My expectation is that the Flames would pay some sort of lease fee to the owner of the building (i.e. the city).
Interestingly, the city has basically chosen to donate any operating profit as owners of the Saddledome instead of keep it for tax payers. The Saddledome Foundation pays the city $1 to effectively be a not-for-profit landlord. In that capacity they receive lease payments from the Flames and naming rights on the Saddledome then pay Saddledome op costs. Anything left ove, less $1, is donated to Hockey Canada and amateur sports. So the city could have been receiving money to own it but chose to invest it in the community instead. I wonder if a similar deal would be made for the new arena.
|