[Senator Clay Davis]

Whenever people talk about the jobs an arena can create. they do realize that 90% of those jobs are low paying jobs, many at minimum wage? Its not like we're talking solid careers here. Using jobs, for this market especially, is a weird one. Calgary has tons of jobs, and within trades tons of jobs that can't be filled. If we were struggling to have jobs thats one thing, but whatever jobs are created by a new arena are mostly irrelevant.

The reality is tax dollars are finite and wants are seemingly unlimited. Yeah I'd love a new arena, I just don't think it deserves priority over the tons of infrastucture projects we need. Likewise, healthcare costs are about to skyrocket as the boomers retire. An arena is a vanity project when its taxpayers footing the bill, not a need. All that comes of it is that owners can charge more for tickets at the new building, of which there will be fewer seats than the current one so that there can be more luxury boxes. The average taxpayer almost never gets any real benefit out of a new arena, one they might spend 2 or 3 nights a year at, maybe. Spending less time in the bathroom or waiting for beer sounds nice, but nice enough to see your taxes go up? Likely not.