CALGARY – Alberta’s premier has declared her support for a new arena in Calgary for the NHL’s Flames, among others.
Danielle Smith also mentioned that she would like the province to be involved.
She said in a statement Tuesday that the 39-year-old Saddledome has served the community well, but can no longer compete with newer buildings across North America for events, concerts and sports.
“One only has to look at Rogers Place to see the multitude of world-class events drawn to Edmonton and the economic revitalization this facility has brought to downtown,” Smith wrote. Calgary needs a new world-class event center and arena, and now is the time to get the project started. ”
Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) and the city have resumed talks on a new event center after a previous agreement fell through last year.
The province has not contributed financially to the construction of Rogers Place, which opened in 2016, nor has it committed funds for a new building in Calgary.
Smith wants to find ways the province could help the city and the Flames complete the project. She named Calgary-Hays MLA and former city councilor Ric McIver as the province’s representative.
“I asked him to contact both the city and CSEC to find out how the province can be of assistance,” Smith said.
“I’ve lived most of my life in Calgary,” added the 51-year-old. I know the Flames are an integral part of the fabric of the city. They are also an essential direct and indirect economic engine, creating jobs for the community. ”
The initial estimate for the Calgary event center was $550 million split between the two parties, but that figure has risen to $634 million.
Construction was supposed to begin this year for a 19,000-seat arena and concert hall, but the Flames pulled out due to rising costs.
Calgary City Council voted in January to hire a third party to get the project back on track.
Commercial real estate moguls John Fisher, Guy Huntingford and Phil Swift were tasked with determining whether the Flames still wanted a partnership on the docket, or whether the city should seek out other potential partners.
The Flames eventually agreed to resume talks with the city. The city will be represented in the negotiations by CAA ICON, which has managed the development of other arenas and stadiums, including Rogers Place.
Edmonton’s new arena cost $483.5 million, but the additions of a pedestrian corridor and transit connection, a community arena and a convention space called Winter Garden brought the total of $613 million.
The Saddledome is the second oldest arena in the NHL, behind Madison Square Garden in New York.
The proposed events center north of the Saddledome is envisioned as the heart of a larger revitalized commercial and residential district.
