The only real option is a new building but from what I'm told they need to come up with a plan B.
From what I have been told there isn't and won't be a plan B. They want it downtown and they want it there. I realize the Oilers and Riders are going to get into their new facilities next season further making the Calgary facility situations looking more dire but that doesn't change the fact that Calgary NEXT is going to be a large undertaking to which the owners will patiently ride out to shovels breaking ground.
Can they open up part of the Corral and/or BMO Centre before games? I know they have at least one restaurant that opens during Stampede -- would create an indoor watering hole during the winter. Jazz up the long walkway from the train station. Create a real C of Red atmosphere by painting everything inside the seating bowl red (replacing all the chairs with red ones would be a little expensive though).
The discussion that CalgaryNEXT has fallen flat and is not going to happen. This project is way , way further along than many know. I have no doubt in my mind it will happen and in the location proposed.
As far as the dome....Its old , Its out dated. All the lipstick in the world wont pretty up that Pig.
As mentioned, get rid of the Dodge trucks, painting booths, credit card sign ups, etc that clog up the concourse. Nothing worse then having to maneuver around a bloody truck that no one cares about, or around some dumb credit card booth no one wants to sign up for. You'd probably decrease traffic by a large margin.
Put signs up that say ''Please poop at home prior to the game'' so that less people clog up the washrooms.
In all honestly, I don't see the 'Dome as that bad. I go to watch hockey. Not wander around. I couldn't care less about pampering millionaire players so they can have better work out facilities/locker rooms or so oil companies can have more suites. Maybe it's just me, but I somehow manage to leave my seats during intermission, buy beers/food, go piss and manage to make it back with time to spare. Not sure what the rest of you are doing that causes you to miss the amount of time you do...
Last edited by Huntingwhale; 01-04-2016 at 08:35 AM.
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"From what I've been told..." by Ken King quotes in the newspaper.
You can go back in this thread long before the official Calgary NEXT release and what I was told was correct in that it was going to be a stadium/arena project in that area so I don't doubt that what I have been told may come from Ken King but it surely isn't from the newspapers.
It's like some of you really want to believe that the owners had multiple plans and Calgary NEXT was just a dart they threw out there and since the project isn't front and center news weekly that it's dying a slow death. Unfortunately you will be disappointed as while other ideas were investigated there's no other plan and there won't be another plan.
Last edited by Erick Estrada; 01-04-2016 at 09:08 AM.
This project is way , way further along than many know.
Pretty sure that's what Ken King kept telling everyone for a few years, right up until they released their half-assed proposal.
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Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
From what I have been told there isn't and won't be a plan B. They want it downtown and they want it there.
If they don't have a Plan B, they better fix Plan A, or we're going to be sitting her for a long time. The City is in no rush to develop West Village, and there's really no demand for them to have to work with the Flames...they can just go ahead with their fieldhouse plan on their own at another location.
As things sit, the only way I see CalgaryNEXT happening in WV is if the Olympics come calling....and even then I think it would be wildly different from what the Flames proposed.
Here are some really inexpensive ways to improve the current Saddledome….
- Remove all the large trucks and other vehicles from the concourse… duh!
- Add carousel line ups bars to some of the concessions on the main floor to keep the lines closer to the concession counters (ie: pocket dog lineup). Hell you could even add a carousel line to the washroom. Just try to keep the main concourse area a little more clear for people to move around or stand.
- Add signs to the washroom, ENTRY ONLY/EXIT ONLY to keep things moving. Half the time theres a line to get out of the washroom because there’s no space.
- Add an extra door to the corner washrooms so there is an entry and an exit.
- Add a giant sign above the main west entry doors “Remove all metal objects (key, phones, coins, etc) from your pockets and hold above head”.
- Have the concession staff prepare more beers, nachos, etc prior to intermission to keep the lines moving. The fact that you cant take a leak and grab a drink or snack during the intermission is a joke. I would probably spend more money if I didn't have to miss the first 5 minutes of the period to get a snack.
As someone else mentioned filling in the outside concourse is a good idea. Adding some permanent washrooms in this space is also a great idea.
Last edited by rohara66; 01-04-2016 at 10:30 AM.
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This is not specific to the Saddledome, but the fan experience could be way better in NHL arenas.
I went to a DEL2 game in Frankfurt over the holidays. We could not believe how much more fun it was. Fans standing and singing and drumming throughout the game.
My little video after a Frankfurt goal. I missed the part where they started with Chelsea Dagger. The announcer says the first name of the scorers and the fans shout the last name. A player on each team gets to wear a gold helmet. We weren't sure if that was for the captain or for the MVP of the last game. After the game the goalie did a crazy dance for the fans (won 6-1) and the whole team went right around the glass to thank the fans in every section. So much fun.
Tear the roof off and create a full upper 2nd concourse complete with lots and lots of amenities. get rid of all the PL seats and turn those areas into stacked boxes and press boxes. With a new 2nd concourse, put modern lounges on both ends behind the goalies. If possible, make the entire lower bowl club level. Completely re-do the event level so that a brand new dressing room be built for our players.
This was done during the big SC playoff run in 2004. Worked great during the admittedly warm spring then - you just had to have your ticket for re-entry. Was pretty unobtrusive, and staying on top of cleanouts would address smells. Not great for the ladies and -25 nights though.
The lack of toilets is easily my biggest issue with the Dome - I'd drink a lot more beer if the ability to whiz didn't take 20 minutes out of a game. I'd have to think beer sales would go up if they did this again.
I highly doubt a rolling Atco structure would ever be considered - too much, in all regards...
They did the porta-potties in last years playoffs too, and honestly it helps. Bathroom lines are insane at the dome on a weekend/playoff game when more people are drinking. Yes, there are ways to mitigate this (leave before the intermission), but going to the bathroom and grabbing a beer can often take up the full intermission or more.
Tear the roof off and create a full upper 2nd concourse complete with lots and lots of amenities. get rid of all the PL seats and turn those areas into stacked boxes and press boxes. With a new 2nd concourse, put modern lounges on both ends behind the goalies. If possible, make the entire lower bowl club level. Completely re-do the event level so that a brand new dressing room be built for our players.
I'm no expert but your idea sounds like more than a reno.....I believe what you are almost proposing...is a new rink.
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The stench alone come from the portalets would keep fans from using them or standing near them.
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Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14
I'm not paying $150 to s*** in any Atco trailer. I'd rather be at work.
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Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14
The issue I have with your idea is paying to use it. If I would rather not use one (someone who has spent over a decade working outside) what makes you think Joe blow would want to
Smell or not, I'd wager 90% of dudes would rather use a port-a-potty or a toilet trailer than wait in line for 15 minutes. Girls? No way in heck they'd use it, but guys would (and who are the largest # of users, and who care about efficiency only). There is a reason they did it in 2004 and it worked.
Although the long snaking line is always fun for ribbing opposing fans as they come out.
