Another step closer to reality: Development permit approved for Calgary's Scotia Place

Development permit for Scotia Place approved A new home for the Calgary Flames is closer to major construction now that the development permit has been approved.

Construction on Calgary's new event centre is one step closer to reality after the city's planning commission unanimously approved the project's final development permit on Thursday afternoon.

More detailed plans for Scotia Place, which will be the new home for the Flames, Wranglers, Roughnecks and Hitmen, provide an idea of what the $900-million arena will look like when completed.

"After years of going after this, we're at the stage right now whereby Calgarians will see what this new event centre looks like, in terms of the 18,400 seats that are going to be proposed there," said Coun. Terry Wong.

"But it's not just about that; it's also about the public realm. It's also about the entertainment district."

Site preparation in Victoria Park is well underway, with the centre's footprint evident next to the Saddledome and newly expanded BMO Centre.

"I think what you're going to find is just the interaction with the public. We have space now, three restaurants and a food hall that will be on the exterior of the building to interact with the public," said Susie Darrington, a project committee member.

"If you come to a concert or an event at the Saddledome right now, we really have one area that has public-facing amenities. Now you'll have two concourses and vertical transportation. One of the biggest challenges with the Saddledome is just being able to move around."

The overall project also includes a community rink and infrastructure improvements in the area and comes at a cost of $1.2 billion.

The city will cover more than 40 per cent of the cost of the project—$537.3 million—and will own the building.

Calgary Sports and Entertainment (CSEC) is paying $40 million upfront and annual payments that will escalate yearly, starting at $17 million.

The provincial government pledged $330 million to cover the infrastructure costs, half of the community rink and the demolition of the Saddledome.

"(Scotia Place) is going to contribute to the overall entertainment district, and so the plans incorporated a lot of things that will form part of the overall area. So, it's not just exclusive to the event centre. There's a lot of connecting pieces in there that will contribute to the overall area," said Coun. Andre Chabot.

More bathrooms and food areas

The project team said one of its focuses in the design process was improving the fan experience and there are dozens of bathrooms, bars and food options in the new arena.

The plans show about 340 toilets in the building, about double what is in the Saddledome.

A third of the washrooms are men's, a third are women's and the final third are flex washrooms that can change depending on the demographic of the concert or event.

Scotia Place will also have about 20 per cent more washrooms than Edmonton's Rogers Place.

"You're actually talking to the right person who opened Rogers Place. So, I lived the battle of the bathrooms of Alberta," Darrington said.

"We fixed that problem up in Edmonton, but in Calgary, we're opening the doors with a better ratio."

The event centre also has dozens of food options on each of the two concourses.

The old Stephenson and Co. building will be integrated into the new arena on the north side as a food hall, and there is a cocktail lounge, Wood Fire Grill restaurant and a large sports bar.

Throughout the concourses, the plan shows multiple locations for Pocket Dawgs, Burger and Brew, Malt and Mini Donuts and several grab-and-go markets.

Other food options labelled on the plans include pizza, fired chicken, Korean corn dogs, bowls and salads, dumplings and buns, Vietnamese subs and Tandoor.

The project team expects work on the building itself to start in the spring of 2025 with a completion goal of fall 2027.