I think the bigger question is the mechanical and structural issues with McMahon (and the Saddledome). If it turns out one or both need significant repairs to foundation, ice plant, sound system, wiring, etc., could be looking at $100m + there alone to fix aging buildings. Add in the need for a fieldhouse (at $200m minimum) and that gets you pretty close to the city pay portion for the actual facilities portion of the CalgaryNEXT project, or a $500m arena and a $400m stadium/fieldhouse project in separate locations.
Infrastructure and remediation in West Village are inevitable since the city bought into that land, and that's going to be a massive expenditure in the next 5-20 years regardless. That's something taxpayers should really be up in arms about. Why did the city buy tainted land, and why have they done so little about the pollution.
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