RWJC Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 (edited) Sportsnet’s Eric Francis believes a “significant announcement” regarding a new arena for the Calgary Flames could come tomorrow. Plans for a new home to replace the aging Scotiabank Saddledome are already well underway, with their ownership group and the Alberta government reachinga preliminary agreement for a new arena after the end of last season. The provincial government also greenlit the first C$39MM dedicated to the project last month. https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/10/pacific-notes-whitecloud-karlsson-canucks-flames.html#ref=home Alberta government greenlights $39M for new Calgary arena, lifting key first hurdle for project The United Conservative government has approved the first slice of provincial funding it offered for the Calgary Flames' arena project, as part of the deal announced with the City of Calgary and team owners before last spring's election. When Premier Danielle Smith announced in April her government would contribute $330-million toward the $1.2-billion development, she noted the UCP MLAs who sit on Treasury Board would have to scrutinize details this summer before anything was finalized. The money is now set to flow. Tucked into this week's quarterly budget update was $39 million in grants approved for the Rivers District, the neighbourhood that includes land north of the Scotiabank Saddledome where the new arena will go. That would go toward such expenditures as site preparation and land acquisition, for road and infrastructure near the area. This makes these grants the first tranche of provincial dollars for what will be a multi-year construction project. "That's the only number you'll find in this report regarding the Rivers District moneys," Finance Minister Nate Horner told reporters on Thursday. "We've had a discussion at Treasury Board, but that's all I can give you at this time." Provincial dollars don't make it into the budget without Treasury Board's approval. Horner added that the premier should have more to say, but on Friday a Smith spokesperson said "more to come in the coming weeks." In inking the pre-election arena deal, Smith in a way departed from recent provincial orthodoxy to not directly subsidize major professional sports venues. However, none of the province's contribution will go directly toward the $800-million arena itself — that cost will be shared by the city and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. The provincial dollars will instead go to various related costs, such as road upgrades, infrastructure needs, half the cost of a community ice rink, and the eventual demolition of the Saddledome. In past (and abandoned) versions of the arena deal, the Flames group and city would have footed those bills without Alberta government help. Provincial intervention appears to have broken a lengthy logjam and that decade-long string of failed joint ventures to give Calgary a new Flames arena and major concert venue. The Saddledome is currently the third-oldest arena in the National Hockey League, though the two older ones — in New York and Seattle — have both had massive renovations that compare to the cost of a new facility. It's not clear yet when the Calgary arena is scheduled to open, or when construction begins. These are among the several project details that have been withheld from the public since the province, city and Flames owners signed a memorandum of understanding in April. The three parties were expected to sign the definitive project agreements this summer. A city spokesperson said work is underway, but the parties still need time to finalize them. The province has confirmed with the city that the $39-million instalment is allocated for the fiscal year that ends next March, and that additional funding will come in later years, the city representative stated. Jason Markusoff Last Updated: September 01, 2023 https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6954672 Edited October 5, 2023 by RWJC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Imagine what would happen if the press con was about the Flamers moving back to Atlanta? 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Moving to Salt Lake City? Karl Malone to come out of retirement to play defense. Heard it here first... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to Portland and we'll be renamed the Portland Rosebuds...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puckstopper Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 but will it have the original old horse stall smell moved over from the stink dome? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickenspear Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Artist's rendering just dropped: 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebreh Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 the new arena design will be a toilet bowl. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 RIP pringle chip arena 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWJC Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 City, province announce finalized deal for new $800M arena for Calgary Flames The deal is sealed: the NHL’s Calgary Flames are getting a new $800-million arena. A preliminary deal announced in April for a new $1.2-billion event centre and entertainment district near the city’s downtown, including a new rink for the Flames, has been finalized, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Thursday. The project plan includes plazas and gathering places, bars, restaurants and retail shops with the main event centre hosting the NHL team along with other sports, concerts and events. Design and preparatory construction work is to start right away with an opening date for the arena expected around 2026 or 2027, said provincial Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen. At that time, the Flames' current Saddledome home — and its iconic saddle-shaped concave roof that was seen by TV viewers around the world in the 1988 Winter Olympics — will be put to the