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At The Arena: Scotia Place spring construction progress

Originally posted on The Win Column  |  By Myles Ecklund  |  Last updated Jun 5, 2025 12:58 PM ET

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been almost a year since ground was broken on the Calgary Flames’ new home, Scotia Place. The new venue is set to be completed for the start of the 2027–28 season. This will mark the end of the Saddledome’s tenure after more than 40 years. After the permits were officially stamped in December, the construction team has been hard at work this spring. Let’s take a look at the progress.

The Scotiabank Saddledome and its iconic roof are a staple of Calgary’s skyline and will certainly be missed by fans of hockey and architecture. However, Calgary is long overdue for a new meeting place that brings Calgarians together.

Construction updates

If you live in Calgary and have been past the site recently, there hasn’t been much to see. For many people, it’s hard to get excited about, well, a hole in the ground.

It may not look like much, but the accessibility features of Scotia Place require the venue to have a substantial sunken foundation. Street-level access was very important in developing the design of Scotia Place, and that requires an ice surface that sits 35 feet below grade. This requires removing over 308,000 cubic metres of dirt and replacing it with 41,000 cubic metres of concrete and 9,000 cubic meters of rebar.

April marked the beginning of approximately 10 months of concrete work on the foundation. The steel structure of the building will start to emerge as concrete work comes to a close. That will mark the major structural work of the project.

As far as how things will look, don’t expect to see anything too exciting if you venture north at Stampede grounds next month.

Take a look at CANA YYC’s latest Timelapse update from mid-April.

Although the site is a long way away from its rendered form, Scotia Place is already looking for ways to improve more than just its curb appeal.

Get involved: Public art

Scotia Place is partnering with LeuWebb Projects and Heavy to curate the new venue’s public art displays. Currently, the team is looking for two public art pieces, as well as two Indigenous public art pieces.

The team also conducted a series of community surveys, workshops, and committee meetings to form a curation theme for Scotia Place. Overall, the team outlined five themes:

  • Positive, bright, interactive, and energetic art
  • Community, togetherness, and diversity
  • Connection to nature and sustainability
  • Hope for the future
  • Historical perspectives and cultural significance

For more information on submitting your art or to find out more about the curatorial team, check out LeuWebb Projects’ website.

Stay tuned as the curatorial team prepares to decide on commissions after the June 27 deadline.

Accessibility at Scotia Place

To end us off, I’d like to once again highlight the accessibility home run that is Scotia Place. The architecture team of Dialog and HOK did a phenomenal job integrating stair-less and ramp-less entries, accessible and service companion seating, inclusive washroom amenities, wider pathways and corridors, and even quiet spaces for fans who become overstimulated in loud environments.

Scotia Place may not be the flashiest, and we have yet to see any further interior renderings since announcement day, but this venue is shaping up to be a strong investment for Calgary. Hockey, concert, etc, Scotia Place is looking like one of the most comfortable and welcoming venues in sports.

This article first appeared on The Win Column and was syndicated with permission.

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