[News] Calgary, Alberta, & CSEC agree in principle to $1.223bn Event Centre + infrastructure

[Major Major]

Mike Rose with Snoop Dogg?

[drewtastic]

History is a circle.

https://youtu.be/WB-2nQXX15w

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

History is a circle.

https://youtu.be/WB-2nQXX15w

And we all survived and thrived

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I suspect if we hear the arena deal goes through we hear about a new ownership group emerging. Orange Julius rumour: local group headed by Mike Rose were waiting to see if the deal goes through and Murray is getting out.

Did you just make that up or hear it somewhere. He practically prints money so he’s be the next who could do it. Brett Wilson has always talked about owning some of the flames.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

It's like I said in off topic, voting is like trying to decide which pile of turd smells less horrible.

It was a lame analogy the first time you said it

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Did you just make that up or hear it somewhere. He practically prints money so he’s be the next who could do it. Brett Wilson has always talked about owning some of the flames.

W. Brett Wilson owning the Flames would be horrifying and I'm not sure he would eventually get the green light.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Can’t wait for the new arena. It’s going to be fantastic!

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

History is a circle.

https://youtu.be/WB-2nQXX15w

I always knew Bob Nicholson was a hack, but I never knew he was a hack

Originally Posted by fotze2

Did you just make that up or hear it somewhere. He practically prints money so he’s be the next who could do it. Brett Wilson has always talked about owning some of the flames.

Brett's probably got a lower net worth than Ryan Reynolds.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I always knew Bob Nicholson was a hack, but I never knew he was a hack



Brett's probably got a lower net worth than Ryan Reynolds.

According to celebrity net worth



Ryan Reynolds net Worth: $350 Million


Brett Wilson net worth: $300 Million

[Manhattanboy]

To think I used to dress like that.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Brett's probably got a lower net worth than Ryan Reynolds.

Maybe but i guarantee he has many many friends/associates with way more $$.

He has already owned a piece of an NHL team before.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Pros: more bathrooms, bigger concourses, better food

Cons: everything will be 3 times the price.



And done. That’s the whole list and discussion. The money and politics is infinitely more relevant and interesting to discuss. There’s nothing about the actual arena experience that is really up for debate. At least not until the new renderings come out and people flip #### again.

Correct.

I mean yeah I guess it will be nice to have a bit more room in the concourses and a nicer aesthetic than the cinderblock and concrete motif. But a hockey game is already expensive AF to attend. Do I want to pay a ####-ton more for these small perks?

I go to watch hockey. If the beer is cold and the pocket dawgs hot, I can sit on wooden benches for all I care.

Billionaires need to eat too I guess.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Correct.

I mean yeah I guess it will be nice to have a bit more room in the concourses and a nicer aesthetic than the cinderblock and concrete motif. But a hockey game is already expensive AF to attend. Do I want to pay a ####-ton more for these small perks?

I go to watch hockey. If the beer is cold and the pocket dawgs hot, I can sit on wooden benches for all I care.

Billionaires need to eat too I guess.

That's such simplistic thinking. The entire experience is different in a new building and that's not just for the fans as it's for the players too. Better locker rooms, better training facilities, etc. This stuff matters to players because they play on the road and get to play in all the other new arenas. Conroy mentioned it's always part of the discussions when trying to attract players. The biggest issue with the dome is the roof. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time but it's simply no good for concerts and it's just no good in general as it makes for a bit of a claustrophobic feel when sitting up at higher levels because you are separated from the other side of the arena. It's just a straight up bad design and when you factor in how dated the rest of the facility is inside and out, it's really a no-brainer to replace it. Even with the jacked up pricing in Rogers Place, there are very, very few if any people in Edmonton that miss Northlands Coliseum as the game experiences are night and day better in the new arena.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Billionaires need to eat too I guess.

Yes - but they eat our money. It's the only thing they're good at...and for some (insane) reason, people think that's a wonderful accomplishment.

No, folks, it's just greed.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's such simplistic thinking. The entire experience is different in a new building and that's not just for the fans as it's for the players too. Better locker rooms, better training facilities, etc. This stuff matters to players because they play on the road and get to play in all the other new arenas. Conroy mentioned it's always part of the discussions when trying to attract players. The biggest issue with the dome is the roof. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time but it's simply no good for concerts and it's just no good in general as it makes for a bit of a claustrophobic feel when sitting up at higher levels because you are separated from the other side of the arena. It's just a straight up bad design and when you factor in how dated the rest of the facility is inside and out, it's really a no-brainer to replace it. Even with the jacked up pricing in Rogers Place, there are very, very few if any people in Edmonton that miss Northlands Coliseum as the game experiences are night and day better in the new arena.

