As an ex-Calgarian who has moved on to bigger and much greener pastures I can tell you that Calgary is a small city with a smaller city attitude. Having lived in a few of the big cities around our continent I can tell you that one of things that separates them from Calgary is entertainment. There are so many choices in other cities that don't exist in Calgary. Much of this entertainment is a result of the infrastructure and facilities built for, and around, these cities sports teams. The restaurants and bars, the small theaters and spots for live music, didn't exist until these entertainment districts were created. The gentrification that resulted wouldn't have happened if not for these districts being created. Parts of town that people used to avoid are now the place to go and be entertained. All because the local sports team needed a new place to play their 12-14 games a year.
I would think that the down turn in the economy would be a warning shot across the bow for Calgarians and an opportunity to see how easily it is for their city to fall back into the small hick-burg it was after the NEP killed the O&G sector for a few years. The place was a ghost town and couldn't draw flies, let alone business. With the rumblings of the O&G sector being disenchanted and looking east and west for other home bases, Calgary could get that old ghost town feel again.
You know, a city is only as good as its reputation. Calgary gets a lot of positive press from its sports teams. Calgary generates a lot of tourism because of its sports teams. Calgarians generate a lot of pride because of those sports teams. Most of you probably weren't born, but you would not believe how bad it was to have to chose between which regional NHL team you were going to cheer for; the Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Canucks. Think about having to make that choice. Calgary became major league because of the Flames. Calgary was able to get the Olympics because of the Flames (the Saddledome never would have been built without the Flames as a primary tenant). Calgary attracts businesses because of many things, but the Flames play large into that. They are a big part of the spirit that makes Calgary what it is. I can't imagine what the city would be like without the Flames, or the Flames not being a power player in the NHL. Again, for you young people, as some of the old timers what it was like when the Flames were on life support and a second thought in the NHL picture, as nothing but a small remote western out-post. Those weren't good times. I would hate for us to get back to that.
I think the best thing possible for Calgarians is Edmonton's new facility coming online. It is going to show Calgary up bad and make Calgary look second rate. That is pretty sad because Edmonton is a third rate city. It will still be Edmonton, but it will elevate Edmonton above Calgary for entertainment and sports facilities yet again. I hope that kick in the nuts will wake up enough people to see the importance of these projects and building on a core component for the city to build around. As it sits the city of Calgary has a creosote soaked piece of property that has been sitting there for decades doing nothing. They have an eye-sore called the Stampede grounds. Sandwiched in between is the downtown core that empties out at night. For all the #### Calgary gives Edmonton about being stuck in the 1980's, the city of Calgary is clearly stuck in the early 1990's. Calgary needs this project to move forward, to kick start something that will be good for all Calgarians and help make the city more than it is. Take that from someone who has seen the results up close and personal.
Oh, and someone needs to take Neshi's phone away from him and shut down his twitter account. The guy is an embarrassment to the City of Calgary.
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