Definitive deal made between city, Stampede, and Flames on new arena

Dec 5 2019, 7:51 pm

The arena deal has been signed and sealed.

Calgary City Councillor Jeff Davison confirmed in a tweet on Thursday morning that the City of Calgary, the Calgary Stampede, and the Calgary Flames had signed an official agreement concerning the city’s plans for a new hockey arena.

“I am pleased to announce that definitive agreements are signed between the @cityofcalgary, the @NHLFlames and the @calgarystampede for Calgary’s new #EventCentre and Culture and Entertainment District,” Davison wrote.

“Onward to the next chapter of our City’s story!”

A tentative agreement was made this past July following years of stalled negotiations, though the $275 million that the city would be contributing of the full $550 million was still up for contention as recently as late November among councillors.

arena

Calgary Flames

The Saddledome has been the home of the Flames ever since it opened in 1983. That makes it the third-oldest NHL arena currently in use, ranking behind only Madison Square Garden (New York Rangers) and Nassau Coliseum (New York Islanders).

The next oldest buildings are the Honda Center in Anaheim and the SAP Center in San Jose, both having opened in 1993.

The Flames will be bearing 100% of the operating, maintenance, and repair costs for a 35-year agreement period.

Construction on the new 19,000-seat event centre is expected to begin in 2021, with the Flames playing their first games on the new ice as soon as the 2024-2025 season.

– With files from Rob Williams

Chandler WalterChandler Walter

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