There’s plenty to look forward to if you’re a Calgary Flames fan in the year 2024. Not only is Craig Conroy and his staff coming off one of the best drafts in the franchise’s history, adding to a large pool of extremely talented young players, but the unveiling of the new arena in which the team will play in 2027 is also a marker for the organization’s future.

The designs of Scotia Place lit the Flames sect of the internet on fire (pun not intended), sparking discussions as to whether it’s a good or bad design and allowing those with a vested interest to share their opinions. But we also heard from some people around the organization, including head coach Ryan Huska.

Thanks to an article from Aaron Vickers of NHL.com and some video clips on the Flames’ official website, there was plenty to hear about from those within the organization and what they thought about the designs for the new arena. Huska’s responses were, in my opinion, the most interesting of the bunch, focusing not just on the designs of the arena, how many people will fit in the stands for games, or other things of that nature. Instead, he talked briefly about how the new arena could attract players.

“To see the design and the layout and all the different types of architecture, for me, this is going to be a pretty incredible building that I think is going to, selfishly for our hockey team, attract players, I feel,” Huska said. “I think it’s going to be a place where people are going to want to spend time around. The look of it … I was a little bit blown away, to be quite honest, with the design that was put into it. I’m excited.”

There are plenty of advantages that teams around the NHL have when it comes to attracting players. The Nashville Predators and others have the distinct advantage of no state income tax. However, team facilities seem to go under the radar when considering a destination, especially for free agents. If an organization has updated facilities with the best technology available to help the players, it provides them a distinct advantage to not only bring players in but also allow for the players already in the system to develop at a higher or more efficient rate.

A new arena gives the game atmosphere a different feel and allows the players to feel more “at home” and even interconnected with all the different amenities that are afforded to them. One big example of this is the practice arena being underground at the new arena, with the aim of seating 1,000 people.

For the fans, it’s as important as anything to have a new arena that allows for the impeccable atmosphere everyone knows Flames fans can create. Despite the official capacity being lower than the current Saddledome, the design includes plenty of cool pieces, including multiple restaurants, a large team store, and a food hall for fans to enjoy pregame.

The design itself is very modern, and Huska also spoke about how it’s a building people will recognize. The Saddledome was one people would be able to recognize just from its oddly-shaped roof, but this one is different.

“People will see it … that’s one thing when you get a new building like that,” Huska said. “You can walk by or see different pictures of how it’s progressing. You almost feel like you’re in it a little bit. You’re eventually going to get to the point where it’s go time.”

It’s going to be tough to say goodbye to the Saddledome, if not just for the memories that were created for generations of Flames fans there. However, as Huska mentioned, fans are likely in for an exciting experience once this new gateway to their favourite organization opens up in the fall of 2027.

“I love the Saddledome. I’ve said that before. I think it’s a great place to play hockey. But by the look and design of this place, the way the stands are very steep, I think it’s going to be very intimate, I think it’s going to be noisy, and I think it’s going to make for great hockey games.”

“I wish we could fast forward a little bit right now.”