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

[Barnes]

http://globalnews.ca/video/1238266/news-hour-mar-28-8

Skip to 11:15.

In short a discussion on a new arena and stadium with a potential bid for 2026. Ken King was interviewed but said nothing substantial. Grant Polluck states that we will find out about the arena this year.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

I would guess this is the closest one that's in operation right now to what you want. Toyota Stadium in Toyota Japan, 45,000 seat retractable roof stadium, with a roof that is very similar in looks to CenturyLink, with an accordion retractable roof added in the middle. Also even includes red seats!

Spoiler!

So that's for sure 45k? From the naked eye it looks like that one endzone has like 15-20k alone.

[jayswin]

Yeah, Wiki has it at 45k. If anything that would be a really cool stadium as it makes a 45k stadium look like an 80k stadium due to the amazingly steep sloped seats.

I bet it would be an amazing viewing experience in there. Looking at more pictures of it, I'd love something like that for Calgary. Just a spectacular stadium. The last of the three pictures here really illustrates how good a job they did of putting 45k seats as close as possible to the field. In terms of fan closeness, they nailed it. I want this!

[Zulu29]

You'd wanna lay off the heroin beers, damn that's steep!

[Flash Walken]

The Saddle is inverted.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Druh Farrell @DruhFarrell
Follow
Question: Do you support spending public dollars for a new stadium and arena in#yyc?

I only wish she would have asked the same question about Bike lanes.

[Bunk]

That is a very cool stadium. Would love something like that here.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I only wish she would have asked the same question about Bike lanes.

And I only wish she asked about interchanges in Cranston.

What's your point?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

What's your point?

Bike lanes are the new chinese finger trap.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Bike lanes are the new chinese finger trap.

Awesome?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I only wish she would have asked the same question about Bike lanes.

The bike lanes that are less than 1.5% the capital budget for transportation? The bike lanes that, at full build out (220km) affect about 0.3% of lane km across the city and less than 3% in within the downtown/beltline?

She did ask you to have your say on the use of your tax dollars, including cycling through the City's very open budget process - on the finger trap no less!

[Bunk]

On the arena - I just have a hard time with a substantial ask for tax dollars (assuming that's coming) to support the arena.

The Flames wealthiest owner Clay Riddell is worth about $3.2 billion, up 14% over 2013. Just the one year increment of his wealth over last year alone could likely cover the cost of the arena cash ($400M). Think about that for a second. The one year increase in wealth of one of the six owners (the second wealthiest of which is worth $2.5 billion).

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/list...-2014-ranking/

Would love a new arena - build it yourselves - offset some of the cost through a ticket tax.

[Vulcan]

My guess is they didn't get that rich by using their own money, so I don't see them starting now.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Is that the second time this week killer_carlson has totally embarrassed himself speaking on local Calgary politics?

Not bad for a guy who doesn't live here (IIRC).

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

My guess is they didn't get that rich by using their own money, so I don't see them starting now.

Yep. Well I guess they'll be waiting a while to get their new arena then. We don't have a few hundred million in capital dollars burning a whole in our pocket.

[Vulcan]

So how soon does Bettman come to town threatening us with the joys of NHL hockey in Saskatoon?

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Is that the second time this week killer_carlson has totally embarrassed himself speaking on local Calgary politics?

Not bad for a guy who doesn't live here (IIRC).

To the contrary, getting the bike lane proponents riled up is worth doing on this issue. I had no doubt Bunk would tell me how transparent every decision is.

And it goes without saying that bike lanes cost a fraction of what an arena would, however my opinion is that if you want to spend money on it, you better pull back on other areas incrementally. Have to start the discussion somewhere. Where is the money going to come from? What projects will be cut or delayed? How much do you want to raise taxes to pay for it?


And when it comes to Arena deals, you'd better take a look at Edmonton's. Look at how much the owner of the team is actually fronting for the cost. Compare it to the city. And look at who gets the financial benefits.

The arena in Edmonton will be popular and will change the city's landscape downtown. People are glad it is going to be built, however many are also saying that they aren't a fan of the deal the city cut.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Bunk

On the arena - I just have a hard time with a substantial ask for tax dollars (assuming that's coming) to support the arena.

The Flames wealthiest owner Clay Riddell is worth about $3.2 billion, up 14% over 2013. Just the one year increment of his wealth over last year alone could likely cover the cost of the arena cash ($400M). Think about that for a second. The one year increase in wealth of one of the six owners (the second wealthiest of which is worth $2.5 billion).

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/list...-2014-ranking/

Would love a new arena - build it yourselves - offset some of the cost through a ticket tax.

I concur.

I don't have a problem if the City or province contributes to the transportation infrastructure around the new arena, but I'm not a fan of the city paying for the building unless the city keeps a substantial amount of revenue generated from it to offset the costs.

[Table 5]

I'm fine with the city contributing money for infrastructure upgrades as well, as long as it's a clear benefit to a good chunk of Calgarians (ie, upgrading an LRT station, improving the riverfront, providing public-use facilities, etc) and fits within the general long-term planning vision.

Otherwise, the only way the city should be giving money to the Flames directly for an arena is if they also get a cut off the profits to recoup their costs, and then some. Otherwise, if the owners don't want to spend their own money, they are free to go to the bank like everyone else.

There are way too many other projects in town that the city needs to focus resources on. Like children's bridge design competitions, and turning Deerfoot into a bike lane.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Is that the second time this week killer_carlson has totally embarrassed himself speaking on local Calgary politics?

Not bad for a guy who doesn't live here (IIRC).

What was "embarrassing" about that question? It was fair game.