Calgary Special Report: Are there lessons Calgary can learn from Edmonton as this city considers whether to replace the Saddledome

The Calgary Herald recently ran a story, based on unnamed sources, suggesting that the Calgary Flames will propose building an arena, a football stadium and an amateur sports fieldhouse on several blocks of city-owned land beside the Bow River a few blocks west of downtown.
It seems as though Calgary will soon embark on a debate over a new arena, while our neighbours in Edmonton will cut the ribbon on the new Edmonton Arena District in 2016, which includes an arena for the Oilers, a public plaza and residential as well as business developments.
At a cost of a half a billion dollars or more, which will inevitably include some form of public financial support, the debate promises to be colourful and contentious.
pbrooks@cjournal.ca
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Daniel Rodriguez at drodriguez@cjournal.ca