[News] CSEC and City of Calgary agree to restart formal discussions on new arena

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

A close friend has told me they have been asked to tender for this again not too long ago...I do not have any further detail than that.

CoC & CSEC should get ready to be tender.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I think the Coyotes will move into Arena number 5 before Calgary gets anything done. 6 if this Tempe one won't be #4 in their days in the desert. I always forget if they were in 1 or 2 different ones before the Glendale fiasco.

In other words I think the Dome will still be the Flames home in like 2035 if the team hasn't moved South yet.

Regardless of the Flames’ status, the Saddledome won’t still be standing in 2035.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

How does a giant ass office tower last 100+ years, but sports arenas max life span is like 40?

Frankly, I do not need to be attending a luxury venue to watch sports, so to me the dome is fine. I get beer and snacks, and go to my seat. Occasionally I'll go for dinner somewhere downtown beforehand. What do I care if the floor is polished concrete or granite tiles?

A new rink will have fewer seats, higher prices and for what? So the owners can just make more money?

I'm behind a renovation that would increase bathroom capacity.

Doesn’t have a massive free-standing roof supported only by rusting cables.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

That's part of my question though. Why don't these arenas last?

The Empire State building is almost 100 years old. I don't hear talk of having to demolish and replace it.

It's not that arenas don't last. Its that arena design and arena revenue drivers fundamentally changed shortly after the saddledome was constructed in 1983. The saddledome isn't "old" so much as it's "outdated."

The revolutionary change in arena design occured in the late-1980s and early-1990s. It was centered around the luxury box and club seats.

An NHL arena built in 1995 could end up lasting 60+ years. But the saddledome was basically outdated within 10-20 years of construction.

The City of Calgary did a renovation of the saddledome in 1994 when the saddledome was just 10-years old...just to add luxury boxes and help keep the flames viable. And by 2004, that bandaid of a renovation was running on borrowed time.

[jayswin]

^^^^^

And that renovation created one of the best places to watch a game in the entire NHL...the first few rows of the second balcony. Amazing, nothing else like it in the league. You're super close to the action and feel like you're almost hanging over the ice a bit.

[memphusk]

Makes me want to buy tickets to one more game this season.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

It's not that arenas don't last. Its that arena design and arena revenue drivers fundamentally changed shortly after the saddledome was constructed in 1983. The saddledome isn't "old" so much as it's "outdated."

The revolutionary change in arena design occured in the late-1980s and early-1990s. It was centered around the luxury box and club seats.

An NHL arena built in 1995 could end up lasting 60+ years. But the saddledome was basically outdated within 10-20 years of construction.

The City of Calgary did a renovation of the saddledome in 1994 when the saddledome was just 10-years old...just to add luxury boxes and help keep the flames viable. And by 2004, that bandaid of a renovation was running on borrowed time.

I mean, you're not wrong....except for the whole 'roof falling down' bit.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

It's not that arenas don't last. It’s that arena design and arena revenue drivers fundamentally changed shortly after the saddledome was constructed in 1983. The saddledome isn't "old" so much as it's "outdated”

I think you’re misunderstanding the primary issue with the Dome. It’s not so much “old” as it is “temporarily defying gravity”. Literally speaking, it won’t last.

Now that’s not to say that the roof is about to collapse any time soon, but without significant and very expensive mitigation, the rate of deterioration will continue to accelerate. Frankly, I’d be very surprised if it was still open to the public beyond its 50th birthday.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

That's part of my question though. Why don't these arenas last?

The Empire State building is almost 100 years old. I don't hear talk of having to demolish and replace it.

there are concrete ancient Roman buildings still standing

[Hack&Lube]

The problem with sports arenas is the same problem with trendy restaurants and Las Vegas hotels. They always build them to look as modern and glitzy as possible for as cheaply as possible.

Those designer trends simply go out of date within as little as 10-20 years and then the stadiums become eyesores on the outside and maintenance nightmares on the inside. You are also in an arms race as everybody else is also building the trendiest and poshest arena every few years to attract free agents and people.

Those old buildings from the early 20th century last because they were built with the newest steel but old masonary techniques based on classical architectural styles (Greco-Roman, Gothic, etc.) that have proven to stand the test of time. We don't have many examples of this left in Alberta but you can look at Banff Springs Hotel as one - based on Scottish Baronial castles and the French Renaissance Chateauesque style.

Ironically, this is what Hitler and his architect, Albert Speer were trying to do with Nazi Germany. They aimed not to build their Nazi buildings and monuments according to the latest fashion, but according to classical ones so that even after thousands of years they would look like glorious ruins.

[jayswin]

I agree with Hack&Lube, Hitler did some good things.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I agree with Hack&Lube, Hitler did some good things.

Bobby???

[Cecil Terwilliger]

How many threads is Hitler going to invade in one day? ####ing blitzkrieg going on around here lately.

Bobby Hull, this one, the dog thread.

Is this a Flames message board? Or a sometimes Flames but mostly Hitler forum?

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by Locke

We should propose to make a new Arena 100% Egyptian-Themed so that it meshes seamlessly with the Chinook Centre movie theater.

Also because it would be an absolutely baffling inside joke.

Just a giant Pyramid topped with a Sphinx.

Nobody would see it coming.

Kinda like the Bass Pro Shop in Memphis:

[Robbob]

Recently got back from Hawaii and had a good chuckle with a person from Montana when we talked about the NHL. When I mentioned I was from Calgary his first response was, "Oh Calgary, that is that the arena that is falling apart isn't it".

Found it amusing that was the perception from the outsider regarding the Saddledome from a random American.

[CroFlames]

Well, hopefully the new rink is designed to last 100 years.

But to keep with the Hitler theme: may the Reich and the Arena last 1,000 years.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Recently got back from Hawaii and had a good chuckle with a person from Montana when we talked about the NHL. When I mentioned I was from Calgary his first response was, "Oh Calgary, that is that the arena that is falling apart isn't it".

Found it amusing that was the perception from the outsider regarding the Saddledome from a random American.

Wait until he hears about McMahon

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Well, hopefully the new rink is designed to last 100 years.

But to keep with the Hitler theme: may the Reich and the Arena last 1,000 years.

Not that hard, just have Italians build it.

Colosseum still standing after 1950 years

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Wait until he hears about McMahon

I typically go to one football game a year. While I'm there my inner dialogue rotates between "CFL football is kinda fun, I should do this more" and "omg this place is literally a dump, why do I come here" all game long.

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

CalgaryNextCentury was presented on Aug 18 2015.

And in a a building that itself is no longer there.