Welcome to At the Arena. This weekly segment throughout the offseason will highlight and review the design outlined for Scotia Place, the new home of the Calgary Flames.
Each week will address a different aspect of the design. Where did the Flames hit it out of the park, and where did they flat-out miss?
Amenities are everything in modern venues. Gone are the days of capacity ruling the industry, now unique fan experiences are what the modern-day consumer wants. Scotia Place intends to deliver that in multiple ways.
Concourse amenities
When it’s finished, Scotia Place will be one of the most integrated and unique concourses in the NHL. The design creates active edges around the arena aimed at integrating urban facilities and breaking the stereotypical sea of cars with a stadium at the heart of it.
Most notably, the Calgary Event Center Block offers a new integrated public space to the concourse. The mix of retail, dining, and community-use public spaces is aimed to create a dynamic hub for the community.
Part of the space will be anchored on the historical Stephenson & Co. building.
Beyond the concourse on game day, the venue also includes a community rink that doubles as a practice facility for the Flames—both a much-needed community rink downtown, and a much closer practice facility than WinSport.
The multitude of restaurant spaces is sure to offer a diverse array of food reflective of the city’s diverse culture. Plus, with an additional indoor plaza that doubles as an event space outside of arena operations, and the community rink, the concourse at Scotia Place looks to offer plenty of diversity and amenities to the average fan, even just the average person.
What’s the rest of the league doing?
Scotia Place will be state-of-the-art in 2027 but some venues are going all out right now. The Columbus Blue Jackets home, Nationwide Arena, also houses a practice facility for the team like Scotia Place will. Nationwide is also home to a notorious concession selection and rotating food options throughout the year.
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas has become known for its concourse and amenities. With all the flair of Vegas including light shows, DJs, and pre-game performances, the concourse also has a pass-through viewing area.
In Edmonton, Rogers Place and the Ice District create a one-stop shop for entertainment, fun, food, and accommodation. The concourse is massive, suites and restaurants are bountiful and the street view of the media room is one of a kind.
Bridgestone Arena in Nashville has been touted as one of the best for fan experiences. The venue has a split upper deck and features a stage with live music performances during games.
Little Caesars Arena in Detroit is another unique arena that has a light-changing ceiling that completely changes the atmosphere of the venue.
Welcoming in a new experience
Although the details about true game day amenities are still to come, Scotia Place has a very strong base to build the fan experience. It would be really interesting to see some of these ideas integrated into Scotia Place with a little bit of Calgary’s flavour.
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