Locations other than Victoria Park on table for new Calgary arena

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A brand new occasion heart in Calgary is just not anchored to the Victoria Park location the place a earlier deal constructed a alternative for the Saddledome.

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Ongoing negotiations for the sector are “all viable choices” in downtown Calgary, occasion heart committee chair Coun. Sonya Sharp informed reporters on Monday after this committee’s first assembly of the brand new 12 months.

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Sharp declined to touch upon specifics, however didn’t low cost the suggestion that the West Village website beforehand thought of could possibly be a part of the dialog once more.

“Whenever you return to the dialog we had within the fall, we talked about it being a recent begin, so it is a recent begin,” Sharp stated.

“We’re constructing an occasion heart throughout the metropolis, throughout the metropolis heart, and all doable choices might be introduced.”

The earlier $650 million deal between the town and Calgary Flames possession fell aside in late 2021 resulting from price overruns, simply weeks earlier than building was set to start.

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That deal would have constructed the sector in Victoria Park on the metropolis’s Rivers district across the Stampede website, with the brand new constructing because the marquee of plans to redevelop the world.

Again in 2015, Calgary Sports activities and Leisure Corp. (CSEC) unveiled plans for the CalgaryNext area undertaking within the West Village. The plan, which might have included an $890 million area, fell aside two years later partially due to remediation prices associated to creosote-contaminated land close to the town’s Bow River.

Negotiations ‘progressing effectively’

Monday’s assembly happened 4 months after the town and CSEC resumed formal discussions a couple of new area, however particulars stay elusive.

Sharp stated talks are progressing “effectively” between the CSEC and CAA-ICON, an American consulting agency employed to symbolize the town on the negotiating desk.

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An replace on the negotiations befell Monday behind closed doorways at Metropolis Corridor, with metropolis workers, some council members and CAA-ICON current.

There is not any agency timeline, Sharp stated, however reiterated that the town needs to be “as aggressive as we will” in reaching a deal.

“We do know that as a result of time is of the essence, we additionally work with price escalations. We all know with tasks, the earlier it occurs, the higher in the case of money and time,” stated Sharp.

In October, Premier Danielle Smith appointed native MLA Ric McIver because the provincial authorities’s liaison on area talks, saying she needed to determine methods her UCP may assist the events attain a brand new deal.

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Sharp revealed Monday that CAA-ICON representatives met straight with Smith’s workplace and stated the talks are anticipated to proceed. The prime minister’s workplace informed Postmedia on Monday that officers wouldn’t touch upon area negotiations “till the events concerned have one thing to report.”

The occasion heart committee is anticipated to fulfill once more subsequent month.

Saddledome ‘has a classic vibe’

Calgary’s area scenario seems to be on the thoughts of Flames free agent heart Nazem Kadri, who stated final week he hopes a brand new area is within the playing cards for the crew.

“(The Saddledome is) a novel area. It is outdated, however we’d need to have a brand new one right here quickly,” Kadri informed Sportsnet whereas in Florida for the NHL All-Star Weekend.

“It simply has a classic vibe. It jogs my memory of the tracks I went to after I was a child.”

jherring@postmedia.com

Twitter: @jasonfherring