I am actually surprised that the city has put in so much work on this project themselves. I honestly didn't think it was their job to do so, and thought that they just acted as fact checkers more than anything.
I actually buy their rationale on why WV isn't feasible. It sounds like it could be feasible of the Flames wanted to wait another 10 years until WV becomes a focus. Still, I am of the mind that I don't want the arena there and prefer that the city does something more with the area (and I hope it isn't just a bunch of condo towers).
I dislike what happened in Eu Claire where it was supposed to be a trendy area to go to and become a vibrant part of downtown where events could be held and so on. Then developers got their hands on it, put up all these condo towers up, and people complained about the noise. I hope the WV will turn into something that pulls people towards downtown and allows everyone access to the river. I think a big arena/stadium complex would have (for me personally) kind of ruined the appeal of hanging out (at least according to what plans came out of that so called pitch) in that area. I am actually glad that the city denied it.
I am, however, in favor of building 2 stadiums at once in something like CalgaryNEXT. However, the only way I can think it will ever make financial sense is if it is joined with a successful Olympic bid (and that bid must in my mind account for a substantial ROI to make it worth it, which I think there is a chance of happening).
I really sided with the Flames at first on this project, but I have been massively swayed and thank goodness that Calgary's city council aren't the pushovers that are Edmonton's. I am ok with some public financing, but in my opinion the city has to get ROI on it as well. What would they get out of CalgaryNext? Not much from what I could see.
I really think that CalgaryNext failed from the get-go because why exactly would the city suddenly start developing an area that they were not financially prepared to do so? Especially now given the economic climate. In my estimation, you have to provide a tangible public benefit and/or a revenue stream from the city. Just hoping for developers to start projects just because of an arena build with so much empty office space in the city, and it being such a strong renters market doesn't make much sense. The city wasn't going to see an ROI.
About the only thing I liked about CalgaryNext in hindsight was that the land would finally get remediated. However, I really think the Federal and Provincial governments should help in this case. AFAIK, the Bow River ends up emptying into the Hudson's Bay. Although I am sure it is greatly diluted by then to such an insignificant amount, that is a long line of pollution that should be corrected and done with.
I just find it funny that the Flames were adamant that there was no "Plan B" option (obviously a negotiation tactic) but the city stepped up and worked on a very workable option that the Flames at least seem very highly interested in. They basically did all the work to this point by the sounds of it. If that doesn't scream 'receptive and cooperative', I have no idea what would.
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