Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[powderjunkie]

In terms of construction cost (very specialized venues) to overall benefit (TV viewership + ticket revenue + historical value), I'd think the worst events are:

Ski Jumping
Sliding
Long Track Speed Skating
Nordic/Biathlon

Pretty much everything else only needs an arena capable of holding ice or any ski resort (Downhill and Super G of course requiring a big ski resort) - both of which are pretty reasonable to expect pre-existing in any jurisdiction considering the winter olympics.

Tossing bleachers and curling sheets into any large building isn't even that expensive (though an arena is easier).


'88 has 46 events compared to 102 this year. All 4 of the costly events above were around in '88 , so at least it could be argued that new events aren't quite as demanding for specialized venues.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

'88 has 46 events compared to 102 this year. All 4 of the costly events above were around in '88 , so at least it could be argued that new events aren't quite as demanding for specialized venues.

Except that in 1988 and earlier, you only needed one large-capacity arena and one smaller one for all the indoor events (which were only figure skating and men's hockey).

For most host cities, the large arena had a capacity of 10-15,000 and the small arena had a capacity of 4-6,000. In Lake Placid, the large arena held less than 10,000 and the small was only 2,000.


Now, with the addition of women's hockey, short track, curling, and the addition of some figure skating events, you need two large and two small arenas. Those facilities are a significant expense for any host city, even if they're built as temporary "pop-up" buildings.

That's one reason why 2026 makes sense for Calgary. The new arena should be open by then to host the big hockey games and the Saddledome can be kept around for an extra few years to host the figure skating and short track events. If we wait until 2030 or later, the financial viability of keeping the Saddledome active doesn't make sense and you really would need Edmonton as a co-host.

Even with the new arena and the Saddledome in place, the two small arenas are still question marks. The Corral could serve as the small hockey venue, but it will require significant renovations to make it suitable, and it's still scheduled for demolition whenever the Stampede Board gets the funding for the BMO Centre expansion. The Flames will most-likely want an on-site practice rink alongside the new arena, so I think there's an opportunity to build that with an eye to serve as the small hockey venue for the Olympics.

The Curling venue is the toughest one. The big arena at Winsport could work, but its capacity is a little small. There's also a people-moving challenge at Winsport if they're going to have sliding events as well as freestyle and/or snowboard events at COP. That's also another reason why, even if they could make the ski jumps workable, they'll likely not look to COP for yet another event.

I've suggested before that the Centrium in Red Deer would make sense for the Curling venue. It's a good size for Curling and it's not too far away from Calgary. They could easily offer bus service between Calgary and Red Deer throughout the games to minimize traffic on Highway 2.

[Fuzz]

What about Max Bel? it's not that big, but it could serve as a small arena or short track ,or curling? I'm not all that concerned about crowd space, most events are watched on TV anyway. Do we really need 5000 capacity buildings that look half empty come game time like at previous games? Hell, I'd be fine with using whatever of the biggest community rinks we have, over sending stuff to Edmonton. The Olympics are primarily about TV viewership, outside of a few marquee events.

[getbak]

You need to generate revenue by selling tickets to the events though, and it would be nice to actually be able to get tickets for events. That's why 5-6000 is a good sweet spot.

Max Bell holds barely 2000 people. Winsport is around 4000. Even the Ag Events Centre at the Stampede would be a little better if they can install ice there.

[GGG]

The people moving problem of Winsport is minor I think. From a security standpoint you want a few concentrated defensible venues with large outside perimeters. So having Stampede, COP and the University being the 3 locations where everything is cuts down on security costs.

I see Winsport as the small hockey venue for all Women's hockey that isn't US and Canada, Saddledome is your Figure Skating Short Track, and the New Arena is men's hockey and Canada/US Women's games.

The Curling answer is quite easy and can be found in the study. The Curling Venue uses the field house wherever it is build and is converted back to a field house once the Olympics are done like the Richmond oval was.

Though one should note that in the 4.6 billion dollar estimate it assumes that the Arena and Field House have been built with funds not included in that estimate.

Vancouver was set up this way with Pacific Coliseum, the University and GM Place. Then they built a 10k pop-up for curling. and a temporary Long Track Oval which was converted to a field house afterwards.

[speede5]

Be nice if there was a train that could get you from Calgary to Whistler in less than a day.

Calgary for opening, off to Whistler for a few days and back for the last few days in Calgary. That would be a great tourist experience.

