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

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I also find the lost revenue argument kind of amusing. So what, more people would show up in a nice new stadium for a 7-11 team than old ass McMahon for a 13-5 team? Somehow I really doubt it, and if thats the case, fans really need to reevaluate their priorities.

Haven't the Calgary Flames been playing mediocre hockey for years and the Dome keeps (generally) selling out?

I think you forget the difference between hardcore competitive fans and those who are just looking for a fun time at a professional sports match.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

That's exactly it. My opinion on the matter is it's clear a new Arena is needed for sure based on this city's needs:

- Dome's ability to continue to facilitate our NHL, WHL, Lacrosse teams is likely at most 10 years left of life (and those last years will be really pushing it)
- Already lossing out on concerts, so an upgrade is already much more needed now.

For, me, the debate remains on an new Outdoor stadium is required. Rigth now McMahon is good enough for the the CFL, which lets be honest, isn't exactly a top notch league and doesn't require the best facilities. But looking forward, how much more can the CFL team bring in in a new facility, what is the potential for and benefit for this city on a permenant Soccer tenant of some sort, what one off events could we go after (like world cup) and outdoor larger concernts (which we've never had really) if we had a new outdoor stadium facility. I'm excited about the idea of such a facility, but the city's need for this is much more debatable than the new arena.

The city has proven it needs and uses a top notch hockey rink over the past 3 decades, we've never had a top notch outdoor facility and I'd say it's debatable that a city with a Metro area of 1.5M needs one, but I'd love to see it.

See the way I look at it is Calgary was/is too small to have competed to get a team when the other sports leagues (ie. MLB, NFL, NBA) were heavily expanding. Now those leagues are too full and established in their current markets to consider Calgary.

MLS, however, is an ideal situation. The sport is already extremely popular in Canada and it seems as though there is still room to expand further. Even if we don't get an expansion team here, maybe a struggling US team would like to move to a shiny new facility and try to build a fan base that other Canadian or Pacific NW teams have done quite easily.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Is there any new news about the Flames new arena?

[You Need a Thneed]

Lol, at the world cup talk.

10 stadiums of MINIMUM 40,000 would be required. Including the new CFL stadiums being built, and the current MLS stadiums there are 2, maybe 3 that would be acceptable for the World Cup (BC Place, Commonwealth).

BC Place and Commonwealth would be small World Cup stadia. Two stadia of 75-80k+ woud have to be built county wide, plus 1-2 55k-60k seaters, plus 4 or more 40-45k seaters. Perhaps you could convince FIFA that one or two stadia could be made to seat 40k+ with temporary seating.

Again, there's nothing wrong with McMahon that a renovation couldn't fix. People complain about the concessions - expand the concourses out, and enclose them. Put in new seats for the whole stadium. Perhaps put a roof over some of the seats. Depending on the cost/value, demo the back rows and replace with a second deck.

Many other old stadia have undertaken a major reno, instead of being replaced completely. McMahon could be every bit as nice as a completely brand new stadium, for significantly less cost.

What would factor in, is the University's intentions for that land. Perhaps they want to get out of the stadium ownership business, and make some money by redeveloping that land. It very well could be better for the university to do that. Perhaps the Flames are wanting to build the stadium and the arena together as part of a larger convention area? That could factor in too.

I don't see why the public should pay for a new stadium, though. A major reno, where the city can profit from the stadium, sure.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The NFL has problems filling some of its stadiums, many of them incredibly beautiful modern stadiums. HD has certainly had an impact, but as always its both the cost of the game and the quality of the product that dictates attendance.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Is there any new news about the Flames new arena?

I thnk I heard it will have red seats, that slowly change to an Orange further up in the building, but that just might have been something I read on the internet somewhere.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Further to Muta's point:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/opin...world-cup.html

It would be embarassing if Canada hosts a World Cup in 13 years, but skips Calgary because our facilities are lacking (which is exactly what happened in 2007 and will happen in 2015).

Exactly.

It's that same fear of embarrassment that motivated me to go into debt to buy my Porsche. I'm hoping to win the lottery one day, and I'd hate to show up in my old truck to collect the prize.

[The Ditch]

I too can't wait till we have our own Marlins Park situation, then we will truly be a world class city.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Is there any new news about the Flames new arena?

Officially, no.

[Ozy_Flame]

On an interesting note about building a stadium, I came across this article about our very own Saddledome, which sort of contradicts some of the negativity towards the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy:

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...a-39821fa3f0f9

"The fact that this facility was already being built added credibility to (Calgary's) bid and proved to be a positive factor in demonstrating Calgary's commitment to hosting the Games," according to the XV Olympic Winter Games official report.[/B]

Building stadiums that can support big events lend credibility to attracting interest for world-class events. Even in Qatar, the building of the Al-Wakrah and Al-Khor Stadiums were going ahead before even being awarded the 2022 World Cup, but did help lend credibility to their ultimately successful bid.

I don't think the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy is as faulty as some may think it is.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by valo403

I have my doubts on that, at least in the short term. The MLS president recently addressed expansion talk on twitter and outside of the second NY team there really doesn't seem to be any hurry to expand, and if there is expansion there seem to be a number of places in line ahead of Calgary, a city with pretty much zero soccer history. If Calgary gets a NASL team and supports it I could see the MLS on the radar, but we're talking at least 5-7 years to even get to that point.

