WebStamp January 10, 2018

The Benefits of the Olympic Saddledome

The Stampede Coral with a capacity of 8700, when built in 1950, was the largest arena west of Toronto. In 1980. With Canadian entrepreneur Nelson Skalbania purchase of the Atlantic Flames and moving the franchise to Calgary a new stadium was required to meet major league standards. Along with Calgary’s bid on the 1988 Winter Olympics and the construction underway of the new stadium for the Calgary Flames.  Having a reverse parabolic shape resembling a saddle it became the Olympic Saddledome. The high-tech stadium since then has attracted and entertained many visitors to our city.

CofRed Saddledome.jpg

Over the years the Saddledome has hosted many hockey games including the 1988 Winter Olympics, The Calgary Stampede, concert venues, and many agricultural and other public events. Many people have benefited and enjoyed the many events that have been hosted at the now sponsored renamed Scotiabank Saddledome.

 

The Saddledome has provided entertainment, socializing, and financial benefits to the citizens of Calgary and without it we would not have had a NHL team, and the many concerts and events that we have enjoyed over the years.

Now that Calgary has grown, there is talk of the need of a new stadium to attract better and larger venues benefitting Calgarians even more. The idea of replacing the Saddledome with the new stadium would be a great injustice to a historic structure that has helped shape Calgary. Preserving the Saddledome, as previously done with the Stampede Coral, for the many events that do not require a larger stadium will continue to benefit Calgarians for years to come. With the new stadium built elsewhere, we would have the room to host even more venues for additional gain to the city.

The saddle shape is an iconic reflection of what Calgary is all about, the wild west and innovation, and eliminating it I feel would be a scar on Calgary’s image. If we were to be hosting a second Olympic Winter Games the Saddledome would also be useful for many of those events. Recently renovated, after the devastating 2013 Calgary floods, the Saddledome will hopefully continue to be beneficial to Calgarians with sports, activities, events, and concerts for years to come.

Share This Article

Saving the Saddledome Articles

  1. Save The Iconic Saddledome Skyline

    Calgary Saddledome

  2. The Benefits of the Olympic Saddledome​

    Saddledome C of Red is Back

  3. Preserving Calgary's Historic Saddle​

    Alternate use for the Saddledome

  4. Preserving An Iconic Landmark​

    Imposing angle of the Saddledome

  5. Historic Saddledome Stewardship

    Saddledome Stewardship

  6. Keeping The Historic Iconic Saddle


Save The Iconic Saddledome

Voice your Opinion
-
 Take the
1-Question Survey

Should Calgary Preserve
The Saddledome?

SaveSaddledome.png


Sharpline1x2a.jpg

Loading Conversation

ArcherInspections1x2feb2318.jpg

 

Marinus (René) Verschuren
Marinus (René) Verschuren
Founder of WebStamp
René has been involved in the publishing and printing industry since the 1970s. He has published and distributed a successful 24-page weekly news advertiser with a circulation of 4400 copies. Also for the last 20 years, he has been a printer, plotter, scanner and 3D printer technician and installer. Since High School, he also has worked as a janitor, cabinet maker, building construction, landscaper/designer, computer operator producing microfiche, graphic artist, and webmaster, among many other professions. This qualifies him as a Jack-of-All-Trades with plenty of knowledge in many subjects.
Articles in this Issue
Canada’s 150 years of Confederation was quite the year to remember. The majority of Canadians participated in the many great events and activities nation-wide sponsored by the government, corporations, and citizens alike. The theme of the Sesquicentennial was to bring communities and cultures together and getting Canadians involved by contributing with gifts and community participation.
Before we begin a movement to get land-use bylaws changed in Calgary to accommodate affordable tiny house properties, we need to define what the movement is. In previous WebStamp articles, This Tiny House Movement is about amending land-use bylaws to allow smaller residential lots for affordable homeownership for first-time buyers and low-income families.
In 1980, with Canadian entrepreneur Nelson Skalbania purchase of the Atlantic Flames and moving the franchise to Calgary a new stadium was required to meet major league standards.