If you have been at the arena recently you are aware that construction is well underway on your third arena.  JUST BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED IT DOESN’T MEAN WE ARE DONE.  The owners/sponsors of the new arena; Mount Royal University, Trails West and Glenlake/Elbow Park (Glenlake) have secured long term debt and a construction loan from ATB  in order to ensure that we could start the project and have it ready for the spring of 2011. It is very important that we all work together to raise the remaining funds in order to keep Trails West and Glenlake hockey programs as affordable as they currently are. The financing, securing and managing of the grants from the three levels of government is complicated and requires significant planning and coordination. We have been successful in “stick-handling” through this tricky phase but we now need your help in “scoring the goal” that will win us the cup.

The bottom line is that we do not have the funds to finish the project. The arena expansion will cost $17,000,000; with government funding, sponsorship, corporate and philanthropic gifts to date totaling $15,085,000 that leaves $1,915,000 to be raised between now and March 2011. If we, as users of the arenas, are not successful in raising more funds our current hockey association operating models are not sustainable and we will have to increase our fees. We need your ideas, volunteerism and dollars to help to raise the remaining funds to complete the project.

To provide all users, parents and fans an opportunity to be part of this exciting project we are looking for volunteers from Trails West, Glenlake, Mount Royal and the greater community to assist  with the CENTENNIAL ARENAS BUILDING GOALS BUILDING COMMUNITY Fundraising Phase. The Campaign will run from August 2010 to March 2011. 

To volunteer please contact Devin Chatterjee at devin@rosswmarsh.com

For more information on the project please visit our website at www.ccaexpansion.com 

Thank-you ALBERTA TUBULAR PRODUCTS

Thank-you GLENLAKE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Thank-you GLENLAKE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION for your generous donation of $30,000 IN MEMORY OF STU FAIRBANKS towards the Building Goals, Building Community Fundraising Campaign for CCA. This gift specifically, and the overall support of organizations like the GLENLAKE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION are what make it possible for us to expand and enrich the services we provide.

Thank-you ANOYONMOUS
Thank-you to a locally headquartered International Corporation for your generous donation of $80,000 towards the Building Goals, Building Community Fundraising Campaign for CCA. This gift will be used to fund a Coaches and Volunteers Resource Centre at CCA.

Thank-you MOUNT ROYAL COUGAR BOOSTER CLUB
Thank-you MOUNT ROYAL COUGAR BOOSTER CLUB for your generous donation of $30,000 to the Building Goals, Building Community Fundraising Campaign for the Calgary Centennial Arenas. This gift specifically, and the overall support of organizations like the MRU Cougar Booster Club are what make it possible for us to expand and enrich the services we provide.

Building for the Future

Expanding current facilities rather than adding new sheets of ice elsewhere is the best option for a number of reasons. The central location of Calgary Centennial Arenas provides convenient access from all areas of the City and offers expansion possibilities without the need for expensive additional land acquisition.

For many people in Calgary, ice-related activities play a major role in health, community activity and spirit. Calgary Centennial Arenas has long been a major player in these activities in Calgary South and surrounding areas.

However, the needs of Calgarians for ice and floor time are not being met. The demand for modern centrally-located facilities is high and will increase in the coming years. In the face of these realities, the issue of how best to meet current and future needs has been carefully studied.

As a result of extensive and collaborative community information and opinion gathering, the South West Arena Society will undertake a renovation and expansion program. This project is designed to capitalize on the efficiencies of a single central location offering new athletic and tourism opportunities to a wide-ranging audience.

An additional benefit of expanding at the present location is its proximity to downtown, where many adult recreational players work. Further, a number of sports schools, and public and private schools with hockey and sports activities are situated nearby. As a result, CCA is experiencing growing demand from adult leagues and schools for weekday time slots between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The ability to market these non-prime time opportunities provides CCA with a significant advantage.

The proposed expansion will take place on the east side of the existing facility on what is currently the parking lot. Access will continue to be from 22^nd Street and 47^th Avenue S.W.

In the face of increasing demand for our services, Calgary Centennial Arenas must respond to the needs of the community or run the risk of young people and families simply abandoning these activities. The expansion project encompassed two additional rinks but a combination of run-away construction costs and reduced access to funding has necessitated a split of the expansion project into phases. The third and fourth rinks will be pursued sequentially, initially focusing resources on the third rink to ensure at least one new rink is in service shortly. The fourth rink is not being abandoned, it remains a part of the expansion project and will be pursued as resources permit. The third rink highlights are:

• New NHL size ice surface (85' x 200')
• Six additional dressing rooms
  - four regular dressing rooms
  - one flex dressing room for mixed gender teams
  - one officials dressing room
• Second level viewing and seating for approximately 200
• New concession and pro-shop
• Design will enable the addition of a fourth rink in the future

Parks Foundation Calgary is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Calgarians through the creation of parks, the preservation of river valleys and the support of amateur sport.