Never suggested it would be in the short-term. I'm pretty sure the Flames ownership group is aware as to what MLS is and what it would take to get a franchise here, however.

Edmonton might get one before we do. FC Edmonton is already an established team and they have a beautiful stadium to play in (when there's not snow covering it). I believe they're upgrading their stadium soon as well to make a bid for the Women's FIFA World Cup... I'm almost sure of this.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

I too can't wait till we have our own Marlins Park situation, then we will truly be a world class city.

What, this after only 1 season of being open doesn't interest you?

Spoiler!

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

On an interesting note about building a stadium, I came across this article about our very own Saddledome, which sort of contradicts some of the negativity towards the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy:

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...a-39821fa3f0f9

"The fact that this facility was already being built added credibility to (Calgary's) bid and proved to be a positive factor in demonstrating Calgary's commitment to hosting the Games," according to the XV Olympic Winter Games official report.[/B]

Building stadiums that can support big events lend credibility to attracting interest for world-class events. Even in Qatar, the building of the Al-Wakrah and Al-Khor Stadiums were going ahead before even being awarded the 2022 World Cup, but did help lend credibility to their ultimately successful bid.

I don't think the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy is as faulty as some may think it is.

The Barclay Center is a good example of that... landed the New Jersey Nets, and now the New York Islanders.

There's also Kansas City which built the Sprint Center, but is waiting for a main tenant. However, it's only a matter of time before they do land one.

Not every situation is perfect, but I do subscribe to the 'If you build it, they will come' philosophy. Calgary's not getting an MLS team or any other major international event unless a new stadium comes, that's a given.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I don't think the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy is as faulty as some may think it is.

I don't think it's faulty. If Canada built enough stadia in the next 10 years to host the Men's World Cup, I think that Canada would be essentially a lock to host the 2026 world cup (yes, even over the US). However, there is ZERO chance of that happening.

Toronto winning a 2020 or 2024 Summer Olympic bid would probably take care of the large stadium requirement - but there would still be a long ways to go in terms of stadia.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Exactly.

It's that same fear of embarrassment that motivated me to go into debt to buy my Porsche. I'm hoping to win the lottery one day, and I'd hate to show up in my old truck to collect the prize.

... except that you already won the proverbial 'lottery' by getting something that you would have winning the lottery anyways. At that stage, everything else would just be solid revenue. But, I digress.

[normtwofinger]

Not sure if it has been mentioned, but I would like to have an outdoor stadium that could have a concert or music festival without disturbing "the neighbours". Bring in some big name acts. When was the last time McMahon had a big name act?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

Not sure if it has been mentioned, but I would like to have an outdoor stadium that could have a concert or music festival without disturbing "the neighbours". Bring in some big name acts. When was the last time McMahon had a big name act?

I remember they had a metal festival there like 10 years ago, and I could hear Ozzy Osbourne playing McMahon all the way from Kensington. I believe they had Judas Priest there since then, but nothing else.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Muta

The Barclay Center is a good example of that... landed the New Jersey Nets, and now the New York Islanders.

There's also Kansas City which built the Sprint Center, but is waiting for a main tenant. However, it's only a matter of time before they do land one.

Not every situation is perfect, but I do subscribe to the 'If you build it, they will come' philosophy. Calgary's not getting an MLS team or any other major international event unless a new stadium comes, that's a given.

Millions was on the Fan yesterday (I think yesterday) and he said there is a group starting the wheels in motion for a winter Olympics bid for 2022 on the super down low.

New rink would probably be part of that announcement I would imagine.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I don't think it's faulty. If Canada built enough stadia in the next 10 years to host the Men's World Cup, I think that Canada would be essentially a lock to host the 2026 world cup (yes, even over the US). However, there is ZERO chance of that happening.

Toronto winning a 2020 or 2024 Summer Olympic bid would probably take care of the large stadium requirement - but there would still be a long ways to go in terms of stadia.

I actually don't think stadiums is that big of an issue honestly.

Assuming we need 12 stadiums with the following specifications:

1 larger than 70K capacity
2 larger than 60K
9 larger than 40K

We in Canada could potentially have the following:
Vancouver - BC Place - 55K
Edmonton - Commonwealth Stadium - 60K (expandable to 70K+)
Calgary - New Stampeders/MLS stadium - 40K (expandable to 45K)
Regina - New Roughriders Stadium - 33K (expandable to 40K)
Winnipeg - Investors Group Field - 33K (expandable to 40K)
Toronto - Rogers Centre - 54K
BMO Field - 22K (expandable to 40K)
Ottawa - New Frank Claire Stadium - 30K (Expandable to 40K)
Montreal - Olympic Stadium - 66K
Saputo Field - 22K (Expandable to 40K)

That leaves another two locations possibly. So possibly Victoria, Halifax, Moncton? Build smaller stadiums there with temporary seating that can be dismantled later like they're doing in Qatar.

So the issues that I see here are the that assuming you want to hold your finals in Toronto, Rogers Centre is inadequate. They would need to build something huge there for a world cup. That could potentially replace a BMO Field expansion, so you can go with new 80K stadium and Rogers Centre for Toronto.

All other "expansions" could be as simple as adding temporary seating in the end zones.

Even with the stadiums we have today, or proposed today, we can potentially make a World Cup work here in Canada. Who knows what the future holds though.

[Stay Golden]

I can't wait to see what the designs will look like i bet its incredible, where it will be located and the battle with the mayor for funding some of the project.