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**Sgt. Nuke** · 10-02-2005, 07:07 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Sounds awesome! As long as there is LRT access, I'm good with it.

**Ryanoles** · 10-02-2005, 07:17 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Originally posted by John Galt

My choice for a location would be the University farms area just off 114th st.

Thoughts?

Agree 100%, only problem would be purchasing that area from the University.

**Diesel** · 10-02-2005, 07:21 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

I disagree. There's no way the U of A will be selling any land at the rate that they're expanding. Put it near downtown to make it closer to hotels and restaurants etc...

**gizmo fan 2** · 10-02-2005, 07:52 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Originally posted by Diesel

I disagree. There's no way the U of A will be selling any land at the rate that they're expanding. Put it near downtown to make it closer to hotels and restaurants etc...

That's real close to me...yeah, no way will U of A okay that. Besides, I don't think there's any vacant space that is immediately adjacent to the proposed LRT line anyways.

I don't know where they'd put it downtown though either

, especially if it has to be close to LRT, which it should be.

**Esks996** · 10-02-2005, 07:55 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Third oldest arena??

I may be mistaken, but, isn't JLA in Detroit, and MSG in New York older?

A new arena must have enough space for a large parking lot, and near high flow roadways. The South side, or West end by the new Anthony Henday Freeway would make sense.

**gizmo fan 2** · 10-02-2005, 07:55 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Nichols's favourite NHL arenas include the new Glendale Arena, home of Wayne Gretzky's Phoenix Coyotes. The $180-million US arena was built by the city of Glendale.

That is a GREAT building

...too bad they never fill it down there.

I don't know about their club setup though (they have it at one end of the rink)...but meh, the sightlines there are good and the lower bowl is a lot bigger than Rexall's.

**John Galt** · 10-02-2005, 09:32 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Originally posted by Diesel

I disagree. There's no way the U of A will be selling any land at the rate that they're expanding. Put it near downtown to make it closer to hotels and restaurants etc...

Downtown would be ideal if not for the fact there really is no location Downtown, close to the LRT, able to accomodate an arena....not to mention the price of land Downtown.

IMO LRT access is critical so that really limits the options.

Originally posted by Ryanoles

Agree 100%, only problem would be purchasing that area from the University.

Why is this a problem?

**gizmo fan 2** · 10-02-2005, 11:01 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Originally posted by John Galt

Why is this a problem?

You'd have to buy the land and either knock down the school for the deaf, or put it about 800-1000 metres away from the LRT line.

**Edmonton Fan** · 10-02-2005, 11:21 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

About time.

**Sandy - Edmonton** · 10-03-2005, 12:32 AM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Nothing wrong with Rexall though.

I'd be all up for a new arena, but as long as the public does not pay a large amount for it.

There are certain priorities higher in this world than an arena that is not DESPERATELY needed (i.e Healthcare, the poor, Research and development to cancer, other sicknesses, etc).

**ExpatriateEskie** · 10-03-2005, 10:14 AM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

The Saddledome is relatively close to the LRT station down here. The big problem with it, though, is that if you've got 5,000 people trying to ride trains, going both directions, after a game and each direction only has a train coming by every 10 to 15 minutes, you end up with a massive crowding problem at the train station.

The real clincher is, the station in question has an EXTRA PLATFORM that never gets used (It's the Victoria/Stampede station, so they thought it was a good idea considering Stampede crowds). If they ran extra trains immediately after the game, and opened the extra platform, you could get everyone on their way home within 20 minutes of the final whistle, instead of the current 45-to-60.

The biggest problems with a downtown arena are as follows:

1. Land prices, as mentioned previously. Downtown land is, naturally, the most expensive land.

2. Public transit access. The easier it is to get there by train or bus without being packed in like sardines, the less likely people are to drive.

3. Traffic and parking. An arena in the middle of nowhere has no problems, because there's lots of space for parking, and nobody is trying to get anywhere else in the area BUT the rink, so there are few traffic problems. But downtown, you've got people trying to turn left to pick up their cleaning, people trying to get over 3 lanes of traffic to get their kids to dance class, and 10,000 people stuck behind them trying to get to the rink. And as for parking, even IF you can get enough land to build a nice, big parking area (like the Saddledome has), you're looking at a 45 minute wait in some cases to even be able to SEE the parking lot exit from your car in the post-game gridlock, forget about getting on the road towards home.

Downtown arenas are in the same category as downtown malls - if you can park underground, you're no more than 3 blocks from a major artery, and the LRT line has a high-volume station right outside the building with trains every 5 to 10 minutes during peak times, you're laughing. Otherwise, you're out of business. Nobody's going to fight traffic and parking nightmares, or anonymous LRT groping, to pay way too much for a beer when they can sit at home and watch on Sportsnet.

... Unless they're in Chicago, where they have to PAY to watch games on TV.

**Esks4ever** · 10-03-2005, 10:21 AM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

a few years back there was talk about building an arena in the future out by sherwood Park just south of the Yellowhead... I dont think that would happen - but i wouldn't be shocked if it did..

**Deathsdoorstep** · 10-03-2005, 11:46 AM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

You need room for the building, room for loads of parking, and room for crowds. You also need to have proper road access to prevent clogging, and you need LRT access.

So, just demolish Rexall and built it on the same spot.

**56Parkies** · 10-03-2005, 12:29 PM

Re: EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

Originally posted by jcr

So, just demolish Rexall and built it on the same spot.

And the Oilers will play where...? It's gonna take more than 4 months to destroy Rexall and build something new....

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EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

EIG plans for a new arena within 10 years

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