wrecking ball. “This project is moving forward,” Gondek told a news conference in Calgary alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Gondek said the project reflects the dual mission of the city to provide services to Calgarians while fostering ways to help pay for them. “(The event centre) furthers our ability to develop healthy and sustainable revenue streams that allow us to then serve the public now and well into the future,” said Gondek. Coun. Sonya Sharp, who chaired the city committee on the event centre proposal, said the numbers announced in April remain the same. The Alberta government is committing a maximum $330 million for area infrastructure, to demolish the Saddledome and to cover off half of a new 1,000-seat community rink. The City of Calgary will put in $537 million and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp., which owns the Flames, will pay $40 million now and then $17 million a year over the course of a 35-year lease, with payments growing by one per cent a year. The Calgary Stampede, which runs the city’s signature summer festival and rodeo, will transfer land. The event centre will be built near the Saddledome, which has been the Flames’ home since it was built in 1983. Only Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Rangers, is technically older among NHL arenas. But even that comes with an asterisk as the Rangers’ Manhattan home underwent a massive renovation and modernization a decade ago. The Flames and the city had been negotiating for years without success to come to an agreement on who pays for what amid broader concerns around public subsidies for a private enterprise. The logjam was broken in April as city council and the Flames agreed to the funding deal and Smith’s government pledged its share. Smith has also been a longtime opponent of public money subsidizing private operators but has said this deal passes muster because no money will go into the rink itself. Dreeshen told the news conference: “No provincial tax dollars will go toward the building of a new arena." He said the $330 million from the province is a hard-cap ceiling and the city would bear any cost overruns. While the Flames are the impetus and nucleus of the new district, any direct reference to the Flames was absent from the announcement. Smith, Gondek and Sharp did not mention the team by name, while Dreeshen referred to it only when answering a reporter’s question on the Saddledome demolition. John Bean, president of Calgary Sport and Entertainment Corp., was onstage for the April announcement but did not take part in Thursday’s formal presentation. Bean was in attendance and later told reporters, “The legal stuff is never fun and sometimes it takes longer than you'd hope, but we got that across the line today and it's really encouraging. "It’s really important for the city of Calgary and for all our fans and all the citizens, quite frankly, that we solve the riddle on such an important piece of infrastructure," he added. “We’re delighted that we don't have to be worrying about where's our home for the next 35 years and we can get ourselves focused on getting this thing designed and built. And then maybe we get focused on winning a Stanley Cup in here as well.” The Flames have won one Stanley Cup, in 1989. The Flames are just one subgroup of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. It also owns and operates the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League, the Hitmen in the Western Hockey League and the National Lacrosse League’s Roughnecks. Once the building is completed, it will be the fourth home for the Flames franchise, which began in Atlanta in 1972 and played in the downtown Omni Coliseum before money woes forced it to relocate to Calgary in 1980. In Calgary, the team played first in the relatively tiny Stampede Corral before moving to the Saddledome three years later. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 5, 2023. — with files from Colette Derworiz in Calgary Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press https://ca.yahoo.com/sports/city-province-expected-calgary-flames-161256375.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 9 minutes ago, RWJC said: The Alberta government is committing a maximum $330 million for area infrastructure, to demolish the Saddledome and to cover off half of a new 1,000-seat community rink. The City of Calgary will put in $537 million and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp., which owns the Flames, will pay $40 million now and then $17 million a year over the course of a 35-year lease, with payments growing by one per cent a year. https://www.nhl.com/flames/team/owners N. Murray Edwards Alvin G. Libin Jeffrey J. McCaig Net worth-according to bing search engine Murray Edwards 2.70 billion USD Alvin Libin $68 mill US Jeffrey J. McCaig $12.5 million. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 31 minutes ago, RWJC said: City, province announce finalized deal for new $800M arena for Calgary Flames The deal is sealed: the NHL’s Calgary Flames are getting a new $800-million arena. A preliminary deal announced in April for a new $1.2-billion event centre and entertainment district near the city’s downtown, including a new rink for the Flames, has been finalized, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Thursday. The project plan includes plazas and gathering places, bars, restaurants and retail shops with the main event centre hosting the NHL team along with other sports, concerts and events. Design and preparatory construction work is to start right away with an opening date for the arena expected around 2026 or 2027, said provincial Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen. At that time, the Flames' current Saddledome home — and its iconic saddle-shaped concave roof that was seen by TV viewers around the world in the 1988 Winter Olympics — will be put to the wrecking ball. “This project is moving forward,” Gondek told a news conference in Calgary alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Gondek said the project reflects