The Official Calgary Flames "New Arena" thread

[robrob74]

1 hour ago, travel_dude said:

 

Did your arena look like a fish tank?

that was the ugliest design I'd seen ever! 

[travel_dude]

1 hour ago, robrob74 said:

that was the ugliest design I'd seen ever! 

 

You mean the Value Villiage one?

I was actually just making a joke about JJ wanting to tank the season(s).

[robrob74]

2 minutes ago, travel_dude said:

 

You mean the Value Villiage one?

I was actually just making a joke about JJ wanting to tank the season(s).

Lol, I thought it was that design where you can see into the building, one of the first they showed when they were developing the designs and pushing for an agreement. 

[travel_dude]

Just now, robrob74 said:

Lol, I thought it was that design where you can see into the building, one of the first they showed when they were developing the designs and pushing for an agreement. 

 

Yep, I think we are talking about the same one.  Oilers fans were the ones calling it VV.

Hionestly, the outside is not the most important thing.

I don't want it to look like an Art Gallery, which the VV design sorta had some similarities to.

The old Glendale Arena was nice, really didn't seem out of play and was functional.

Had an escalator in it.  Was roomy inside.

The dome is a fire hazard for pushing people into small areas.

 

There is enough funtional design research out there to give a decent design.

I think we are still a ways from the final version.

I think you may see a teazer put out to gauge interest.

[flames-fan-in-jets-land]

I figured I'd try and save you guys some money and get chat GPT to design the new arena. 

 

You're welcome.

 

The Calgary Flames, a team with a fiery spirit, deserve an arena that reflects their passion for the game. Let’s envision a remarkable home for them:

The Flames’ Blaze Arena

Design Concept:

The Flames’ Blaze Arena draws inspiration from the team’s name and the iconic Calgary Stampede. It seamlessly blends modern architecture with rugged western aesthetics. Here are the key features:

1. Cowboy Hat Roof: The arena’s roof takes the form of a gigantic cowboy hat, paying homage to Calgary’s cowboy heritage. The brim extends outward, providing shade to the exterior plaza and creating a dramatic entrance.

2. Rodeo-Inspired Facade: The exterior walls mimic the texture of weathered leather chaps, complete with intricate stitching patterns. Rustic wooden beams frame the entrances, evoking the spirit of a rodeo corral.

3. Flame Sculptures: At each corner of the arena, towering flame sculptures rise toward the sky. These dynamic structures represent both the team’s name and the city’s resilience.

4. Saddle Seats: Inside, the seating bowl features saddle-shaped seats—a nod to the famous Calgary Stampede rodeo. Each seat is upholstered in fiery red and embossed with the Flames’ logo.

5. Bonfire Concourse: The concourse level boasts a central gathering area called the Bonfire Concourse. Here, fans can warm up by faux bonfires, surrounded by stacked firewood logs.

6. Starry Sky Ceiling: Above the seating bowl, a retractable roof reveals a starry night sky during evening games. Constellations twinkle overhead, creating a magical atmosphere.

7. Chuckwagon Food Stalls: Concession stands resemble colorful chuckwagons, serving up hearty western fare. Fans can enjoy pulled pork sandwiches, chili, and sizzling steak bites.

8. Saloon-Style Lounges: Premium seating areas include saloon-style lounges with swinging doors. Fans sip their drinks while discussing game strategy, just like cowboys at a frontier watering hole.

9. Goalpost Cacti: Instead of traditional goalposts, we have cactus-shaped goalposts. When a goal is scored, LED lights illuminate the cacti, simulating a fiery bloom.

10. Stampede Parade Entrance: The main entrance resembles the starting point of the Calgary Stampede parade. Fans walk through a grand archway adorned with oversized belt buckles and cowboy boots.

Technical Details:

• Seating Capacity: 18,300 seats (slightly fewer than the Saddledome).
• Construction Start: December 2024.
• Expected Completion: August 2026.

The Flames’ Blaze Arena will ignite the city’s pride and become a beacon of energy for all Calgarians. 🔥🤠

 

[420since1974]

I couldn't find a thread that this post would fit into seamlessly so I'll try it here. Mods please feel free to move it if you find a more suitable thread.

