primary indoor arena calgary alberta canada located southeast end downtown calgary built replace home host ice hockey figure skating winter olympics today arena home facility hosts concerts conferences sporting championships events underwent major renovation sold naming rights original changed facility given signed year agreement adopted current october signed title sponsor owned city calgary leased non profit organization oversee operation currently managed damaged alberta floods repaired reopened time season calgary served years arrived total capacity largest arena canada west toronto fallen major league standards 1970s deemed insufficient leading calgary fold hope team selected merge calgary bid host winter olympics coupled arrival flames drove need build new arena city_council debated merits locations city new narrowed choices areas neighbourhood east end downtown sites west end downtown late bid businessmen pushing build arena northern suburb considered fought bid build arena neighborhood threatening oppose city olympic bid necessary city_council voted march build proposed seat arena grounds immediately east south community continued fight city land allow new arena amidst fears traffic congestion neighbourhood resulted numerous costly delays start construction bid end battle mayor asked provincial government july land designated arena bypass appeals process force approval province supported city amidst protests community associations invoked rarely powers planning regulations allowing construction begin following day july builders began construction arena impressed project underway noted olympic winter games official report stated fact facility built added credibility calgary bid proved positive factor demonstrating calgary commitment hosting games facility designed set design unique building idea western theme occurred team roof building designed reverse allowing pillar free view seats reducing interior volume compared traditional arenas resulting reduced heating lighting maintenance costs plus floating roof compensate city frequent temperature fluctuations design unveiled roof immediately referred saddle shaped entries submitted contest arena involved word saddle winning contest drawn hat filled similar saddle themed names time received reception including chairman calgary quoted saying olympic western dome designers won architectural engineering awards work honoured millennium celebration architecture reported world record holder longest spanning concrete shell featured cover september article discussing city calgary upcoming olympics location park allows easy access calgary train light rail transit system station stands parallel train station connected plus pedestrian direct vehicle access gained north 5th street east olympic way history arena initially projected cost million build later revised million attempts fast track construction resulted million cost overrun resulting final cost million month delay completion builders faced delays building roof numerous adjustments required fit giant concrete array cables held place upset excess cost opposition politicians alberta demanded public hearing issue hearing conducted city placed blame project manager city province required pay additional costs opened october served boost morale city experiencing significant result international oil market collapse high interest rates federal government event game flames standard prime minister thing population upset government policies defeated flames sold crowd nearly fans initial seating capacity hockey upper immediately completed olympics neared calgary organizing committee spent million add seats upper bid alleviate scandal resulted organizing committee giving partners sponsors treatment ticket sales capacity noted largest arena winter games called facility finest international world praised city commitment hosting olympics noting official report constructing arena prior awarded games lent credibility calgary bid positively influenced voters arena north_america designed accommodate larger international ice surface international feet wider reached highest capacity early 90s flames petitioned upgrade facility requesting renovations add additional luxury boxes new club section flames insisted upgrades necessary team remain viable arena argued important landlord bring arena higher standards felt required team lobbied city_council hope agree fund majority million renovation federal infrastructure funds time rejected counter proposal applying ticket pay cost media reports claimed team considering relocating calgary council agree flames owners denied reports said threatened build new city city_council supported flames proposal vote following months negotiations renovations occurred saw addition new luxury lower bowl seat club section new restaurant expanded offices flames management significant restructuring public new structure arena remained operational spring despite ongoing construction closed entirely april october officially opened october flames home game season prior opening flames signed deal facility year agreement worth approximately million year arena removing olympic moniker controversial public city_council city voted favour deal included donation portion naming rights fund amateur sports city arena renamed acquired ceased operations signed year agreement gave facility arena received upgrades recent years flames spent million led power ring display lines facing second level installed replaced new high definition manufactured display screens led called flood buildings impacted alberta floods flooding areas city including located event level arena filled water dressing rooms control room video replay screen press conference held june team president stated arena flooded eighth row event level facility total loss added team equipment memorabilia destroyed expressed confidence facility repaired ready time october start season repairs facility forced cancellation concerts agricultural events scheduled crews worked clock repair facility director building operations estimated man hours work performed facility noted compressed month project facility granted occupancy permit late august event following opening eagles concert september hockey game september flames pre season contest events home flames hosted star game entry draft flames played stanley cup finals series arena home won president trophy playoff record crowd playing largest arena hold league records overall attendance single game home hosted star game twice hosted game calgary victories stadium venues world junior ice opening allowed calgary play host major musical acts bypassing city early 1980s city existing facilities large accommodate industry performers musical act appear opening november appearances dome acts stops inability roof support massive light speaker special effect performers currently use led city bypassed major tours addition hockey figure skating olympics site numerous major national international events facility hosted canadian men championship occasions hosted women championship world figure skating championships held arena wwf pay view event house held july non sporting events recently hosted public address attended people queen elizabeth_ii attended celebration alberta centennial hosted light cup events event known event called riders canadian open host events amenities seats hockey different capacities events depending arena configuration luxury constructed lower bowl constructed second level facility built party corners upper rented event event basis sections lower bowl form offers seat concession service flames games features private dining room available flames games large concerts private events sports bar located west entrance building additional restaurants facility seat executive club accessible purchased membership features private bar restaurant fully functional business centre established leased arena years non profit organization mandate oversee operation manner protects benefits amateur sports local provincial national level foundation board directors appointed city appointed province appointed foundation contracted manage arena lease agreements flames earned gross concession sales net income luxury executive seating investment income arena revenues flames signed year lease earned advertising revenues ticket revenues earned concession revenues revenue parking deal city flames bought contract million took management facility city paid renovations new agreement required flames pay future arena maintenance repairs renovations flames agreed manage arena years contribute million amateur sport city time retains responsibility distributing funds amateur sport inception allocated million cause future oldest arenas speculation replaced flames president chief executive officer said plans new arena years away creating expectation team hoped new arena built lease plans came fruition team chairman argues ability facility host major events concerts growing increasingly limited facility ages edwards sports financial analysts note newer arenas generate far revenue teams flames expected new arena located downtown calgary commissioner lobbied behalf flames government support calgary mayor stated opposition money help fund new arena king stated flames concepts designs new building ready release plans considered include lowering city train light rail transit line ground run straight new facility new arena proposed sports complex located western downtown area include replacements mcmahon stadium
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