Quote:
Originally Posted by temple5
As it sits with current estimations right now the Flames/NHL are attempting to hold the city hostage for more than a Billion dollars (400+600 estimated for cleanup) and that doesnt take the value of the land into question which they want for free. If this was any other business that doesnt pull at the heart strings of people there wouldnt even be a question of the sanity of this proposal.
Everyone who is a taxpayer in this city should agree that the Flames need to either bring a whole lot more money to the table to take their BS idea and shove it. Build you own stadium at Cross Iron Mills for all I care - I am sure the opportunistic geniuses at Rocky View County would give you some money.
Until you have at least a rough estimation of how much the environmental cleanup would cost there is really nothing more to talk about and if Bettman cant be bothered to schedule a meeting with the mayor before showing up then piss off. The mayor is 1 vote (and the tiebreaker vote at that) on council so if the flames played the suburban developer game all they need to do is convince a bunch of nickel and dime councilor to support there 10th baked idea.
Personally I think the Stampede board and the Flames need to end this childish spat they are having and figure a way to get the NHL arena done there.
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I dont know of they're holding the City 'hostage' so much. At least not intentionally.
My view of this entire fiasco has led me to believe that its been unprepared bungling on the Flames' part. Its always something new.
First its the letter that says nothing, the amateur proposal, having Bettman champion the cause while hes in town, etc.
I have a lot of respect for Ken King but I'm beginning to question whether or not he was really the right guy for this job.
Nenshi, true to form and expertise, has pretty much managed to shoehorn the exact same statement into every interview at every opportunity.
"The initial proposal was unrealistic (<- thats a polite way of saying it) and once we have all the environmental and economic facts then they can bring us something real and we'll discuss it."
He has always been open for discussion, if its something worth discussing.
The Bettman fiasco, this has been ridiculous and I feel a bit bad for Bettman. I'm beginning to believe that Gary came in doing what Gary does, his job, hes trying to help move the process along but I'm getting the impression that maybe King and the Flames threw a microphone in his face before he really had a comprehensive grasp of the situation and all of its factors here.
For instance, did Bettman actually watch the initial CalgaryNEXT proposal? The whole thing? Is he completely fluent with the proposed funding model? You know, the thing that is the major holdup?
Ken King is not an idiot, and certainly neither are Bettman or Nenshi, but its like Nenshi and the City have essentially stated: "These criteria need to be met before we discuss this any further" and King and the Flames seem to be trying to push the issue without meeting the criteria.
Nenshi is doing exactly what he should be doing, and what we want him to be doing and he even says it in that interview! (Paraphrasing)
"If theres going to be public funding we have to determine 'how much' and 'for what' and whether we have that money and that Calgarians want this."
Not:
"Yo Dawg, I hear y'all like hockey and whatnot, we need a half Bill and some land yo!"
DEAL!