Scotiabank Saddledome

Lore & Background

The arena's roof is shaped like a horse saddle, earning the name 'Saddledome'. The design, a reverse hyperbolic paraboloid similar to the 1971 Scandinavium in Gothenburg, allows pillar-free views and reduces interior volume by a third, lowering heating, lighting and maintenance costs. The floating roof can flex to compensate for Calgary's frequent temperature fluctuations. Of 1,270 entries in a naming contest, 735 involved the word 'Saddle'; the winning name 'Olympic Saddledome' was drawn from a hat. The designers won architectural and engineering awards, and the Saddledome was featured on the cover of Time magazine on September 27, 1987.

Reader's Guide

The Saddledome was built to replace the Stampede Corral, which had a capacity of 8,700 and was deemed insufficient for the NHL by 1977. Calgary's bid for the 1988 Winter Olympics and the arrival of the Flames drove the need for a new arena. City Council voted on March 3, 1981, to build on Stampede grounds, despite opposition from the Victoria Park Community Association. Construction began July 29, 1981, after the provincial government overruled planning regulations. The arena was initially projected to cost $60 million, but final cost reached $97.7 million with an eight-month delay. It opened on October 15, 1983, with a Flames-Oilers game. The Saddledome was damaged during the 2013 Alberta floods but repaired in time for the 2013–14 NHL season. It is slated to be replaced by Scotia Place for the 2027–28 NHL season.

Did You Know?

• The Saddledome was the first arena in North America designed to accommodate the larger international ice surface.
• The International Olympic Committee noted that constructing the arena before being awarded the Games added credibility to Calgary's bid.
• The roof is a hyperbolic paraboloid concrete shell, reported as the world record holder for longest spanning such shell as of 2008.
• The arena's naming rights changed from Olympic Saddledome to Canadian Airlines Saddledome, then Pengrowth Saddledome, and finally Scotiabank Saddledome in 2010.