New Downtown Calgary Arena

[Doug_Cgy]

GAWD I hope this happens...I'm soooo over the Saddledome Maybe they'll build a stadium with decent seats, that can host large concerts & events without roof issues, and build in an area of DT that needs revitalization (i.e East Village)

[Calgarian]

I'm all for it as long as they keep the Saddledome.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I'm all for it as long as they keep the Saddledome.

Keep the Dome and get rid of the Corral? Just throwing some ideas out there.

The land that the Dome sits on could be a pretty nice spot on Stampede Park if they did get rid of it, what with its proximity to the Elbow river and all.

[AirGuitarChampion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Keep the Dome and get rid of the Corral? Just throwing some ideas out there.

The land that the Dome sits on could be a pretty nice spot on Stampede Park if they did get rid of it, what with its proximity to the Elbow river and all.

How about something like this (first post with actual content from me yay!).

Red is new arena
Blue is larger +15 walkway
Dark green is hotel
Light green is extra exhibit space

Cons: Lose the Corral
Pros: Everything else (?)

Source file is from Calgary Stampede link in Joborule's post. MS paint awesomeness is all mine.

I've re-arranged the grounds a bit regarding the ampitheatre and extended 17th ave all the way to the new Ramsay Exchange site, maybe that could make a nice quiet riverwalk or something back there, not to mention maybe a streetcar that could run all the way from 14th ave SW to Ramsay Exchange through the park maybe. Also got rid of the traffic circle, I think an intersection with a traffic controlling person in the middle would be more effective in high traffic times after games, etc.

[Beltliner]

^^^ My money's still on the Big Four site, because of the opportunity to maximise connectivity to the 201 and to future through routes for pedestrians and transit through Stampede Park at Macleod and 17 Avenue.

That being said, putting Victoria Park Station underground as part of building the new barn just has to be part of the package. With the help of an abacus, the back of an envelope, and a sliderule I found in a packet of Weetabix, I found that you'd have to allow about 150 metres from the Elbow River bridgehead to bring the 201 tracks 10 metres below grade, and another 170 metres for a five-car metro platform. The total length of 320 metres conveniently puts the new Victoria Park Station north headhouse at the intersection of Macleod and 17 Avenue, and the south headhouse into the new barn and across from the Elbow River Inn Casino. Tack on another 150 metres to tie back into the 201 portal downtown, and you're looking at {(300 m x $255-mil/1000 m metro construction) + ($92-mil/metro station) = } $165-mil or thereabouts that Super Dave and City Council can offer as the municipal contribution to the overall construction enterprise.

If the Stampede Board and the Flames syndicate fall short after that contribution? Well, hey--there are bound to be enough suckers fans out there willing to pony up a hundred bucks an engraved brick to make up the difference, oi wot?

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by Doug_Cgy

GAWD I hope this happens...I'm soooo over the Saddledome Maybe they'll build a stadium with decent seats, that can host large concerts & events without roof issues, and build in an area of DT that needs revitalization (i.e East Village)

I want the Sprint Center tore down in KC and moved here... that place is outstanding!

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Keep the Dome and get rid of the Corral? Just throwing some ideas out there.

Could the Saddledome become the new Corral... or would it be too costly to maintain for literally no events?

Almost every event would be lured into the new arena to pay it off, including the Hitmen, Roughnecks, Monster Trucks, etc.

[Innersoul1]

The articles that the Herald has been posting are certainly interesting! They seem to have more information than the last time with some good sources from the Flames and the ownership. So these are some interesting tid bits:

There are two locations under consideration:
Stampede Ground
Somewhere Downtown

On the Stampede Grounds they are considering two sites:
Big Four Site
South of 12th Ave and the corner of MacLeod

They like the latter due to access and transportation. I am assuming that if they go with the 12th Ave Site then the LRT would have underground access to the arena.

As for Downtown, I have no idea where they would go. One thing for sure, it will need to be on the LRT somewhere. Which gives us the GSL or Greyhound site or somewhere in the East Village.

Ken King also indicated that the New Arena would have a retail element, hotel and condos. Maybe not all but certainly they are looking at the feasibility. There is the thought that the new arena should be stand alone and have all the facilities that fans would want without needed to rely on outside areas.

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by AirGuitarChampion

How about something like this (first post with actual content from me yay!).

Red is new arena
Blue is larger +15 walkway
Dark green is hotel
Light green is extra exhibit space

Cons: Lose the Corral
Pros: Everything else (?)

Source file is from Calgary Stampede link in Joborule's post. MS paint awesomeness is all mine.

I've re-arranged the grounds a bit regarding the ampitheatre and extended 17th ave all the way to the new Ramsay Exchange site, maybe that could make a nice quiet riverwalk or something back there, not to mention maybe a streetcar that could run all the way from 14th ave SW to Ramsay Exchange through the park maybe. Also got rid of the traffic circle, I think an intersection with a traffic controlling person in the middle would be more effective in high traffic times after games, etc.

Great "Content" post

Given the vision that the Flames have for a new site, I don't think that the Corral site has a large enough scale by any means. Your diagram cuts into a significant portion of the (BMO) Roundup Centre.

