Quote:
Originally Posted by Macindoc
The Saddledome was built almost 1.5 generations ago, and before modern amenities such as luxury boxes, LED scoreboards, and multi-choice concessions [long post outlining the challenges faced by any business to stay current and competitive]
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There is nothing wrong with your post, but the Flames, and NHL's unwillingness/inability to independently meet their business needs should not the tax payer's problem. A few years after the cup run when both the team and economy were booming was the time to start planning for this, by slapping a transparent ticket tax on that would start building the kitty for this inevitable need. At least 10 years of missed opportunities to add 1-3% per ticket (doesn't get anywhere close to paying for it, but it would have been a start).
It is undeniable that the Flames provide economic and cultural benefit to the city that is hard to replicate. Placing a value on that is the big question - in the current context, I'm willing to go somewhere into 8 figures, but certainly not 9 figures.
It is a de-railment to a barely realistic fantasyland, but what I would actually see as a fair balance is to treat the Flames like a church. From my [cynical, atheist] perspective, I don't see much difference in people paying their $$ to worship red laundry or some perpendicular pieces of wood, etc.
While I'd ideally opt for no preferential treatment for either cult, I'd be happy enough with a separation of 'puck' and state, where the Flames can run their operation with fewer tax burdens, but also without any direct government subsidy. This means they've still got to own their land, build their own 'church', and operate within employment standards, etc. Sounds like a sweetheart deal that any other business owner in this city would take in a heartbeat.