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GoflamesGo Jan 17, 2009 5:40 AM

New Downtown Calgary Arena
 
I thought I would start a thread to discuss the possibilities. I know we're probably a few years away from even seeing any concepts, but I think it woudl be good to discuss it.

What would you like to see?

Where would you locate it?

How much Capacity?

Personally I would love to see it either in the east village, or along Macleod trail and 17th. I think its crucial to create an inviting pedestrian atmosphere around it complete with some pubs, restaurants, shops etc. I also think they they should increase the capacity. Unfortunatly they're probably going to make it around 18000 seats, with more luxury boxes. I would love to see around 25000 seats, but only 20000 of them being of the "cushioned type" and a 3rd bowl of nosebleeds composed of a bleacher type system where seats are cheap, and the masses could go and enjoy a game.

GO FLAMES GO

jeffwhit Jan 17, 2009 7:07 AM

I'd like to see it on 17th and McLeod, on the Stampede Park side, basically a little north of the current Big Four, with an integrated C-Train Station underground, and 17th Ave carrying through onto the grounds.

Distill3d Jan 17, 2009 7:18 AM

I've always wanted to see McMahon Stadium and the Saddledome closer together. however that is highly unlikely to happen as there is little room near McMahon to build an NHL sized arena and the NIMBYs around McMahon would pitch a fit.

unibrain Jan 17, 2009 7:19 AM

I think the most ideal would be the coral site.. love it or hate it, I think that location is the most central, and could be integrated into the conference facilities complete with a new atrium entry. The DP is now in for the Stampede expansion... and from the looks of it, there's no provision of any underground parking or structure to facilitate a new stadium there in the future... looks like it's probably going to be on the site of the Big4 (with possible major disruption to the Stampede during construction) should it stay on the Stampede grounds.

unibrain Jan 17, 2009 7:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d (Post 4031404)
I've always wanted to see McMahon Stadium and the Saddledome closer together. however that is highly unlikely to happen as there is little room near McMahon to build an NHL sized arena and the NIMBYs around McMahon would pitch a fit.

I would like to see the Railtown developers pitch an idea to have a new stadium built on their lands, and they get to build condos/retail/office components around it with density transfered into taller buildings around the site.

Joborule Jan 17, 2009 7:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d (Post 4031404)
I've always wanted to see McMahon Stadium and the Saddledome closer together. however that is highly unlikely to happen as there is little room near McMahon to build an NHL sized arena and the NIMBYs around McMahon would pitch a fit.

I was always thinking that if the Greyhound land was ever available, that could be an potential spot for a new football stadium.

Distill3d Jan 17, 2009 7:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joborule (Post 4031431)
I was always thinking that if the Greyhound land was ever available, that could be an potential spot for a new football stadium.

i believe i can support you in that decision. in the area between 15 Street SW and Pumphouse Avenue SW (east/west boundry) and Bow Trail/9 Avenue SW and Bow Trail/5 Avenue SW (north/south boundry), there's enough room there for both a new NHL arena and CFL stadium. plus it has the added bonus of being both downtown and along the planned WLRT line.

Dafunk Jan 17, 2009 8:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d (Post 4031436)
i believe i can support you in that decision. in the area between 15 Street SW and Pumphouse Avenue SW (east/west boundry) and Bow Trail/9 Avenue SW and Bow Trail/5 Avenue SW (north/south boundry), there's enough room there for both a new NHL arena and CFL stadium. plus it has the added bonus of being both downtown and along the planned WLRT line.



Thats a great idea, and a great location. Worse come worse, it will have to been at the Big 4 area, but it would be nice for this location. A little off topic I also kinda wish we had a Central Station type concept in Greyhound lands where the c-train, "subway", inner city buses, grey hound intracity buses, and maybe the future high speed train from Edmonton to Calgary would all interject in one complex. That area would be transportation central for the city.

In the future city stadium, it would be nice to definitely have high density around with, with shops, restaurants and big business all around, along with some condo developments. A stadium like Wembley would be awesome, where the interior can easily be reconfigured in the stadium to support a variety of stage settings for different concerts, shows, and presentations. Also an adjacent smaller concert hall (maybe the size of the Jubillee) would be nice to have right beside the stadium. The Heinekin Music Hall was located right beside the giant Ajax stadium Amsterdam Arena, which allowed for simultaneous concerts and performances to happen. The Heinekin Music Hall was much smaller with a capacity of 2000-3000 people, but it allowed for more intimate concerts. The accoustics of the Music Hall are suppose to be some of the best in the world. I saw both Missy Elliot, and Ben Harper in the Heinekin Music Hall, which was fantastic.

Also, on a side note. An open air concert venue would be nice in East Side Village. It could even support the crappy, but growing, Virgin Music Festival that came to Calgary last year. Montreal has tons of free concerts, and it would be great to have similar concerts in such a venue. Maybe they could even replace the Cocacola stage during the Stampede with this venue too. The possibilities are endless with a medium size open area concert area.

Also, does anybody else want an Opera House in our city? Its about time we had one. Ive got to reiterate again what a friend told me once. He's the chief director of the Scandenavian Opera and Ballet association, stating that a city will never be true cultural and thriving city, without an Opera House. Maybe this Opera House can be worked into the new stadium.
________
CX500

Wooster Jan 17, 2009 5:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffwhit (Post 4031395)
I'd like to see it on 17th and McLeod, on the Stampede Park side, basically a little north of the current Big Four, with an integrated C-Train Station underground, and 17th Ave carrying through onto the grounds.

