[News] CalgaryNEXT Announcement. New arena details emerge.

[Fire]

200 million is a drop in the bucket the way the City spends money. I hope Nenshi and city council don't act like cheapskates when the time comes.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by flameswin

A blueprint? You think the Flames are releasing a blueprint to the fans to show the design? That's awesome!

I thought the fans that believed we wouldn't see renderings at this event were hilarious enough, but then someone comes along and says we won't see renderings, we'll see blueprints.

"Hey guys, welcome to the event, sorry we wanted to show you guys some nice renderings, but unfortunately they weren't ready, so if everyone could go ahead and crowd around these blueprint plans we've been working on.

We'd appreciate if those fans in attendance that have experience working with blueprints could explain the ins and outs to those that don't."

Well I don't mean blueprint but more of a birds eye view of the area it's being built and where everything will go. Etc

[Freeway]

2026 bids open in late 2017. The timelines could work.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I find tailgating lame. If you don't have an in with someone you can't partake. A district with restaurants and bars is the better way to go. Seattle has very little tailgating (compared to say, Arizona) but the bars around and on the way to the Clink are packed for breakfast. It's my favourite part of my annual trip.

Agree that the way they do it at McMahon sucks but, as you say, Arizona has a great atmosphere. Denver too. Tailgating is football. Restaurants and bars are just that and it doesn't surprise me Seattle, doesn't tailgate. Lame bandwagon fans that live on the upper west coast, much like their neighbor to the north. I would bet most stamps fans would love to see an expanded area.

[PaperBagger'14]

I've heard from a slightly better than Orange Julius source that there has been significant headway made on the design but perhaps not the location. This source gave very limited details in a brief and non formal chat, but my gut instinct tells me that there will be a rendering released. If a mod wishes to contact me via PM I can provide some context and give background details on how the chat went down.

[morgin]

Originally Posted by chedder

Agree that the way they do it at McMahon sucks but, as you say, Arizona has a great atmosphere. Denver too. Tailgating is football. Restaurants and bars are just that and it doesn't surprise me Seattle, doesn't tailgate. Lame bandwagon fans that live on the upper west coast, much like their neighbor to the north. I would bet most stamps fans would love to see an expanded area.

I love how you went from "you have a point" to "######y latte sippers and their bandwagon fanbase hurrrr durrrrr" in 5 and a half lines. That's impressive!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Fire

200 million is a drop in the bucket the way the City spends money. I hope Nenshi and city council don't act like cheapskates when the time comes.

The question is where to find say $200m capital. The city will need to extend the infamous $52m tax room to 30 years to pay for its 1/3 share of Green Line LRT now that the Feds stepped up. Beyond that, remember that the vast majority of capital funding comes from levies (for specific infrastructure) utility rates (for utilities) and especially grants from the Province and the Feds. MSI in this 10 year program is completely spoken for, gas taxes can only be used for Transportation. For recreational and community infrastructure, the City had no sources until in 2011 when it took $42m in tax room to create the Community Investment Fund. It's spoken for over the next 10 years I believe for projects like the Central Library, the 4 major rec centres under construction and a bunch of lifecycle maintenance of pools and stuff.

It's easy to say don't be cheapskates, it's another to actually come up with that amount of cash when all the current money is totally spoken for. I think the best hope is whatever the NDP replace MSI with for a general ongoing municipal grant program for capital projects. The current MSI program expires in 2017 I believe.

Not straight forward.

[morgin]

Set up a City of Calgary fieldhouse funding kickstarter

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

That and the other Canadian cities had shown clear support for soccer at lower levels prior to getting a MLS team. Calgary, not so much. I just don't think there's enough true support for a soccer team in this city.

While the Impact and Whitecaps were well supported prior to the arrival of the MLS, Toronto wasn't head over heels in love with the Lynx. Nevertheless, Calgary is yet to reach the level of support required for an MLS franchise. It's not a bad thing as it provides an opportunity for Foothills to evolve like a proper club rather than a made up franchise like TFC.

Originally Posted by Fire

200 million is a drop in the bucket the way the City spends money. I hope Nenshi and city council don't act like cheapskates when the time comes.

Exactly! It probably won't have to go through the extreme scrutiny that they put the $7.1M cycle tracks through...

