NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made a rallying cry — even referencing the "Battle of Alberta" — about the urgency to make the CalgaryNext arena project a reality sooner rather than later.
Speaking to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Monday, Bettman said the project "needs to happen" in order for the city and its NHL team to stay current with others in the league.
"This is not a threat. I'm expressing the realities," he said, after noting Calgary won't get the NHL Draft or All-Star Game, for example, without new arena.
Bettman also talked about how the new Rogers Place in Edmonton will be open and ready for business on Canada Day 2017 and, by then, 29 out of 30 NHL franchises have newer arenas than Calgary.
"The Flames will have the dubious distinction, with the oldest arena in the NHL," Bettman said, adding the city is "the only one left on my arena checklist."
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says Calgary needs a new arena. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
"It would be a shame if Calgary fell further behind."
Bettman talked about how the timing is right — despite Calgary's current economic woes — for a project like this.
"The opportunity for Calgary is great," he said, citing other cities where he said arena projects have been a boon to the local economies.
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