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

[mhsyyc]

30000 minimum for football and it would have to be expandable to host the Grey Cup.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

.[/QUOTE]

Not to worry there is a .0001% chance of the new Stamps stadium being 20k. Not happening.

[Lil Pedro]

20K capacity for a CFL stadium? Good luck. My guess is it will be anywhere from 30-34K regular and expandable to 40K for big events. The big thing will be more suites, much the same as the new arena

[johnnybegaudreau]

Good points, I underestimated avg Stamps attendance. 28,000 seats was the study for the stadium size that they did with CEI (which is about their league average attendance). So 28000 seats for reg season expandable to 40,000 for the grey cup, which also includes the possibility of having a location for future MLS of course would be part of the complex.
That being said.
I would be very surprised if the Fieldhouse wasn't bundled into one with the stadium complex as an all in one. It makes sense for the Flames Limited Partnership as they barely use McMahon as it is. Having a complex that's used everyday of the week for something makes more economical sense. With an Arena it's a little different as there can be 3 games in a week if you include in to that NLL and Hitmen and concerts the building is potentially being used all the time.

And who says multi use facilities are phasing out? Colleges/Universities across the states even PRO teams in basketball are useing fieldhouse designs as their homes. Multiuse is the key word here.

No one wants an empty building.

[#-3]

Investors groups field has to be the best size comparison for the stamps seating requirement.

the current 34K seems a little bit bigger than they need, but I have believe if they did not have the worst building in the league their attendance would improve a little bit.

So 30-35K seems pretty much right, especially if the building is easily expandable to 45K somehow.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by 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

And I don't understand why people will spend hundreds of dollars for an experience that is pretty much like watching the game at home but with parking hassles, worse camera angles, and lineups to pee. Why go to a place and be surrounded by people if you want to sit on your hands and quietly watch the activity? You get a way better look at the action on TV with close-ups, multiple camera angles, and instant replay.

Seriously, if you need a videoscreen to prompt you to get engaged and make noise at a sporting event, you're better off just staying home.

Originally Posted by 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.

That's damning with faint praise. The Saddledome is one of the quietest arenas in North American professional sports. It's like someone grabbed a bunch of random people walking through Chinook Mall, bussed them to the arena, stuffed nachos and popcorn down their throats, and told them to sit down and keep their mouths shut for 2.5 hours.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

That's damning with faint praise. The Saddledome is one of the quietest arenas in North American professional sports. It's like someone grabbed a bunch of random people walking through Chinook Mall, bussed them to an arena, and stuffed nachos and popcorn down their throats, and told them to sit down and keep their mouths shut for 2.5 hours.

Which games have you been to this year?

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by 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.

The 3rd period of the Dallas game was the loudest I've ever heard the dome. Might have to bring earplugs if they make the playoffs.

[browna]

Been a while since this got off the ground; first heard of this in 2005, though obviously it wasn't a multi sport complex, but it was painfully clear the Flames wanted out from under the Stampede Board and its politics and red tape.

I would think that a multi use setup, given the space constraints in the area, and the fact that the football stadium will be used under 20 times a year for full on CFL/Colts (?) football. Also, maximizing profits. While there may be a "civic duty" angle as part of the overall PR for the project, for building a field house, a separate facility to handle rec volley ball or other amateur sports is not the money maker. Plus, there are facilities exisiting for this in the city.

I think if you wanted to build a kick ass, full on, all encompassing new field house, there's more space at any one of the City operated facilities (Foothills, Glenmore, Shouldice).

So, while I think the building will have field house capabilities, its designed a football/soccer stadium first, with some floor and seating flexibility where the facility can be divided into 2 or 3, allowing floorspace, and seating for 5k up to 30k for whatever event or activity.

Also, I can see a practice rink as part of this...to be used by kids/shinny 90% of the time, but to allow Hitmen/Flames an alternate place to practice if the rink is hosting an event, similar to what they have at the Corral.

And then, convention space where they can attract things such as Grey Cup week, a Calgary NHL draft week and/or All Star week etc; events that don't need a roof required for football, but also to keep them part of the action, rather then being downtown. Then, proper offices and administration; I could see Hockey Canada moving into that space as well, as well as other amateur organizations.

