Five questions about Calgary-NEXT site
The Calgary Sports & Entertainment Corporation officially unveiled plans Tuesday for a $ 900- million arena, fieldhouse and stadium complex in Calgary’s West Village. Here’s what we know and what we don’t know about the project.
What’s included in CalgaryNEXT?
The complex is slated to include a multi- use fieldhouse as well as an arena and events centre. The fieldhouse will feature a FIFA regulation pitch and a CFL regulation football field in the same space, as well as a nine- lane, 400- metre track. There will be courts for volleyball, basketball and badminton, a strength and conditioning centre, multi- purpose rooms and a sports medicine clinic. The arena and new home of the Calgary Flames, Hitmen and Roughnecks will seat between
18,000 and 20,000 people.
Where will CalgaryNEXT be located?
Confirming years of rumours, King said the complex will be built west of downtown where the Greyhound bus station and two car dealerships currently sit. However, the site is contaminated by creosote, a coal oil used to preserve wood against rot, and no one has stepped up to pay for the environmental cleanup the site requires. King said CalgaryNEXT would act as a “catalyst” for decontaminating the site, but there’s no clear answer as to who will pick up the tab.
Who will pay for it?
The financing plan for CalgaryNEXT’s $ 890- million pricetag would raise the required money from four areas.
The Calgary Sports & Entertainment Corporation would pony up $ 200 million for the project, with $ 250 million coming from a ticket tax.
A Community Revitalization Levy for West Village would fund another $ 240 million, and the $ 200- million cost of the fieldhouse would be up to the city. A fieldhouse is the city’s top unfunded recreation priority, and on Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Diane Colley- Urquhart said there’s still no funding for it.
What will happen to McMahon Stadium and the Saddledome?
King said he doesn’t see much of a future for McMahon Stadium aside from making it “disappear.” King suggested the land, which is owned by the University of Calgary, could be suitable for a transit- oriented development.
In an emailed statement, university president Elizabeth Cannon called CalgaryNEXT a “very interesting project.”
“The University of Calgary has a strong partnership with the Stampeders, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to explore the opportunities and impacts.”
One option for the aging Saddledome could be to create more exhibition and trade space that King said is “desperately” needed in Calgary.
“We care deeply about the Calgary Stampede and we would like to work with them to come up with a good solution for that,” he said.
The complex would be located beside the river. Are there flood concerns?
Though the communities on the north side of the Bow River flooded in 2013, West Village is not considered to be at risk of flooding. King called it “safe ground” compared to the Stampede grounds, which were inundated during the flood two years ago.