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

[getbak]

I hope it's a retractable roof and not permanently enclosed. Fully enclosed stadiums have pretty much become a thing of the past (although, the new Vikings stadium in Minnesota won't be retractable).

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by JBR

Nothing better than a Stamps home game on a beautiful July/August night.

And nothing worse than a October/November game in the -20 wind and snow.

[Jay Random]

From the owners' point of view, there's nothing worse than having to mothball the stadium for seven months of every year because it's too freaking cold to use.

[Finger Cookin]

Indoor or outdoor, any new stadium will be a far superior experience to McMahon at its very best.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Indoor or outdoor, any new stadium will be a far superior experience to McMahon at its very best.

That's true. But that experience will come at a high price tag – too high to justify, I suspect, if the place is only usable from June to October. Hence why I think a roof (retractable or not) has to be part of the plan.

[Roof-Daddy]

Retractable roof would be most people's first choice I'm sure, but if it has to be a choice between open or covered and retractable isn't an option, I pick covered.

As much I enjoy attending a Stamps game in the nice weather, I'll never forget the '93 West final, that was brutally cold.

The outdoor stadium cost us a dynasty in the 90's IMO.

[MacDaddy77]

Where's Bunk with the information that the Mayor is reviewing this proposal right now with an announcement next week?

[NiklasSundblad]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Where's Bunk with the information that the Mayor is reviewing this proposal right now with an announcement next week?

Bunk has moved on from the mayor's office.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Robbob

So who is Richard White, or better yet is he credible?

Writer for the Herald.

http://calgaryherald.com/author/richard-white

[Table 5]

The problem with an open stadium is that while the games sure are nice in August...the games that tend to matter the most, i.e. the late season games and especially the playoffs, are the ones with the poorest attendance. Big important games are memory makers and they turn fairweather fans into long-term fans...and when you're missing 5-10k people in the biggest games of the year, that's a missed opportunity.

Of course if the CFL was smart, it would just start the season a month earlier.

[Jimmy Stang]

Retractable > fully covered > fully outdoor. BC Place is actually a really nice place to watch a game since the reno. There is a lot of natural light even with the roof closed (they used a lot of translucent materials and windows), and it doesn't feel stuffy inside. And, of course, it can be somewhat opened up.

Summer nights at McMahon are nice, but we have to be honest with ourselves. Our summer is really short in this climate, and we get a lot of unpredictable weather. Not to mention an extremely wet month of June.

If it were just for the Stamps, an indoor/retractable stadium would be excessive. But there are a lot of concerts that play in larger stadiums, not to mention the possibility of other sports using it. If we had a "proper" stadium, you can bet that we'd have some Women's World Cup games this summer, for example. Also, if there are no major events using it, it will be rented out to local groups to train in during the winter months. It would also provide a massive convention space. I believe that BC Place hosts a number of auto, boat, etc. shows.

Obviously this is still a rumour, but I can see why an indoor or retractable option would be preferred.

[RM14]

I know our downtown doesn't need a revitalization. But this project would take it to yet another level.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Retractable > fully covered > fully outdoor. BC Place is actually a really nice place to watch a game since the reno. There is a lot of natural light even with the roof closed (they used a lot of translucent materials and windows), and it doesn't feel stuffy inside. And, of course, it can be somewhat opened up.

Natural light would be a very high priority if I were in charge of a domed stadium. Cowboys stadium would be where I would model my design from because I think they have really done a lot in terms of bringing in natural light.

[calgaryrocks]

summer games at McMahon are great, however we are talking what 3 games? home opener, then they play one end of July or early August plus maybe one more. so 2/3 the season is in the fall...covered would be nice for playoffs. I agree with the poster that said the important games are in the fall and there are less fans taking these games in - a missed opportunity

[RM14]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Natural light would be a very high priority if I were in charge of a domed stadium. Cowboys stadium would be where I would model my design from because I think they have really done a lot in terms of bringing in natural light.

Minnesota...

Spoiler!

[Jay Random]

Minnesota makes a better model for us than Dallas. Designing a building to admit natural light is a lot more difficult in the higher latitudes, and it looks like Minnesota did a good job of tackling that problem.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by RM14

Minnesota...

Spoiler!

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Minnesota makes a better model for us than Dallas. Designing a building to admit natural light is a lot more difficult in the higher latitudes, and it looks like Minnesota did a good job of tackling that problem.

Minnesota is great but not retractable unlike Dallas. I guess it depends on whether or not a retractable roof actually makes any difference in the overall environment and stadium experience.

[getbak]

I went to a game in Indianapolis a couple of years ago, and one thing I didn't like was that even though the roof was open, it didn't feel like you were outside.

I was sitting up in the "cheap" seats under the permanent roof, so it may be a different experience in the lower seats, but from where I was, it just felt like you were inside and someone had cracked a window to let a breeze through.

[Fire It Up]

A retractable roof might also make sense if Flames were ever looking to own an MLS team. Something this big can't just be for a CFL team.

[You Need a Thneed]

Fully enclosed stadium is a much worse idea than an open air stadium. More of the season is played in nice weather months than poor weather months.

Retractable roof, or no roof. (partial canopies like Winnipeg or Seattle are ok)