After the conclusion of Thursday night’s outing, there will be just one hockey season that remains for the Scotiabank Saddledome.
That reality has been looming for a while. Scotia Place — the future home of major sporting events in Calgary — is set to open for the 2027–28 NHL season, with the Saddledome expected to be demolished shortly after.
Yes, the building is outdated. Nobody is arguing that. But since opening in 1983, it has meant far more to Calgarians than its cramped concourses and painfully long bathroom lines might suggest.
For those who’ve spent years inside it, the Saddledome is full of little quirks and traditions that won’t be easy to replace.
Here are a few fans will miss most:
Dome Foams
Whether you partake or not, anybody who has gone to the Saddledome knows the term ‘Dome Foams’.
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Whether truthful or not, Calgary fans swear they hit harder — and faster — than your standard arena beer. There’s hope the drinks at Scotia Place will carry on the tradition, but let’s be honest: they’ll almost certainly come at a higher price.
Flames shooting from the roof
One of the building’s most unique features comes during goals and pre-game introductions.
Instead of relying solely on music and crowd noise, the Saddledome literally turns up the heat, with flames blasting from the roof. It’s a small touch, but it adds a level of energy that few arenas can replicate.
The iconic skyline view
When people think of the Saddledome, they think of its shape. The iconic saddle roof is a perfect fit for a city widely recognized for the Calgary Stampede.
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For Calgarians, it’s not just the design itself that will be missed, but what the building represents in the skyline. For decades, it’s been a defining part of Calgary’s backdrop. Even with a more modern Scotia Place, it’ll take time before the city looks right without it.
The atmosphere is unmatchable
It’s been a while since the Saddledome has truly shaken, given the team’s recent struggles. But anyone who’s experienced a big game there knows how loud it can get.
The low ceiling and unique structure trap noise in a way newer arenas simply don’t. With one season left, expect fans to give it a proper send-off. And maybe, just maybe, one last playoff push to bring it back to life.
The press box catwalk
Most fans haven’t walked it, but they all know about it. The infamous press box catwalk has become something of a legend, especially when visiting media members post videos reacting to how high (and frankly, terrifying) it is.
In an odd way, this has become a sense of pride for Flames fans. There really isn’t anything else like it in the NHL, and perhaps professional sporting venues in general.
Incredibly cheap game-day seats
One major perk of having an older building is that it results in far lower prices.
Flames fans have learned that to be the case, especially in recent years. Take their season finale on Thursday against the LA Kings, for example, where tickets can be had for as low as $37.
That won’t be the case in the new building. While Scotia Place will bring plenty of upgrades, it’ll also bring higher costs. That alone will make some fans nostalgic for the Dome.