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Originally Posted by Macindoc
I have seen the studies that have suggested that professional sports venues don't significantly benefit city taxpayers. But are there studies that show that convention centres bring in any more revenue for municipalities or local businesses than sports venues? It seems to me that both make similar claims, with potentially biased studies to back them up.
And since we're being honest, the Saddledome's days of getting us there are coming to an end. The cost of maintaining the deteriorating roof will just keep increasing until its structural integrity is degraded to the point that the building is condemned. Based on recent engineering reports, it is possible that four of the cables supporting the roof structure have already ruptured, and exposed parts of the cables are showing signs of rust. Other portions of the cables are not visible but are potentially compromised by rust because the membrane protecting them is ruptured and they are exposed to moisture present on the roof. The city, which owns the Saddledome, has installed nets to mitigate the risk to the public and potential damage from loose bits of concrete that have been falling from the outer ring of the roof, but has failed to arrange for an assessment of the cabling supporting the roof (in spite of the recommendation in the engineering report that this was an essential part of risk mitigation), and my suspicion is that this is because the city is worried that such a report might support CSEC's contention that a replacement is urgently needed and thus weaken the city's bargaining position.
So I guess the question is, do you really need that new car, or are you OK continuing with the old clunker with the rusted out chassis? It will keep getting you there until one day it doesn't, but that day could be a very bad day indeed.
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But that’s just an argument for repairing or condemning the Saddledome, not for building a new arena. If it’s an impending structure disaster that could kill hundreds if not thousands, by all means, condemn it. Why wait another half decade or more for a new arena? Surely people’s lives are more important.
I don’t really think we need a new convention center either, but that’s basically built already, so what are we going to do? Tear down the new addition?
I’m with you on everything you’re saying, just don’t think the pro-arena side of the argument wins any favour by starting with the assumption that everyone agrees on the arena being a “need” in the first place, when it’s clearly just a want (and a totally fair want to have).