Arena talks may resume

SLIGHT THAW IN ARENA STALEMATE IN CALGARY

The door opened a crack on arena talks in Calgary as the city and the Flames have re-established contact. A city council committee struck in May to revive the arena issue and Calgary Sport and Entertainment have exchanged cordial, but noncommittal letters.

Committee chair Coun. Jeff Davison sent a letter to CSEC inviting it “to commit to a new round of conversation to assess the topic of Calgary’s new Event Centre together.”

CSEC president Ken King replied “while we would never decline your formal request for a meeting, we do have some concerns based on past practice.

“As a result, we would like to have a preliminary discussion to determine what may have changed in the city’s view to warrant our re-engaging.”

The correspondence is the first public movement on a new building to house the NHL team since last fall, when replacing the 35-yearold Saddledome became civic election fodder.

CSEC broke off negotiations within days of Mayor Naheed Nenshi kicking off his campaign for a third term.

“Things fell apart very abruptly. Everything kind of came to a grinding halt,” Davison said Tuesday. “I’m not expecting the Flames would ever come back waving the flag saying ‘thank god, we’re ready to go.’

“What’s encouraging is they’re interested in having a conversation.”

Nenshi talked about a new arena as part of his vision for the downtown east side’s revitalization prior to the civic election.

He has one vote on council, although his voice carries influence as mayor. And it was his voice countering King’s in the public back and forth over who should pay how much for a new arena.

King speaks for Flames owners Murray Edwards, Alvin Libin, Clayton Riddell, Allan Markin and Jeff McCaig.

CSEC also owns the Canadian Football League’s Stampeders, Western Hockey League’s Hitmen and National Lacrosse League’s Roughnecks in addition to the Flames.