Flames step up plans for new arena
Ready to seek proposals
By Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald September 3, 2009 7:11 AM
The Calgary Flames are moving forward with plans to build a new home away from the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Team president and CEO Ken King said Wednesday that although there's no firm deadline in place,
the National Hockey League team wants to break ground on a new arena "as soon as we can."
"We have had several architectural looks created for our new building," King said. "We have been in contact and consultation with several major architectural and construction firms in Calgary and have been working on them.
"Requests for proposals will be going out in the next three or four months."
"We have had informal discussions, and I want to stress, informal discussions at all government levels, that's the provincial government, the federal government and the city."
The announcement follows news the Flames' provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, have agreements to purchase land on two sites as possible locations for a new downtown arena to replace Rexall Place, which was built circa 1974.
When the Saddledome opened in 1983, the $100-million facility with the famous saddle-shaped roof was considered state-of-the-art. But it's now the sixth-oldest in the league.
The Flames have said they want a new arena to allow the team to compete financially with other leading franchises. Although the team's lease on the Saddledome expires in 2014, King said it can be extended on a short-term basis depending how quickly the arena is built.
"It would be difficult to imagine, if you dropped the flag today, that you could do it in much more than 36 months. And we're not dropping the flag today," said King, who is working with a rough target of three to five years to complete the project.
"The fact of the matter is, you don't want to stick yourself in a deadline position," King added. "There are lots of issues surrounding a new building, including development permits and the final acquisition of the land."
The Flames have identified two potential sites. At least one is on the Stampede grounds.
King wouldn't reveal the other location. Sources told the Herald last December one option is to tear down the Big Four Building along Macleod Trail, near the Erlton-Stampede LRT stop. That concept could see the LRT line lowered so it runs right into the new building, providing easier access for patrons. The other site being considered is at the north end of the Stampede grounds, along 12th Avenue S. E. and Olympic Way.
"While we've identified the two sites and we believe them to be suitable and available and we've talked to the city, there's much, much more work to be done," said King, who added that a land agreement is not yet in place.
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