After two years of guarded optimism, the façade is over.
The Calgary Flames ownership group is done pretending the City of Calgary and its current mayor are interested in serious negotiations to build a new arena in town.
So Flames president Ken King dropped a bombshell Tuesday announcing his group will no longer pursue a new building in Calgary.
The desire remains, but the patience to deal with a city council too scared to do the right thing by taking meaningful strides towards a much-needed investment in crucial infrastructure is over.
"We had an owners meeting today and have determined -- and need to advise (NHL commissioner) Gary (Bettman) -- that we're no longer going to pursue a new facility," said King, in the midst of an otherwise festive afternoon at the team's golf tourney that raised $400,000 for city charities.