There are reports that the Flames want to build an arena, stadium and fieldhouse on land in the west end of downtown — which is primarily owned by the city.

The Calgary Herald reported the proposed complex in the West Village would include not just a new hockey arena, but also a CFL football stadium and amateur sports fieldhouse for soccer, track and other sports.

The proposed site is near 16th Street and Bow Trail southwest on the four-hectare site of the GSL car dealership — land recently purchased by the city.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says he recently met with the head of the Calgary Flames, but has yet to receive any proposals.

"There's a reason why nothing is built there on that site, which is that it is deeply environmentally contaminated," he said. "I will tell you I have been concerned for some time about the creosote contamination on that site and how the province and the city and the former owner are not doing enough to clean it up, so if this conversation leads us to have a broader conversation about the need to clean up that site — that's a good thing."

No city money, says Nenshi

An arena on its own was expected to cost about $500 million.

Nenshi says even if the Flames want money for a new sports complex, the city has no cash to give.

"As I've always said about the arena, there are two issues here. The first is that public money must go after public benefit, not private benefit," said Nenshi. "And number two: there ain't no money, so it's fun to have hypothetical discussions but when there ain't no money, you can't really solve those problems."

A Calgary group working on a proposed sports fieldhouse at Foothills Athletic Park had estimated its cost at more than $200 million.

The Calgary Flames are not commenting on the possibility of new sports facilities. Flames president Ken King said last month that an announcement would be made soon.