mean all chairback seats, it means no areas that are basically nothing more than stairs for fans to stand on. It's been outlawed by UEFA for decades. McMahon, and pretty much every NA stadium is an all seater.

OK, so aside from serving alcohol in out concessions, we're keeping up with war torn Syria for our Stadiums.

Nice to know that us Calgarians have set the bar so high.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by _Q_

OK, so aside from serving alcohol in out concessions, we're keeping up with war torn Syria for our Stadiums.

Nice to know that us Calgarians have set the bar so high.

When you use hyperbole like this in a discussion, you do nothing to advance your position. I trust you understand that and don't actually feel saying things like this is effective.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

You're asking the wrong guy, I'd prefer all Calgarians who choose to move out to new suburbs to have a 5-10 year supplement on their property taxes to pay for the additional infastructure. With that said, infastructure (including roads, schools and hospitals) are all primary needs of our citizens - hockey and footballs stadiums will never be even close, sorry.



I guess we could. See, personally I think ever comparing education and health spending to 'new stadium for billionaire' funding is the first sign someone has no idea what their talking about - but yes please continue making these amazingly deep points.



What a ######ed statement. There are so many things this city (and province) need with regards to important infastructure so maybe when every one of those important things are checked off the list (see: never) we can talk about funding the billionaries again.

We're not funding billionaires though. We're adding to our infrastructure to improve the quality of life of our citizens. It's the same as funding a park or improvements to the river walk downtown.

I am also not for 100% funding of the stadium. That would be silly and yes, it would be funding billionaires. I'm all for putting a portion of that money towards a portion of the funding however.

Think of it this way. Would 8th ave be such a vibrant area in Calgary if there wasn't any public money spent on improvements done there in the 90s? Same as 7th ave. Aren't businesses around that area benefiting from the public $ being pumped into that area? How is funding a portion of a stadium district any different?

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by valo403

I'm against public money to build private owners a new building that isn't needed. The current stadium functions just fine, if programs many times larger than the Stampeders can play out of comparable structures there is no reason they can't. If the Flames ownership group wants to build themselves a new stadium more power to them.

Except that it is inadequate. The major tenant/concession operator as well as the building's owner has said so. A number of times. You say that it's fine because a bunch of programs in Podunk towns in different leagues across NA make due with similar facilitates and brush off the fact that the direct comparable facilities are all/will be superior. Major renovations at Molson Stadium, BC Place and Commonwealth. New Stadiums in Winnipeg, Hamilton and Regina. Essentially a new stadium in Ottawa as well.

The CFL has said Moncton requires $100 million renovation if they want to have a team. That's the same number King has stated in terms of dollars required to get McMahon renovated AFTER spending $15 million to address the most basic of immediate needs.

It doesn't function fine. I guess it does if your requirement for the venue is only that a football game can be played. I myself would like the opportunity to be able to both consume concession items as well as void them from my body rather than choosing just one during halftime.

No one from the Flames has stated they are seeking public funding for either a new building or major renos.

[mikephoen]

I've decided I now want both buildings completely funded with public money. I just want to see valo403 and kipperfan's heads explode.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I'm saying that third world countries have better Stadiums than Calgary.

Maybe a bit of hyperbole, but the Damascus stadium was renovated in 2011 to be an all seater stadium. Something Calgary still doesn't have.

Yes, and in third world countries the government could care less about their people nor their access to vital infrastructure. You are aware the Syrian government has been murdering its own citizens for the past year or so, right? Pretty easy to pay for a new stadium when you're not even providing your citizens with a basic standard of living and havent been for a long time.

Is that what you're hoping for here in Canada? The government starts to do away with our public infrastructure (and therefore our standard of living) so we can start building bigger and better sports stadiums on the public dime?

[Muta]

Personally, I'm interested in living in a city that puts beautification of space and investment into outstanding and useful infrastructure as a high priority.

Not interested in just attaining the bare minimum to be happy, like alot of people in Calgary seem to be content with. Last thing I want is a world-class city like Calgary to be a glorified Regina.

If anyone has ever been to or lived in a city where infrastructure is one of the higher priorities... you'd know what I'm talking about. New York, San Francisco, Singapore and Melbourne aren't what they are by cutting corners and saying 'no' to everything.

I personally hate McMahon Stadium, turns me off from going to Stamps games. I want a world-class facility that will include football, MLS, and allows us to pursue other international events that bypass us because our stadium isn't up to par.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by _Q_

We're not funding billionaires though. We're adding to our infrastructure to improve the quality of life of our citizens. It's the same as funding a park or improvements to the river walk downtown.

Firstly, yes we would be funding billionaries, you're inability to understand that doesn't make it any less true. And please explain how replacing one stadium with another stadium is going to improve the "quality of life" of our citizens? Please give me a detailed explanation here as this is a real mistory to me. You are aware the vast majority of Calgarians would never set foot in a new rink or stadium, right? You do realize that, right?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by _Q_

OK, so aside from serving alcohol in out concessions, we're keeping up with war torn Syria for our Stadiums.

Nice to know that us Calgarians have set the bar so high.

Are you just trolling? I assume that's the case because you've shown complete ignorance to the subject and the willingness to outright lie in your arguments. Congrats.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Hmmm, one thing here is definatley not like the others....

Edit: in case I need to add more, how in the world are you comparing vital pieces of our provinces infrastructure to a couple of "oldish" stadiums owned by a group of billionaires? What a joke.

Neither facility is owned by any billionaires. One is owned by the University of Calgary, and the other is owned by the City of Calgary.