New renderings of planned Calgary event centre released

Additional renderings have been revealed of the new arena being built to replace Calgary's aging Saddledome.

The drawings were released by architectural firm Dialog as part of its development application process with the city.

In its written submission, the designers say the arena will feature a "shroud-shaped form resembling a ribbon" that "envelops the performance space of the event centre, gently rising from the critical corner of the northwest plaza and wrapping the structure."

Last month, the city and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC), owner of the Calgary Flames, agreed to a revised deal that will see each pay an additional $12.5 million for the arena.

CSEC will cover any additional cost overruns on the project, which is now slated to cost $608.5 million, up from the previous $550-million deal agreed upon in 2019. The city will pay roughly half that amount.

Under the new arrangement, the city-owned developer behind the Rivers District, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), will no longer oversee the project.

The building is slated to have 18,300 seats around 1,000 fewer than the Saddledome.

The arena will also be smaller than Rogers Place in Edmonton, which is more than 1.1. million square-feet with 18,500 seats.

"This facility will replace the iconic Saddledome with a vibrant new beacon of energy and excitement that will become a source of civic pride for all Calgarians," Dialog said in its submission to the city.

The renderings show a plaza on the southwest corner, at Olympic Way and 14th Avenue S.E., and a smaller one at the other main entrance,on the northwest corner of the arena, at 12th Avenue and Olympic Way S.E.

Inside the new building, the firm said, the seating bowl will be designed so the arena has the flexibility to be used for a wide range of events besides hockey.

And the architects promise that when the Flames are playing, the arena's design will make their opponents feel "down two goals before the game starts."

Construction on the arena is set to start in December, with expected completion by August 2024.