Quote:
Originally Posted by PepsiFree
Sad. One group wants to protect Calgarians, the other wants to charge the ticket buyer more and raid the pocketbook of the taxpayer for the same product dressed up with a few more bells and whistles.
I'm not opposed to a fair deal, a new arena is a pure luxury and one of questionable value at that. If King and Co want to start putting up a stink and making noise, I say let them, because I can't see how this doesn't backfire spectacularly in their faces.
You're asking a city full of people who had to re-examine their financial situation and undergo some pretty difficult times all around to raid their city tax revenue for more luxury boxes, more expensive seats, and maybe a fancy new jumbotron. It just seems tone-deaf.
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I'm quoting this because I'm sure many missed it, but this is the most important post in this thread. To add on it to, I'm kinda of blown away how many people are willingly letting themselves be emotionally manipulated by ownership....and not just that, but seem to be happy to be emotionally manipulated so long as they get the arena. The Flames are willing to use you to get what they want. Me, personally, would be offended beyond belief if someone tried to do that to me. I'd also add if they get what they want here, why wouldn't they emotionally manipulate you to get even more later? Seems to me they'd be idiots not to do it if it already worked.
But the arena is not the cure all people think. Concerts are still going to skip Calgary. That's not up for debate, I hope. The average fan? Hopefully they enjoy the audio lags on Sportsnet, because with the guaranteed price increase in tickets they'll be priced out before long, assuming they aren't already. I fully get the rich fan supporting this, the Edmonton arena sounds like it's separated the plebs from them so there's definitely incentive for the rich fan. Average fan though? No, not even close. The average fan subsidizes rich owners and rich fans. How anyone who isn't wealthy supports this is peculiar to say the least.
The only guarantee a new arena brings is the Flames make more money, off the backs of "loyal fans" paying more money for essentially the same thing. But all the other arguments being made in support of an arena? Just hopes and dreams mostly. What's most concerning is people who want a mayor who will capitulate to the Flames. Do people really think that mayor is going to only capitulate to the Flames? You might love Bill Smith for giving the Flames an arena, but will you still love him when he sends property taxes higher to capitulate to developers? Something tells me not so much.