As much as all of that is correct - although some of it could be fixed internally - let the people who will make the money from it pay for the facility. But ... why, they cry, when we can use other people's money? OPM is the cheapeast, sleaziest way of building. But politicians, and the public that elect them are pretty gullible, so it all continues.

[8sPOT]

So where are we at now in this never ending process?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's such simplistic thinking. The entire experience is different in a new building and that's not just for the fans as it's for the players too. Better locker rooms, better training facilities, etc. This stuff matters to players because they play on the road and get to play in all the other new arenas. Conroy mentioned it's always part of the discussions when trying to attract players. The biggest issue with the dome is the roof. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time but it's simply no good for concerts and it's just no good in general as it makes for a bit of a claustrophobic feel when sitting up at higher levels because you are separated from the other side of the arena. It's just a straight up bad design and when you factor in how dated the rest of the facility is inside and out, it's really a no-brainer to replace it. Even with the jacked up pricing in Rogers Place, there are very, very few if any people in Edmonton that miss Northlands Coliseum as the game experiences are night and day better in the new arena.

Obviously simplistic and a bit facetious. But Cecil is right, the cost to attend hockey will be outrageous. The benefit to me, the fan, will be minimal.

I know the new rink was needed for all the reasons you listed, but for me personally, I don't need fancy digs. Just a big loud bowl with 20,000 of my closest friends screaming at hockey players.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

So where are we at now in this never ending process?

According to Ryan Pike on Twitter, it sounds like all sides are hammering out the final contracts and the province is expected to give it final approval in a post-election "budget update" in August.

He's expecting to see a groundbreaking ceremony after next year's Stampede. That would make the opening date no earlier than 2026, but probably 2027 (maybe, midseason in 2026-27).

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Obviously simplistic and a bit facetious. But Cecil is right, the cost to attend hockey will be outrageous. The benefit to me, the fan, will be minimal.

I know the new rink was needed for all the reasons you listed, but for me personally, I don't need fancy digs. Just a big loud bowl with 20,000 of my closest friends screaming at hockey players.

I'm generally the same. While I get the reasons for a new arena, I know that I will be going to even fewer games than I am now. It's already hard to justify the costs of going to a Flames game as a family. Spending $3-400 for a night of mediocre mid-season hockey just comes across as poor value to me......which is why we haven't gone in a couple of years. For those who prioritize the product on the ice over all the fluff, the value proposition will be getting even worse.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's such simplistic thinking. The entire experience is different in a new building and that's not just for the fans as it's for the players too. Better locker rooms, better training facilities, etc. This stuff matters to players because they play on the road and get to play in all the other new arenas. Conroy mentioned it's always part of the discussions when trying to attract players. The biggest issue with the dome is the roof. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time but it's simply no good for concerts and it's just no good in general as it makes for a bit of a claustrophobic feel when sitting up at higher levels because you are separated from the other side of the arena. It's just a straight up bad design and when you factor in how dated the rest of the facility is inside and out, it's really a no-brainer to replace it. Even with the jacked up pricing in Rogers Place, there are very, very few if any people in Edmonton that miss Northlands Coliseum as the game experiences are night and day better in the new arena.

Who is going to miss the Northlands and Saddledome experience? Everyone that has been priced out, or will be priced out of attending more than the odd game moving forward.

Publicly funding this to the tune of ~70% so that we as fans can now basically exclude ourselves from regularly attending games (at least most fans) is just a bad move. Many markets in Canada and the USA have privately funded a substantial portion of their new buildings, if not entirely, so you can't say there is a precedent here either.

I suppose the city should be preparing $3B to fund the next new event center as early 2055? Modern engineering and construction now has a lifespan of only 30-35 years? It's all very needless and first world to be whining about this building that COULD be touched up and renovated to continue operating for a long while yet. If the team was going to front 50-60% of the cost it would at least be palatable, but these deal in Calgary and Edmonton are nothing short of highway robbery. Flames ownership must just be laughing all the way to the bank.