The Calgary Flames have announced a partnership with the City of Calgary to build a new community arena in northeast Calgary, addressing a long-standing shortage of ice time and recreation facilities in the rapidly growing area. The $35-million project, to be located in the Cornerstone neighbourhood, will include two NHL-sized ice surfaces, a community gymnasium, meeting rooms, and dedicated space for youth programming.
Calgary Flames president John Bean said the project reflects the organization's commitment to growing hockey at the grassroots level. "The northeast is one of the most diverse and fastest-growing parts of our city, and it has been significantly underserved when it comes to arena infrastructure," Bean told reporters at a press conference Thursday. "This partnership will change that."
Addressing a Critical Shortage
Northeast Calgary has experienced explosive population growth over the past decade, but recreation infrastructure has not kept pace. According to a 2025 City of Calgary recreation needs assessment, communities in the northeast have access to roughly half the arena capacity per capita compared to established neighbourhoods in the south and west.
The shortage has had a direct impact on minor hockey participation. Calgary Minor Hockey Association president Deepak Sharma said families in the northeast often face early-morning or late-night ice times, with some parents driving their children to arenas 30 or 40 minutes away. "This arena will be a game-changer for families who have been shut out of convenient ice time for years," Sharma said.
Funding and Timeline
The project will be funded through a combination of City of Calgary capital funding ($18 million), a contribution from the Calgary Flames Foundation ($10 million), and a federal infrastructure grant ($7 million). Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2027, with the facility opening by late 2028.
The Flames organization will also provide programming support, including learn-to-skate clinics, equipment lending programs, and coaching development initiatives aimed at making hockey more accessible to newcomer communities. City Councillor Andre Chabot, who represents the area, called the announcement "one of the most important recreation investments in the northeast in a generation."