Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

Does this mean a tunnel? Please let it mean tunnel.

That would be best for the site IMO. Then everything can be pushed up against the tracks, which helps open up more space along the river to boot.

[Sakic19]

I was at the Spengler Cup this Christmas. If the flames ownership group can create an arena that offers the kind of experience at Allianz Arena in Davos I would be very happy. It was crazy standing in the fan zone, drinking Swiss dome foams and joining in on the chants all game.

[Sakic19]

Originally Posted by speedog

That would be for sure at this location - no free parking to be had anywhere in the near vicinity like there currently is at McMahon. You would have to pay to park to do anything at this facility - there's even free on-street parking not that far from the Saddledome if one knows where to look, actually I'm quite amazed this 2 block long stretch of free, unzoned on-street parking still exists and pretty much on the Stampede Ground's door steps. Certainly there will nothing of the sort near the west village area.

Hillhurst is right across the river. At the moment it's permit parking until 5pm monday-friday, so it could potentially offer free parking to night games, although I'm sure the residents would try to force the city to change it to permanent permit parking.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Sakic19

Hillhurst is right across the river. At the moment it's permit parking until 5pm monday-friday, so it could potentially offer free parking to night games, although I'm sure the residents would try to force the city to change it to permanent permit parking.

Actually, Westmount is right across the river, and there is no bridge between 14 St. and Crowchild. That would be a long, cold walk on a winter night to 14th and then back west to the arena site.

[Sakic19]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Actually, Westmount is right across the river, and there is no bridge between 14 St. and Crowchild. That would be a long, cold walk on a winter night to 14th and then back west to the arena site.

My bad, I always mix up the community names, although the same permit rules apply

[speedog]

There's a community called Westmount? I do know there's West Hillhurst and also Hillhurst but Westmount is a surprise to me and I used to live in West Hillhurst. Can't even find Westmount listed on the CoC's Community Profiles web site - link.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Sakic19

I was at the Spengler Cup this Christmas. If the flames ownership group can create an arena that offers the kind of experience at Allianz Arena in Davos I would be very happy. It was crazy standing in the fan zone, drinking Swiss dome foams and joining in on the chants all game.

My sentiment exactly, I wish we had this. A lot of people say the only reason soccer fans are nuts and cheer all game is because soccer is boring. Although I neither agree or disagree with that statement, European hockey fans are equally as crazy as the soccer fans.

I would love to have 5,000-10,000 standing room only fan zones behind the Calgary net in the new barn. General admission, $35 a pop.

One can dream eh?

Of course, many will point out that the Flames dismissing the idea in pursuit of maximum profit is completely legitimate since they are a business enterprise. I would agree with this 100%. However, sometimes you can earn a legion of loyal fans who will eagerly spend on the club if you lower ticket prices, thereby making it more accessible to a larger audience, and potentially increasing your profits.

Impossible you say? Bayern Munchen is one of the most successful and most profitable sports clubs in the world. Their season ticket cost is at about 105 Euros a year. They haven't increased their season ticket cost in years. Their fan loyalty is 2nd to none since fans sincerely believe they aren't being screwed over by the club. The atmosphere?

Spoiler!

[nik-]

You can't compare Euro soccer league ticket prices with NHL prices. Bayern makes 50 million from TV alone. Their revenue is four times the Flames revenue. It's a much different financial reality.

Lets accept that there will be less seats and they will all be more expensive. This arena isn't being built for the average fan. It would be awesome if it were, but hoping for it is folly.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by speedog

There's a community called Westmount? I do know there's West Hillhurst and also Hillhurst but Westmount is a surprise to me and I used to live in West Hillhurst. Can't even find Westmount listed on the CoC's Community Profiles web site - link.

No, you're right, it's West Hillhurst. Google Maps handed me the idiot ball, and instead of handing it right back, I ran with it.

Nevertheless, to get across from there to the Greyhound/GSL site on foot requires going a long way around.

[Joborule]

The city's West Village plan does include a pedestrian bridge being constructed between Crowchild Trail and 14 Street. So it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Sakic19

I was at the Spengler Cup this Christmas. If the flames ownership group can create an arena that offers the kind of experience at Allianz Arena in Davos I would be very happy. It was crazy standing in the fan zone, drinking Swiss dome foams and joining in on the chants all game.

Europe does hockey right!

[Tyler]

Anything resembling European soccer in a hockey environment should be catapulted into the sun without remorse

[johnnybegaudreau]

Alright. You have to use a bit of imagination and think 3D here. Keep in mind i'm not an architect or a computer whiz of any kind (so it's not perfect) but this sort of will give everyone some of an idea of how this project could be envisioned.

I'm think elevated street down what used to be 16th avenue with the boulevard streets set at level grade and bar/restaraunts above sort of like 7th avenue downtown wiht the train platforms. A nice stair case on either side that leads down into the stadium-filedhouse and arena. The retail/restaraunts bars can have sidewalk front dsiplays and tables outdoors for nice weather with river views etc.

