Flames vow to have flooded arena ready for season
Despite the bottom eight rows of Scotiabank Saddledome being submerged in water after the recent flooding in Calgary, Alberta, the Flames are moving ahead with plans for the building to be ready in time to start 2013-14 NHL season in October.
The flood that swept through Calgary and forced the evaluation of approximately 100,000 people deposited million of gallons of water on the arena floor and created a "total loss at the event level," Flames president Ken King said.
Restoration of the 30-year-old arena is set to begin as soon as floodwaters recede.
"We cleared some of our event level, but not all of it," King said. "We are ready to go. Our executive group met (Saturday) morning and went through a number of tasks. We're ordering everything, including hockey equipment, right now.
"It's very difficult to describe millions, millions gallons of water sitting (inside the Saddledome)."
The water level is beginning to go down, but club personnel have been asked to stay away from the arena because of unsafe conditions. The areas still underwater include the locker rooms, Jumbotron control, ice plant, Zambonis, rink, lounges and thousands of spectator seats.
"We're fairly confident that we're structurally intact," said Libby Raines, the team's vice president of building operations.
