Quote:
Originally Posted by WinnipegFan
As a Winnipeger who watched their team leave as a teenager this situation in Calgary saddens me. People have no idea the affect losing a team that is this ingrained in a city's heritage can have until it is gone. Both sides need to sit down to hammer this out, egos need to be left out of it and people need to realize it easy to chastise the team while they are here. However, the void they will leave behind will haunt this city. The quick response of anger will fade, the "see you later" attitude will subside and then all we will be left with a silent arena and a piece of the city will die. A team can unite a city in victory and defeat, it inspires our children with heroes, it offers hope to thousands near and far, and it lightens a cold day with a warm flame. Don't be so quick to say goodbye Calgary fans, you don't know what you have until it is gone.
- a Jets Fan
|
This, people. Read this. This is 100% true. I've heard this same sentiment universally from Winnipeg people who both loved their Jets and people who didn't care much for hockey at all. NHL arena is a huge energy source of a vibrant city. The one that's hard if not impossible to replace.
I've had numerous conversations with people close to the Flames ownership and senior management groups. They all said the same thing: the Oilers deal was on many levels much better for Katz and more difficult for the City of Edmonton to digest, yet they've got it done and approved. By comparison, Flames' proposal for the Victoria Park arena was substantially lower in the participation/concessions requested and a lot easier for the City of Calgary to digest.
This has all started with Nenshi's posturing, his inexplicably stupid and pompous refusal to meet with Bettman and putting forward this public notion of "rich people getting into the taxpayers' pockets" nonsense.
NHL hockey is a huge and valuable community asset. This is what had preserved this team here in its dire financial times of early 2000's - those greedy bastards (Hotchkiss, McCaig, Seaman, Edwards, Markin and Libin) putting their own money into the losing venture just to keep it here, in Calgary.
I don't know and I can't say if today's announcement is part of the calculated political game with a far-fetching objective. I really hope so. But I will not be the one saying "good riddance" and "it was nice to know you", if the Flames leave Calgary. I will be one of those telling "those morons at the city really blew this one"...