[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by flameswin

A few more years for the big announcement? Haha, would you like to put some money on that? I'd be down. All 'waiting for an annoucement' jokes aside, (and yes I realize how long it's been) we're not years away from an announcement at this point.

Leave emotions out and look at the facts before betting money:

1. This is a massively expensive major re-development project that will likely cost a few billion dollars.
2. The City of Calgary does not have this money in its 3-yr capital budget, 6-yr budget (draft) and 10-yr budget wish list; plus, there is no co-funding commitment from Federal or Provincial government.
3. The above means that the new arena and borrowing for its development would have to become part of someone's political platform introduced for the new municipal elections. Chances it could be approved before the new elections are close to zero.
4. Flames organization will not/cannot invest much of its own money in the re-development, as they are not in control of it, just one tenant for one of the facilities in the proposed Entertainment District. They will not announce anything until they have a financial commitment from all three levels of government. To get all three of them on-side is still a long way away, otherwise we'd hear more by now from at least some sources. There's nothing yet other than Ken King's unbridled optimism.
5. On a positive side, Harper seems to be in a Santa Claus mood prior to the October elections; there is a small chance he'll announce some co-funding this summer, but not likely.
6. Also, on a positive side, Flames are playing better. As they continue to improve, it should make approval of spending and capital borrowing for their purposes more palatable for politicians and voters.