West Village with bowtrail realignment and urbanized boulevards.
Purple = retail/restaraunt/office mixed used
Orange = arena
Red = football stadium field house combo
Pink = hotel/casino
Dark grey = parkade/parking
light grey area = future residential
light blue = pumphouse theater

Facing South across bow river.

Facing West from DT Calgary.

Facing East towards DT.

Facing North over the LRT


My guess is the Flames will make one complex for the CFL stadium which will have roughly 20,000 seats for regular season cfl games. Due to the fact however that CFL only runs like 10 regular season games and is once a week for all of 4 months. This stadium would also serve as the public fieldhouse which for the rest of the time would be used as a convertible buildng. Volleyball courts, badminton courts, a super fancy track for track and field and field events. It could be used to host small volleyball/badminton/soccer/fieldhockey championship type games for smaller clubs/events with the seating capacity able to drop down to 10,000. Even thinking of the future PDL team here. However the seating capacity would also be able to expand to 40,000 for the grey cup and or future potential MLS expansion. Stadium would be roofed completely. It also provides as potentially the main venue for all future concerts/or at least as a backup plan for smaller concerts that only want to seat 15000 instead of 20-30 like the arena would.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Anything resembling European soccer in a hockey environment should be catapulted into the sun without remorse

I wholeheartedly disagree with this opinion. Anything resembling the atmosphere of European soccer should be encouraged (minus flares). Unless folks prefer the library like atmosphere that the Saddledome provides today where we have to be told to "make some noise"?

[Tyler]

BRB some jack-off waving a 30 foot flag in front of me

BRB drunk guy singing songs in my ear for 3 straight hours

BRB road flare throw in my feet while I'm trying to watch a hockey game

Do not understand the obsession people have trying to replicate goofy European customs and annoyances over here

[N-E-B]

The most intriguing thing about this project to me is the football stadium. I think there's real potential there.

I'd love to see an indoor football stadium that could also be used for baseball. Let's bring AAA ball back to Calgary (preferably moving the Bee's here, but that's nothing but extremely wishful thinking!). I miss the Cannons.

I'd also like to see the football stadium be used for concerts. Concerts in hockey arenas suck. Not enough standing room for us young folk who still like to go nuts rather than sit back and watch!

[shermanator]

There's a reason the Saddledome is known as the library.

"Sorry, client of mine, we have to stop this business deal because the jumbotron is telling me to make some noise. How would I have known to enjoy this sporting event if the jumbotron did not tell me to do so."

That's what the atmosphere at Flames games often feel like when I go. Hell, if Harvey didn't start the GO FLAMES GO chant with his drum, everyone would just be sitting on their hands otherwise. I think what they have going in Ottawa this year where they have a section to those fans who want to do this sort of thing is something that could benefit the Flames. It's not for everyone obviously, but there are those who do enjoy singing and chanting all game long.

Anyways I will stop the derail.

[heep223]

I don't know where you guys have been watching hockey games but I've been to about 15 games at the dome this year, and for the most part the atmosphere has been amazing. The most electric I've seen it in probably 5 seasons.

[jayswin]

It’s a megaproject that could easily cost more than half a billion dollars

This part kind of scared me, I hope that's just pure speculation on the writers part and that a hockey arena/football stadium/fieldhouse/office project would be approaching $1bil, if not over.

Most arenas built these days are easily over $400m (I believe Edmonton is around $450) so an entire multi-stadium project like this at anywhere close to $500mil would have to be pretty scaled back and underwhelming compared to other projects.

Again, I'm hoping that buddy just didn't do any research on what the going rate for arena projects are these days and thought $500mil sounded like a large number to spitball in his article (sounded like he was implying north of $500mil was really impressive/expensive). Hopefully the years going by with no agreement hasn't also meant serious slashes to the project to get it going.

[The Familia]

My guess is the Flames will make one complex for the CFL stadium which will have roughly 20,000 seats for regular season cfl games. Due to the fact however that CFL only runs like 10 regular season games and is once a week for all of 4 months. This stadium would also serve as the public fieldhouse which for the rest of the time would be used as a convertible buildng. Volleyball courts, badminton courts, a super fancy track for track and field and field events. It could be used to host small volleyball/badminton/soccer/fieldhockey championship type games for smaller clubs/events with the seating capacity able to drop down to 10,000. Even thinking of the future PDL team here. However the seating capacity would also be able to expand to 40,000 for the grey cup and or future potential MLS expansion. Stadium would be roofed completely. It also provides as potentially the main venue for all future concerts/or at least as a backup plan for smaller concerts that only want to seat 15000 instead of 20-30 like the arena would.[/QUOTE]

I hope you are wrong because that would be a terrible idea. The stadium and field house need to be separate facilities. Trying to shoehorn both of them into the same building would be brutal and not ideal for either. The days of multi-use facilities are coming to an end. Plus, the Stamps average 28-30 thousand fans. 20000 would be waaaay to small.