Calgary city council votes to restart arena conversation

The frosty silence over the building of a new NHL arena in Calgary has thawed a little.

City council voted Monday night to form a committee that will attempt to re-engage the Calgary Flames in talks on a new sport and concert venue.

“If we are going to say we are still at the table, let’s act like we’re at the table,” Coun. Jeff Davison said.

“We’ve sent a strong signal today that says we have a strong contingent on council that wants to have a conversation.”

A Flames spokesman said the team had no comment.

A new arena became civic election fodder last September when Calgary Sports and Entertainment broke off negotiations within days of Mayor Naheed Nenshi kicking off his campaign for a third term. Nenshi talked about a new arena as part of his vision for the downtown east side’s revitalization. He has one vote on council, although his voice carries influence as mayor. And it was his voice countering CSEC president Ken King’s in the public back and forth over who should pay how much for a new arena.

The issue took on a personal tone when a Flames employee tweeted — later deleted — that Nenshi’s re-election as mayor was “worse than Donald Trump being president.” Flames vicepresident of marketing Gordon Norrie had urged people on social media to vote for Bill Smith, who was Nenshi’s main rival in the election.

Eleven councillors brought forth Monday’s motion to essentially get arena talks back on track. Nenshi was among those voting in favour of it.