 

I think that the Flames should and are probably planning ahead to ice a competitive team when the new arena is due to open for the 2027/2028 season (4.5 years).

 

Calgary has Markstrom under contract for the next 2.25 seasons.

I don't expect any substantial drop off in his play during that period of time, so I'd prefer to keep him.

I strongly feel that the Flames should trade Vladar before next season begins to open a spot for Wolf to study/back-up under Markstrom. I'm not at all concerned about the return on Vladar. So far at age 26, he has not shown that he can be any better than a lower to middle of the pack NHL backup. He cost Calgary a 3rd round draft pick to obtain, even recouping a 4th or 5th would be fine by me.

 

IMHO, the Flames need veterans to help the younger players progress in their NHL careers.

They currently have Markstrom for (2.25 seasons w/NMC), Andersson (2.25), Backlund (2.25 w/NMC), Coleman (3.25), Kadri (5.25 w/NMC), Weegar (7.25), and Huberdeau (7.25 w/NMC), to fill those roles for the interim.

Out of all of them, I feel that only Andersson might be re-signed at the end of his current contract as he will only be 29 years old at that time. The rest will be aged out.

I fully expect that Kylington will be extended at the end of his contract this year and he is a year younger than Andersson.

 

Overall, I expect the Flames to finish in the bottom 1/3rd of the league for at least the next 2.25 seasons which could potentially garner them up to 3 Top 10 draft picks of their own.

Of course; drafting, scouting, and development will be crucial if they want to build a competitive team for the opening of the new arena.

[The_People1]

Good news I guess,

 

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7184185

 

[sak22]

Event centre designs should be public this summer: committee chair | Calgary Sun

 

Can't wait to see what they've come up with, though I'm sure most will hate it again.

[conundrumed]

22 hours ago, sak22 said:

Event centre designs should be public this summer: committee chair | Calgary Sun

 

Can't wait to see what they've come up with, though I'm sure most will hate it again.

I'm sure that it will be a timeless piece...

[sak22]

1 hour ago, conundrumed said:

I'm sure that it will be a timeless piece...

I didn't really get the hate for the last one, there also seems to be a portion who think because the Saddledome became gimmicky the next one needs to be a cowboy hat or another western themed shape, I am not on that boat.  Personally I don't find most arenas in the league to be that visually appealing on the outside.

[conundrumed]

15 minutes ago, sak22 said:

I didn't really get the hate for the last one, there also seems to be a portion who think because the Saddledome became gimmicky the next one needs to be a cowboy hat or another western themed shape, I am not on that boat.  Personally I don't find most arenas in the league to be that visually appealing on the outside.

Same-same. They really aren't. But the concourses are gigantic. lol There's your bonus. And better washrooms. Quick food is typically below avg, regardless.

Little Caesar's has a setup where the bar & grill restaurants in the frontage have the garage door setup to become open air/busy patios in the nice weather. That may be a good idea in that area. It's summer, bring back roller rinks!

Digging down I really like at LCA too. But the stampede grounds are pretty much floodplain, so likely not a great idea. Not a fan of Rogers Place. Pretty much from ground up, so nosebleed seats are pretty literal. Reminds me of the 'ol Joe Lou. Kinda funny, name the approach street Steve Yzerman Way, move the arena 6 miles away. Hi Rexall Place. lol

[The_People1]

1 hour ago, sak22 said:

I didn't really get the hate for the last one, there also seems to be a portion who think because the Saddledome became gimmicky the next one needs to be a cowboy hat or another western themed shape, I am not on that boat.  Personally I don't find most arenas in the league to be that visually appealing on the outside.

 

Agreed, no need to waste money on exterior visuals.  Keep it simple and easy to maintain.  

 

On the inside, have a big lower bowl, two rows of box seats, and then an upper deck.  It's very a standard design these days.  

[cross16]

Back in the day I was a big fan of unique stadiums and i would have advocated for unique designs. Stuff like the LA Forum, MSG, Saddledome, Maple Leaf Gardens etc were all really, really cool. Now it's expensive enough as it is to build these dman things, just keep the exterior bland and put the money on the inside. 