It's unfortunate that the realities of a multi city bid in a vast country like Canada make it so less attractive than a smaller Euro country.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by speede5

Be nice if there was a train that could get you from Calgary to Whistler in less than a day.

Calgary for opening, off to Whistler for a few days and back for the last few days in Calgary. That would be a great tourist experience.

It's unfortunate that the realities of a multi city bid in a vast country like Canada make it so less attractive than a smaller Euro country.

and instead of using Chinese slave labour this time we'll opt for North Koreans.

A bullet train from here to Vancouver would probably cost a trillion dollars to build. those darn mountains

[sureLoss]

Olympic assessment committee discussing results of survey:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1031930983400988673

[Resolute 14]

^ Yeah, lumping neutral into disagree to claim an even split is just false.

The closest options to 'even' were facilities can't handle and Calgary can't afford at 10 point differences.

Originally Posted by getbak

You need to generate revenue by selling tickets to the events though, and it would be nice to actually be able to get tickets for events. That's why 5-6000 is a good sweet spot.

Max Bell holds barely 2000 people. Winsport is around 4000. Even the Ag Events Centre at the Stampede would be a little better if they can install ice there.

The only real concern is if the planned demolition of the Corral goes ahead. Otherwise, we're already set, given a new major arena. Following the Vancouver example:

New arena: primary men's hockey, Canada/US women's hockey
Saddledome: figure skating, short track
Corral (or replacement): secondary hockey
Winsport: Curling

You lose seating on the curling events compared to Vancouver, but gain on the figure skating and short track. The other two venues will be comparable.

And, honestly, you can dump some of the lower ranked women's hockey games to Max Bell or FDB without issue to make more time at the Corral for secondary men's games if you need to.

[Muta]

Just an FYI, some nordic events (cross-country skiing and biathlon) would definitely be held in Alberta, not BC. The Canmore Nordic Centre is about to get a $10M makeover to make sure that IBU World Cups can be hosted here in the future, which means that's good enough for the Olympics. The RFP for that work closed two weeks ago, so it's already happening.

[getbak]

We should have some clarity in three weeks...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1031935710557700096

[Ducay]

Seems like the more we talk about the Olympics, the bid, and the cost, the less enthusiastic I am. If vote was today I'd probably be a no.

Likely a perfect example of the PyongChang hangover wearing off.

[CliffFletcher]

Any poll that makes no mention of the costs is useless. Of course most people want to hold cool events and host a big party. Until they get the bill.

I think all polling on public policy should include defined tradeoffs. "Do you want to do X or Y?"

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The only real concern is if the planned demolition of the Corral goes ahead. Otherwise, we're already set

Don't forget that there is a proposed Fieldhouse (with ice plant).

A new main arena would be nice but if the Flames won't stop trying to rip us off then it's not really necessary.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

and instead of using Chinese slave labour this time we'll opt for North Koreans.

A bullet train from here to Vancouver would probably cost a trillion dollars to build. those darn mountains

Lol, by day I meant 24 hrs, I think the best a passenger train could do would be in that range.

Wasn't thinking bullet train at all, there are already tracks and a designated passenger train could make a non stop run to Vancouver and up to Whistler fairly easily. It would be a short time period to run during the olympics and the rail should be able to slot it in with the cargo trains that are normally running.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by speede5

Lol, by day I meant 24 hrs, I think the best a passenger train could do would be in that range.

Wasn't thinking bullet train at all, there are already tracks and a designated passenger train could make a non stop run to Vancouver and up to Whistler fairly easily. It would be a short time period to run during the olympics and the rail should be able to slot it in with the cargo trains that are normally running.

The great thing is that we have airplanes that can get to Vancouver in an hour. Why do we need a passenger rail to Whistler for one sport again? Talk about scope creep!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Any poll that makes no mention of the costs is useless. Of course most people want to hold cool events and host a big party. Until they get the bill.

I think all polling on public policy should include defined tradeoffs. "Do you want to do X or Y?"

"Any poll that doesn't bias the options the way I want them to go is useless."

[Wormius]

I long for the day when we can reclaim the railroads for actual passenger travel.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I long for the day when we can reclaim the railroads for actual passenger travel.

Can they be coal-burning trains?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

"Any poll that doesn't bias the options the way I want them to go is useless."

ehhh, cost is a pretty major factor, it's hardly a bias of options. It's basically the crux of the issue with hosting Olympics.