Flames break ground on new arena called Scotia Place

The Calgary Flames took a major step forward Monday in their eventual transition to a new home.

The club officially began construction of its new facility and revealed it will be known as Scotia Place.

Earlier in the day, the Flames shared a video featuring renderings of the future arena.

Scotia Place's capacity will be 18,400, and the plan is for the building to be ready for the 2027-28 season, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis.

Last October, the Flames and their parent company, the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, agreed to a 35-year deal with the city and the province of Alberta to keep the team from moving as part of the plans. At the time, they hoped the area would be completed by 2026 or 2027, and the capacity target was between 18,000 and 18,400.

The project was originally agreed upon in principle in April 2023. It will involve the construction of an entirely new entertainment district that includes the arena. In October, the projected cost for the entire project was $1.2 billion.

The Flames have played in the Saddledome (now known as the Scotiabank Saddledome) since 1983. It's the second-oldest arena in the NHL behind New York City's Madison Square Garden.