Yeah, no financing details on the Ottawa project.
And, a lot more space to work with.
And, no competition in Calgary.
Also, both bids are certainly playing up certain social aspects to try and attract future government funds...library, bandstand, YMCA, French Language School and theatre on one proposal.
The other one has a Library, already-named First Nations Plaza, a building for Canadian Military for medical attention and counselling etc.
Bids positioning with such noble (or shameless) attempts to sway the public and levels of government. One bid will say "How dare you vote down the proposal for the French languge school? - English Canada getting their way again".
The other side will be "How dare you vote down the proposal with a facility that will care for our Military"?
Though there isn't the space, if KK and the owners talked about totally renovating the Pumphouse Theatre as part of the project, into a world class concert hall and Arts Centre, or if the area was to be the location of the National Music Centre or other destination for the Arts, as well as adding some sort of educational or social service centre as Ottawa, it may have played well with the Mayor, moreso than even a Field House.
As mentioned, the field house IMO is/was more to get the City on board for the project, as it has been identified by the city before, and the Flames thought it was more an actual need for the the City, then it is for the Flames as a new football venue. It's backfired, as it didn't sway the mayor, and the size of it takes a big footprint of land, which means that some of the above mentioned other options that may have persuaded the Mayor could not be included.
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