The urban advocacy group Project Calgary is challenging a commonly held belief that many concerts and arena tours skip Calgary in favour of Edmonton, saying Vancouver is the bigger draw for major acts.
It found 18 shows at Rogers Place in Edmonton and 18 shows between the Scotiabank Saddledome, Grey Eagle Resort and Casino and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, while Vancouver's Rogers Arena booked 27 artists – many not having tour dates in either Calgary or Edmonton. "In 2019, I went to see Ariana Grande in Edmonton. It was a three-hour drive and I came home at 3 a.m. and I just really wish that she came to Calgary because I'm a big fan," said Mehr Saini.
Kasey Little is originally from the U.K. and says his favourite artists rarely come to this country, let alone his new home province.Music industry experts say the arena tours aren't as profitable for major international artists, and tours are designed with fewer stops at larger venues in more populated locales.
"Canada will always be left out of the shuffle. Forget about being Calgary versus Edmonton, I think the bigger picture is it's a Canadian thing that I think most artists are going to have to try to deal," he said.The City of Calgary has hired CAA ICON to act as the consultant in talks with the Calgary Sport and Entertainment Corporation about plans to replace the Saddledome.
'Only one way to find out. Spend several hundred million dollars and let the chips fall where they may.' --- Old Calgary Motto
Who cares about the music scene? You actually want to spend half $1 billion so that people that can afford $600-$1200 per ticket can go see kiss? News for you guys they can already go see kiss they’re playing the Saddledome, and at those prices it’s obvious what’s going on.
And it won’t improve their Flames either!!!