[News] UPD: Calgary City Council approves exploratory bid study for 2026 Olympics

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by krazycanuck

It's in the city's report as a possible solution (along with renovating the COP jumps and new jumps in Canmore).

It's a big report but you can read it here with some parts blacked out (Im guessing they don't own land where some things are proposed and don't want values to go crazy)

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Recreatio...20redacted.pdf

Interesting parts to me:

-Opening and closing ceremonies would be held at Stampede Grandstand
-2nd hockey venue would be the Corral
-Curling would be held at the proposed fieldhouse at foothills
-Alpine events at Lake Louise
-Technical events at Nakiska

wasn't a lot of talk here hoping for the Olympics as it would provide money from three levels of government for a new arena?

if the corral is the second hockey venue, would that mean it is a budget Olympics and they wouldn't push for a new rink?

[GGG]

There is an assumption that a second arena would exist that isn't funded as part of the released budget.

You need 3 rinks -- 2 for Hockey and 1 for short track / figure skating. Vancouver had GM place, Pacific Collisium and the University arena which seat about 3-4K for ice surfaces. Women's hockey played in the university rink Men's in GM place and figure skating and short track alternated nights in the Pacific collisium.

So the Corral is a reasonable venue for non premium Women's hockey and Belarus vs Latvia. Short track and figure skating get the Saddledome and the new arena gets Canada and Us women plus Men's hockey.

[speede5]

Isn't hockey the main money maker for north american bids? Seems this is not very lucrative without NHL participation.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by craigwd

Really good idea but the ski jumps cannot be rebuilt to Normal and Large hill standards; the highways is now in the way,

New ski jumps at Nose Hill Park?

I'm also interested in how they make curling ice at a proposed new field house. Do they have temporary freezing units that can be used for the ice?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by speede5

Isn't hockey the main money maker for north american bids? Seems this is not very lucrative without NHL participation.

NHL is seemingly just sitting out 2018. They want back in for 2022 in China and certainly would want in for Calgary

[NiklasSundblad]

Originally Posted by craigwd

Really good idea but the ski jumps cannot be rebuilt to Normal and Large hill standards; the highways is now in the way,

They could build new skijumps to the west of the current ones. It would be a shame to move so many events outside of the city.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by speede5

Isn't hockey the main money maker for north american bids? Seems this is not very lucrative without NHL participation.

If it is here, hockey games (between the bigger hockey countries) will sell out with or without NHL participation.

[Ozy_Flame]

Opinion Piece in the National Post today:

Has anybody told Calgary that its Olympic bid plan is a staggeringly horrible idea?

[Reggie Dunlop]

1988 gave the city some great facilities, but even at the time everyone knew the IOC was a racket. Fast forward to now, a makeshift bid isn't going to cut it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Somewhat related to the Olympics bid, the World Cup 2026 bid from US/Canada/Mexico released its' list of potential host cities. Calgary is on it, with McMahon stadium.

http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sp...01es8wlvu2jg3f

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Somewhat related to the Olympics bid, the World Cup 2026 bid from US/Canada/Mexico released its' list of potential host cities. Calgary is on it, with McMahon stadium.

http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sp...01es8wlvu2jg3f

Well, this might be the best way to get the $200-300 million necessary to make McMahon a half decent 40,000 seat stadium with grass (and eventually fieldturf post WC)... I can't imagine Calgary would be shortlisted over Winnipeg otherwise.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Well, this might be the best way to get the $200-300 million necessary to make McMahon a half decent 40,000 seat stadium with grass (and eventually fieldturf post WC)... I can't imagine Calgary would be shortlisted over Winnipeg otherwise.

You think the city will invest in McMahon just for the World Cup? Doubtful. I'm really surprised Investors Field would be passed over for McMahon as it's expandable to 40,000 and is a far superior facility. Would kind of be embarrassing for Calgary to have McMahon showed off on an international scale. It would be much better to have games in Winnipeg.

[The Familia]

I agree. I would love nothing more than to host a World Cup game (preferably with Italy playing), but I would pass if it meant McMahon hosting as is. Winnipeg and even Hamilton's stadium are far superior choices at this point.

