[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I have no idea what you are arguing about any longer.

I was responding to a guy who said its easy for people from outside the city to sit and spend others money...in response i said it was just as easy for those not living in the city to tell people what they shouldnt want their money spent on.

My personal opinion is such,

I live here and I don't mind the city picking up a chunk of the price at all. What that is and how it happens is yet to be determined in my mind, but I have zero issue with the city helping get a new arena built. Its something I will use. Things get built all the time in this city on the taxpayer dollar that i will never ever use so I feel its ok if i want something built that I can enjoy and I will use. I feel the same about a football stadium as well.

No one is saying the city should pay for all of it, much to the chagrin of a certain poster and not even the Flames have asked for such.

I do know that if a deal isn't struck, and sooner rather than later, those screaming at the top of their lungs that the team relocating is an empty threat, are playing a very dangerous game and one they will very likely lose. As I stated yesterday, not many, and certainly not city council, will win a stare down against guys like Riddell and Edwards.

I hope there is a sizable shake up on city council as its clear a change is needed among the two sides, and the ownership group isnt going anywhere. If Nenshi is re-elected as I suspect he will be, I hope he can swallow his ego just a little bit and understand this is a high stakes proposition and him being at all adversarial in it (not saying he has been thus far cause i dont know but its starting to appear that way with CSEC's declaration on Tueday) wont help.

Which all brings me to my final point on this, a new arena will get built....at some point. My preference is that it gets done with the existing franchise and their ownership. Should that not happen my guess is the team is sold and relocated. At which point another group will want to come in and set up shop in Calgary...but only if there is a new arena for them to do so. Then we are back to square one and likely to get an even worse deal for the city than anything the Flames are willing to be a part of.

My opinion only but also one that is shared by some who are very much in the know with both the league and the city itself.

I do suspect it does get done and it will be a fair deal for both sides, though those that have entrenched themselves on either side wont see it that way.

Summarized perfectly. Well said Mr. Transplant.