[News] Updated cost for Calgary to host the 2026 Olympic to be $5.23 billion.

[Lanny_McDonald]

It’s lipstick on a poke of pigs. Renovating McMahon is the biggest slap in the face. That place was a ####hole 25 years ago. The place needs to be demolished, not renovated. Calgary looks second rate with this proposal IMO. Embarrassing attempt by The Herald to cobble together support for a flawed plan.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by New Era

It’s lipstick on a poke of pigs. Renovating McMahon is the biggest slap in the face. That place was a ####hole 25 years ago. The place needs to be demolished, not renovated. Calgary looks second rate with this proposal IMO. Embarrassing attempt by The Herald to cobble together support for a flawed plan.

The more I think about it, the more I equate this to getting a wedding invite 3 days before the ceremony, in another country. It wasn’t really an invite, and neither is this.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

Perhaps I'm missing something. But wouldn't federal contributions of 50% essentially resolve the gap in negotiations between the city and CSEC?

This guy gets it!

[You Need a Thneed]

People in here are seriously underestimating how much nicer McMahon stadium could be with “only” renovations.

You essentially could have a brand new stadium (every bit as nice), while saving significant money on building completely new.

There’s a lot of structure there that’s stadium shaped, and would be built very much the same if you built brand new. Why not keep at least most of that?

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1039740802455494656

We're going to the polls.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

People in here are seriously underestimating how much nicer McMahon stadium could be with “only” renovations.

You essentially could have a brand new stadium (every bit as nice), while saving significant money on building completely new.

There’s a lot of structure there that’s stadium shaped, and would be built very much the same if you built brand new. Why not keep at least most of that?

depends on what the "only renovations" actually means tho... Only could mean just that. Only the washrooms for example...or only the concourse...Structural engineers would have to inspect the existing structure to see if anything substantive is even possible.

While you can make renovations to existing structures, typically they are extensive renovations because there is something worthwhile keeping historically... like Soldier's Field in Chicago.

if there is no historical value, then at a certain point, the economics pushes the equation into full rebuild because it is ultimately more cost effective than extensive renovations....

the reality is that many were hoping/expecting that the bid would jumpstart both arenas... but if it doesn't, as this latest budget suggests, it doesn't provide a lot of hope for money well spent...

While the City has voted to move forward with the vote, i sure hope calgarians vote with their heads and not their hearts.

like many, this is a big no for me

[calumniate]

Porta potties are expensive. If this is a go I might be inclined to invest

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

depends on what the "only renovations" actually means tho... Only could mean just that. Only the washrooms for example...or only the concourse...Structural engineers would have to inspect the existing structure to see if anything substantive is even possible.

While you can make renovations to existing structures, typically they are extensive renovations because there is something worthwhile keeping historically... like Soldier's Field in Chicago.

I think you have an expectation for how much money anyone would want to invest into a CFL stadium, which gives you a broader range of what's possible, than what's realistic. Comparing to soldier's field is comparing apples to oranges. The Bears, and the city as a whole, is willing, and most importantly, can afford to invest large sums of money into renovating the stadium. But with that said, it's does prove that it's a viable option over a new stadium as a whole. Even Lambeau Field for the Packers, they're still using the same old building, but have done upgrades to it to bring it up to more modern standards.

The CFL is not a big money league, and Calgary isn't a giant metro that has money readily available as Toronto does. So when even a city like Toronto opts for moving the team into a soccer stadium, rather than building a new stadium for them, then how is Calgary going to afford a new stadium as well, on top of spending money for a new arena? Plus money still needs to go towards the fieldhouse that's long overdue, and now it has to put lots of money down on the olympics if that goes through? There's just no financial appetite for a brand new stadium.

And even if one was to be built, chances are with the money that could be put down on it, you'll be looking at what Hamilton's got then, and practically get what McMahon Stadium is already. So if McMahon is structurally sound still, and can last a few more decades, then why not work with what's already in place? The renderings didn't show off too much, but did provides some images that truly does change the persona of the stadium. It looks a lot more modern, and fan friendly, and what you would be aiming for in building a new stadium nowadays.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by getbak

https://twitter.com/user/status/1039740802455494656

We're going to the polls.

