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

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by saillias

You know I'll take an arena that looks what you guys are calling "bland" from the outside. What's with this expectation that they recreate the Eiffel Tower here? For that 2 second shot on CBC of the arena before puck drop? The event experience is what matters.

That's what matters to you. To others, the outside architecture and it's addition to the overall city landscape do matter, and that's why we're discussing it. People have different opinions, who knew, eh?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I think many people are looking for a contemporary landmark - something that is of its time, not a theme park like replica of some bygone era - i.e. "stampitecture" Let's remember the saddledome was not intentionally shaped to resemble a saddle - it was contemporary for its time.

Edmonton is to be commended for their bold and modern design. It's a wonderful design.

*reaches for thanks button*

Originally Posted by Bunk

Edmonton is to be commended

Oh, so close.

[getbak]

The problem with the Saddledome accommodating concerts has more to do with the size of the new scoreboard than the roof itself. Concerts skipping Calgary didn't really become a problem until the new scoreboard was installed.

The original scoreboard could actually be pulled up inside the catwalk. The new scoreboard can't go much higher than it sits for Flames games. There's only 32 feet of clearance under the scoreboard now.


For years, the Stampede Board's plans have included the construction of an amphitheatre to replace the Coke Stage, which is in a horrible location and too small for the crowds it attracts. The Saddledome location would be the perfect place to build an amphitheatre. I don't think it would be possible to somehow convert the Saddledome superstructure into an open-air amphitheatre, but if they could build the amphitheatre with the "saddle" shape, I think it would be a nice tribute, and maintain the skyline we've all grown accustom to over the last 30 years.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by getbak

The problem with the Saddledome accommodating concerts has more to do with the size of the new scoreboard than the roof itself. Concerts skipping Calgary didn't really become a problem until the new scoreboard was installed.

The original scoreboard could actually be pulled up inside the catwalk. The new scoreboard can't go much higher than it sits for Flames games. There's only 32 feet of clearance under the scoreboard now.


For years, the Stampede Board's plans have included the construction of an amphitheatre to replace the Coke Stage, which is in a horrible location and too small for the crowds it attracts. The Saddledome location would be the perfect place to build an amphitheatre. I don't think it would be possible to somehow convert the Saddledome superstructure into an open-air amphitheatre, but if they could build the amphitheatre with the "saddle" shape, I think it would be a nice tribute, and maintain the skyline we've all grown accustom to over the last 30 years.

That's actually really interesting to know, I thought it was literally about what the concave roof design could support.

Still, it kind of a half dozen of one, 6 of the other scenario. In order to meet the needs of the main tenant, and have a state of the art scoreboard, they've had to sacrifice concert dates because the board can't be raised up high enough. Something that wouldn't be an issue if the roof was designed differently.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by saillias

You know I'll take an arena that looks what you guys are calling "bland" from the outside. What's with this expectation that they recreate the Eiffel Tower here? For that 2 second shot on CBC of the arena before puck drop? The event experience is what matters.

There are plenty of good reasons why we should hope for, and perhaps expect, a visual icon:

- It's replacing an icon. To be an improvement, it needs to be awesome.
- Between the Peace Bridge, National Music Centre, The Bow, Telus Sky, etc., the bar for architecture in this city is being raised. If we keep this trend going, we could become known as a very cool city (and not just for our climate).
- The Flames want to be downtown/near downtown. Any location they might choose will be quite prominent.
- The Flames owners are definitely wealthy and seem to be quite civic-minded. They could and may wish to build something that the city would be proud of.
- There's a possibility it will be at least partially funded with public money. If so, it should be designed to enhance Calgary as city, and not just to increase revenues for the owners.

Edit: and oh yeah, do we really want to be upstaged by Edmoton?

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by HOWITZER

Doesn't the Stampede own the building? If so, I wonder if there is a place for the saddledome to continue to exist as an arena for agricultural purposes. Or if it can be saved/used for other recreational purposes (i.e. olympic bids/multi-purpose stadia)? I don't know enough about dimensions/requirements and what-not, but maybe it can be better suited as a permanent fixture for major curling? Or heck even a swimming pool or velo track? All I'm saying is maybe there is a place for it to continue being the saddledome, just in a different capacity (both purpose and seating).

Any way to stop it from becoming a grocery store like MLG

Its not feasible to keep it as an arena for recreational purposes - with the Hitmen, Roughnecks, Flames & major concerts taking their gate revenues to the new building.

