Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042
^^ I think that isn't necessarily a fair statement, Bunk. As there are more than two opinions on this. Generally speaking:
Some think the City's offer is more than fair, and the city should not budge.
Some think the Flames' offer is fair, and the Flames should not budge.
Some think there is room in the middle, and negotiation should continue.
Some think the Saddledome is fine; or that the cost of the new arena would not be worth the benefit...
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There is one more:
Some think we don't need an NHL team in Calgary and good riddance if they leave.
This latter group, potentially, is large enough to disinterest politicians from making a genuine effort to keep Flames in Calgary. Let's face it, the previous Council was overwhelmingly pro-business and pro-development. This new Council is, arguably, even more pro-business. Nobody, in good conscience, can accuse it of intentionally trying to drive Calgary Flames out.
However;
a) not all of the Council members care about NHL hockey that much to begin with; those who don't lack the emotional attachment and support to the notion of the team being a community asset;
b) most of them do want to be re-elected, so they need to gauge electorate's interest in paying something (anything) to keep the team here.
In response to Bunk's comment, the decision to step up and return to the negotiation table cannot be made until Council agrees on what they really want out of it, first. What Nenshi says publicly about it has very little significance. He is not the decision maker on the outcome of this negotiation, unless there is a tie vote in Council. Saddledome is a large aging asset, which would lose its anchor tenant if the team leaves. Unless they just blow it up and lose the only large event facility we have, its maintenance and upkeep expense could become entirely taxpayers' responsibility. That should be a very significant factor to those who are not seeing the community value of the team otherwise.
Negotiators use the term BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement). The ownership group's BATNA is $700M in cash and no more hassles. City's BATNA is quite murky.