Flames target smaller premium groups and year-round revenue at Scotia Place

“The premium offerings allow you to capture more of the wallet of the fans,” Calgary Flames chief strategy and innovation officer Ziad Mehio told Forbes.

In an interview published August 13 on The Performance Layer, Mehio described smaller hospitality groups and longer visits as central to Scotia Place’s business plans.

He said corporate suite holders had found it difficult to host 12 to 16 people at every event. The new building will offer four- and six-person options alongside 54 traditional suites, with theater boxes and seating that combines food and beverage service with watching the event.

Mehio said the aim was to become “a 365-day-a-year business,” drawing fans earlier and keeping them at the venue longer. He also described digital signage and sponsorship activations that the Saddledome could not offer.

The city’s current opening target is fall 2027. Its September 18 update reported the installation of the main arena’s final structural steel beam, a construction milestone reached after the Forbes interview.

Calgary’s financial breakdown lists C$800 million for the arena and C$926.4 million for the event-centre block, including its community rink, parkade and public plazas. Separate district infrastructure brings the combined package to about C$1.22 billion.

The city will own the facility. Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation will operate and maintain it over a 35-year term, retaining venue revenue and taking on operating risk. Its commitment includes C$40 million upfront and annual lease payments starting at C$17 million, increasing 1% a year.