Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Depends. A place like Balzac might be motivated to put together a pretty enticing deal for them.
Its a negotiation. It amazes me how black and white people can be.
The Flames' ownership wants an awesome arena in downtown Calgary just as much as everyone else. But if the city acts like children, there are options.
If you think hockey fans wouldn't go to Balzac (or Okatoks), well I think you're wrong.
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But that's the thing, it'd be suicidal to the success of the arena and by extension the team to have an arena 30 minutes from Downtown, and a 15 minute drive from the closest train station. Hell if they did that the Dome would be wise to renovate and they could steal so many concerts from the new arena. Similar capacities but one is central downtown and the other in the suburbs. The roof won't matter so much then.
The NFL for instance has the hammer and uses it consistently and is doing it right now. St. Louis or San Diego, or both, will build a new stadium with public money or that team (or possibly both even) will move to Los Angeles. The NFL has gotten a new stadium out of Minnesota already, and may get up to 4 new ones due to relocation threats. Impressive to say the least, but they have leverage, Los Angeles (and apparently San Antonio) is a real threat. Threatening to build an arena in Balzac? Not a threat at all, the Flames owners and the fans would be the biggest losers there by a very wide margin.