Calgary will pay $537M, the Flames owners $356M and the province of Alberta $300M over three yearsDialog
The Flames’ announcement of a new arena deal to replace the Saddledome is “much bigger than the one that fell apart at the end of 2019,” according to a front-page piece by Don Braid of the CALGARY HERALD. The total cost is “nearly double -- about” $1.22B (all figures C$), compared to $600M for the earlier agreement. The increase is due to “both inflation and a wider project scope.” Calgary will pay $537M, the Flames owners $356M and the province of Alberta $300M “over three years.” Flames owners will “face most of the financial burden,” but the fact that the city “pays much more than the owners will be controversial.” Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that the extra cash “comes from reserves and there will be no tax increase because of the project.” The United Conservative Party of Alberta (UCP) will “pay for the demolition of the Saddledome.” This was “apparently a major part of getting the deal over the finish line” (CALGARY HERALD, 4/25). An “adjacent, 1,000-seat community arena” will “serve as both bookable space for amateur athletes and a practice facility for the Flames and other teams" and is projected to cost $52.8M (CALGARY HERALD, 4/25).
ATTRACTING THE STARS: Calgary Sports & Entertainment Chair John Bean said that he spoke with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman “prior to” yesterday’s press conference, and this new center “would put Calgary in the rotation to host events such as the NHL draft and All-Star Game.” Bettman said in May 2022 that for “any hope of hosting league events, Calgary needed a new building” (THE HOCKEY NEWS, 4/25).
FOR THE PEOPLE: In Calgary, Daniel Austin wrote from the perspective of the players “who actually suit up for the Flames,” replacing the “aging Saddledome is vital.” That is something D MacKenzie Weegar “brought up unprompted in his end-of-year media availability.” D Nikita Zadorov said, “It’s gonna help the organization bring new players, free agents, for sure.” Zadorov: “There’s probably some talk around the league about whether people want to play here or not because of the … building or the organization and how they spent their money, so they’re definitely showing that they’re willing to do anything to build a great team here and a great organization.” The Saddledome is a “relic of another time.” The only arenas older than it in the NHL have “received huge facelifts over the years and have far more modern amenities, for both players and fans” (CALGARY SUN, 4/25).
PLAYED THEIR CARDS RIGHT? SPORTSNET.ca’s Eric Francis wrote the “heartache” of the Flames “backing out of a deal at Christmas 2021 was a blessing in disguise.” As one of Canada’s “shrewdest negotiators,” CSEC majority owner Murray Edwards “won again.” Pulling the pin on the last deal “landed him an even better deal.” Flames ownership will “chip in” $356M “for a building they will run, but not own” (SPORTSNET.ca, 4/25).
BUZZCAST: SBJ's Abe Madkour reviews the Flames' new arena deal in today's Buzzcast (2:29-4:09).
