Documents obtained by CBC News through Alberta’s Freedom of Information Act show chunks of concrete have come loose from the roof’s ring beam while other crumbling pieces have been removed to prevent them from falling. Engineering firm Entuitive recommended that inspections be done each spring and fall to monitor for any deterioration in concrete conditions caused by annual freeze-thaw cycles. In April 2021, the company wrote to the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) — which manages the public building — advising that sections of loose concrete had been removed. But it also said that “the condition of the concrete around the ring girder is deteriorating at an accelerated rate.” Earlier this year, netting was installed around the ring girder to catch any chunks of concrete that “appeared to be immediately ready to fall”. An image in the engineering firm’s exhibit shows a piece of concrete removed from the Saddledome’s ring beam. (Submitted by Entuitive)
Not a structural concern
Photos in a 2018 exhibit show what happens when the concrete cracks and falls from the roof beam. Chunks of concrete fell on a roof structure under which it sits above the west steps of the Saddledome. The heavy material punched a jagged hole in the structure. The engineering reports note that the problems with the concrete in the ring beam are superficial in nature and do not present a structural concern for the roof itself. The City of Calgary declined requests for an interview on the matter. However, a senior official familiar with the reports and the Saddledome told CBC News there are no concerns about the roof’s stability or public safety. The official said a full remediation plan to stabilize the concrete is expected in the coming months and a plan to fix the problem will be implemented. As the work plan has not yet been presented, he said it is not known how long the work will take to complete or how much it might cost. Concrete that fell from the Saddledome’s ring beam punched a hole in the roof covering for the building’s west entrance. (Submitted by Entuitive)
The Council needs information
The chairman of the city council’s event center committee, Coun. Sonya Sharp said she had not seen the engineering exhibits. He said the city council has received high-level updates on the condition of the building, but nothing detailed. “I’m not an engineer, and I’ll certainly admit it, but getting an understanding from management exactly how safe and secure the building is for the general public is very important for the municipality to understand,” Sharp said. He plans to ask senior management to release reports to board members and the public about the condition of the Saddledome. The committee is tasked with finding a way to build a new event center for Calgary to replace the Saddledome, which opened in 1983. The NHL’s Calgary Flames have a lease with the city to operate the building until 2033. The team’s ownership group, CSEC, is responsible for paying for the upkeep of the building, although responsibility for any major repairs to the Saddledome rests with the City of Calgary.
City are looking for a new deal
A deal between the city and Flames owners for a new building that was slated to cost more than $600 million collapsed last December when CSEC pulled out of the deal, citing cost overruns. Earlier in 2021, CSEC agreed to take on all the extra costs in exchange for the city putting in $12.5 million more than was called for in the original deal. In May of this year, the city hired three officials from the commercial real estate sector to approach the CSEC about resuming talks on a new arena. No recommendations have yet been made for a possible path forward, but the city council has supported the idea of building a new arena downtown to replace the Saddledome.
