NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the Calgary FlamesB次元官网网址� financial situation B次元官网网址渃ontinues to deteriorateB次元官网网址� as the team continues to operate out of the aging Scotiabank Saddledome.

B次元官网网址淭his building, in its time, was a work of art. Its time is long past,B次元官网网址� said Bettman, speaking to reporters in Calgary as part of his Western Canadian tour. B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 build buildings like this anymore.B次元官网网址�

Bettman listed a lack of amenities for fans and players as well as opportunities for ownership to generate revenue among the many shortcomings of the building, which opened in 1983.

He said it simply doesnB次元官网网址檛 compare in any way to Rogers Place, the new home of the Edmonton Oilers, which opened up last season.

B次元官网网址淗ave you been up the road to Edmonton? Do you see a difference between the two buildings? You know the answer to the question.B次元官网网址�

Bettman added that Calgary concert-goers are losing out too.

B次元官网网址淚 was told (Thursday) that there were 27 acts, some of them multiple days, that have played in Edmonton since the building opened that havenB次元官网网址檛 played here. That goes to the quality of life of the city and thatB次元官网网址檚 an indication as to the differences in the buildings.B次元官网网址�

While Bettman said he wasnB次元官网网址檛 in town to make threats, he painted a bleak picture of the FlamesB次元官网网址� financial future if it continues to operate out of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 oldest building.

B次元官网网址淭he teamB次元官网网址檚 competitive situation, financial stability, is obviously being impacted with each season that they stay here,B次元官网网址� said Bettman. B次元官网网址淭hey used to write a cheque for revenue sharing. For the last couple years, they have been receiving cheques. The cheques are getting bigger.B次元官网网址�

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has said the FlamesB次元官网网址� proposal for a $500-million arena places a heavy tax burden on the city, but the Flames say the cityB次元官网网址檚 plan would ultimately see the team foot the entire cost of construction.

Currently, neither side is talking with the team having said publicly that they have abandoned pursuit of a new building and that they will remain in the Saddledome, doing the best they can for as long as they can.

B次元官网网址淓verything IB次元官网网址檝e heard, (CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 ownership group) sees no reason to have any discussions,B次元官网网址� Bettman said, adding he agrees with the teamB次元官网网址檚 position. B次元官网网址漈hey tried, they thought they were on a path, they actually had a proposal on something akin to Edmonton that would take a part of the city and transform it. A part of the city right now where the land is blighted and unusable, and ultimately nothing got any traction.B次元官网网址�

Bettman was involved throughout the process in Edmonton, working with then Mayor Stephen Mandel and owner Daryl Katz in helping get the deal done. He has no such involvement in Calgary.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 dance unless youB次元官网网址檙e invited to the dance. I havenB次元官网网址檛 been invited to this dance,B次元官网网址� said Bettman with a smile. B次元官网网址淚 can consult with the club, I can work with the club, we can discuss their situation, we can explore options B次元官网网址� if and when B次元官网网址� but thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing really for me to do here.B次元官网网址�

In other hockey matters, Bettman spoke about the successful season season-ticket drive that started in Seattle on Thursday. Deposits for the minimum 10,000 season tickets were received in 12 minutes. By the end of the first hour, they had reached 25,000 deposits.

B次元官网网址淭hey have begun what looks like an amazing expression of interest,B次元官网网址� said Bettman. B次元官网网址淥bviously, thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the many factors that we have to evaluate as we go through the expansion process.B次元官网网址�

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He added that process is still in its infancy and there are still many steps to come for the Seattle ownership group.

B次元官网网址淭here are some boxes we have evaluate and check before the board gets anywhere close to having to make a decision.B次元官网网址�

Bettman also touched on the NHLB次元官网网址檚 absence from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Korea, which he reiterated as a B次元官网网址済ood decisionB次元官网网址�, saying it wonB次元官网网址檛 impact the leagueB次元官网网址檚 potential participation in 2022 in Beijing, China.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to predict whatB次元官网网址檚 going to be in the future,B次元官网网址� said Bettman. B次元官网网址淲hile weB次元官网网址檙e very focused on helping to build the game of hockey in China, in Asia, IB次元官网网址檓 not sure whether, or if, participation in the 2022 Olympics is an essential or important part of that.B次元官网网址�

The commissioner also expressed his satisfaction with the leagueB次元官网网址檚 current playoff format. Through the 1980s, 16 teams made the playoffs in what then was a 21-team league. The league is now 31 teams and the quantity of teams that make the post-season has not changed.

B次元官网网址淭he regular season is compelling, exciting, unpredictable and we have great races,B次元官网网址� said Bettman. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have teams that make or donB次元官网网址檛 make the playoffs by a point or two. I think what weB次元官网网址檝e got now is pretty good and I believe most of the clubs feel the same way. B次元官网网址�

Calgary is one of the teams in a playoff races. They sat one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with 17 games to go heading into a Friday night game against the visiting New York Rangers.

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Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press

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