the dual mission of the city to provide services to Calgarians while fostering ways to help pay for them. “(The event centre) furthers our ability to develop healthy and sustainable revenue streams that allow us to then serve the public now and well into the future,” said Gondek. Coun. Sonya Sharp, who chaired the city committee on the event centre proposal, said the numbers announced in April remain the same. The Alberta government is committing a maximum $330 million for area infrastructure, to demolish the Saddledome and to cover off half of a new 1,000-seat community rink. The City of Calgary will put in $537 million and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp., which owns the Flames, will pay $40 million now and then $17 million a year over the course of a 35-year lease, with payments growing by one per cent a year. The Calgary Stampede, which runs the city’s signature summer festival and rodeo, will transfer land. The event centre will be built near the Saddledome, which has been the Flames’ home since it was built in 1983. Only Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Rangers, is technically older among NHL arenas. But even that comes with an asterisk as the Rangers’ Manhattan home underwent a massive renovation and modernization a decade ago. The Flames and the city had been negotiating for years without success to come to an agreement on who pays for what amid broader concerns around public subsidies for a private enterprise. The logjam was broken in April as city council and the Flames agreed to the funding deal and Smith’s government pledged its share. Smith has also been a longtime opponent of public money subsidizing private operators but has said this deal passes muster because no money will go into the rink itself. Dreeshen told the news conference: “No provincial tax dollars will go toward the building of a new arena." He said the $330 million from the province is a hard-cap ceiling and the city would bear any cost overruns. While the Flames are the impetus and nucleus of the new district, any direct reference to the Flames was absent from the announcement. Smith, Gondek and Sharp did not mention the team by name, while Dreeshen referred to it only when answering a reporter’s question on the Saddledome demolition. John Bean, president of Calgary Sport and Entertainment Corp., was onstage for the April announcement but did not take part in Thursday’s formal presentation. Bean was in attendance and later told reporters, “The legal stuff is never fun and sometimes it takes longer than you'd hope, but we got that across the line today and it's really encouraging. "It’s really important for the city of Calgary and for all our fans and all the citizens, quite frankly, that we solve the riddle on such an important piece of infrastructure," he added. “We’re delighted that we don't have to be worrying about where's our home for the next 35 years and we can get ourselves focused on getting this thing designed and built. And then maybe we get focused on winning a Stanley Cup in here as well.” The Flames have won one Stanley Cup, in 1989. The Flames are just one subgroup of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. It also owns and operates the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League, the Hitmen in the Western Hockey League and the National Lacrosse League’s Roughnecks. Once the building is completed, it will be the fourth home for the Flames franchise, which began in Atlanta in 1972 and played in the downtown Omni Coliseum before money woes forced it to relocate to Calgary in 1980. In Calgary, the team played first in the relatively tiny Stampede Corral before moving to the Saddledome three years later. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 5, 2023. — with files from Colette Derworiz in Calgary Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press https://ca.yahoo.com/sports/city-province-expected-calgary-flames-161256375.html Now do Toronto next, they should get a team too Hamilton works too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwarrior Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 A new arena won't make them suck any less. Nice try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 So the Lames get a new rink. It’s still going to be in Cowpieville and going to stink bad. Loser team in a loser city. In a loser province. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoop Hogg Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Coconuts said: Now do Toronto next, they should get a team too Hamilton works too Jim Sillyballs can get in on Hamilton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Snoop Hogg said: Jim Sillyballs can get in on Hamilton. #makeitseve-.. Wait.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwijjibo Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 Good for Calgary. Would hate to see any Canadian team relocated south of the border 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 5 hours ago, RWJC said: The Calgary Stampede, which runs the city’s signature summer festival and rodeo, will transfer land. Awfully kind of the Stampede grounds to transfer land to Atlanta. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 8 minutes ago, qwijjibo said: Good for Calgary. Would hate to see any Canadian team relocated south of the border Does Alberta count as a part of Canada? Seems like an annexed territory of Texas.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Kneel Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 16 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said: Does Alberta count as a part of Canada? Seems like an annexed territory of Texas.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Provost Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 I thought Alberts was the anti-socialist… super free market kind of place. They sure love bail out money and giving hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to billionaires though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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