Flames' new arena will feature inclusive "Safe Spaces" and "Quiet Rooms" for fans with anxiety

According to multiple online reports, the Calgary Flames' new arena will feature "Safe Spaces" and "Quiet Rooms" for fans who experience anxiety.

The new arena, Scotia Place, won't be ready until the 2027-28 NHL season but when it opens fans will be able to come down from panic attacks or just general anxiety by taking some time in the building's low-sensory rooms.

From Off-Side Calgary:

The Flames’ new arena, which started being built almost one year ago, is going to be well worth the wait

This facility will feature many great amenities, including a two-story sports bar and some stunning Indigenous cultural design. It will also feature an underground community arena that will allow for the Flames to practice in the same building they play at all times, and will also feature flex washrooms that will change from male to female depending on the expected demographic for any given event.

Most people keeping tabs on Scotia Place already know of these amenities; however, what many aren’t aware of is that this new building will also feature quiet rooms. These rooms will provide fans with the opportunity to reduce anxiety and sensory overload that can come from loud atmospheres such as sporting events and concerts.

Alrighty then...

Look, I don't suffer from anxiety so I can't judge. But if you're so easily overwhelmed that you need a special place to retreat to in public, you probably shouldn't be at a live professional sporting event.

Honestly though, I think the flex washrooms is a great idea. We've all seen the lines outside the men's room for a hockey game. Then the next night it's the ladies rooms that are slammed because of a Taylor Swift concert.

Smart idea. The jury's still out of the safe spaces though...