What if the Flames cannot play in Calgary for 2013-14?

[Regular_John]

I suspect a road trip to start the season is the most likely scenario. Heck the home opener could take place in November!

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

I suspect a road trip to start the season is the most likely scenario. Heck the home opener could take place in November!

I would love to play alot of home games at the end of the season, it usually seems as if we are on the road more often than not in the month or so of the season.

[GGG]

A 7 game road trip to start the season and moving pre-season games to Saskatoon and training camp to other arenas in the city, perhaps COP would give them until November to fix the dome. You could probably get another month worth of games with a few games in Saskatoon as home games and another 7 game road trip.

I think as long as it is repairable in 4 to 5 months there will be no issue playing the majority of home games here.

Also they only need to repair critical systems. So lighting, fire alarms, ice plant and replace the seating. They don't need all of the systems functioning or finished dressing rooms to play games.

[automaton 3]

I have no doubt they'll be in the Dome to start the season. There might be some temporary facilities (dressing rooms) and some of the food prepared elsewhere but it will be open.

Can anyone comment on the Jumbotron control room equipment...will there be long lead times to replace?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

I suspect a road trip to start the season is the most likely scenario. Heck the home opener could take place in November!

41 games at McMahon stadium. Flames smash NHL attendance records.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

I suspect a road trip to start the season is the most likely scenario. Heck the home opener could take place in November!

With the schedule 99% done, I truly doubt this is an option. They will have it ready for pre-season also because there's a ton of revenue associated with that.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Brannigans Law

Honestly though isn't there a chance this is underestimating the damage done and the time to fix everything? Katrina put the Superdome in New Orleans out for a whole NFL season... now obviously the damage to Katrina was a little more intense and the size of the Dome is much larger compared to our Saddledome.. but it took over a year before the place was operational again for a professional sports team. I think hoping it to be ready in 4 months is wildly optomistic.

The Superdome was fully renovated, like turn it into a new modern stadium level renovation, which explains the time frame. That's not going to happen with the Saddledome. Barring unforeseen structural damage being ready for early October seems to be a very reasonable time frame.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

With the schedule 99% done, I truly doubt this is an option. They will have it ready for pre-season also because there's a ton of revenue associated with that.

Adjustment to scheduling is definitely an option well before having a team play out of a neutral site location for even a handful of games. The former presents some challenges, but nowhere near as many as the latter.

[Ozy_Flame]

I think Ken King in his media interview on Saturday said that he's been in touch with the NHL and they're ready to work with King to accommodate the Flames needs, or something to that extent. Not sure what that means but no doubt a schedule readjustment is certainly a talking point among NHL brass.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I'm surprised at how many think the Flames won't be able to start the season in Calgary. Who knows, but there are only two real factors to worry about in this regards. 1) Structural damage to the Dome, 2) ability to replace the ice making equipment.

If there are issues with the above two, then we might have a conversation, otherwise, there will be ATCO trailers outside the building serving as dressing rooms, outsourced catering for the concessions and simply no Jumbo tron to start the season if need be before the Flames play elsewhere even partially this year.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I'm surprised at how many think the Flames won't be able to start the season in Calgary. Who knows, but there are only two real factors to worry about in this regards. 1) Structural damage to the Dome, 2) ability to replace the ice making equipment.

I'd think making sure the electrical and plumbing are fixed would be worries as well.

If there are issues with the above two, then we might have a conversation, otherwise, there will be ATCO trailers outside the building serving as dressing rooms, outsourced catering for the concessions and simply no Jumbo tron to start the season if need be before the Flames play elsewhere even partially this year.

Are the dressing rooms really a worry? They're rooms. How much fixing do they need?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

I'd think making sure the electrical and plumbing are fixed would be worries as well.



Are the dressing rooms really a worry? They're rooms. How much fixing do they need?

Fair on the electrical and plumbing, although the point was easy fixes by the start of the season. Structural damage might not be, and I know nothing about ice making equipment so I left it in.

As for you comment about the rooms, I completely agree. Point was, fine if they aren't fixable (not sure how not), they stick the teams in temporary dressing rooms before they played elsewhere.

[t0rrent98]

Originally Posted by troutman

41 games at McMahon stadium. Flames smash NHL attendance records.

Haha, yeah thats also what I suggested too....

[Enoch Root]

Agree with CSW...

Moving off-site would be the very last resort and all options that keep the games here would be explored first.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Fair on the electrical and plumbing, although the point was easy fixes by the start of the season. Structural damage might not be, and I know nothing about ice making equipment so I left it in.

As for you comment about the rooms, I completely agree. Point was, fine if they aren't fixable (not sure how not), they stick the teams in temporary dressing rooms before they played elsewhere.

I know nothing of it either, so the systems may be completely different, but the ice plant at my rink was wiped out by hurricane sandy and we were playing again within a month.

Btw, another example to point to is the 'transformation' at MSG. The entire 100 level, from suites to concourses, was removed and replaced with a state of the art upgrade in one summer. They weren't just upgrading things, they basically built a new arena inside of the existing one.

[FlamingLonghorn]

I doubt we need to play elsewhere, but don't you think Bettman might suggest playing a few games in KC or Houston to gauge interest?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

I doubt we need to play elsewhere, but don't you think Bettman might suggest playing a few games in KC or Houston to gauge interest?

No

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by valo403

No

The OKC Thunder would not be in OKC without the Hornets playing there and the massive fan support which they were shown. I think if the option was between a road tour and having an actual homebase Bettman would prefer the latter and wouldn't mind testing out markets. Now whether the Flames would want to do it , is another question altogether.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

The OKC Thunder would not be in OKC without the Hornets playing there and the massive fan support which they were shown. I think if the option was between a road tour and having an actual homebase Bettman would prefer the latter and wouldn't mind testing out markets. Now whether the Flames would want to do it , is another question altogether.

OKC also made logical sense as a short term home for a team from NO, it's in the region and had adequate facilities. Neither of KC and Houston fit the first criteria in this situation.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

I suspect a road trip to start the season is the most likely scenario. Heck the home opener could take place in November!

This. Even if they have to start the season on the road for a whole month (which on average is about 11 games) it doesn't even equal the longest road trip ever, which was 14 by the Canucks during the Olympics. I mean there was a large break in the middle of that trip, but if they need an extra month or more to get the Saddledome into game shape, a 10-14 game road trip isn't the end if the world. Hell, it might be a great bonding experience for a team that needs to create a new identity and who doesn't want a bunch of home games to close out a season? Especially in the off chance they happen to be a playoff race. If they go this route the atmosphere at the eventual home opener would be incredible.