Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee
Honestly I’m not super into grifting billionaires or giving them a ton of money either, but I’m not even sure it’s all that relevant. This isn’t like some private bakery getting a handout, let’s get real. A pro sports team obviously does way more for the culture and fabric of a community than many other types of businesses because it literally represents the place you’re from. It’s not like Rob’s auto body has the same emotional appeal to the masses.
I’m also a little surprised that people value negligible tax impacts more than keeping the Flames in Calgary. Because that’s really the impact to you. If you do a deal you need to not so much view it as to if the opposite side is “winning or losing” (because in this situation, they were always going to “win”), but moreso view it holistically as are you winning. And I think if the Flames are staying in Calgary for decades, you’re winning. Does it mean there are real opportunity costs for taxes that could be otherwise “better” spent? Yes. Do we know what those are or could have been? No. So what’s the point of all this angst? I dunno. Calgarians are more and more starting to be, well, kinda just ####ty fans, really.
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So why don't taxpayers just pay for the whole thing? Why ask the Flames to pay anything? I think most people here are happy that a new arena is being built. The consternation isn't around whether a new arena is needed or not, it clearly is. The debate is how much private versus public funding should go into it?
So, how much is reasonable?