The Saddledome has been called a dinosaur in the modern age of event venues.
The plan to create a Culture & Entertainment District anchored by the new $1.22 billion Scotia Place will transform Victoria Park. Unfortunately for some, the former Olympic Saddledome appears destined for extinction in this evolving landscape.
Explore this iconic landmark destination while you still can. This guide discusses the history of this iconic venue, provides navigation tips and highlights other features in the area.
The arena has been a Calgary landmark since opening on October 15, 1983. By 2024, it had become the oldest arena in the NHL. It no longer met the league’s modern standards, and the decision to replace the venue was finally made. The distinctive saddle-shaped design that once earned widespread acclaim ultimately limited the building’s ability to host many major “A-class” events.
The battle for a new arena has persisted for decades. The linked article from the Calgary Herald provides a timeline of events starting in 2009. Sadly, this debate has come to an end. Sealing the fate of what many consider to be a reflection of our Western heritage and Olympic legacy.
A building condition assessment report obtained by CBC News from December 2018 stated that $48.7 million was needed to repair the aging facility. That number ballooned over time until The City declared it no longer feasible to update it.
Calgary has not been a city that lets sentimentality get in the way of new projects. The original home of the Flames was the Stampede Coral. When it was constructed in 1950, it was the largest arena in Canada west of Toronto. It was also the first in the region without support columns obscuring the lines of sight.
The Stampede Coral was demolished to make way for the BMO Center Expansion project.
The BMO Center hosts over a million square feet and is the most modern convention center in Western Canada.
Graham McCourt Architects designed the reverse hyperbolic paraboloid roof of the Saddledome. A world record holder for the longest-spanning concrete shell at that time. Like the Coral, this unique design feature created a pillar-free view from every seat.
There was never an intention to have a Western theme. It was only after the design was released to the public that it started to be referred to as saddle-shaped. In a contest to name the new building, 735 of the 1,270 entries submitted included the word “saddle”. The winning name, Olympic Saddledome, was drawn from a hat.
The design has won several architectural and engineering awards. It was honoured by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 2000. Time magazine featured it on its cover on September 27, 1987, in an article about the 1988 Olympics.
The era of the Saddledome is coming to an end. Should we mourn the loss of an architectural masterpiece that fit perfectly into the city’s heritage? Barry Graham, the man who designed the building, said in an interview that appeared in the Calgary Herald on Sunday, October 12, 2008:
“I have mixed emotions. I really like the building, but I realize things don’t last forever…..if it has to come down, take it down. Don’t leave it up for the wrong reasons.”
Construction has begun on the site of the New Scotia Place at 14th Avenue and 5th Street S.E. You can follow the progress on their website.
Follow this link to learn more about the Scotia Place Experience. Alberta’s newest premier sports and entertainment venue is set to open in Fall 2027. It will play a defining role in transforming Calgary’s downtown, the emerging Culture & Entertainment District, and the surrounding community.
The Culture & Entertainment District and the new Scotia Place development will revitalize the underutilized Victoria Park community. It will attract new businesses and residents, driving economic growth by establishing restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail spaces.
Improvements to the surrounding infrastructure, like public transportation, have already begun. There is a new dedicated bike and pathway heading north on Olympic Way. The mural-lined underpass connects you to the East Village.
Two blocks away, starting at Macleod Trail, is another dedicated bike lane heading west on 12th Avenue. There is also a new Light Rail Transit station across from the BMO Centre on Macleod.
PUBLIC ART In Stampede Park
If you’re exploring the Stampede Grounds, There is plenty of public art in Stampede Park. In front of the main entrance of the Saddledome is a sculpture called By the Banks of the Bow.
It was installed in 2012. This bronze narrative is one of the largest sculptures of its kind in North America. The curved architecture sits like a setting sun on the horizon of a classic Western movie.
Created by local artists and ranchers Bob Spaith and Rich Roenisch. It includes 15 horses and two riders. From inspiration to installation, it took four years to finish.
On the opposite side of the Agriculture Building is mural of the first 1901 Bull Sale. It is situated between the Dome and the Grandstand. It was created by artist Keith Holmes in 2000.
The mural commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first 64 head of purebred cattle sold. The Territorial Purebred Cattle Breeders Association held the first bull sale on April 12, 1901.
Behind the Saddledome, across the bridge to the east, is ENMAX Park. A 16-acre green space along the Elbow River that features the art installation Tipi.
The semi-circle piece was unveiled at the Victoria Park Station entrance in 2012. That was the centennial year of the Calgary Stampede. It celebrated the relationship between First Nations families from Treaty 7 nations and the Calgary Stampede.
The BMO Center construction facilitated the relocation of the Tipi sculpture. It was moved closer to Elbow River Camp in ENMAX Park in 2022.
The Elbow River Pathway
ENMAX Park connects to the 29,000-kilometre Trans Canada Trail. It also links to the 900-kilometre City of Calgary pathway system. The network enables users to explore along the river system and throughout the city.
There are also stairs up to Scotsman’s Hill. You can step up an urban workout or relax and appreciate the view of downtown Calgary from the summit.
The park also features the 650-metre-long Cenovus Legacy Trail. This trail tells the story of the area through the lenses of First Nations People, Calgary, and the Stampede. The space is home to the historic Elbow River Camp. This camp features tipis arranged in a traditional circle during Stampede.
The land along the Elbow River is a significant space in Calgary. Indigenous peoples gathered and held ceremonies long before settlers established a community here. They knew it as Mohkinstsis, or “Elbow” in the Blackfoot language. It remains a place to gather today.
Discover more about these gathering places and communities along the Elbow River pathway. Explore our guide: Biking Mohkinstsis – Where Calgary Comes Together.
The Oval and Canada Olympic Park are the other remaining prominent landmarks from this era. The end of 2024 marked a symbolic brick by brick dismantling of our Olympic legacy. Read more from The City of Calgary Newsroom.
While making preparations for the Arts Commons Transformation project that will include Olympic Plaza. The City of Calgary received requests from 8000 citizens asking for their personalized brick back. The City responded by lifting all 33,000 bricks. Successfully recovering approximately 5,600 in an effort to return them to original purchasers.
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