The saddledome costs alot of money to operate and you would need to find a revenue generating purpose for the building otherwise it makes more sense to demolish it and turn it into a parking lot.
As long as the saddledome sits empty, its costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses (Utility costs, Taxes, insurance, Up-keep/Repair/Maintenance)

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by getbak

The problem with the Saddledome accommodating concerts has more to do with the size of the new scoreboard than the roof itself. Concerts skipping Calgary didn't really become a problem until the new scoreboard was installed.

The original scoreboard could actually be pulled up inside the catwalk. The new scoreboard can't go much higher than it sits for Flames games. There's only 32 feet of clearance under the scoreboard now.


For years, the Stampede Board's plans have included the construction of an amphitheatre to replace the Coke Stage, which is in a horrible location and too small for the crowds it attracts. The Saddledome location would be the perfect place to build an amphitheatre. I don't think it would be possible to somehow convert the Saddledome superstructure into an open-air amphitheatre, but if they could build the amphitheatre with the "saddle" shape, I think it would be a nice tribute, and maintain the skyline we've all grown accustom to over the last 30 years.

Yes, but the reason the scoreboard can't go high enough is because of the low roof, so the point remains the same.

[HOWITZER]

Originally Posted by getbak

The problem with the Saddledome accommodating concerts has more to do with the size of the new scoreboard than the roof itself. Concerts skipping Calgary didn't really become a problem until the new scoreboard was installed.

The original scoreboard could actually be pulled up inside the catwalk. The new scoreboard can't go much higher than it sits for Flames games. There's only 32 feet of clearance under the scoreboard now.

With this in mind, I'm surprised that they didn't devise a way to be able to collapse the scoreboard in on itself. Kinda like a telescopic system. I know in practice it would be hell with all the wiring, but it could maybe have been a worthwhile investment.

Originally Posted by 1stLand

Its not feasible to keep it as an arena for recreational purposes - with the Hitmen, Roughnecks, Flames & major concerts taking their gate revenues to the new building.

The saddledome costs alot of money to operate and you would need to find a revenue generating purpose for the building otherwise it makes more sense to demolish it and turn it into a parking lot.
As long as the saddledome sits empty, its costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses (Utility costs, Taxes, insurance, Up-keep/Repair/Maintenance)

No no no no no. It should never be more acceptable to demolish a building in favour of more parking lots. Let alone a building like the dome. Just, no.

Watching the riders game today though, I hope that if they go ahead and do a combination of a new football stadium, and an arena that they include a fully retractable roof. Something along the lines of the skydome where when the roof is retracted, the stadium is practically totally open-air. Would make the stadium usable year round, and no more freezing in the playoffs!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Yes, but the reason the scoreboard can't go high enough is because of the low roof, so the point remains the same.

Certainly. I just pointed it out because some people act like the Saddledome would collapse if they tried to fit some of the bigger concerts.

If they had installed a shorter scoreboard, like the ones in Montreal or Vancouver, the concert problem wouldn't be as big of a deal.

A cynical person could argue that the Flames chose to install such a tall scoreboard so that the number of concerts bypassing Calgary would increase, and along with it, support for a new building (and public funding for that building) would increase as well.

[morgin]

Originally Posted by HOWITZER

No no no no no. It should never be more acceptable to demolish a building in favour of more parking lots. Let alone a building like the dome. Just, no.

People grow attached to these buildings, but the economic realities are what they are. You can't force private industry to convert the building to other revenue generating uses. Parking lots at Stampede make money. Giant empty buildings do not. Do you want to pay upkeep costs?

[1stLand]

I think we should turn the Saddledome into a Homeless Shelter, in keeping with Calgary's Strategy to Eliminate Homelessness within 10 years.

Seating Capacity of the Saddledome is close to 20,000.

20,000 Homeless people off the streets.

Problem solved.

Just need to make some rules:
- No heroin Beer
- Don't give them the good nacho cheese sauce

[Calgary4LIfe]

I love the Dome. It is iconic, and it has helped to make the Calgary skyline recognizable. People dismiss it too quickly as as a great element to the city.

With that being said, this city needs a new arena. Too many acts bypass this world class city. The inside of the dome, while 'cozy' now for everyone who has been going there since they were kids, is quite terrible.

The new arena might be western-themed, but probably not. In either case, not everyone is going to like it right away, and for some it will take a period of 'getting used to'. For others, they will hate it regardless.

