Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
I think you are thinking about this the wrong way. It has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with what some Calgarians believe is important to them and the city. Many are Flames fans that would like a new venue, many want the team to be financially competitive with the competition so the young guns era never returns, some want sports facilities that are on par with the other major cities so they can have pride over apologies when entertaining visitors, some like to go to concerts and would rather stay in Calgary for them rather than have to travel to Edmonton for the big acts. There is also many that are more interested in their tax money going to other things and that's fine as I don't think there's every been any situation like this in any city where it's been unanimous or close one way or another. People are always divided over where they believe tax money should go. This is no different.
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Since someone already mentioned the salary cap, I won't rehash it. But another flaw in this thinking is simple business evaluation.
Imagine you're a dragon and someone is proposing a business idea that's dependent on the local government throwing you a billion dollars, and that you're business is worth a billion. What would you say to this guy? You'd tell him it sounds like his business ain't worth #### unless it's getting a hand out.
The Flames franchise is currently worth half a billion and it hasn't even taken your billion dollars yet. You think they NEED it? That they can't compete without it? Just look at how many jerseys are at the red mile, how many sell outs and luxury boxes are sold. Just Google Murray Edwards. If there's any person who doesnt need a hand out from struggling Calgarians in a bloody depression, its Murray ####ing Edwards. Maybe if it was some small time owner I could understand, but a billionaire two times over? You think if one key player is making 7 million, and then you consider current CEO:average salary ratios, you know the team is bloody raking it in. I promise you the on ice competition won't get any better with public subsidary.
You know, if they were a budget team, chances are they'd be acting more like the Yotes and surviving near the cap floor by taking on dead contracts like Pronger and Datsuk. That's the mark of a fiscally struggling franchise.
Honestly, you'd think some of these things were obvious?