Quote:
Originally Posted by Realtor 1
It isn't just 25k people who benefit.
Think of how busy the nightlife scene is after a flames game on a Friday or Saturday compared to a non flames game. Think of the business that thrive on 20k people moving on and looking for something else to do for the night. Think of the other 50k who get together with friends to go watch a game because they are big time fans.
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The thing is that those people usually aren't spending new-found money. They are just spending money that is not being spent somewhere else. I probably spend about $500-600 on the Flames a year....if that option wasn't there I'd just spend it on some restaurants or events or my kids. But it would still be spent mostly in Calgary, and probably more evenly distributed to other businesses.
Support public funding for the civic pride factor, or wanting a better entertainment district factor...but let's not be naive and support it because we think there's a massive financial windfall to come. The economic benefit of these stadium never adds up, so let's at least be honest about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Realtor 1
Is this not fair...
If the city offered to
- clean up the site on the west village
- provide the land at a significantly reduced cost
- provide the required roadways and infrastructure around the complex
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You do realize this probably at least half a billion dollars worth of items right? To properly clean up and develop West Village, realign Bow Trail and 14th (and possibly Crowchild while we're at it), the riverfront etc is one hell of a project. It would probably take a solid decade to do it right. And CalgaryNEXT would take up so much space, the tax benefit wouldn't be enough space for the items that help to recoup the money.