Quote:
Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis
The thing is the NHL and by extension the Flames, don't have a massive leverage chip to try and get a taxpayer funded arena. Are they really going to leave Calgary, a guaranteed profitable market for Seattle or Kansas City, iffy propositions? I don't see it.
The NFL meanwhile has a massive leverage chip that they continue to use, including right now with the St. Louis Rams: Los Angeles. Any time the NFL wants to exploit taxpayers, its all about threatening to move the team to Los Angeles. The Chargers and Raiders can look forward to the same charade in the coming years, even if the Rams move first (LA may have two new stadiums built). The NHL just doesn't have anywhere they can threaten to move a Canadian team from to get that taxpayer money. Anywhere they choose to move will be a worse market.
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Seeing the Flames own the Stampeders, Roughnecks, and Hitmen I have a hard time seeing them threaten to move as IMO the entire purpose of the new facility is to move all their teams into one place and have the organizations run under one roof.
However if it ever came to the Flames threatening to move I would support them 100%. The owners kept the team in the city during the lean times of the 90's and the success of 2004 really did bring a lot of positive energy to this city and if the city can't even bring itself to match what the city of Edmonton is contributing to the Oilers new building then IMO Calgary doesn't deserve and NHL team.