[-TC-]

Originally Posted by belsarius

I understand the bigger picture and I am not completely anti-arena. I was/am fully behind the 100M investment the city has already agreed to. It will help, however there has to be an end. The fact that Katz is already coming back with his hand out and the unsaid threat to move the team is too much.

The city had figured out what the benifit would be worth, how much they could afford to invest to assist in that, but it's not enough, and will never be enough. Ground isn't even broke yet and there are already overages.. what happens when this thing is half complete and another 20M is needed? Why should the city be held ransom to now house their office in his office tower?

It would be a nicety to have, it might rejuvinate downtown, then again it might just be empty office rooms and a nice pedway for the homeless to take shelter during the winter when there isn't an Oiler game on.

Living on the southside I hate having to travel all the way to the NE and fear getting stabbed everytime I walk around there. But the city can't let themselves be held hostage in this. They've pledged an amount and they have to stick to their guns on it. If that means its a little less asthetics and a little more form, it will still be better than the current arena.

But again, the actual increase in revenue will be very minor until this thing is paid off. Rexall is already home to sporting events, concerts etc and yes there may be a few more but overall the increase will be minor overall adn that increase will go to paying this arena off.

I'm happy the city helped get the project going, but I am not happy if they simply open the city's coffers every time Katz needs more money.

I agree that there should be cost containment but I also think that $500MCDN is not a bad number all things considered.