 

but I do miss the iconic designs we use to get

[conundrumed]

11 minutes ago, cross16 said:

Back in the day I was a big fan of unique stadiums and i would have advocated for unique designs. Stuff like the LA Forum, MSG, Saddledome, Maple Leaf Gardens etc were all really, really cool. Now it's expensive enough as it is to build these dman things, just keep the exterior bland and put the money on the inside. 

 

but I do miss the iconic designs we use to get

The final LCA design had a Wings logo on the roof.

Upon completion, the cheap pizza logo.

It was a very collective sigh of, "yup, there it is". It's really a nice arena, but damn, are there still people that have never heard of Little Caesar's Pizza? They have like 10 booths in the place. And get this - always lined right up. lol

The Walmart of pizza...if you ever hear a Detroiter say "Detroit Pizza", never say, "oh, you mean like Little Caesar's"? Those are fighting words.

Honestly, off topic, but I have no idea what these people are doing. New York, Chicago, Detroit Pizza...they are Neapolitan pizzas. Wtf are you people even talking about? You're not original. I can do what you do in my kitchen. It's not original. Frigging Americans. Go to Naples and tell them about your city-specific pizzas.

Italians. Amiright?

[flames-fan-in-jets-land]

26 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

The final LCA design had a Wings logo on the roof.

Upon completion, the cheap pizza logo.

It was a very collective sigh of, "yup, there it is". It's really a nice arena, but damn, are there still people that have never heard of Little Caesar's Pizza? They have like 10 booths in the place. And get this - always lined right up. lol

The Walmart of pizza...if you ever hear a Detroiter say "Detroit Pizza", never say, "oh, you mean like Little Caesar's"? Those are fighting words.

Honestly, off topic, but I have no idea what these people are doing. New York, Chicago, Detroit Pizza...they are Neapolitan pizzas. Wtf are you people even talking about? You're not original. I can do what you do in my kitchen. It's not original. Frigging Americans. Go to Naples and tell them about your city-specific pizzas.

Italians. Amiright?

Weirdly enough, if I want pizza it will be either grab LC or go to a particular long running $30 starting price place. No in between.

 

As for the arena, gotta agree attention to seating, facilities, fan experience, ,etc inside should be the focus. 

[cberg]

12 minutes ago, flames-fan-in-jets-land said:

Weirdly enough, if I want pizza it will be either grab LC or go to a particular long running $30 starting price place. No in between.

 

As for the arena, gotta agree attention to seating, facilities, fan experience, ,etc inside should be the focus. 

Not a fan of an ugly concrete/glass box with cramped innards.  How hard is it to design something unique and inspiring, eg high tech, excellent food, spacious seating?  

[conundrumed]

10 minutes ago, cberg said:

excellent food

Reminds me of an old Dylan song. 'someone said you're in the wrong place, my friend, you'd better leave'.

Now who wants a pawket dog? lol

I remember Field, B.C. on my massive 4 wk plus camping trips in the summer. Basically a general store. The food at their deli, jfc. I always thought, "I have to bring this to the highways". lol I'd have destroyed Subway and A&W.

This was back in, say, '95-2008ish. Highway stops were virtually, "there is nothing here that I want to eat". That little Field store, though, just crushed it. I never knew I liked couscous so much. They just crushed it. Their Indian (east-indian) wraps they had for a short bit, jfc man, this is eating.

How we got to the point that we want to eat lead mystifies me. Have an apple for god sakes. The Satoshi Nakamoto they want us to pound down is filler. And bland af.

But yeah. This is staying on the stampede grounds, which is kind of a Satoshi Nakamoto area.

But hey, a 2 week circus keeps Calgary famous. Nothing else matters.

I'll spare (a bit) bringing up bison, because the cattle industry controls everything. Keyword being controls.

Lost their Satoshi Nakamoto on Harper for feeding Bush (I might be a bit off on leaders) bison.

