Limited access and parking around Calgary’s Saddledome frustrating some hockey fans

This hockey season, getting to the Scotiabank Saddledome to watch a Calgary Flames game won’t be easy, thanks to construction and parking changes in the area.

Construction of Calgary’s new Culture + Entertainment District, including the new Scotia Place arena, is leading to many changes, especially when it comes to parking.

Those driving to the Dome will find parking lots 14 and 20 are now closed, and parking at the Calgary Stampede is now being enforced through Park Plus.

“Games at the Saddledome are becoming a lot less accessible because all the construction going on and just like, more congested with the traffic,” one person told CityNews.

“Personally, I don’t like to go to them anymore, just because of how bad it is in the parking spots,” said another.

“You just need better routes from the train station to this area. I think that would be a lot more beneficial for a lot of people,” someone added.

The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is laying out plans to manage traffic during construction for a project that has taken up what used to be a big parking area. It advises Calgarians to get to the Saddledome via 25 Avenue S.E., where construction is less impactful. When taking that route, drivers should park in the south lots, 11 Avenue Lot or at Platform Innovation Centre and Parkade.

“It’s not easy to rip up all the roads when you’re still going to the Flames games, you’re still going to graduations and the convention center,” said CMLC president and CEO, Kate Thompson. “Before you go down, understand which roads are closed, which are open, and how you get in and out.”

More information on entrances, exits, and parking information can be found at cedistrict.com/accessmap

For those who take transit to hockey games, Calgary Transit says, it won’t be making any changes to service.

Typically, it provides floater trains in addition to the scheduled trains on game days, and will continue to do that.

For fans who used to park in the Stampede lots, parking rates remain the same. The Calgary Stampede says it made the transition to Park Plus management starting Aug. 1 in anticipation of the upcoming grand opening of the 17 Avenue extension into Stampede Park.

That extension is expected to be completed in early October.