[News] Bettman urges new arena ASAP

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If Vegas doesn't get an expansion team I would eyeball relocating there if I was a Flames owner as flights are cheap and it's not overly far from Calgary like an Eastern destination would be. It's an untapped market and at worst I could still seeing Vegas being more successful than Florida but the ceiling is much higher.

Flights are cheap for who? Flames owners? They don't care. Flames fans? They don't care either. Nobody is going to follow them.

Any "threat" of relocation is, and should be treated as, a joke.

The NHL has been propping up teams all over the States for decades. They don't want the Flames to leave Calgary any more than we do, no matter what that Beardo Bettman hints at.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They are going to have a tough time competing with the rest of the league.

Dude...there are 9 teams and 5 of them make the playoffs.
Pretty sure competing in the CFL is basically who can be the least incompetent.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Why have they let McMahon deteriorate as much as it has? Was it bad ownership prior to the Flames?

I think that McMahon is actually owned by the UofC. Its definitely on their lands and its the McMahon Stadium Society that runs it. I could be wrong, this is totally from memory, but I'm pretty sure that is the situation. So the UofC has other priorities I would think.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Flights are cheap for who? Flames owners? They don't care. Flames fans? They don't care either. Nobody is going to follow them.

Any "threat" of relocation is, and should be treated as, a joke.

The NHL has been propping up teams all over the States for decades. They don't want the Flames to leave Calgary any more than we do, no matter what that Beardo Bettman hints at.

I think the Flames owners have more class than that but it appears Nenshi is certainly going to push their buttons and maybe to lengths they didn't think they would have to go.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Stamps have a pretty solid and devoted fanbase that has averaged over 27k fans for a few decades now. While you may not be a fan the truth is they need this more than the Flames. You can also make a good argument the field house is a much better deal for Calgarians than the arena.

Sorry, not even close. I don't know the numbers, but I would fathom to guess, the gate revenue from one Flames playoff game, likely exceeds the revenue for half the Stamps regular season. The CFL is a..... charming little league. How serious can you take a league where seasons tickets can be had for the price of a pair of lower bowl seats to one regular season, Tuesday night Columbus game. Without TSN pumping the faux patriotism down our throats, the teams would be playing in half empty stadiums.... which most teams already do. I would argue there is now more NFL fans in Canada than CFL fans. I find it intersting that the biggest revenue generating event in the history of McMahon.... was a Flames game.

The Stamps can play in that rotting husk for 50 more years for all I care. I understand the CFL is important to some, but they aren't even on the radar in comparison to what the Flames and NHL mean to this city. The number one priority is to secure the Flames future. And if that means 9 less, not even div 2 college calibre football games? So be it. There are probably 10 cities in the US that would take the Flames. There might be 2 or 3 cities in Canada that would even be remotely interested in the Stamps, and if that happened, you could get a CFL team back in a matter of a couple years.

Ask Quebec and Winnipeg how easy it was to get their NHL teams back.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

The Stamps can have all the boxes they want, and it wouldn't make a difference once the initial novelty wore off. Corporate Calgary couldn't care less about the Stamps and the feeling is mutual with the majority of the people here outside of the 25k of season ticket holders. You don't build a stadium to sit empty 350 nights a year.

The Stamps only shot at a new stadium is unfortunately CalgaryNext.

[Scary Eloranta]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I'm a big Stamps fans and have seasons tickets, but there is no way you can make an argument the Stamps needs a new stadium more than the Flames. They use their stadium ten times a year. The saddledome is one of the most used venues in North America.

A stadium with translucent roof like they proposed would be used just as much as the arena but no sense in discussing as it's not gonna happen.

Stamps season ticket holder here too but don't go to as many games anymore. I can't stand going to McMahon. Sometimes I can't even give the tickets away. I guess people would rather watch at home. These days I think you need more to get people out to the park (better game experience). Especially when CFL is concerned.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by pylon

Sorry, not even close. I don't know the numbers, but I would fathom to guess, the gate revenue from one Flames playoff game, likely exceeds the revenue for half the Stamps regular season. The CFL is a..... charming little league. How serious can you take a league where seasons tickets can be had for the price of a pair of lower bowl seats to one regular season, Tuesday night Columbus game. Without TSN pumping the faux patriotism down our throats, the teams would be playing in half empty stadiums.... which most teams already do. I would argue there is now more NFL fans in Canada than CFL fans. I find it intersting that the biggest revenue generating event in the history of McMahon.... was a Flames game.

