Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgarian
Cowboys have very little to do with Calgary or Calgary's history, forcing it as our image to the world is just plain wrong and drives me nuts. The railroad and oil built this city, but we have no real monuments to either, and that's fine.
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This is incorrect - Calgary was
the centre of the ranching industry in Alberta from the arrival of the railroad until around 1905-1910, when farming began to replace most of the open range in Alberta. Although Calgary lacked the gunfights and violence of the American west, it was very much a rough frontier town up until the early 1900s. Ranch-hands and cowboys from around Alberta would come to the city to blow off steam in Calgary's brothels, saloons and gambling halls, which were all operated with the complicity of the local police and town council.
This activity all came to an end by 1910, after the population had increased 10-fold in the preceding decade. New arrivals from the east began impose 'proper british values' on the city, and this along with the decline of ranching meant the end of Calgary's frontier days. The initial Stampede of 1912 was intended by the Big Four cattle barons as a one time homage to Calgary's past ranching heritage, but it was so popular that it eventually became a yearly event.
If you would like to learn more about Calgary's early days, read some of Max Foran's books. They provide a very interesting, in depth look at the history of the city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgarian
Calgary needs to market itself as a modern cosmopolitan city, and whatever our new arena looks like it should be free from lame metaphors that try to convey our image to the world. It should be a nice, modern arena that looks like a modern arena, no cues to banff or mountains, no cues to the oil industry, no fake western heritage theme. Modern contemporary architecture reflects the times and that's what this city should try to embrace.
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The Stampede brand is fantastic and it attracts tourism from across the globe. Every other city in the world markets itself as being cosmopolitan, diverse, modern etc, there's absolutely nothing unique about it.
Back on topic - the Saddledome is actually a fairly modern piece of architecture, it was not designed with the aim of having a western theme, the Saddle name came in a contest later. The chances that the new arena will be better than it in terms of architectural interest are very slim. Just look at any new arena that's been built in North America - they are all shit with the exception of the Sprint Center in KC. The Flames have cited the Consol Energy Center in press about the new arena, and it looks like a big box store:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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