Gotta say, between voting no to this waste of money for a plebiscite, and no to changing all the suburb roads to 30km/h, Magliocca is representing my views pretty well. Good job Joe.

[topfiverecords]

What is the cost to run a plebiscite?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

What is the cost to run a plebiscite?

Depends who you ask. City Council? A drop in the pan, maybe a mil or two.

Calgary Sun? $100M and more when you consider the NDP, Justin Trudeau, and the loony left are ruining Alberta and destroying our economy.

[djsFlames]

Whistler? Lol eff off. Calgary Olympics = Calgary (& area) Olympics.
New stadium for ceremonies and rink for hockey is at the absolute core of a bid, should be pretty much projects 1 and 2 on the list. Patching up 50-70 year old buildings for a world event in the 2020s is well, how do i put this... completely asinine.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

For reference purposes, Vancouver was $6.4 Billion and Pyeongchang was $12.9B.

Ya but Vancouver at least got a MASSIVE upgrade in transit. It is by far the best transit system I have ever used.

Calgary is one of the worst I have ever used. After Kamloops.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Ya but Vancouver at least got a MASSIVE upgrade in transit. It is by far the best transit system I have ever used.

The Vancouver transit upgrades were not part of the Olympic budget.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Muta

It really is embarrassing that a city of our size, population, wealth and standard of living can't find a way to build new professional sports infrastructure. Cities smaller than us have gotten more done in less time.

To be fair in the grand scheme of things professional sports are a huge waste of money. Considering the 500 million that would simply buy a buildimg for millionaires to play sports or millionaire singers to play in that money could be better spent on transit, schools , affordable housing and lowering medical clinic costs......

That being said from someone who is very pro sports but to say it is embarrassing for a city to not want to shell out for non essentials is embarrassing. Its not the end of the world if a city didnt have pro sports.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by getbak

The Vancouver transit upgrades were not part of the Olympic budget.

I thought they were??

No matter then I guess. The upgrades were a great side effect then. I have no qualms with the transit post Olympics

[Mister Yamoto]

In the grand scheme of things how much benefit is there for "the little guy"? Impossible to accurately quantify it I would imagine.

Although there are a few things about the bid itself I don't love I'm leaning towards a yes vote because I think an Olympics would be great for poor people in and around Calgary.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Ya but Vancouver at least got a MASSIVE upgrade in transit. It is by far the best transit system I have ever used.

Calgary is one of the worst I have ever used. After Kamloops.

THe 6.4 billion did not include the transit line or the sea to sky highway upgrade. The Vanoc number is closer to 10 when including all Olympic spending.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bunk

A lot of that was building basically an entire resort area and all the infrastructure for people to get there. It's a pretty big permanent thing for a country. A 16 day revenue stream is not going to fully pay back something that will be used for generations. That's part of the difficulty in the accounting of Games.

Yes but anyone going to korea to go to Pyeongchang?
Anyone?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Calgary established a new standard for the Olympics when they hosted in 1988. The community embraced the games and a number of new facilities provided a legacy that has paid dividends for the past 30 years.

With this bid, Calgary will again set a new standard for an Olympic bid, just for different reasons. The recycling of old venues are really not going to look good on the world stage. Where the venues and the design/engineering are part of the spectacle, this has potential to be a tragically bad idea. When the city should be trying to project that it is still a vibrant flourishing modern jewel, they'll be projecting that they don't have the capacity to build new and rely on buildings from the 1960s and 1980s. Edmonton gets a metric tonne of #### around here for living in the past, but this bid is just that. This is an attempt to make a trip down memory lane on the biggest stage in the world. Everyone break out those 30 year old Sun Ice jackets! In 2026, its 1988 all over again! This has debacle written all over it.