What happens first: new arena or contender?

[Erick Estrada]

I picked arena as I consider a contender to be a Kings, Hawks, Bruins, Ducks type team and IMO the Flames are 5+ years from there. I expect the Flames may become a playoff team before the new arena but I don't believe they will be a cup contender before the new building.

[nik-]

Well, in 5 years (which at least how long this arena will take to get rolling imo) Getzlaf, Perry, Richards, Carter, Seabrook and Brown will all be 34. Duncan Keith will be 36. They'll definitely be slowing down.

Which makes me think, this is a perfect time to be rebuilding. Our youth will get a couple years of playing against these players in their primes and then they'll start to tail off as our players move into their prime years.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I don't see a new arena happening any time soon. Nothing has been done that has gotten out of the fantasy stage while trying to prepare the public to be ready to kick in some tax money. I'd think we should be contending for the playoffs in three or four years, so that will be first.

I'm guessing its the opposite ....

they're trying to get a lot done before announcing anyting. Site, plans, builder, cost, time frame, and cursory talks with city and province.

Flames are more the get it done behind the scenes group then to announce the aquisition of a new stapler for the office.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm guessing its the opposite ....

they're trying to get a lot done before announcing anyting. Site, plans, builder, cost, time frame, and cursory talks with city and province.

Flames are more the get it done behind the scenes group then to announce the aquisition of a new stapler for the office.

I'd think they'd have the site chosen by now and even if they have a site chosen they haven't acquired the property yet. I would think that once the property is acquired it would be pretty hard to keep the deal on the QT.

I hope you're right and it's just a matter of getting all their ducks in a row before announcing everything but they've been talking about getting something done for a few years, long enough for me to have lost patience or at least interest.

[saillias]

Exact same time. I suspect we'll see plans very soon, and we'll have an emerging playoff contender step into the new rink.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

We will win Stanley cup the first year being in new building. 5 years from now

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flames raising a Stanley Cup banner again in the Saddledome.

[SofaProfessor]

I guess it depends on what you define as being a contender. We've seen teams get in that 7th or 8th playoff spot before and make a good run. I would argue that any team in the playoffs is a legitimate contender because you never know what can happen in a 7 game series.

Based on that, I think the Flames a contender before they get a new stadium. Even if a stadium is announced tomorrow you have to imagine it's at least 3 years until you see hockey being played in it.

tl;dr I see the Flames making the playoffs before they set foot in a new stadium.

[Hackey]

To me a contender is a team who legitimately has a shot at the Cup. Playoffs are a given. They are one of the top teams in the league. No Cinderella story team. Ie: Chicago, LA, Anaheim, St Louis, Boston. To reach that level is going to take some time unless everything goes right and usually that never happens. I'll be happy if were on the verge of that by the time the new building is complete in roughly 5 years. I think both will happen pretty close together which is awesome but I think the building will come first.

[troutman]

More than half the teams make the playoffs so that is not a contender in my mind. To me it means a final four team.

By that definition, odds are the arena will come first.

Look how fast Quebec is getting it done, once the decision was made.

[united]

If the Flames rebuild properly they should be a playoff team in two or three years and a contender in four or five. Contender for me, but hopefully the arena is ready just in time for some Stanley Cup Finals action.