Source: my buddies a bison farmer. He's also on the CDN Bison Association's board of directors.

This has zero to do with an arena, but if it's going to be some heritage thing, make it a heritage thing. Not because someone has a crucifying lobbying group.

Put deer on the menu. lol Figure it out. Make it what Alberta is supposed to be.

Or, you know, be the envy of nobody. Just another sellout.

[The_People1]

1 hour ago, cberg said:

Not a fan of an ugly concrete/glass box with cramped innards.  How hard is it to design something unique and inspiring, eg high tech, excellent food, spacious seating?  

 

It's minimalistic.  Gen-Z would love it.

[cberg]

45 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

Reminds me of an old Dylan song. 'someone said you're in the wrong place, my friend, you'd better leave'.

Now who wants a pawket dog? lol

I remember Field, B.C. on my massive 4 wk plus camping trips in the summer. Basically a general store. The food at their deli, jfc. I always thought, "I have to bring this to the highways". lol I'd have destroyed Subway and A&W.

This was back in, say, '95-2008ish. Highway stops were virtually, "there is nothing here that I want to eat". That little Field store, though, just crushed it. I never knew I liked couscous so much. They just crushed it. Their Indian (east-indian) wraps they had for a short bit, jfc man, this is eating.

How we got to the point that we want to eat lead mystifies me. Have an apple for god sakes. The Satoshi Nakamoto they want us to pound down is filler. And bland af.

But yeah. This is staying on the stampede grounds, which is kind of a Satoshi Nakamoto area.

But hey, a 2 week circus keeps Calgary famous. Nothing else matters.

I'll spare (a bit) bringing up bison, because the cattle industry controls everything. Keyword being controls.

Lost their Satoshi Nakamoto on Harper for feeding Bush (I might be a bit off on leaders) bison.

Source: my buddies a bison farmer. He's also on the CDN Bison Association's board of directors.

This has zero to do with an arena, but if it's going to be some heritage thing, make it a heritage thing. Not because someone has a crucifying lobbying group.

Put deer on the menu. lol Figure it out. Make it what Alberta is supposed to be.

Or, you know, be the envy of nobody. Just another sellout.

Some heritage type options would be great, a unique treat.  Also, loved that Field cafe, had some great food there.  Not sure why it’s about impossible to get decent food on the Saddledome concourse?  Maybe some “attached” food courts?  Why not have a ring of viewing areas, restaurants, food courts, tech areas, WCs and etc?   Don’t need to fit everything into a rectangular box.

[conundrumed]

2 minutes ago, cberg said:

Some heritage type options would be great, a unique treat.  Also, loved that Field cafe, had some great food there.  Not sure why it’s about impossible to get decent food on the Saddledome concourse?  Maybe some “attached” food courts?  Why not have a ring of viewing areas, restaurants, food courts, tech areas, WCs and etc?   Don’t need to fit everything into a rectangular box.

I knew the one girl at Field, and I don't mean just kind of. Not romantically, but I went in one day and it was, "OMFG, haven't seen you in forever". She said, "you have to try this couscous". I'm not a couscous person, it's okay, though, I don't hate it. She sat with us and I couldn't stop asking for the recipe. She couldn't. I laughed that I'll figure it out. I'm wrong. I can't figure out what's going on there. I know there's maple syrup and cilantro. I can't make them converge. Apple cider vinegar, pickling juice. I've tried everything. A bit of mustard.

She's a BTC. lol

She isn't though. People would say that she's a, "granola". If I were single, I'm fine with that. She's on the positive side of the attraction and character side.

She never came clean on the couscous thing, though. So she's kind of a BTC. j/k

[jjgallow]

[cberg]

1 hour ago, jjgallow said:

Would still have an overcrowded concourse, terrible food and over-crowded seating....

[jjgallow]

1 minute ago, cberg said:

Would still have an overcrowded concourse, terrible food and over-crowded seating....

 

flood-proof though

[cross16]

Continues to move forward. 

 

Some suggestions we might get design reveals in July. Water main work likely delaying a lot of this though. 

 

 

[sak22]

Imagine this will transfer to the new building but long overdue