City council committee holds first meeting to restart Calgary event centre plans

Plans to get Calgary a new downtown arena were revived Monday as city council's new event centre committee got down to work.

The committee held its inaugural meeting and appointed Coun. Sonya Sharp as chair and set a timeline for securing an agreement for a prospective event centre. 

The last agreement the city had with the Calgary Flames to share the costs of a new $600-million arena fell apart in December due to rising costs.

Coun. Courtney Walcott, a committee member, said he was excited to get the ball rolling again. 

"The committee has come together, we've set the table, and we'll see what comes next as we go through our meetings over the next couple of months," said Walcott. 

"We're committed to ensuring that we get this right for the city." 

The new committee consists of three city councillors and the heads of Calgary Economic Development and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

A third party has been appointed by the city to approach potential investors for the project and to determine whether or not the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) ⁠— which owns the Calgary Flames — would like to resume talks. 

The new committee won't deal directly with the third party but will approve any decisions made and provide city council with updates. 

Sharp said the construction of a new downtown arena is not a matter of if but when.

"The goal is to have an event centre.… And this committee is really to make sure that we get the job done."

Sharp added she thinks this new committee should remain intact after an arena deal is reached. 

"I was kind of disappointed that the committee was actually dissolved last year," said Sharp. 

"This committee should be in full force until that ribbon is cut."

When council discussed the demise of the initial deal in January, it was determined that the total spent on the now failed arena was approximately $25 million, with roughly equal spending by the City of Calgary and CSEC.

Council will review the specific spending details on the defunct arena deal in May.

The NHL team has 11 years remaining on its lease for the Saddledome.