Calgary Flames Organization Announces New Arena
A Long-Awaited Development
Today, Eric Francis, a prominent Calgarian, reported that the Calgary Flames will get a new arena. This project is a collaborative effort between the Flames organization, the city of Calgary, and the province of Alberta. The total cost of the new event facility is estimated at $926 million, just under $1 billion. This announcement comes almost nine years after former Flames President and Calgary sports legend Ken King first presented the design. The groundbreaking for this new project is scheduled for Monday.
As a Calgarian I’m thrilled to report that on Monday the Flames, city and province will officially start the building of the $926 million Event Centre with a sod turning event.
I’m told design renderings will also be unveiled Monday, almost nine years after Ken King unveiled the…— Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) July 17, 2024
Ken King’s Vision Realized
This new arena has been a long-standing goal for the Flames organization. The team has sought an upgrade for some time, and it was King’s dream to bring a new arena to Calgary. In 2017, King and Calgary’s then-mayor Naheed Nenshi struggled to find a viable model for the project. However, the project is now moving forward. The new arena will be located just two blocks from the current Saddledome.
Features and Future Plans
Francis detailed that the new facility will feature an 18,000-seat arena, a community hockey rink, a parkade, and additional spaces for both indoor and outdoor events. The Flames aim to start playing in the new arena for the 2027-28 season. By then, the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Flames’ current home, will be 44 years old. While the iconic Saddledome has been a staple for hockey fans, its replacement has been a long time coming, and the news is a welcome development for both Calgarians and Flames fans.
End of an Era
The end of the Saddledome’s era in Calgary is somewhat somber. It was originally built to host NHL hockey and support the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. The previous arena was too small for the NHL, preventing the Calgary Cowboys from joining the league along with the Edmonton Oilers. Thus, the Saddledome was constructed. The Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980, facilitated by Canadian businessman Nelson Skalbania’s $16 million purchase, which was a record sum for an NHL franchise at that time. Recently, Ryan Smith purchased the Arizona Coyotes for $1.2 billion with plans to move the team to Utah.
Over the years, the Saddledome has undergone name changes and hosted memorable events, including the Flames’ 1989 Stanley Cup win. However, with recent team changes and a shift from a cap ceiling to a floor team, the new arena marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Flames’ history.