Plus I think that access is becoming a bigger focus. That particular location sitll means the Plus 15 walk from Victoria Park station.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Plus I think that access is becoming a bigger focus. That particular location sitll means the Plus 15 walk from Victoria Park station.

Yep, I personally can't see them going with any option that doesn't connect directly onto the LRT (for that reason I can't see any possibility of anything near the GSL site, or really even the east village)

[AirGuitarChampion]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Great "Content" post

Given the vision that the Flames have for a new site, I don't think that the Corral site has a large enough scale by any means. Your diagram cuts into a significant portion of the (BMO) Roundup Centre.

Plus I think that access is becoming a bigger focus. That particular location sitll means the Plus 15 walk from Victoria Park station.

I tried to get the new building to start at basically the SE wall of the Roundup Centre. So when you walk through the current +15 to the Dome, where the escilators are now to the Corral and Archie Boyce, that's where the new building starts, butted up to and paralleling Roundup. It does indeed overlap Olympic Way in the one corner, perhaps like BC place does to the road running underneath it, but somehow better.

The reason I chose the Corral site is really to keep as big of a continuous open space as possible on the grounds. This seems to be useful not only when the show itself is under way, but also things like the oil show where there is large equipment and tents to be set up, as well as opening perhaps large venue outdoor music festivals with how I've got the ampitheatre (largely aimed at the hill).

The LRT +15 thing is a problem. Actually didn't consider it when drawing. The only way to get rid of that problem in the context of my possible solution is to bury the line like Beltliner's idea. Huge wide underground station with sloping ped access up to a walkway on the building's side of the road. Which the more one thinks about it, could be done even with minimal disruption to train service:

Dig a cut and cover trench right next to the existing ROW, from the portal to downtown, right next to the Roundup Centre expansion, under where current C track is, then build a WIDE underground station where basically the stampede ticket booths are. Re-align back and pop up roughly beind the south end of the Big Four and you're good to go. Take service down while you tie in the tracks at each end and get rid of vic park station. It's a fantastic idea and really has to be part of the package you're right.

[Big Sky]

I like the Big four as the location for the new arena. I could see Victoria Station and Erlton station disappearing into one great station that is built into the arena structure. Have the station butt up against the concourse, so that you get off the train and walk right into the building

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by Big Sky

I like the Big four as the location for the new arena. I could see Victoria Station and Erlton station disappearing into one great station that is built into the arena structure. Have the station butt up against the concourse, so that you get off the train and walk right into the building

That would be a nice thought, but realistically they will need a larger area to handle the exodus from games and concerts.

If the new dome were to be placed at the Big 4 site, I would like both stations to remain. The Big 4 site is closer to the middle between the stations and could help disperse big crowds between the two stations. Both stations could have relatively direct connections to either (N/S) end of the arena.

Additionally, with more residents (and eventual development) coming to the Beltline area around the Victoria Park station and the Anthem project and Ramsay Exchange around the Erlton station, both stations will see sufficient use to justify their individual existence.

[Beltliner]

^^^ Don't forget that the SPUI on the drawing board for Macleod x 25 Avenue S would put the avenue over the 201 tracks by Erlton Station, which kinda sorta suggests that the station will stay in play.

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by Beltliner

^^^ Don't forget that the SPUI on the drawing board for Macleod x 25 Avenue S would put the avenue over the 201 tracks by Erlton Station, which kinda sorta suggests that the station will stay in play.

Interesting... though as I've said, I would prefer to just have the tracks tunneled/below grade from the cemetery all the way to where it ducks under 12th... stupid Elbow river in the way!

[milehigh69]

I just happened to stumble across this thread and I thought that I would share with you what I heard out of the mouth of Ken King. I was at a Flames "Top Shelf Experience" back on Feb 9th. Ken King came into the room to talk to us and answer our questions. One of the questions asked was, "what is going on with the new arena?". He replied that they have many drawings and renderings that they are going over, and that the new arena will be going two blocks North of the current Saddledome. He also said that the building will be ready for 2014, when their current lease expires, and they hope to go public this fall with designs.

I hope that he is correct.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by milehigh69

I just happened to stumble across this thread and I thought that I would share with you what I heard out of the mouth of Ken King. I was at a Flames "Top Shelf Experience" back on Feb 9th. Ken King came into the room to talk to us and answer our questions. One of the questions asked was, "what is going on with the new arena?". He replied that they have many drawings and renderings that they are going over, and that the new arena will be going two blocks North of the current Saddledome. He also said that the building will be ready for 2014, when their current lease expires, and they hope to go public this fall with designs.

I hope that he is correct.

Interesting. 2 blocks north would be on the empty parking lots along 12th on the east side of the casino... which would be even more detached from transit then it is now.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by mersar

Interesting. 2 blocks north would be on the empty parking lots along 12th on the east side of the casino... which would be even more detached from transit then it is now.

<cough> Southeast LRT <cough>

[Beltliner]

^^^ Perfect site, then--equally inconvenient to both lines....

[Stang]

Originally Posted by mersar

Interesting. 2 blocks north would be on the empty parking lots along 12th on the east side of the casino... which would be even more detached from transit then it is now.

Sounds like a prefect place for a tram/people mover/something similar from Stampede station. Could get used for hockey games, during stampede, etc.

That being said, nothing would beat an LRT station integrated right into the stadium (beside, under, etc.).