Calgary entertainment district, masterplanned by Rossetti, gets go-ahead
Ambitious plans to create a large sports and entertainment district in Calgary, Canada have been given the green light after a public funding package was agreed for the development.
The City of Calgary has agreed to provide half of the funding for the CA$550m (US$416m, €371m, £344m), project, which is driven by Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) and the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Limited (Stampede).
The masterplan for the project was created by multi-disciplinary practice Rossetti and features an indoor sports arena and events centre with an accessible and transparent approach at street level, designed to integrate into the community.
Located within the downtown area at Victoria Park, the project will be anchored by the multi-use indoor arena, which will become the home of National Hockey League (NHL) franchise Calgary Flames and has been described as "a catalyst for redevelopment".
As well as the 19,000-capacity arena, the district will feature a "festival street" and public spaces. The project is central to City of Calgary's vision of establishing a Culture and Entertainment District.
It is also a key component to the city's economic strategy – called Calgary in the New Economy – which was approved in June 2018.
“For years, I’ve been saying any investment of public money must have public benefit," said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. "This deal does that. It’s a fair deal.
"I’m pleased that it will allow us to move forward on the important work of city building, especially in east Victoria Park.
“Given their success in building and designing the East Village, I’m looking forward to the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation’s design, engagement and community integration on this project.”
Construction work on the arena and the surrounding district is set to begin by 2021.
Plans to build a new arena for the Calgary Flames franchise have been in the pipeline for more than five years. A previous project called CalgaryNEXT – which included a 20,000 indoor arena and a 40,000-seat American football stadium – was shelved in 2018 after no agreement on funding was reached.
CalgaryBreaking: Calgary public votes 'no' to 2026 Olympics
Plans revealed for CA$890m CalgaryNEXT sports complex


James Corner Field Operations creates Highline for London

Esbjerg’s landmark maritime center, designed by WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta, opens to the public

SEVEN to open world’s first indoor Discovery Adventures centres in Saudi Arabia

Fun and fear drive new Universal attraction concepts for Texas and Las Vegas

Voelker Gray Design creates 10-acre hot springs wellness haven for Atlanta

AIDarchitecten create healing spa for Antwerp's Botanic Sanctuary

Hollaway Studio's Seahive would bring blue health to South-East England

SEVEN to invest US$13bn in developing entertainment destinations across Saudi Arabia

World Spa’s expansive 50,000sq ft urban bathhouse and wellness club opens in Brooklyn

Floating Salmon Eye visitor attraction by Kvorning Design highlights sustainable aquaculture

White Arkitekter's Wood Hotel in Skellefteå Swedish Lapland is climate positive and made from local timber

Nohlab's 'Everything' installation among Noor Riyadh festival highlights

Bob Iger's return to Disney sparks major restructuring focused on creativity and storytelling

Therme Group plans US$200m urban wellbeing resort in South Korea

Digital art installation in Nanjing helps the public keep an eye on exoplanets

First glimpses revealed of flagship Blue Zones Centre in Miami

Warner Bros. and Infinite Reality launch metaverse experiences for live sports fans

Storyland Studios' Nigeria's film city project will break ground in Q1 2023

Canyon Ranch preps for major expansion with new destinations in Austin, Fort Worth and Houston

WilkinsonEyre-designed Battersea Power Station development opens as leisure district following £9bn redevelopment

Healthy cities conference to discuss diversity and inclusivity in urban planning and design

Foster and Partners reveal design for sustainable marine life centre on the Red Sea

Anaheim's US$4bn ocV!BE project approved by planners

Construction marches ahead for Saudi giga-projects Amaala and The Red Sea

HBG Design behind Michigan’s six-storey Aquadome inspired by the sun’s path across the sky

Seventh International Museum Construction Congress to be held in Norway this year

The 'world's most anticipated museum' to finally open this year

Nike's Serena Williams Building, designed by Skylab, follows the concept of flow

Saudi Arabia's Neom mega-development to include 100-mile long 'horizontal skyscraper city'