I agree with Jeff - Stampede will always be the best location. If you move it away, even to somewhere like the greyhound lands - the relationship between 17th ave and Saddledome is lost.

Another thing is that you will need some degree of surface parking to go along with a major arena. Stampede Grounds, already have this and always will - it will be there arena or not. If you build it somewhere else, you'd have to build new parking to go along with it. Best to take advantage of parking that's always going to be there anyway.

Calgarian Jan 17, 2009 6:49 PM

Either where the Big 4 is, or somewhere in the east village, and make sure we leave room for a future 80 000 seat foot ball stadium (pipe dream).

craner Jan 17, 2009 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d (Post 4031404)
I've always wanted to see McMahon Stadium and the Saddledome closer together.


:previous: That's a great idea - I've never considered before. That way a really "dynamic sports district" with pubs, shops, etc. and condo towers of course (this is SSP after all) could be developed.
I have thought a new football stadium would be good on the GSL site but I think if it was going to be combined with a new hockey arena it has to go near the Stampede grounds or the east village.
Assuming the new arena goes on the Stampede grounds I really hope they do put the LRT station inside the building - underground would be great. I really like the idea of extending 17th Ave. into the grounds as well.:tup:

401_King Jan 17, 2009 10:16 PM

just a question, why would calgary need a new arena? isnt the saddledome pretty good?

frinkprof Jan 17, 2009 10:30 PM

^To tap into new revenue streams (hotel, restaurants, retail, etc.). This sort of thing is necessary in today's sports market.

The Saddledome has served Calgary well, but once Edmonton's and Pittsburgh's new arenas are built, the Saddledome will be the 5th oldest building behind Nassau Coliseum (which needs to be replaced or the Islanders may be moved), and Madison Square Garden (a true icon), Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, and Washington's US Airways Arena.

At any rate, despite the potential loss of what some long-time fans see as irreplaceable in the Saddledome, its replacement is inevitable. Even Yankee Stadium, Maple Leaf Gardens, and the Montreal Forum were replaced, after all.

Also, good on whichever mod deleted the unnecessary posts made earlier.

Coldrsx Jan 17, 2009 11:01 PM

on the bow's incompleted site...

ok ok i kid

Distill3d Jan 18, 2009 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 401_King (Post 4032136)
just a question, why would calgary need a new arena? isnt the saddledome pretty good?

no renderings or official plans have been released, but the Flames have said that they will be moving at the end of their current lease at the Saddledome. it ends in 2014, so that is plenty of time to discuss, design, and develop.

Calgarian Jan 18, 2009 12:20 AM

The biggest reason for a new rink is more box seats.

Hawker Jan 18, 2009 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frinkprof (Post 4032145)
^To tap into new revenue streams (hotel, restaurants, retail, etc.). This sort of thing is necessary in today's sports market.

The Saddledome has served Calgary well, but once Edmonton's and Pittsburgh's new arenas are built, the Saddledome will be the 5th oldest building behind Nassau Coliseum (which needs to be replaced or the Islanders may be moved), and Madison Square Garden (a true icon), Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, and Washington's US Airways Arena.

At any rate, despite the potential loss of what some long-time fans see as irreplaceable in the Saddledome, its replacement is inevitable. Even Yankee Stadium, Maple Leaf Gardens, and the Montreal Forum were replaced, after all.

Also, good on whichever mod deleted the unnecessary posts made earlier.

US Airways was demolished years ago.

The plan is to have the new Flames arena on the site of the Big 4 building. The Flames lease on the Dome is done in 2014, so at least prelim work would have to start by about 2011.

Distill3d Jan 18, 2009 1:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawker (Post 4032304)
US Airways was demolished years ago.

The plan is to have the new Flames arena on the site of the Big 4 building. The Flames lease on the Dome is done in 2014, so at least prelim work would have to start by about 2011.

an arena and construction of an arena that size is going to take out a massive chunk of the Stampede midway. potentially eliminating such attractions on the grounds as Weddickville and the Coca-Cola Stage. why would they even consider building on that section of the grounds?

the only two places i could think of closer to the grounds that doesn't currently have a planned development that would be suitable for an NHL arena would be the Victoria Park bus barn, and if you designed it carefully enough the area between the river and 25 Avenue at Erlton station.

GoflamesGo Jan 18, 2009 1:52 AM

Is there room to put up an arena on the corner of 12th and macleod. Where there is a ton of surface parking right now. What if they were to build a few levels of underground parking beneath the arena?

mersar Jan 18, 2009 2:08 AM

Part of the stampede redevelopment plans call for relocating the Coca-cola stage to a new Amphitheater that will be build nearer the Elbow River and for 17th Avenue to run into the grounds, which will pretty much force relocating Weddickville anyways.

As for the corner of 12th and Macleod, possibly, the one issue would be that theres already some underground stuff there in the form of the access to the Casino parkade, and that it would fill up pretty much everything and cut it off from parking as theres essentially a wall of buildings between that area and the other parking lots on 12th, and of course to the main parking area south of the corral.


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