1. More to Do
Some of the newer things the centre will feature are the facilities, which include indoor/outdoor plazas, parkades, and a community rink. Even food halls are making an appearance, with 4 restaurants being available on opening day. The main arena is also set to host over 18,000 people, which is slightly less compared to the 19,000 seats of the current arena. Overall, the new centre is a definite upgrade to what the Saddledome currently has.
2. Price
The Saddledome was originally built in 1983, and cost the city almost $100 million to build, which is worth about $310 million in today’s money.
Compared to to the new centre, the cost totaled up to almost $1 billion, with most of the funds going to all the facilities of the place. To add, most of its funding is coming from the municipal level, with them covering $850 million.
3. Aesthetic
The original Saddledome wasn’t built with anything in mind. It was only until it was released to the public that it adopted a western theme, as people started noticing how the roof of the stadium looked like a saddle.
Compared to Scotia place, the City says the new center’s design is inspired by the ancestral lands of Indigenous People. Its also being modeled after earth’s four elements – earth, air, water, and fire.
