City of Calgary, police ready Red Mile plans for Battle of Alberta
Global News
The city and police hope to allow both a celebratory atmosphere and ensure public safety along the Red Mile on game days.
The City of Calgary and its partners are ready for a Battle of Alberta for the ages.
The first game between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames in the second round of NHL playoffs takes place Wednesday evening.
Organizations like the Calgary Police Service have plans for how to accommodate fans flooding down the Red Mile as the Flames take on the Oilers.
“Certainly this next series here, the Battle of Alberta, has been three decades in the making and there’s a lot of excitement about it, including me here,” Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld told Global News Morning Calgary.
Parking restrictions will be in place along 17 Avenue S.W. between Macleod Trail S.W. during game days. Parking bans will also be in place immediately north of the Saddledome and Stampede grounds, along 11 Avenue S.E. between 1 Street to 5 Street S.E.
Pre-game outdoor entertainment will include the closing of 17 Avenue S.W. from 4 Street to 5 Street S.W., for about 30 minutes starting at 6 p.m. for a performance by the Calgary Stampede Showband. The Showband will then make its way towards the Palace Theatre at 8 Street S.W. for a 6:45 p.m. performance.
“And then I think when it comes time for the game to let out. I think people are pretty used to some temporary closures to get the downtown cleared out,” Neufeld said.
Neufeld said the city’s police will have a flexible response to allow both public safety and a celebratory environment, taking lessons from the first round of the playoffs.