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The Calgary Flames organization kick-started its $890-million plan for a new hockey arena, covered football stadium and multi-sport field house on Tuesday, but acknowledged significant challenges lie ahead for its ambitious blueprint to remake the west side of downtown.

The megaproject, dubbed CalgaryNEXT, would replace the aging Scotiabank Saddledome and McMahon Stadium.

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Spanning several blocks near the Bow River, the plan includes a 20,000-seat event centre for hockey games and concerts. A neighbouring “multi-sport field house stadium” that envisions a translucent roof would house a FIFA-sized soccer field, a 400-metre indoor track and a regulation CFL field, with seats for 30,000 fans of the Calgary Stampeders.

“CalgaryNEXT is a bold new vision for Calgary. The question is simple, ‘Is this good for Calgary and is this good for Calgarians?’” said Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Ken King.

“If we can come to an affirmative answer, what we will do is get to the starting line of a very difficult, very arduous process, to bring this home and to bring it to fruition.”