Flames begin final Saddledome season Oct. 1 before Scotia Place move

The Calgary Flames will open their final season at the Saddledome on Oct. 1, ending a 43-year run before the team relocates next year to Scotia Place, being built across the street. Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation president and CEO Robert Hayes said the transition will carry strong emotions for fans as the team leaves the aging arena for a new facility.

Scotia Place carries a $1.2-billion price tag, funded by $537 million from the city, $356 million from CSEC and $330 million from the province. CSEC will operate the venue and keep all revenue while paying the city $17 million annually, rising one per cent each year, under a 35-year lease. The new arena will seat 18,400 for hockey, expandable to 20,000 for concerts, and includes a 1,000-seat community arena, indoor and outdoor plazas and a parkade.

CSEC plans to honour the Saddledome's history during this winter's games as it eases fans out of the old building. Hayes said Scotia Place is designed to host more than hockey, including concerts, figure skating, basketball, volleyball, soccer and indoor track and field, and will have at-grade entrances for better accessibility than the stairs-heavy Saddledome. Calgary has already been named co-host, alongside Edmonton and Prague, of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.

Hayes acknowledged that a winning team will matter as much as the new venue in drawing fans, noting the Flames' recent rebuild after missing the playoffs four straight years, and credited general manager Craig Conroy's management group with steering the team in a positive direction.