City will pursue other means of getting arena built, Calgary mayor says

Calgary MayorJyotiGondeksaid Wednesday the city will pursue other ways of getting a new downtown arena built after its deal with the Flames owners was officially terminated earlier this week.

Construction was supposed to start on the $600-million arena in Victoria Park in early 2022 but onDec. 21, Gondeksaid she had been informed by the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) that it would not be proceeding with the project.

In the days that followed, the Flames owners indicated they wouldn't go aheaddue to rising costs.

WATCH | Kenney responds to Calgary's event centre termination:

Kenney responds to Calgary's event centre termination

3 years ago

Duration 1:49

At a press conference Tuesday, Premier Jason Kenney says he's disappointed that the new arena deal did not go forward.

Gondeksaid at a news conference on Wednesdaythat other avenues will now be pursued.

"Now is the time to look very holistically at the district itself, rather than trying to build a district around a single project," she said.

Gondekalso emphasized that although the city is not in any negotiations at the moment, anew arena remains a goal.

"I would like to make sure thatCalgariansunderstand that building an eventcentre is still a strategic direction of [city] council,"Gondeksaid.

"There are still many interested partiesthat want to see this move forward."

'Almost unanimous' desire on council for new arena, Chabot says

Some members of council, however, have saidthey are less optimisticabout finding another partner fora new deal with the "magnitude" of the Flames owners.

On the Wednesday edition of theCalgary Eyeopener, and beforeGondek'snews conference,Ward 10Coun. AndreChabot said this will present challenges.

"This is something that the City of Calgary has been pursuing for over 15 years, and the idea that we're just going to snap our fingers and find a new partner, I think, is a very utopian sort of opinion," Chabot said.

"It's not going to happen.Not a partner of this magnitude."

Ward 9 Coun.Gian-Carlo Carrasaid the desire to come to the table with a partner is something that is "absolutely there."

He also said they will build with "whatever partner they find."

According to Chabotthere is an "almost unanimous" desire from city council to get the arena built.

It's a key piece of redeveloping the city's downtown core, he told theEyeopeneron Wednesday.

ButChabotsaidit would be difficult to revisit talks with theCSEC, and aconversation about a renegotiation can happen only with a neutral third party at the table.

"The two partners don't seem to play well in the sandbox together, which wastypical of the previous council as well," Chabot said.

However,Gondeksaid other factors also affected the dealand the city now has a chance to re-envision it.

"COVIDhas wreaked havoc on supply chains, and it has impacted this project and many others,"Gondeksaid.

"It's time to sit down and understand how new operating models could potentially work in everyone's best interest, including the public that the city council serves."

Council is set to revisit the matter next Tuesday, whenit will work to determine how the project willgo ahead, Gondeksaid.

The CSEChas said the Calgary Flames will continue to play at the Saddledome.