Flames confirm agreement for Calgary event centre terminated
The owners of the Calgary Flames say the framework agreement with the city of Calgary for a new event centre has been terminated.
A call many have been expecting.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation said the project framework agreement required both parties to waive current construction conditions on or before Dec. 31.
Neither party waived the conditions, resulting in termination.
So BOTH the city and the flames terminated the agreement, not just one side (as the media likes to proclaim).
“We have always believed that Calgary needs a new Event Centre,” John Bean, president and CEO of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, said in a statement. “However, under the current circumstances we do not see a path forward that would create a viable partnership with the city, which is essential for a new Event Centre to become a reality.”
Like right now, with all the attendance restrictions, how can building a new arena that could hold 19,000+ people, but only allowing half in (or none at all) and NO food/drinks being sold?
I call that unviable.
(Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek) added that walking away from a $630 million project for 1.5 per cent of the value of the deal is “staggering.”
Throwing additional expenses at the ownership AFTER costs were agreed to hoping they would cover it, claiming “it is only 1.5% of the total cost” is stupid!
But they agreed to any cover overruns… to the costs already agreed to, and not NEW costs you want to ADD to it after the fact. And not even at 50-50!
After Gondek’s statement, the Flames pledged to keep the team at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
For now. Since they don’t have a new arena in Calgary to look forward to.
The Flames first choice of arena location the city did not want, and the choice the former mayor forced onto the flames, they finally said no too.
As for relocating in the future, that option is now BACK on the table. Forget Quebec City, where the restrictions are WORSE for citizens. I think the people in Houston will be on speed dial for now on.
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