Calgary
Can Anyone Be a Star…Athlete?
Andy Warhol’s once-cryptic statement of “in the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes” was made in 1968. Since then, this prediction has caused seismic shifts in such fields as music, drama, comedy, and even the news, with charismatic individuals bypassing traditional avenues of success and taking their product directly to the masses, which make or break them with an all-powerful click of the ‘like’ icon.
The argument can be made that these established fields richly deserve their fate. The entertainment industry, after all, is rife with patronage and staggering corruption which it has never tried to disguise. The mainstream media, for its part, seems more obsessed with narratives than it is in the five w’s and the how. Therefore (it can be said) these people made their beds and must now lie in them. They have arrogantly held their audiences captive – and in contempt – for too long.
However, musicians, actors, comedians, and even news agencies notwithstanding, is it acceptable for athletes to also become famous for nothing more than a large social media presence. Is that even possible? Apparently, the answer is… maybe.
When We Were Kings
The acclaimed 1996 sports documentary’s title speaks volumes. While no other sport has ever dominated the human psyche more than boxing, the intensity of that domination is matched only by its fall from grace. Indeed, its decline has become cliché, even as it still towers above all other sports in terms of compelling purity. As ESPN analyst Max Kellerman has astutely pointed out “the literal imposition of will is more compelling than a metaphor for the same thing.” So therefore, everyone wants to be a king, even if it’s just for one day.
Enter Logan Paul and KSI
On November 9th, 2019, sports streaming giant DAZN, which replaced HBO as the main provider for professional boxing worldwide when the latter dropped the sport from its platform just over a year earlier, streamed the rematch between two men who were not accomplished boxers in any way.
Logan Paul is an American YouTuber and self-proclaimed actor, director, and entertainer, whose combined social media presence totals 66.1 million. Paul claims to be a former state wrestler and is clearly very fit, but his skill level as a boxer barely ranks him as a novice at best. For his part, KSI (real name Olajide Olatunji) is a British YouTuber with a following of nearly 30 million, whose boldest claim to fame seems to be that of a rapper. Like his American counterpart, KSI definitely spends a lot of time in the gym, but has little in the way of actual boxing skill.
Nevertheless, 12,000 people attended the match at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, where true boxers Billy Joe Saunders and Devin Haney fought their respective bouts on the undercard. The fight was shown on DAZN’s pay-per-view service and later its YouTube channel. The latter recorded 24 million views, while powerful British promoter Eddie Hearn has claimed that the former garnered more PPV buys than the dramatic upset KO victory of Andy Ruiz Jr. over recognized heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
So What?
Exactly. The silence was deafening. No other sport is lonelier, more thankless, and more demanding than boxing. To add insult to injury, its few remaining stars must now compete with those whose only talent is sheer charisma, and whose devotion does not exceed the superficial. Some have argued that the sport has been exposed to new audiences. Very few, however, have tried to defend the brutal integrity of boxing, claiming that this event literally spits in the face of true warriors, and would never be tolerated elsewhere. Does anyone really believe that if someone organized a weekend-warrior football or basketball league on YouTube to compete with the NFL and NBA respectively, that no one would come to the defense of those sports? So what indeed.
Alberta
Scotia Place – Calgary unveils design for new arena / events centre
News release from the City of Calgary
Scotia Place, Calgary’s new event centre, designed as a place for community where there is room for everyone
The City of Calgary and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) are excited to reveal the design for Calgary’s new event centre – formally named Scotia Place.
The design is influenced by the ancestral and historical land of Indigenous Peoples and the culturally significant site that embodies our shared purpose – to gather. It brings together Indigenous cultural perspectives with Calgary’s and the region’s natural beauty, reflecting the four elements of nature – fire, ice, land and air.
A striking feature of the building is the central structure with a textured flame motif that emulates a home fire, which is further amplified when it is lit at night. The home fire, a place of warmth and energy that brings people together to share stories of the past and create stories for the future, rises from the white, glacial-like forms that define the lower parts of the building.
“When you consider that Calgary is already the envy of other cities with a new world-class convention centre in the heart of the Culture + Entertainment District, the addition of Scotia Place is another signal to investors that our city understands how to build a future that leverages hospitality and hosting as its core strengths,” says Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “We are also acknowledging and honouring the foundational role that Indigenous communities have played for generations in making Calgary, and now Scotia Place, a space where we all belong.”
Scotia Place, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027, celebrates the area’s importance as a place for all and will be a landmark attraction in Calgary’s emerging Culture + Entertainment District. More than a building, however, the 10-acre city block is designed for community and connection and includes a community rink, outdoor and indoor plazas spaces, four restaurants, the Calgary Flames Team Store, and future development opportunity in the northeast corner. It will provide gathering places and amenities for the 8,000 people who will live in this new downtown neighbourhood.
