The Flames’ vision for their new arena project "would take up several blocks’ worth of prime land" west of downtown Calgary and would bring together a new hockey arena "plus a football stadium and an amateur sports fieldhouse," according to Jason Markusoff of the CALGARY HERALD. The project, which "could easily cost" more than $500M (all figures Canadian), features an indoor multi-sport fieldhouse. That is "more likely to draw in civic funding support than if it were merely new stand-alone homes" for the Flames and CFL Stampeders. A source said that the football complex and fieldhouse "would be part of the same convertible building." Flames President & CEO Ken King last month "shared his plans" with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who then "relayed it to council in a closed-door session Monday evening." But there is "still no formal proposal submitted to council, and it’s unclear when King will finally reveal the ambitious concept to the public" (CALGARYHERALD.com, 4/2). In Calgary, Dave Dormer writes the $200M multi-sport fieldhouse "has been on the top of the city’s unfunded wishlist for some time." Nenshi said that finding funding for the overall project "will be key to its success." City Councillor Evan Woolley said that he has "not met with Flames officials or been presented with any proposal and there are still many unanswered questions" (CALGARY SUN, 4/3). A CALGARY HERALD editorial states most city residents "want to avoid the style of negotiations that Edmonton city council engaged in, taking on ever-larger amounts of debt for the construction" of the Oilers' new $480M arena. However, it is clear that new amenities "would be an asset to Calgary." The Flames' ownership group has "hinted at a bold vision, so there’s every reason to believe it will live up to expectations when details are formally released." The project "would be a tremendous source of pride and economic development for all of southern Alberta" (CALGARY HERALD, 4/3).
ENVIRONMENTAL HURDLE: In Calgary, Eva Ferguson in a front-page piece reports city officials are "concerned about environmental contamination" on the site that would be used for the Flames' project. While recently found creosote in basements across the river is "increasing the urgency with which a cleanup is needed, Alberta Environment says it is not in the business of doing remediation work or helping pay for it." Nenshi stressed Thursday that while "there is no official proposal before him," no development can occur on the site "without a massive remediation first." He added that "before any development can occur, it's time all three levels of government have a broader conversation about how to clean up the contamination" (CALGARY HERALD, 4/3).
