Quote:
Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle
If anyone thinks they are going to get a new arena that is 100% privately financed outside of major, major US city (I doubt Toronto or Vancouver would be privately financed if they were building new rinks today), they are delusional.
Look at all the new ball parks in the US. Mostly state government funded. Right or wrong, you either do it or you don’t get one and you use it as a vehicle for commercial development around the new rink.
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Who's paying in Seattle? It's funny that other cities around the world manage to do this, but we can't possibly consider it here. The soccer team I follow in London just finished a £1bn stadium, which is magnificent, and there was no public money for that. The reality is professional sports franchises are spoiled in North America. We all know, deep down, that this is only a good deal "for", and not a good deal. It's maybe slightly better or the same as what Edmonton got, and that seems to be the bar here, so as far as multi-million dollar spending for a private corporation goes it's ok I guess. Better than subsidizing Bombardier again, or at least a little enjoyment for me!
And I say all that as someone who just accepts that it's going to happen. I do want a new arena and I think we need one. I just don't think that this deal is amazing. It's just OK.