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Flames boss Ken King has two words for Calgary — “second place.” That’s where we’ll be, he says, without new sports and entertainment facilities.

In an interview, King said that when Edmonton’s new arena opens this fall, “you should check the exit visas from Calgary going to Edmonton, because that’s where Calgarians are going to go to watch a number of events — whether it’s the world cup, world juniors, international events, or anything else.”

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“We are about to witness something none of us ever thought we’d see — second place,” adds the CEO of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp.

In a response to that, one city hall player says he expects the owners will soon start hinting they’ll move the team.

“That would be the first time in the history of the NHL that hockey owners threaten to pull out of a city because the city refuses to build them a football stadium.”

You thought the CalgaryNEXT issue was getting testy? Now there’s the added prospect of a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, after council approved spending $5 million Monday evening to study the possibility.