I myself think that the new arena will not only be awesome, it will also look pretty darn awesome too. I would bet that the Calgary arena will look much better than Katz' cost-cutting one. If they go with an attached football arena (and hopefully one that they can use for MLS too - I bet that will come to Calgary one of these years), I think the whole footprint will look really great. I can't wait for an official announcement with artists' renderings.

I just really doubt that the arena will be generic. Not necessarily a western theme, but it won't be generic either.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

The new arena might be western-themed, but probably not.

I guarantee you it will not be, and rightfully so.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I don't know the exact answer to that and I'm not going to look it up. I do know in the past 5 years we started to miss out on numerous shows that either go only to Edmonton, or skip AB all together because the Dome can't accommodate the production directly associated with roof design.

As of right now, there are 4 major (non country) music acts scheduled to come through AB between now and June (that's what's scheduled now, I'm sure more to come. 9 inch nails, Justin Timberlake, Pink and Cher.

9 inch nails and Cher are each doing a show in both Calgary and Edmonton.

Timberlake is doing two shows in Edmonton, and Pink one, no Calgary dates.

Not to get on my Calgary high horse, but all things equal, no pop artist is skipping Calgary for Edmonton. For sure we get at least one of those JT shows and likely Pink comes here over Edmonton or at least adds a show. Small sample size, but shows an example of what keeps happening for the past few years. As more artists add shows between now and then, you will see Calgary continue to miss out on a healthy number of them due to the building.

Yup, last time Metallica played here ('08) they had to do an 11th hour production change and pushed their "in the round" stage set up to one end of the building and using about 1/2 the hanging lights they had rigged up specifically because of the roof.

While the fans at one of the building for both (sold out!) shows got a heck of an upgrade on their seats it meant the overall experience suffered a bit. I'd honestly be surprised if Metallica ever plays the dome again after that incident. They swung through Edmonton recently... no Calgary date.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

While the fans at one of the building for both (sold out!) shows got a heck of an upgrade on their seats it meant the overall experience suffered a bit. I'd honestly be surprised if Metallica ever plays the dome again after that incident. They swung through Edmonton recently... no Calgary date.

When they came through western Canada last summer, they skipped Calgary saying their rigging and whatnot wouldn't work at any venue in town

[RM14]

End of January Ron McLean released this tidbit:

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Flames to announce arena plans in 3 to 4 months per Ron MacLean on CBC during the 2nd intermission of the Leafs Rangers game.

Also said it would be a downtown arena and a development plan for more than just an arena.

Exactly 5 months later, dowbiggin on June 19, said within two weeks..

Originally Posted by iggyformayor

Sounds like news may be coming soon:


bruce dowbiggin (@dowbboy)
2013-06-19 3:54 PM
If NHL final ends by this weekend expect Flames to announce arena plans shortly after. Not waiting for mayor's election. Location still TBF.



bruce dowbiggin (@dowbboy)
2013-06-19 3:56 PM
Could be East Village or area on west Bow Trail. Box holders have been told they'll have first dibs on new locations.

June 20/21, The City of Calgary Floods. If Dowbiggins sources were correct, the Flames organization obviously has to put any unveilings on the back burner during that disaster. Hopefully we all hear someting soon, I can't wait to hear what they have been scheming up for all this time.

[SOMBRI2]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

The new arena might be western-themed, but probably not. In either case, not everyone is going to like it right away, and for some it will take a period of 'getting used to'. For others, they will hate it regardless.

you can't please everyone but i agree that it wouldn't (or shouldn't) be western style as the theme. afterall, you are gonna have skyscrapers like telus sky, brookfield building, new central library etc are icons for 'modern', 'metropoli' style. i am geared towards a 'state of the art' facility'.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by RM14

If Dowbiggins sources were correct, the Flames organization obviously has to put any unveilings on the back burner during that disaster. Hopefully we all hear someting soon, I can't wait to hear what they have been scheming up for all this time.

Election done, 7 weeks until the end of the year. I imagine we'll hear something before end of the calendar year. Probably more lip service.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by btimbit

When they came through western Canada last summer, they skipped Calgary saying their rigging and whatnot wouldn't work at any venue in town

And I doubt their rigs are gonna be getting & smaller. May have to make the trek to Edmonton next time they swing through Alberta.

[sureLoss]

It wouldn't have surprised me if the arena was supposed to be initially announced at the same time as the new 3rd jerseys during the "Flames Fest."

Would have been the perfect opportunity to launch the campaign for public funds for it. The PR of having hundreds of happy Flames fans around bursting into applause.