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3 ways the Calgary Flames arena fight could shape the future of the NHL

By Nic Hendrickson

CALGARY, AB - APRIL 17: A general view of the exterior of the Scotiabank Saddledome prior to Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 17, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 17: A general view of the exterior of the Scotiabank Saddledome prior to Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 17, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 12: A fan hold up a homemade sign asking for the NHL to bring back the Quebec Nordiques during the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on February 12, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 3-0. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 12: A fan hold up a homemade sign asking for the NHL to bring back the Quebec Nordiques during the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on February 12, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 3-0. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

The Calgary Flames arena situation has gotten a bit stickier as of late and it doesn’t bode well for the NHL.

The situation between the Flames and the city of Calgary has gotten a bit tense lately after the most recent proposal for a Victoria Park arena was shot down by the city.

In the latest proposal, the Flames offered to contribute $275 million and the other portion would be paid for by what is called a “community revitalization levy.” This would mean that the $275 million would be an upfront payment by the Flames and the remaining $225 million of the proposal would come from taxes that are normally dedicated to new building intended to bring something significant to the area they tax.

But the city said no and the implications are significant. Here are 3 ways the denial of this plan could impact NHL arenas in the future.

1. It could open the floodgates of relocation.

Much like what happened in the NFL, the movement of one team may open the floodgates for the rest of them. If the Flames and the city cannot find a common ground on which to stand, this could be a very real possibility.

Not only are there plenty of viable options within Canada, one of which we will speak about later in this article, but the NHL would be more than happy to relocate a Canadian team to the United States.

While the NFL stadium situation is more closely operating as a “pay for it or we’re gone” scenario, the Flames problem could lead to a slippery slope in the NHL. The denial of a proposal like the Flames put forward could be used as a catalyst for NHL owners to shift more towards how NFL owners have been operating.

This would be the worst-case scenario for the NHL.

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