[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I've said this lots before so I'm sure I'm sounding very repetitve. But the city and province will benefit from a new arena facility, both directly and indirectly in revenue generation for both of them. Both direct and indirect job creation (the indirect much harder to quantify, such as business that thrive because of the existance of the Flames and other events at the facility) will benefit the province and city, as well as the cultural benefits of such a facility creates (again through the increased appeal Calgary will have by having an NHL franchise and a facility to support concerts etc...) which in turns makes the city a more appealing place for companies to set up shop and create jobs and revenues for the province.

Now, what I have no idea about is how much that benefit is worth, and I couldn't figure it out with out being close to the numbers. But, whether that worth 5% of the cost or 70% of the cost of the new rink, whatever it is, the City and Province should actually pay their share IMO, as they also reap the benefits of such a facility.

Studies have shown that the benefits you describe a re virtually zero. You have to remember that you can't compare building an arena to not building anything, you have to compare building an arena to building something else.