New Downtown Calgary Arena

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by 93JC

<snip>

It would have been better if the C-train station was built on the west side of Crowchild, nearer the stadium (and University station built in the middle of the U of C campus instead of the middle of Crowchild), but the ship sailed on that in the late 1970s...

The issue with this is that you then isolate those stations from the residential population, this is the population that will use the train on a daily basis, rather than the 13-15 times a year that it's used for the stadium (the train usage for events outside of CFL games and maybe 1 major concert per year isn't significant).

[93JC]

True, but then how many of the residents of Banff Trail, Hounsfield Heights, etc. are using Banff Trail Station vs. the commuters who park at McMahon Stadium every single day?

I don't disagree with the point you're making in general, I just don't think it applies to Banff Trail and University Stations as much as you might think. I used to park at McMahon and take the train every day and trust me: I barely ever saw someone coming to the station from the east. The vast majority of the people on the platform came across the bridge from McMahon.

Similarly how many residents from Charleswood use the train compared to the number of university students? I'd wager it's at least 20:1 in favour of students.


There was talk earlier in the thread about building the stadiums in the middle of transit-oriented developments. I think the McMahon site itself has a lot of potential for TOD. The parking lots can be replaced with parkades and the new, freed up space can be filled in. I think it'll happen, eventually, and would have worked better if the train station was on the west side of Crowchild. Not to say it should go right into the stadium, just not sequestered away behind Motel Village.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by 93JC

The Firepark site is also no better than the site McMahon currently sits on.

Other than the fact that concerts could be held there as the sound complaints would likely be less or non-existent.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by 93JC

True, but then how many of the residents of Banff Trail, Hounsfield Heights, etc. are using Banff Trail Station vs. the commuters who park at McMahon Stadium every single day?

I don't disagree with the point you're making in general, I just don't think it applies to Banff Trail and University Stations as much as you might think. I used to park at McMahon and take the train every day and trust me: I barely ever saw someone coming to the station from the east. The vast majority of the people on the platform came across the bridge from McMahon.

Similarly how many residents from Charleswood use the train compared to the number of university students? I'd wager it's at least 20:1 in favour of students.


There was talk earlier in the thread about building the stadiums in the middle of transit-oriented developments. I think the McMahon site itself has a lot of potential for TOD. The parking lots can be replaced with parkades and the new, freed up space can be filled in. I think it'll happen, eventually, and would have worked better if the train station was on the west side of Crowchild. Not to say it should go right into the stadium, just not sequestered away behind Motel Village.

University Station:

I agree the placement of the university station could be much better

Banff Trail Station:

It'd be interesting if CT have numbers regarding the origin of the users at Banff Trail, seems like anyone north of 16th would go there. In all reality though Banff Trail is likely there to service McMahon primarily anyway given the proximity of both the Lions Park and University stations.

[93JC]

Precisely! If I lived east of 19th St I wouldn't bother going to Banff Trail, I'd go to Lions Park. If I live south of 16th Ave again, I'd probably go to Lions Park. Residents as far north as ~27th Ave might walk south to Banff Trail but north of that, why bother? Go to University Station.


As it stands Banff Trail Station isn't even convenient for someone going to/coming from McMahon Stadium but despite that the stadium (and the park & ride) is almost certainly the source of most of the ridership at the station.

[Innersoul1]

If Markham is serious about getting a new arena I want one too!!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=402561

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

If Markham is serious about getting a new arena I want one too!!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=402561

construction costs seem relatively low, it must be a 'bare bones' type structure with the ability to improve it as they see fit. that might be a great way to get something done here with less-to-no need of government money.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by MonctonGoldenFlames

construction costs seem relatively low, it must be a 'bare bones' type structure with the ability to improve it as they see fit. that might be a great way to get something done here with less-to-no need of government money.

Unconstrained site I think has a lot to do with it.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Joborule

It would be a dead zone anywhere. I think it would be good to have it in an area surrounded by a entertainment/retail district. At least then the area around it would still have activity and during events it'll be buzzing before, during, and after the event.

So why not put it in an area that is already a dead zone and has no opportunity cost? Think Fire Park. The Stampede Grounds are in the same category: a shameful waste of prime land for an event that lasts 10 days per year. They should move to Fire Park as well.

[Calgarian]

Every time I see this thread brought back I'm hoping it's because there is an announcement. C'mon King, give us something already!

[Innersoul1]

I think we need to nip the idea of Firepark in the bud!

Arena's in the middle of nowhere with no services around it are not an advantage to patrons. The only real advantage of firepark is its proximity to the LRT.

