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Originally Posted by Lanny's Moustache
The Oilers new arena was sold to their fans and city as a bill of goods. They conned the city into a deal and the fans are paying a fortune more all while the building has deficiencies that should not exist in a brand new, state of the art "icon" as described by Rogers.
Yes, a new building is needed for this city and the reasons have all been stated. And a new building will use tax dollars in some capacity. But let's not pretend that the city doesn't toss money down the drain every year in complete waste. If money goes towards a new arena primarily for the Flames and/or a new stadium primarily for the Stamps it will just be money that doesn't get spent on a 2 year study to change the city's official name to Calgary City.
If people are so up in arms about the possible tax dollars being spent why aren't you out all the time contacting your alderman, writing your MLA and so on? Why is there so little outrage when our roads turn to the garbage that they have the past few days as a point of where tax money should go instead of an arena. Instead all most of the complainers do is try to win arguments on the internet when they know tax money will be spent in ways they don't agree with.
I'd hope the Flames aren't stupid enough to believe their fans will follow Oiler fans idiocy. While the Dome is old and does have it's share of problems due to it's age and design it is still 1000 times better than what the Oilers moved out of and where the Wings currently play. But the Dome has outlived it's original design and like Deerfoot, Stoney, 16th and so on, it's time to expand and modernize. That's what cities like Calgary do, regardless if you agree with it or not. If you feel that passionately that it's just "giving money to billionaires" you are free to move elsewhere and enjoy Flames hockey on TV alone. No one has said your tax dollars have to go to Calgary as it's a free country and you can move to Didsbury or Nanton. I hope they don't decide to build a publicy funded arena there though. Moving gets expensive.
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A couple things:
1- I have contacted my alderman
2 - the argument "well we waste tax dollars anyway, so why not spend money on this" is a terrible argument that applies to all levels of politics. The correct argument is identifying the such wastage, try to have it remove, and spending money on new projects based on their merits (i.e. the wastage and new spending shouldn't be linked) Also, the massive amounts of money you are talking about doesn't equal the City wastage you are implying
3- Calgary could have better roads if we spent more money on them. We don't, depend on Chinooks and have cheaper road clearing budgets. We save money. Yet, in the same post you say we waste money, and then want us to spend more money on the roads, and find money for this arena. Calgaryians who want cleaner roads should vote for tax increases.
4- If we feel passionately that public money shouldn't be spent on this arena, it is very short sighted of you to tell us to move. We SHOULD SPEAK UP and contact our alderman and participate in our democracy. If you are for the arena, you should do the same.
5 - You post is against the point of having a discussion about a new NHL arena on an internet forum about an NHL team. This is a forum, people have discussions about relevant things. You should accept this.
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Instead all most of the complainers do is try to win arguments on the internet when they know tax money will be spent in ways they don't agree with.
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Forgive me, I read your post as "either your for the arena or against Calgary". Whereas I am against the arena because I want the BEST Calgary - in my view of course, just like anyone else.
Only someone with their head up their .... would be foolish enough to think their aren't other views to a discussion such as this and they the other views may have merits.