Growable Journey

You can’t really say you’ve done a Canadian winter until you’ve been to a hockey game. Skiing and skating are great, but nothing captures how much Canadians love winter quite like 18,000 people dressed in red, screaming at a little black puck.

While living in Calgary on our working holiday, going to Calgary Flames games at the Scotiabank Saddledome became one of our favourite things to do. This guide covers everything we wish we’d known before our first game: how to get cheap tickets, where to sit, the bag rules at the door, the basic rules of the game, what to wear, and a few insider tricks.

The Saddledome’s Final Season — and the Move to Scotia Place

The Saddledome, with its famous saddle-shaped roof, has been home to the Flames since 1983. The 2026/27 season is the last one there: starting in the 2027/28 season, the team moves to Scotia Place, a brand-new arena being built next door in the Rivers District. The Saddledome is scheduled to be demolished soon after.

If you’re in Calgary this winter, this is your last chance to see a game in this classic building. One thing I really like about the Saddledome is that it’s quite compact — even from the third level you can follow the game clearly. The new arena will be bigger, so I suspect the cheapest upper seats there may feel a lot farther from the ice.

How Much Do Calgary Flames Tickets Cost?

The Flames use variable pricing: the same seat costs more for a big rival or a weekend game, and less for a weeknight game against a less popular team. Here are the Flames’ published starting rates for the 2026/27 season:

Don’t let those numbers scare you, though. Upper-level tickets often drop closer to game day. We usually got top-level seats for around $41–52, and this season we booked ours for just $41 for a low-demand game. My tips for getting the best deal:

• Pick weeknight games against non-Canadian teams — they’re the cheapest by far.
• Avoid Oilers, Leafs and Canadiens games if you’re on a budget; they can cost double or triple.
• Buy from Ticketmaster (the official seller) or its verified resale, so your tickets are guaranteed to work.
• Check resale close to game day — prices for low-demand games sometimes drop.

Where to Sit at the Saddledome

• 100 level (lower bowl): closest to the action, you can hear the hits on the boards. Most expensive.
• 200 level: a great middle ground with a full view of plays developing.
• Press level (300s): the budget option and where we sat most often. Because the Saddledome is compact, the view is still very good, and the atmosphere up there is loud and fun.

A Little Insider Trick: Moving Down

At regular games, ushers in Calgary don’t check seats very strictly once the game is underway. If there are obviously empty seats a few rows down, locals often quietly move closer after the first period. Just be ready to move back if the ticket holders show up or an usher asks.

Don’t try this at big games, especially against Edmonton. When the atmosphere is intense, tickets are checked very carefully and you’ll just get sent back.

Bag Policy & Entering the Arena

This is the part that catches most visitors out, so read it before you leave home:

• Small bags only: the limit is about 14″ × 14″ × 6″ (35 × 35 × 15 cm). Backpacks and larger bags are considered oversized and aren’t allowed in the seating area.
• Use the right door: if you have a small bag or purse, use the marked small-bag entry; if you have nothing, you’ll get through faster.
• Metal detectors: everyone walks through a metal detector, so keep keys and phones easy to pull out.
• Diaper and medical bags are allowed but get a physical bag check.
• Have your mobile ticket ready in the Ticketmaster app or your phone wallet before you reach the gate.
• Doors open 90 minutes before puck drop for Flames games.

Arrive Early: Watch the Warm-Up

This is my favourite tip. For a 7 p.m. game, arrive around 6 p.m. and head down to the glass in the lower bowl. During warm-ups, fans can stand right next to the ice and watch the players skate and shoot just a few metres away — even if your seat is up in the 300s.

Players sometimes flip a puck over the glass to kids during warm-up, so if you’re bringing children, this is the moment to be at the boards. After warm-ups end, everyone heads back to their own seats.

Hockey Rules for Beginners (in 2 Minutes)

You don’t need to know much to enjoy a game, but these basics help:

• Three periods of 20 minutes each, with a roughly 18-minute intermission between them. The clock stops a lot, so a game takes about 2.5 hours.
• Most goals wins. If tied after regulation, there’s a 5-minute, 3-on-3 overtime; if still tied, a shootout decides it (regular season only).
• Penalties: a player who breaks a rule sits in the penalty box (usually 2 minutes), so the other team gets a power play with one extra skater.
• Offside & icing: the two most common whistles. Offside = an attacker entered the zone before the puck. Icing = shooting the puck the length of the ice to clear it.
• Fighting: yes, it still happens occasionally. Both players get 5-minute penalties — and the crowd goes wild.

What to Wear: Join the C of Red

Calgary fans are known as the “C of Red”, and walking into the Saddledome feels exactly like that — a sea of red. Most people wear a Flames jersey, but plenty just wear something red.

Honestly, I didn’t love the look of the Flames jersey, so I never bought one. Instead, I put together red outfits — a red sweater or top with neutral layers — and it fit right in (and looked better in photos!). Inside the arena it’s warm enough for a sweater, but you’ll want a proper winter coat for the walk to and from the CTrain.

Food & Drinks: Pre-Game at a Pub

Food and drinks inside the arena are pricier than outside — a pint of draft beer runs about $10–12, and the Saddledome is cashless, so bring a card.

Our favourite routine was to grab dinner and drinks at a pub in the Beltline or on 17th Avenue during happy hour, then walk or take the train over. It’s cheaper, and the pre-game buzz in the bars is half the fun.

Getting to the Saddledome

• CTrain: take the Red Line to Victoria Park/Stampede Station, right next to the arena. This is the easiest option.
• Walking: about 15–20 minutes from downtown or the Beltline.
• Driving: Stampede Park lots fill up and cost extra on game nights; transit is much less stressful.

Next Up: The Battle of Alberta in Edmonton

Calgary vs. Edmonton is one of the fiercest rivalries in hockey. Next, I’ll share our trip to Edmonton to watch the Oilers and Connor McDavid — widely considered the best player in the world — live. Stay tuned!

Looking for more winter ideas around Calgary and Banff? Check out our Johnston Canyon winter ice walk guide and our Banff ski resorts comparison for 2026/27.