The Stamps can play in that rotting husk for 50 more years for all I care. I understand the CFL is important to some, but they aren't even on the radar in comparison to what the Flames and NHL mean to this city. The number one priority is to secure the Flames future. And if that means 9 less, not even div 2 college calibre football games? So be it. There are probably 10 cities in the US that would take the Flames. There might be 2 or 3 cities in Canada that would even be remotely interested in the Stamps, and if that happened, you could get a CFL team back in a matter of a couple years.

Ask Quebec and Winnipeg how easy it was to get their NHL teams back.

Pylon you hate the CFL. I'm not wasting my time arguing this with you.

[TheAlpineOracle]

The Stamps will Never have a new stadium unless it's part of a mega complex with the Flames. That seems pretty evident to me, which saddens me because I really have no time for the Fieldhouse concept as it was presented at the unveiling.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Cole436

Ok let's place bets. Who we got here?

Likely Quincy Egg.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Pylon you hate the CFL. I'm not wasting my time arguing this with you.

I don't hate it. But comparing the CFL to the NHL is trying to compare a Chevette to a Corvette. If we lost the Flames, it would be an absolute tragedy to this city, and we'd sulk over it for decades.

If we lost the Stamps, sure it would be disappointing, but the economic and emotional impact on the city would be marginal.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Likely Quincy Egg.

Agreed. He's not smart enough to be an effective moon troll.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by pylon

I don't hate it. But comparing the CFL to the NHL is trying to compare a Chevette to a Corvette. If we lost the Flames, it would be an absolute tragedy to this city, and we'd sulk over it for decades.

If we lost the Stamps, sure it would be disappointing, but the economic and emotional impact on the city would be marginal.

The CFL would likely crumble if it lost one of it's best markets. The field house is going to get done one way or another and it's the arena that is the sticking point.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Agreed. He's not smart enough to be an effective moon troll.

No, not moon

moon > ReadOnly > adc

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The CFL would likely crumble if it lost one of it's best markets. The field house is going to get done one way or another and it's the arena that is the sticking point.

I could be wrong here, but I actually would bet that the Calgary Flames or any other Canadian NHL team is actually worth more than the entire CFL, by a wide margin. What's a CFL team worth? Maybe $10-15 mil?

Not trying to argue for the sake of it, but spending even $100 million on a stadium for a team that plays 10 times a year, and might be worth $20 million, makes a lot less sense than investing $500 million in a team worth $300 mil, and provides a great deal of national and international exposure to the city. Not only that, the building is used for 2 other teams that generate revenue plus can host other events year round.

Building a state of the art stadium for the stamps seems kinda like building a 6000 square foot luxury home in the middle of a trailer park. You'll never get return on your investment.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The CFL would likely crumble if it lost one of it's best markets. The field house is going to get done one way or another and it's the arena that is the sticking point.

You can't be serious. The Stampeders are one of the worst road draws in the league. There's only one team in the league folding which would cause the downfall of the CFL and that's the Toronto Argos. Not because they are anything special, but because the only thing that keeps the CFL as a going concern is the fact that TSN hitches their wagon to it. The minute that stops, this league is probably done and losing the Toronto Argos would like be the one thing that could cause TSN to jump ship.

[MRCboicgy]

Ok, now that the thread has been tidied up a bit, please keep it on topic of Bettman vs. the city/Mayor.

All other CalgaryNext discussion in the proper places.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Anyone else watch the segment on Tim and Sid?

I'm actually left a bit upset over this whole thing and I for one sure hope this doesn't turn into a war between the City of Calgary and the NHL..

For all Doc and Harley did to get this team.. I'm disgusted for them.

There better not be any threats of relocation in the coming years. I don't know if I could handle that on top of all the recent lockouts..

They definitely don't want to go down that round but Nenshi's ego will push them that way IMO.

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by pylon

In all reality, the team should just scrap this amazing mega complex, and build a decent frikkin arena. I don't care about the Stamps, or Track and field, or any of the other amateur crap. We don't need an entertainment district, and it doesn't have to be the envy of the entire NHL..

And let me guess, when Canada doesn't win medals during the Olympic Games or fails to live up to expectstions, you're the first to pile on.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by saillias

They definitely don't want to go down that round but Nenshi's ego will push them that way IMO.

oh brother

It's Nenshi's ego that will drive them to play the relocation card (which has already been hinted at). Nothing to do with the half a billion they'll likely need to get this going.