The Calgary Flames are expected to reveal plans for, and finally break ground on, a new arena this coming Monday, shares Sportsnet’s Eric Francis (Twitter link). Francis adds that the Flames’ new stomping grounds will include 18,000 seats, a community rink, indoor and outdoor event plazas, and a parking deck. The new arena will cost $926MM and be built two blocks north of the current Saddledome, with the hope of being operational for the 2027-28 season.
Sportsnet adds that $330MM of the funds for this arena will come from the Alberta government, who also plan to demolish the existing Saddledome as a part of their plans.
This news finally puts into motion the Flames’ move out of the Scotiabank Saddledome, where they’ve played since 1983. It stands alongside Madison Square Garden as the two oldest arenas in the league – with the Saddledome not receiving major renovations since 1995.
That’s beginning to change, with the team set to receive a new scoreboard this summer, though the Saddledome is still missing many of the amenities that had the Flames pushing for a new arena in 2017. The team could not reach an agreement with the city at the time, sparking strong comments from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who said in an interview with TSN, “This building was built in the 1980s, they don’t build buildings like this any more… it’s historic in many ways. But these aren’t the facilities that our hockey teams typically have.” Bettman’s comments came amid Detroit’s move to Little Caesars Arena and Seattle’s bid for the top-of-the-line Climate Pledge Arena.
Calgary will now join the list of top-end facilities, though they’ll be leaving a truly incredible arena behind. The Saddledome’s sloped roof and expansive, high-ceiling interior made it quickly iconic. It would enter hockey legend within a decade of being built, after hosting parts of the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 1989 Stanley Cup-winning Calgary Flames. The arena, which also hosts the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers and WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, has stood as a testament to hockey’s history in Calgary – giving any new build a hefty past to live up to.
I get the owners and players like the new arenas. And maybe the parking and concessions, etc. are better, but…
I can’t think of a single new building that has a better game experience than the old ones (outside the Barclays debacle). The Igloo was just much cooler and more fun than Consol/PPG could ever be, for example.
Ive only been to one game in each and the Joe Louis was a while ago but the new Detroit arena is much better imo.
OK. Better in what ways?
… and, as much to the point “better in what ways that make you comfortable with you paying increased taxes to have it, if you go to games that infrequently?”
The Joe was a much better experience than LCA. Having said that, LCA is beautiful and I am perfectly fine having my tax dollars fund it. Theres worse things they could be doing with my money.
Alberta taxpayers providing welfare handouts to a multimillion dollar corporation is *chef’s kiss*. Well done.
As a Flames fan living in Calgary, with Wranglers season tickets … I will need to get my fill the next few years, while I can afford it. It will be nice to have the new shiny toy in the city, that will attract so much more. Except that when the new arena opens, I don’t think I’ll be able to afford the same luxuries as I did in the Saddledome. Dozens of events starting with ACDC Who Made Who concert in the mid 80’s. The Saddledome is iconic, and will really miss it when it’s gone.
Telecasts from the Saddledome offer the best viewing angles in the league. Hockey is the only major sport where you often can’t see how a goal gets scored but in the Saddledome it’s not as bad as in San Jose or Nashville.
The best all-time arena for watching hockey on TV has been the Boston Garden.
As a Hurricanes fan, and hockey fan in general, I’ll miss the Saddledome. It is the sister arena to Dorton Arena in Raleigh, which housed the ECHL Raleigh IceCaps back in the 90s. Loved it but when we got a pro team there was no way it was suited for it. Calgary fans will miss the old arena but learn to love the new one.