Sport Calgary  – CALGARY, Alberta — Sport Calgary’s response to the Phase One Analysis for CalgaryNEXT proposal, made on behalf of amateur sport, was included in the document made public yesterday on pages 31 through 40 of Attachment 7: Fieldhouse Investigation. (For you convenience, the letter is attached to this release as a backgrounder.)

“We believe that City Council has asked the right questions, and City Administration has attempted to address all of them,” said Murray Sigler, Executive Director and CEO of Sport Calgary. “We hope now that the review process will continue on a  timely and collaborative basis after Council discussions Monday.” 

As identified in the Report, two competing visions have now emerged for the fieldhouse. “In Sport Calgary’s response to the Phase One Analysis,” said Sigler, “we set out 5 specific tests that we believe should apply to both approaches (and to any others that might emerge) to meet the identified requirements of amateurs sports in our City.”

The five concerns we feel must be addressed by any proposal are:

1. Fieldhouse amenities and program requirements
2. Public/amateur sport users’ ease of access and parking 
3. Primetime availability of fieldhouse and practice ice rink given professional sport team and entertainment event priorities 
4. Affordable rates and fees and long-term guarantees
5. Governance model with private sector operator vs. potential City operated or not-for-profit operated alternatives 

Perry Cavanagh, Sport Calgary Board Chair, said, “On behalf of the amateur sport community, we believe Calgary urgently needs the fieldhouse and also needs the Flames. We urge Council and the City, as well as CSEC, to keep an open mind and reach a decision on a timely basis based on an objective assessment of both alternative approaches.”

As the City’s consultative process proceeds, Sport Calgary is hopeful and confident that through further dialogue, including our continuing input, a decision can be made on a timely basis that best serves the needs of all Calgarians, including all those individuals and families actively involved in amateur sports. 

Sport Calgary Board Chair Perry Cavanagh and CEO Murray Sigler are available for media interviews today. Please contact Fraser Tingle, Communications Specialist, at ftingle@sportcalgary.ca or 403.387.7772 ext.1