New Calgary event centre estimated to cost $550 million

New data from an Ecological Impact Study has found that a new event centre in Calgary’s Entertainment and Cultural District would cost around $550 million.

The study was conducted by Ernst and Young and made public in a December 14 release, shortly before a meeting of the Event Centre Assessment Committee at City Hall.

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Jeff Davison, City Councillor for Ward 6 and head of the committee, stated in the release that the proposed event centre would need to be tied to an expansion of the already existing BMO Centre.

#PRESSRELEASE: Today, Committee will hear a cost estimate on a new Event Centre, and will review the methodology for an Economic Impact Assessment on two vital components of the new Entertainment and Cultural District: The Event Centre and BMO Centre Expansion. #yyc #yyccc #ECAC pic.twitter.com/ZVyswMgYJD

— Jeff Davison (@JeffDavisonYYC) December 14, 2018

“We must consider the development of the event centre and the BMO Centre together,” he said in the release.

“It is my belief that the build-out of the Entertainment and Cultural District is the most important investment Calgary can make in our future to have the most meaningful impact for all citizens.”

While talks between the City and the NHL about plans to replace the aging Scotiabank Saddledome have been moving forward at a snail’s pace for the past year, Davison said in the release that the conversation should not be focused on what this means for the Flames.

“This isn’t about a hockey deal,” he said. “This is about having a unique cultural gathering place for all Calgarians. This will be the place where you take your kids to their first concert, where you see your favourite artist live. This is about revitalizing the culture of our city.”

Arena concept rendering of the new NHL arena in East Victoria Park. (Jeff Davison/Twitter)

Renderings of what the new event centre could look like were released this past October, featuring a facility located two blocks north of the Saddledome between Olympic Way and 5th Street SE and 12th and 14th Avenues.

The renderings show a stadium that could potentially be built with an inverted dome, allowing the higher-up rows to get a closer view at the action.

The release states that City Council will further discuss funding the new event centre and the BMO Centre expansion at a capital-intensive projects meeting on January 28.