WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – I GET IT NOW. I THINK

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 & Rock 98.5 FM)

WELP, WE’VE BEEN IN CALGARY FOR A FEW DAYS NOW AND I’VE GOT THE SCOOP ON THE AGING SADDLEDOME.

I THINK.

A LOT OF IT, I ALREADY KNEW.

HAVING SPOKEN WITH CURRENT AND FORMER FLAMES AND SADDLEDOME EMPLOYEES, THE ONCE ICONIC STRUCTURE HAS INDEED OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS, COMING UP ON 40 YEARS AFTER OPENING IN 1983.

THE SUSPENSION ON THE ROOF IS GETTING WORN OUT AND WHEN IT’S COVERED IN SNOW (LIKE IT IS NOW), IT CAN’T SUPPORT THE STAGING EFFECTS FAVOURED BY A-LIST MUSIC SHOWS. SOME SAY IT’S NOT SAFE EVEN WITHOUT SNOW.

SO THOSE ACTS ARE BYPASSING CALGARY ALTOGETHER, FAVOURING EXTRA SHOWS IN EDMONTON WITH THE NOTION THAT IF ALBERTANS REALLY WANT TO SEE THEM, THEY’LL MAKE THE TREK TO ROGERS PLACE.

SO THERE’S MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF REVENUE LOST THERE, INCLUDING THE ECONOMIC SPINOFF IN THE CITY.

AS WE ALL KNOW THERE WAS A NEW ARENA DEAL IN PLACE BUT WITH A RECENT CHANGE IN THE CALGARY MAYOR’S OFFICE, THE DEAL FELL APART IN A SQUABBLE OVER MONEY. I’M TOLD SHOVELS WERE SCHEDULED TO HIT THE GROUND NEXT MONTH, BUT NOW THE SITUATION LOOKS HOPELESS. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

HOWEVER NOT EVERYONE IS GOING ALONG WITH THE NOTION THAT THE SADDLEDOME IS OBSOLETE.

PRIOR TO TUESDAY NIGHT’S FLAMES GAME AGAINST FLORIDA, I DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH A LONGTIME FLAMES EMPLOYEE WHO SAID, “I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING FALL FROM THE ROOF”. HE SEEMS TO THINK THE FACILITY IS FINE.

IT’S A TRUE POLITICAL FOOTBALL AND WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE IS WINNING THE PR BATTLE AND CONVINCING CALGARIANS A NEW ARENA IS WHAT’S BEST FOR THE CITY. BECAUSE IT IS.

BUT ALL IN ALL, IT’S A RATHER DOWNTRODDEN SITUATION HERE IN COWTOWN AND IT WAS A STRANGE ATMOSPHERE TUESDAY NIGHT WITH CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT AND NONE OF THE PATRONS BEING ALLOWED TO PURCHASE FOOD OR DRINK. (I’VE BEEN WONDERING A LOT WHAT HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE AGAINST SPORTS TEAMS).

THE CONCESSIONS WERE FULLY STOCKED, HOWEVER THEY WERE PADLOCKED AND AT THE READY FOR THE MOMENT THE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.

BUT JUST LIKE THE FUTURE OF THE ARENA ITSELF, NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THAT WILL BE.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV across Canada and the USA. It’s available in Alberta & BC on Telus Optik Cable. Call your cable provider for details. You can also watch on YouTube Live or listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)