“Calgary has a long history of hosting world-class events, drawing millions of visitors to the city each year, generating revenue for local businesses, and boosting the economy,” says Danielle Smith, Premier of the Province of Alberta. “With construction on the Calgary Rivers District and Event Centre now underway, Calgary is one step closer to a revitalized downtown that will bring new energy into the city, attract more exciting events, and create jobs to improve the quality of life for Calgarians.”
A development permit application for the facility was submitted on July 19, 2024. This was a significant milestone for the project team, consisting of CAA ICON, HOK-DIALOG, and CANA/Mortenson. People interested in following or commenting on the permit can find the application at Calgary.ca/dmap. The application is expected to be heard by the Calgary Planning Commission by end of 2024.
“This is an important day for Calgary,” says Councillor Sonya Sharp, Event Centre Committee Chair. “Today is about so much more than the designs of a building. Today is the unveiling of a place where Calgarians and visitors from around the world will make memories at concerts, and sport and community events. I hope that everyone is as excited as we are, knowing that Scotia Place will become the complete experience in our new Culture & Entertainment District.”
“At CSEC, a key component of our mission is to be the heartbeat of our community, create connections and bring people together,” said Robert Hayes, CSEC President and CEO. “Scotia Place will become the perfect home to achieve and share this mission with all Calgarians. Seeing the design brings the vision of so many contributors to life. We are especially thankful to the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta for their leadership and support to help bring us to this point. In stride with our partner Scotiabank, we are very proud to play our role in presenting Scotia Place as the culmination of diligence and passion, that is now visual in this breathtakingly beautiful and meaningful facility.”
“For years we have seen firsthand the value these partnerships bring to the communities in which we operate and for our clients,” said Aris Bogdaneris, Group Head, Canadian Banking of Scotiabank. “Scotia Place introduces a bold new vision for what will be Alberta’s premier sports and entertainment venue. For nearly 20 years, Scotiabank has been a proud partner of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation and together, we are committed to bring fans and our clients an unforgettable experience when they walk through the doors of Scotia Place.”
“We are excited to start the construction of the critical infrastructure needed to build thousands of new homes and to make the Calgary’s new Culture + Entertainment district a reality,” says Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors. “Albertans expect basic infrastructure to be maintained and improved and this commitment from the province goes a long way in helping Calgary build these projects.”
Acknowledging the significance of the building’s location at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers on the ancestral land of the Treaty 7 Peoples and the Metis Nation, The City, CSEC, HOK-DIALOG and CAA ICON worked with an Indigenous Advisory Group that included representatives from the Treaty 7 Nations, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, and the Urban Indigenous community throughout the design process.
“It was great to be part of a truly representative voice that included all indigenous peoples of southern Alberta regarding the design of this center acknowledging the historic significance of the land it sits on to the Metis people,” said Carmen Lasante Captain of the Calgary Elbow Metis District. “Inclusivity is a core part of who the Metis are. The City has worked hard to include many diverse histories together in creating this space.”
“Engaging in the right way is fundamental to the success of relationship development with the Indigenous communities, as we have played a critical role in the identity of the land now known as the city of Calgary as the Indigenous nations are inextricable linked to the landscape and environment,” says Ira Provost, Piikani Nation Consultation
A key theme heard often during the Indigenous engagement sessions was “Come in, there is room”, making it clear that Scotia Place needs to be a place that is designed for all.
The public plazas are designed to honour the deep-rooted connection that Indigenous Peoples have with the land, incorporating representations of the tipi, Métis Trapper’s Tent, and elements of Alberta’s world-renown natural landscape.
An important design decision was to lower the event and ice surface so that the primary concourse will be at street-level. Calgarians and visitors will be able to move seamlessly between the curb, the primary concourse and the outdoor public plazas.
“We at DIALOG are thrilled to join forces with HOK and combine our unique expertise to transform Calgary’s Event Centre into the catalyst for a dynamic new urban community,” says Doug Cinnamon, Partner Architect at DIALOG.
“Other design principles including public realm activation, the integration of indigenous influences, public art & storytelling, sustainability, and a balance between past, present, and future is central to our vision. The ultimate goal is to ensure seamless accessibility, promote mixed uses, and create vibrant public areas for everyone to enjoy. This joint redesign represents an opportunity to spur investment into the area and enhance its cultural vitality, anchoring Calgary’s position as a thriving, bustling community hub.”
Scotia Place is a generational investment in Calgary’s emerging vibrant Culture + Entertainment District. A modern event centre with universal accessible design throughout and with energy and water conservation built in to maximize efficiencies and the ability to be net-zero by 2050, Scotia place is designed to serve Calgary’s growing community for decades to come.
Construction begins this week. Additional information about Scotia Place including design renderings, a video, and frequently asked questions is available on Calgary.ca/ScotiaPlace.
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