“The first step is to believe that it’s possible. Once I had a taste of success, you start to believe in it a little more.” – Jarome Iginla

Arena: Scotiabank Saddledome (1983)
Location: Calgary Stampede Fairgrounds
Game Attended: March 12, 2019 vs. New Jersey
Seat Location: Second-Level Corner, Shoot 1x Side
Game Result: 9-4 Calgary Victory and a Hat Trick for Johnny Hockey
Overall Impression: Yes, It’s Shaped Like a Saddle

Welcome to the first post of an exciting week: the beginning of the Canadian chapter of Tour de National Hockey League! For several months, college friend Drew and I planned a trip to hit the most remote NHL arenas in one shot, a Western Canadian swing of four games in six days. So last week, we packed our bags and flew over 2,300 miles to our first destination: Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Welcome to this chapter of our journey, eh?

Coming into Calgary, I was incredibly excited. I’ve already seen some passionate fans in great American cities like New York, Philly, Detroit, and even Nashville. But this was Canada: pure hockey country. I couldn’t wait to see the fervor Flames fans brought to the game, especially considering how good the Flames have been this season. And as I think back on my time here, I find myself leaving Calgary a bit underwhelmed.

Let’s start with the arena itself: the Scotiabank Saddledome. Located on the grounds of the famous Calgary Stampede, the Saddledome is without a doubt the most unique arena I’ve been in. True to its puzzling name, the building is shaped like a horse saddle, a fitting tribute to Alberta’s many ranchers and cowboys. The roof curves up on the sides of the rink to add an extra upper tier of seats, while the ends of the rink only comprise a modest two decks. It’s tough to say whether it was a good or bad design, but it was unique for sure.

The Saddledome was built in 1983 in advance of Calgary’s 1988 Winter Olympics, and sadly, the building shows its age. The lower and center level seats share a single concourse, adding a great deal of crowd congestion during intermissions. The concourses are pretty plain with your standard arena food, and few luxurious features. And the seats, while in a pretty decent location, were as hard and uncomfortable as plastic seats at baseball games.

I was also surprised at the fan base. While the “C of Red” was pretty cool to see with thousands and thousands of red Flames jerseys, the fans weren’t loud until the Flames went on a third-period onslaught of goals. It seemed like the night was almost more of a social gathering than a hockey game. Now to be fair, the fans know their stuff, and once the Flames got cooking early in the third period (thanks Johnny!), the atmosphere improved. But it was still pretty disappointing for most of the game, especially from a talented Canadian team.

The Saddledome did have some redeeming qualities. The pregame and goal celebrations involved actual fire, which made for a neat (and warming) effect. And the tribute mural to longtime Flames great (and future Hall of Famer) Jarome Iginla was a nice touch, even if it was pretty plain. Around the arena, there are only a few walkable spots for food and drink, though I’m told Cowboys country bar at the Stampede is a wild place to go after the games. Sadly, it was closed on this night.

Perhaps my expectations were lofty, but the Saddledome just didn’t impress me. The Flames have a great team and a seemingly dedicated (but perhaps timid) fanbase. It seems to me like a city so rich with oil money should invest in a world-class facility for its top team.

Building: 1 / 5

Atmosphere: 2.5 / 5

Neighborhood: 2.5 / 5

Overall: 2 / 5