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by chedder

Agree that the way they do it at McMahon sucks but, as you say, Arizona has a great atmosphere. Denver too. Tailgating is football. Restaurants and bars are just that and it doesn't surprise me Seattle, doesn't tailgate. Lame bandwagon fans that live on the upper west coast, much like their neighbor to the north. I would bet most stamps fans would love to see an expanded area.

Yeah, Arizona was cool to look at, and probably great if you had a spot, but if you were an outsider (like me) I didn't get to hang out with those guys and play Madden all day. I feel more included at a bar.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

I'm just going for the free lunch

[krazycanuck]

tailgating is fun, but it's also not necessary if the stadium is in a great area that can offer more than that. The fact is the stadium is going in an urban environment, and vast expanses of parking lots to allow tailgating are not available and not functional. As long as it offers either a great entertainment district or tailgating it works fine. If it has no place to tailgate in a crappy neighbourhood, you're watching a game at Commonwealth Stadium and that would be awful.

Seattle has limited tailgating and I've never done it there, but I never felt like part of the experience was missing because I could walk for 3 minutes and be in Pioneer Square to have some drinks pre and post game. It's also the same thing in San Diego for the Padres field. The nice thing about all of those urban stadiums are it's easy to keep the fun rolling and the vibe is way better than it would be to jump in your car and drive to the local Boston Pizza post-game.

Give me Centurylink field over Qualcomm stadium anyday.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Yeah, Arizona was cool to look at, and probably great if you had a spot, but if you were an outsider (like me) I didn't get to hang out with those guys and play Madden all day. I feel more included at a bar.

Parking Lot < Pub

However, it probably depends on the crowd in the end.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by polak

I don't think it's as small of a niche as you think.

Calgary has a terrible record of supporting amateur leagues but my gut tells me an actual MLS team would draw decently.

We all played soccer as kids but I've never overheard anybody talking about MLS. Never had a conversation myself. Never seen an MLS jersey in the city. Never even met anyone who has mentioned MLS in more than passing. I lived in Vancouver and people barely knew who the Whitecaps were and that's a way bigger, more multicultural city.

It's a niche sport in our city. Similar to lacrosse. Which is fine! But don't kid yourself.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by polak

I'd say it's quickly becoming 2nd tier worldwide. By the time this project is built and if it continues it's pace of growth, I would not be surprised at all if it was competing for players with the big European leagues.

Doesn't the MLS play spring/summer, but all other domestic leagues are fall/winter? The MLS season conflicts with international tournaments.

[shogged]

There are more minor soccer players in Calgary than minor hockey, plus the price level of MLS is very family friendly. If you can work the schedule so you're not competing with the stampeders, I really don't see a problem with the team operating here.

I think the hold back will be MLS and their desire for soccer specific stadiums.

[jmac98]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

Ugly??? I think that bridge is one of the coolest things in the entire city. Calgary finally built something that belongs in the 21st century.

Art is very subjective to the beholder, so a difference of opinion is just fine. I don't personally like the bridge myself, nor care for the blue ring street light, but to each their own.

The thing about the bridge is its already falling apart. Three years or whatever in, thats not good.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by jmac98

The thing about the bridge is its already falling apart. Three years or whatever in, thats not good.

You have no idea what you're talking about

[johnnybegaudreau]

I think some are overestimating on the costs of building a fully functional roofed stadium/fieldhouse here. In 2010 some CFL franchise (arguably the stamps although the company denied it) did up a 28,000 seat stadium expandable to 40k I think it was CEI architecture. It's out there on google you can look it up. The predicted cost was 114million for the stadium and 136 million with a roof. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say add 100-150 million to this cost which will cover inflation and to cover other costs like making it completely convertible for a multitude of events and sports. So essentially what you're doing is agreeing to allow the public to use the stadium/filedhouse the 90% of the time that the Stamps aren't using it. City gets a much needed facility, Flames entertainment group gets a new shiny home for the stamps the combination of that and them building their arena in WV sparks redevelopment of that area forces the city/province and feds to get together and work out infrastructure and contamination clean up in the area eventually. IN my opinon there isn't a better partner for the city than the flames SEG they are good people and do good work in the city. We can be proud of our ownership here unlike up north.

[jmac98]

Originally Posted by Tyler

You have no idea what you're talking about

It was a feature story on Global News two nights ago.

Anyway, I'm not here to argue. Bridge is great.

Sorry all, didn't meant to ruffle feathers.