Add in elements of the LA Live venue (Flames Central West, plus I am sure numerous Cowboys-group developments), and yeah probably a hotel as well so that out of towners don't have to take the train up to Motel Village. Add whatever parking structures, and you've taken up a lot of that premium space, however the roadways are redeveloped.

[taffeyb]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

That's damning with faint praise. The Saddledome is one of the quietest arenas in North American professional sports. It's like someone grabbed a bunch of random people walking through Chinook Mall, bussed them to the arena, stuffed nachos and popcorn down their throats, and told them to sit down and keep their mouths shut for 2.5 hours.

Originally Posted by heep223

Which games have you been to this year?

hmmm...I agree. I've been averaging 12 games a year for the last 5 years and it's never been louder. Do tell...how many game have you really attended?

[heep223]

Nm

[FaFaFlamey]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

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.

It is called Westmount because I live in Westmount. People also like to call it Hillhurst because it's generally lumped in with it. Hillhurst and West Hillhurst are North of Kensington. Westmount is from Memorial to Kensington Road. Only 4 streets wide. You have to zoom in extra for Google maps to actually label it.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by FaFaFlamey

It is called Westmount because I live in Westmount. People also like to call it Hillhurst because it's generally lumped in with it. Hillhurst and West Hillhurst are North of Kensington. Westmount is from Memorial to Kensington Road. Only 4 streets wide. You have to zoom in extra for Google maps to actually label it.

Why is it not listed as a community on the city's web site then and where is Westmount's community center?

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by speedog

Why is it not listed as a community on the city's web site then and where is Westmount's community center?

[speedog]

1,000's do, they really do.

[You Need a Thneed]

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.

When the west village is developed, whether arena complex, or just residential, there will almost certainly be a new pedestrian bridge built across the river in that area.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by FaFaFlamey

It is called Westmount because I live in Westmount. People also like to call it Hillhurst because it's generally lumped in with it. Hillhurst and West Hillhurst are North of Kensington. Westmount is from Memorial to Kensington Road. Only 4 streets wide. You have to zoom in extra for Google maps to actually label it.

Strangely enough, the former CFB Calgary/Atco land in the Sw near Mount Royal University that is being developed into a business park is also called Westmount. There's even a small road with that name. Confusing as to why city planners allowed it (the sites are actually east of Mount Royal University. Why didn't they call it Eastmount?

[CliffFletcher]

There's a difference between the actual names of communities, and the informal names that find their way into common parlance. For example, there is no community called Kensington - that's just what people started calling the restaurants and shops along Kensington Road and 10 St. Same with Marda Loop. There's no such community. Marda Loop is the name of a strip mall on the boundary of South Calgary and Altadore.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

That's damning with faint praise. The Saddledome is one of the quietest arenas in North American professional sports. It's like someone grabbed a bunch of random people walking through Chinook Mall, bussed them to the arena, stuffed nachos and popcorn down their throats, and told them to sit down and keep their mouths shut for 2.5 hours.

I noticed that you never replied to my question about this. Which games have you been to this year? Or are you just an old man randomly yelling at clouds?

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

And I don't understand why people will spend hundreds of dollars for an experience that is pretty much like watching the game at home but with parking hassles, worse camera angles, and lineups to pee. Why go to a place and be surrounded by people if you want to sit on your hands and quietly watch the activity? You get a way better look at the action on TV with close-ups, multiple camera angles, and instant replay.

Seriously, if you need a videoscreen to prompt you to get engaged and make noise at a sporting event, you're better off just staying home.



That's damning with faint praise. The Saddledome is one of the quietest arenas in North American professional sports. It's like someone grabbed a bunch of random people walking through Chinook Mall, bussed them to the arena, stuffed nachos and popcorn down their throats, and told them to sit down and keep their mouths shut for 2.5 hours.

Sounds like you haven't been to a game since New Years. The Anaheim game on March 11th was playoff atmosphere. Amazing game to be at.