It looks like the Flames are one major step closer to having a new home in Calgary.
According to multiple reports out of Calgary late Thursday, the city’s planning commission has unanimously approved a development permit for a brand new, $600-million arena to replace the Saddledome, longtime home of the Flames.
A vote was taken after a thorough examination of design plans and illustrative renderings of the facility, which is not just an arena but an “event centre,” as the city is calling it, meant to serve as community hub in east Victoria Park.
Construction is reportedly set to begin in early 2022, but there’s still a long list of conditions to be met before that can happen.
The estimated cost of the new site comes in at $608.5 million, more than half of which is to be covered by Flames ownership, the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. The city of Calgary will also contribute $287.5 million.
Capacity of the new rink is expected to be 18,320 seats for hockey games and anywhere from 17,500 to over 20,000 for concerts and other events.
Among the many impressive features and elements of this new development is an environmental measure, too, with city officials aiming to have building operations carbon neutral by 2035.
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