[killer_carlson]

I think people in Calgary need to take a long, hard look at the deal Edmonton cut.

The most important question to ask is how much $$$ the Katz group actually put up at the start of construction.

Classic case of one side (city counsel) wanting a deal more than the other (Katz). After a certain point, Katz sat back and let city counsel negotiate against themselves. In public.

A cynic would say it was a legacy moment for a retiring mayor ... who would have been strung up on the deal had he run for Premier.

That being said, people in Edmonton are pumped about the project and the opportunity to use it. The rank and file will use the new arena many times over before they use or enjoy other city cultural investments.