Stunning photos from flooded Saddledome; Flames say arena will be ready for season

Via Calgary FlamesCalgary Flames President Ken King put the flood waters inside Scotiabank Saddledome into perspective on Saturday:

“If you were a hockey player walking out of the tunnel onto the ice, you’d be underwater yourself [right now],” he said at a news conference.

The flooding of two rivers that converge in Calgary forced the evacuation of Calgary’s downtown and some 75,000 residents on Friday. City officials claim at least three people died in the flooding, which washed out roads and bridges throughout Southern Alberta.

The floods that devastated Calgary and Southern Alberta did “total loss” damage to the Flames arena’s event level, submerging the Flames’ dressing room and offices. He said some memorabilia was destroyed in the flood.

Full assessment of the damage will occur when the flood waters recede.

“The depth of the devastation was unbelievable,” he said.

But what does that mean for next season?

Via Matchsticks and Gasoline:

King says that the NHL has contacted him to offer their help in the efforts to return operations at the Saddledome to normal, and although he has no idea how much it will cost to do so, he expects that insurance will cover the a good portion of the organization's expenses and that the building will be ready for the opening day of the Flames' season.

King said he expects the building will be ready for the start of the 2013-14 Flames season. Libby Raines, VP of building operations, said she is “fairly confident that we're structurally intact.”

Via Calgary FlamesThe Flames released a photo gallery of the devastation inside of the area, and it’s significant on the event level.