Quote:
Originally Posted by EddyBeers
His dream will benefit at most the 80,000 people who attend an Oilers game each year. Did the museum have a previous home in Edmonton? If not the comparison is weak to begin with, as building a new museum added a new activity to the city. There is already an existing hockey arena, so it is not like those 80,000 people who benefit from the new arena do not have an existing complex in which to attend Oilers games. How much did the museums cost? Were they in the 700-800 million dollar range? What private businessman owns the museum?
Fact of the matter is that there have been countless studies done on sports arenas and economic benefits. The economic benefits are almost nil.
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Don't be so myopic. There are people who will visit and spend money not just on the arena but on casino, hotels, restaurants and other retail outlets. It is not just an arena being built.
You said: "
There is already an existing hockey arena, so it is not like those 80,000 people who benefit from the new arena do not have an existing complex in which to attend Oilers games. ..."
Ummm...the Oilers are playing in the
new arena not the old, hence, this ongoing discussion between Katz and the city...
The ownership of the museum belongs to the city and so will be the arena. The point is my taxes also contributes to other facilities that I have no say in ex. museum, art galleries, Citadel theatre, private businesses like Dell, South common infrastructures etc... Why should this be any different than Katz's goal except it might not be politically and socially viewed as acceptable to spend taxes on.
Your point about studies of arena/entertainment district such as the one planned will have virtually no impact economically (?) is horse hockey. On the contrary, one example is the Columbus Blue Jackets arena/entertainment district which is highly successful in attracting visitors and creating spinoffs in the service industries. It was rated a recommended sight to visit by TripAdvisor.