Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan Coke
The Flames aren't managing this process well, no doubt. However there are certainly issues with the City's proposal, and it certainly is not their final and best offer. You can see where they used this to try to reset CSEC's expectations, but still left room to move to a final agreement.
Dropping property taxes (as they do in the Dome), and eliminating some of the items that the city is including as part of their contribution (Saddledome demolition and infrastructure improvements), and most people can see where this will likely land.
I understand the Flames trying to get closer to the Edmonton deal, and it is the most comparable situation, but eventually they'll have to accept that it just won't get that good (or bad).
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CSEC isn't getting the city to put in $180 million without getting something back. Property taxes are all they get out of it in this proposal (and sudsidized at that). They aren't going to get out of property taxes without replacing it with something else about the same value.
As Nenshi said in his conference, it's either CSEC owns the building, and pays property tax (like everyone else), or the city owns the building, and CSEC pays rent (all other things being the same). It really doesn't matter too much to the city. There is negotiating room in the exact structure of a deal, but in terms of dollar values going in and out, the city has given very close to their best offer.