[Calgary4LIfe]

It will be interesting to see what happens with McMahon if NA is indeed awarded hosting the World Cup.

The pessimist in me will just enjoy the other cities having some games, and Calgary getting passed-over. On the other hand, Calgary is one of the bigger cities in Canada, and though the present circumstances have changed, continues to be an economic powerhouse in Canada. Calgary 'should' get a game. However, I do think it would be embarrassing to play in McMahon.

I do think this would push the urgency to do something about the stadium situation, but probably not enough. For me, I don't think McMahon gets replaced unless there is a World Cup, Olympic Winter Games, a rebound in oil prices, peace on earth where the security budget can thrown out, and some type of divine or alien intervention.

I would love to see a really nice arena - and hopefully it is something really unique and timeless (I am a huge fan of some of the football arenas around the world). I just don't see it happening in Calgary - not in a way that it would make it palatable with the majority of tax-paying citizens (myself included).

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

It will be interesting to see what happens with McMahon if NA is indeed awarded hosting the World Cup.

The pessimist in me will just enjoy the other cities having some games, and Calgary getting passed-over. On the other hand, Calgary is one of the bigger cities in Canada, and though the present circumstances have changed, continues to be an economic powerhouse in Canada. Calgary 'should' get a game. However, I do think it would be embarrassing to play in McMahon.

I do think this would push the urgency to do something about the stadium situation, but probably not enough. For me, I don't think McMahon gets replaced unless there is a World Cup, Olympic Winter Games, a rebound in oil prices, peace on earth where the security budget can thrown out, and some type of divine or alien intervention.

I would love to see a really nice arena - and hopefully it is something really unique and timeless (I am a huge fan of some of the football arenas around the world). I just don't see it happening in Calgary - not in a way that it would make it palatable with the majority of tax-paying citizens (myself included).

leaving aside the quality of the city, do you really think Calgary should get a game?
look at the support and crowds Edmonton has given Canadian soccer over the years. they should get a game before Calgary.

then you have Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto as the three primary cities that would host games.

at best Calgary would be 4th on the list.

[GGG]

I'd rather see the money that would be used to renovate McMahon be used to build a new arena and I don't like using public money on Arenas. It just doesnt make sense.

With 48 teams you have 12 pools. So the US probably gets 8, Mexico 2 and Canada 2. Maybe Canada gets 3. But if we get 2 you have 12 games it makes sense to have a western pool and an Eastern pool. So it makes a lot of sense to have 3 games in BC Place and 3 games in Commonwealth. Then in the East Montreal and Toronto split the games with maybe 1 in Ottawa.

Regina will get a game before Calgary will.

[Zarley]

In my opinion public funds should go towards a new stadium (or major renovation of McMahon, put probably cheaper to start from scratch) before going to a new arena, which the Flames can afford to self finance. It would also be more beneficial to the city in terms of attracting new and different events, like soccer, rugby, and large scale concerts.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Zarley

In my opinion public funds should go towards a new stadium (or major renovation of McMahon, put probably cheaper to start from scratch) before going to a new arena, which the Flames can afford to self finance. It would also be more beneficial to the city in terms of attracting new and different events, like soccer, rugby, and large scale concerts.

A new McMahon stadium at Foothills would be an awesome center piece for the athletic park/field house complex. I would love to see one huge complex with an major stadium, indoor track and field facilities, maybe an Olympic size pool and diving tank plus the Norma Bush/David Bauer arenas.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

A new McMahon stadium at Foothills would be an awesome center piece for the athletic park/field house complex. I would love to see one huge complex with an major stadium, indoor track and field facilities, maybe an Olympic size pool and diving tank plus the Norma Bush/David Bauer arenas.

If I didn't know any better I'd say you were talking about the West Village concept and that exact purpose, an idea promptly destroyed by everyone involved.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

If I didn't know any better I'd say you were talking about the West Village concept and that exact purpose, an idea promptly destroyed by everyone involved.

You got that right. Destroyed by the people involved, not the people presented to.