The Calgary Event Centre project replaces a 2015 plan called CalgaryNEXT, which would have replaced both the Scotiabank Saddledome and McMahon Stadium for Calgary's professional hockey and Canadian football teams. That proposal included two buildings: a 19,000–20,000 seat events centre to serve as the new home arena of two hockey clubs, the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames, and the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, as well as the Calgary Roughnecks lacrosse team; and a 40,000-seat football stadium and fieldhouse for the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders and serve as a public training and activity space. The complex, originally planned to be located in the West Village along the Bow River for the "hub of pro and amateur sporting activity." Immediate reaction to the CalgaryNEXT proposal from local politicians was mixed; they supported the plan to redevelop the West Village area, but many – including Mayor Naheed Nenshi – expressed concern at the proposal, which would potentially have the city initially fund between $440 and $690 million of the projected cost which promoters claim will be recouped over a long period of time. As part of the proposal, the city would have owned the facilities and be managed by the privately ownedCalgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation - thus exempting the land from property taxes - but would not receive any share of the profits. Originally projected as costing $890 million, based on a City of Calgary report released April 2016 it was estimated that CalgaryNEXT would cost about $1.8 billion, with taxpayers paying up to two-thirds of the total. In April 2017, the Calgary city council voted unanimously to instead support a "plan B" near the Saddledome.
New proposal
On September 12, 2017, Flames president and chief executive officerKen King stated that the team was no longer pursuing the CalgaryNEXT arena, as "we've been working for a long time trying to come up with a formula that really works to replace this building and we really put our best foot forward and I’ve come to the conclusion sadly and I’m very disappointed that I don't think we can make a deal that works for us". Mayor Nenshi subsequently proposed a partnership wherein portions of the cost of "plan B" would be covered by the city, and the rest covered by the team ownership and user surcharges. King objected to this proposal. On July 30, 2019, the Calgary city council approved a $550 million new Event Centre. The new arena will be located to the north of the Saddledome in the Victoria Park neighbourhood. Construction on the building will begin in 2021, and will have a capacity of around 19,000. Plans for the Event Centre also includes the possibility of a smaller arena to replace the Stampede Corral. The city of Calgary will own the Event Centre while CSEC will be responsible for the facility's operation and maintenance and keep all revenue under a 35-year lease agreement, which includes a non-relocation clause for the Flames during that period. The Saddledome will be demolished once the new arena opens.