[kw5150]

The fact that we have so many projects around the world to feed off; and, the fact that people are actively discussing how to incorporate the arena into the city so it is not a dead zone, is perfect. I have a feeling we will end up with something great. So many good changes in our city over the years and this will be another one. I like having the flames games downtown, and the football games by the university......it just fits.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

I think we need to nip the idea of Firepark in the bud!

Arena's in the middle of nowhere with no services around it are not an advantage to patrons. The only real advantage of firepark is its proximity to the LRT.

Firepark is an absolutely fantastic development opportunity. Not only the excellent transit access, it has excellent road network access also (unlike Stampede). There are some services on Barlow, but planning something like this would lead to an immense amount of re-development. The view from there is also exceptional, and access to international avenue could help with that redevelopment also.

[DizzyEdge]

I think the thing with Firepark, is for any businesses around the new area to be sustainable, the area would need an entire East Village-like redevelopment plan, so that there is a large captive audience of residents to sustain businesses outside of arena usage. Not impossible, but a big investment.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I think the thing with Firepark, is for any businesses around the new area to be sustainable, the area would need an entire East Village-like redevelopment plan, so that there is a large captive audience of residents to sustain businesses outside of arena usage. Not impossible, but a big investment.

I heard sanitary servicing would be incredibly expensive for that site. This was from a half-remembered conversation though.

[Tropics]

Firepark has some advantages but not being in the downtown core is a huge negative. People on this forum mostly want a vibrant busy DT core, moving things like arenas out of the core hurt not only the core entertainment, it also hurts the associated bars and restaurants that get alot of their business from people going to the game or a concert that first have a bite to eat or a drink.

Edmonton is putting their arena closer to downtown in hopes of adding some people into the area and revitalizing their core, we do not want to go the opposite route and start moving things like the flames games and concerts out of the core because it will only cause the core to become less vibrant and have less of a night life. Places like New York has their crazy night life because with times square, broadway, ect... there is just so much to do there. We need more stuff to do in downtown Calgary to make the core prosper, not less.

[MalcolmTucker]

Rumor of West village sports centric development with Football and Hockey is interesting. If they can buy enough of the land early they can capture any potential upside in value.

If the team had options or land in the east village it wouldn't be too hard to find out. Probably $100 on the registry service. Anyone have 'free' access through SPIN or whatever it is called?

Flames stay mum on timeline, location for new arena

Clock ticking on Saddledome lease deal

By Tamara Gignac, Calgary Herald August 11, 2012

With the lease on the Scotiabank Saddledome set to run out in 2014 after more than three decades of hockey games and concerts, speculation continues to build about the location of a new arena.

The Calgary Flames want a modern building to allow the team to compete financially with other National Hockey League franchises. Opened in 1983, the Saddledome is the league’s sixth-oldest arena and nearing the end of its life cycle as far as professional rinks go.

But as the clock ticks on Calgary’s iconic sports facility, Flames officials remain tight-lipped about when — and where — they will break ground on a new arena.

Team president and CEO Ken King said there isn’t any hurry. Although the Flames’ lease on the Saddledome will soon expire, it can be extended for as long it takes to construct a new facility.

“We certainly won’t be ready to move by 2014,” King said.




Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...#ixzz23GqbLRkF

[Tropics]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Rumor of West village sports centric development with Football and Hockey is interesting. If they can buy enough of the land early they can capture any potential upside in value.

I think the west side would be an awesome place to look into building an arena.

Build the arena where the greyhound station currently is (terrible location for a bus station, perhaps put THAT at Firepark, Firepark would be a GREAT location for a new bus teminal given the access to the Deerfoot and ring roads). There is enough land there where the bus station is to build a great arena and now the C-train has easy access to it.

Build the parking complex where GSL Chevrolet is atm.

And my hopes are that the land where Renfrew Chrysler is will in time be redeveloped into upscale riverside condos with riverpath grade pubs, restaurants and patios for pedestrian traffic and people seeing a show at the Pumphouse Theater.

The eastern core of the city is golden with the East Village redevelopment, the National Music Center, an ever improving Inglewood. The western side of the core could really use that type of development to revitalize the area and bring some livelyhood to the area. Plus an arena right on the river like that would be a phenomenal picture taking and city marketing opportunity on every Flames game broadcast.

[Chealion]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

If they can buy enough of the land early they can capture any potential upside in value.

Doesn't the city already own most of that land?

Originally Posted by Tropics

I think the west side would be an awesome place to look into building an arena.

The West Village ARP looks almost entirely residential with some mixed use at the moment.

[isaidso]

As long as it has a roof shaped like a saddle and its called the Saddledome I'm all for it. It's a symbol of your city and its wise to play to ones strengths. Too many cities lack an identity. Don't play it down, play it up.