The problem with Flames ownership and KK is that they seem to be playing from a scheme concocted in the 1980s. In the interim period, Calgary has grown up, has a lot of VERY educated people in things financial; be it professionals in finance, young MBAs, accountants etc. None of these people is liable to be fooled the way they seemed to be in Edmonton. I have no problem with Nenshi and the folks at City Hall establishing a baseline for participation in an arena that provides actual, tangible, provable benefits to the city.
If Murray Edwards wants to have all the cards in his hands he can do so. He can build his own arena, charge his own fees for tickets, establish exactly what he wants as a profit level and then do what every other business in the world does: wait to see if people come. If they don't ....well, he bet/judged/planned wrong, didn't he? If they do, he'll be successful at it.
But to expect young people (mostly) in the 20-teens to flock to the idea of enthusiastically supporting a billionaire's pipe dream is....a pipe dream. They are likely more interested in trying to keep their jobs, have babies (and feed them) and build a life. An arena for the billionaire group is likely the farthest thing from their minds.
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