Save The Iconic Saddledome Skyline

As part of Calgary’s downtown redevelopment, one city councilor has outlined his 50-year vision of transforming downtown into a vibrant cultural and entertainment district area in East Victoria Park. The only concern with this proposition is that within the next 20 years Calgary’s historic iconic Saddledome will be removed from our skyline. The originally named Olympic Saddledome (now Scotiabank Saddledome) has been an integral part of Calgary’s character and vision for over 30 years. It deserves to remain as a representation of Calgary for many more years to come.

There have been many benefits of the Olympic Saddle Dome Calgarians have enjoyed over the years beginning with being the home for the Calgary Flames and hosting the successful 1988 Winter Olympics. The Saddledome has provided entertainment, socializing, and financial benefits to the citizens of Calgary and without it we would not have had enjoyed the many hockey games, concert venues, numerous agricultural and public events held there. It has given Calgary the recognition to the world as a vibrant, innovative and progressive city.

Make A Difference

Preserving Our Heritage &
a Calgary Iconic Symbol

Let’s start a movement to save a symbol of Calgary. Imagine Paris if the Eiffel Tower was demolished 20 years after it was built, as it was only to be a temporary structure built for the 1889 World Fair. What would New York be without the Statue of Liberty? It had to go through an exhaustive three-year restoration after engineers discovered that the lady was far from healthy during a spruce up for its 100^th birthday in 1980.

Where would President Trump be if the Whitehouse was demolished instead of being exhaustively rebuilt? Years of constantly drilling holes into the walls for phone, gas, water and power lines had weakened the building to the point that living in it was like living in a house of sticks. Truman kicked off a massive 4-year project referred to as the "Truman reconstruction" where the entire interior of the building -- everything but the brick outer shell -- was completely demolished and rebuilt.  

 There have been many historic and iconic buildings destroyed or demolished, some for no reason at all except to make room for “so-called” progress. Calgary’s new Victoria Park vision doesn’t include a new stadium yet, even though it is considered to be included in the future as a replacement for the Saddledome. Would it not make more sense to include a building that has been part of the community’s tangible past and growth while preserving a Symbol of Calgary?

The iconic saddle of the infamous Calgary Stampede needs to remain as a symbol of or where we came from. When it is finally decided that a new home for Flames be built, the city should consider something similar to the previous proposed Calgary Next to help develop the west end of Downtown Calgary. The Flames and the Stampeders would have a new arena and stadium built while using their old facilities. As this city grows rapidly, we will need more facilities to accommodate. Become part of the M.A.D. Movement and Make A Difference preserving our iconic Saddledome skyline.