CalgaryNext was a proposal that:
1 - In all likelihood would have compromises for both the stadium, and the field house, it wouldn’t be ideal or either.
2 - Wouldn’t work well in that particular location - becasue of the size of the building, in that location, it would end up isolating itself from everywhere else.
3 - Would be impossible to build under the proposed funding structure. The city doesn’t want to put in $200 million for a feildhouse if they don’t get a full feildhouse. But mostly, The all in project costs, directly and indirectly related to the project, were more than a CRL could ever hope to earn back.
CSEC has been pushing the line “We want to help the city build this needed building” but have never acted like they want to be partners. They apparently never asked the city for thoughts on whether certain financing elements are even remotely possible, all the while expecting the city to simply say yes. If you want the city to be partners in a project, shouldn’t you include the city as a partner from the start?
Frankly, there are only two options. Either they don’t know how city financing works (I.e. they are stupid - at least they could ask?), or they do know how it works (which means they are knowingly trying to Con the city). There simply isn’t another option. I don’t think they are stupid - it’s pretty hard to build successful businesses like they have if you are.
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