This is how I feel whenever i hear KK is going to be somewhere discussing Calgary next.
This is what i think of whenever i hear "Calgary Next".
I crap on the project a lot, but I think its out of disappointment more than anything. If you ask me, it shows a real lack of vision and the current proposal isn't anywhere near the city transforming project it's being sold as.
People speak about Calgary being a hick town and not world class for not building it, but to me, this is exactly the type of project you get when you let a bunch of small town hicks plan a billion dollar project. I call it the Homer.
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The Delhi police have announced the formation of a crack team dedicated to nabbing the elusive 'Monkey Man' and offered a reward for his -- or its -- capture.
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Doesn't sound like the Flames will bring forward a "Plan B", but are willing to listen (maybe just to shoot down) to alternatives others might suggest.
Why would anyone else suggest an alternative? The Flames have had over 10 years to think about alternatives, and now they expect other people to do their work for them?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
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Doesn't sound like the Flames will bring forward a "Plan B", but are willing to listen (maybe just to shoot down) to alternatives others might suggest.
Haha, "Fans, we're willing to go with plan B if we have to...you guys got any ideas?".
Haha, "Fans, we're willing to go with plan B if we have to...you guys got any ideas?".
Would definitely like to see if East Village would be interested in building an arena as part of their expansion to the Stampede grounds. However don't the Flames ownership and Stampede Board have some tensions?
I have barely posted anything with regards to this project.
All I can say at this point, is that I went from being "Super Duper Excited" to "screw it, perhaps the Saddledome isn't all that bad... new paint will suffice".
One thing I have to say is that I believe this would have gone over much better if Hotchkiss was alive. Maybe I am just being naive. After all, the rich get richer for a reason. However, everything I ever read about Hotchkiss made me believe he was a real humanitarian, and he seemed to always do his best to do 'good' in this world. I think that this project would have been a legacy project for the ownership group to leave their mark on the city, and perhaps create a bit of real history. Perhaps a stadium/arena complex that perhaps would have turned into something special not just with a shelf-life of 20 years, but something that nobody wants to tear down like some of the great stadiums of the world with history.
Maybe it still will be. I just don't like how it is being 'sold' to everyone. It sure feels like someone is trying to pull the wool over our eyes, while sneaking into our back-pocket. Not saying they are, but that is just how it has been feeling. I think they should have either commissioned a better rendering, or not had any at all and explained to the public that the project is in its' infancy and it would be foolhardy and perhaps deceitful to offer a real rendering when they obviously don't know what it will really look like at this point, but just how they want it all to function. It was a let-down. I don't need to see an extremely simple design, but I sure as heck need more details about everything. Maybe I am naive, but I am no simpleton.
I was so excited. I am so apathetic now.
The only thing I really hope happens is for the area to finally undergo a proper cleanup, not another patch that hopefully will work long-term this time. Clean up that area - this is our home, and our home shouldn't have a toxic waste dump. I don't care if no development happens in that area - just clean it up.
I'm guessing that Plan B is on the Stampede grounds. The Stampede Board had huge plans for an entertainment district. In the absence of an arena that brings in thousands of people into the area (Flames/Roughnecks/Hitmen = have dates that fill 1/4 to 1/3 of the year alone), it would be tough to achieve.
The Stampede would have to relinquish some control (revenue) though. From what I understand, eveything at the Dome has to go through them including the food services...
I'm guessing that Plan B is on the Stampede grounds. The Stampede Board had huge plans for an entertainment district. In the absence of an arena that brings in thousands of people into the area (Flames/Roughnecks/Hitmen = have dates that fill 1/4 to 1/3 of the year alone), it would be tough to achieve.
The Stampede would have to relinquish some control (revenue) though. From what I understand, eveything at the Dome has to go through them including the food services...
I would think, Flames would rather go to another city than build another arena on Stampede grounds....
I'm guessing that Plan B is on the Stampede grounds. The Stampede Board had huge plans for an entertainment district. In the absence of an arena that brings in thousands of people into the area (Flames/Roughnecks/Hitmen = have dates that fill 1/4 to 1/3 of the year alone), it would be tough to achieve.
The Stampede would have to relinquish some control (revenue) though. From what I understand, eveything at the Dome has to go through them including the food services...
If the Stampede Board wants the Flames to play in a new arena on the Stampede grounds then maybe they would/should pay a significant portion of the project?
Honestly, I see this plan being simply shot down for the fact that the fieldhouse would be much better served at the Foothills Athletic Park rather than downtown. The University of Calgary has a lot of stake in it, and wants to be a partner in it.
If the fieldhouse is built at Foothills, it really helps the Dinos Athletics department and saves them a lot of money in the long run as well since they'll have a state of the art year-round training facility on their land. This would be big for their football and track and field teams since in the winter they'll be able to train in more appropriate venues for their particular sport. As well have access to a second/bigger varsity/high performance weight room.
Not to mention it could replace McMahon Stadium for football games since the fieldhouse is suppose to support several thousands in seating for events. Considering this would be an indoor venue, it may encourage more students/fans to attend games in the second half of the season and playoffs since cold weather wouldn't be a concern. And the amount of seats wouldn't be overly excessive, so the smaller venue would allow for the atmosphere to be more amplified.
In the outline of the report they did mention they would take into consideration how this would effect the university. Not having the fieldhouse on on their land would affect them tremendously since they are in the hunt for one. So if the Foothills project was to go this would be a win for both the university and the city as well since the city would be satisfied with it being in foothills location based on location being relatively central still and easily accessible for all types of transportation.
The fact the Ken King acknowledges that they wouldn't rule out a 'plan B', probably means that they're gonna have to go with that since 'plan A' doesn't look like it'll be the best for everyone.
Why would anyone else suggest an alternative? The Flames have had over 10 years to think about alternatives, and now they expect other people to do their work for them?
This whole thing has been tone deaf from the start.
Comments about Nenshi not endearing himself to the process etc.
Flames organization has a hugely elevated sense of importance to the Calgary community.
What an absurd thing to say, "We're willing to listen to other proposals about what we should do about our arena."
The sudden talk about a "Plan B" may have something to do with the environmental assessment report coming out soon. I wonder if they got an early heads up that the contamination is worse than they expected, and as a result, be way more expensive to clean up.
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The Stampede grounds and involvement of the Stampede board are a non-starter. Flames ownership is looking for development opportunities around the new facility, not just getting a new arena or football stadium. The real money is in the real estate around these new buildings and the redevelopment opportunities that will exist once these anchor tenants are established. With the Stampede board owning most of the land around the grounds it is highly unlikely the Flames have any interest in building anywhere near the grounds.
I'm thinking that's the last we'll hear from Ken King if plan B goes ahead, after the "Emperors new clothes" Plan A gets shot down, a project he was supposed to close.
