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Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: New Arena Edition

By Ramina Shlah

Nov 12, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Scotiabank Saddledome prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the New York Rangers. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Scotiabank Saddledome prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the New York Rangers. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 17, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; General view of the fans prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; General view of the fans prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Question 1: There’s a lot of controversy with Ken King and Brian Burke right now threatening to relocate if Calgary doesn’t build a new arena. In your opinion, do you think the owners are in the right for wanting it to be mostly public money or are you siding with Mayor Naheed Nenshi?

Jonathan Boulanger

As a Calgarian, I side with Nenshi. However, I think it’s possible (unlikely, but possible) for the Flames to relocate. I think they’re bluffing, but they might not be if things continue this way.

Alex Hoegler

I for one believe the Scotiabank Saddledome is fine as is for the Flames right now. The fact King and Burke are threatening to move the team is outrageous. It’s not happening and it’s just a ploy to take the money of civilians. Mayor Nenshi all the way. No way should fans have to pay more money for an arena. At least, now right now.

Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames /

Calgary Flames

Dan Raicevich

Yeah, the Flames ownership group is in the right regarding this subject. The majority of the arenas in the National Hockey League are public funded buildings, not privately funded. The new Little Caesars Arena in Detroit will include public money to help pay for the arena. That funding was passed in 2014, when the city declared for bankruptcy. The project of that arena, dubbed District Detroit, is going to be including retail, residence and other redevelopment to the area. The same can be made for the Arena District in Edmonton.

Arenas do not cost $150-200 million dollars like they did 20-25 years ago when much of the NHL’s current infrastructure was built. Arenas cost around $500 Million and even more. Little Caesars Arena will end up costing $732 million. Rogers Place in Edmonton cost $480 million.

Public money, ticket taxes etc. will all need to be included in this arena funding. The mayor is quite honestly “off his rocker” to not think that. Very rarely do owners fully fund their building.

The current funding plan for the CalgaryNEXT project, a project that makes complete and logical sense for all parties involved, $450 of the $890 million is funded by the Calgary Sports and Entertainment group. That is a fair financing plan for a facility that all Calgarians could benefit from. The only one who doesn’t seem to agree is the mayor. I also do not like his comments he has made towards the ownership group and Gary Bettman in regards to the arena.

Ramina Shlah

Sorry Dan, but I gotta side with Alex and Jonathan here. I’m also definitely siding with Nenshi here. With how much money the owners actually have, it’s really not fair to be asking for the majority of the money towards a new arena to be public money. Especially when Calgary’s economy has been somewhat down the last couple of years.

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