Quote:
Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis
Using incentives to lure or keep employers who will provide jobs that pay at, and in most cases well above, the average salary is worthwhile and there's generally a financial case to be made. Outside of the hockey side of things, the Flames primarily employ people making minimum wage, in primarily part time jobs, with no benefits. Yes, there's other economic benefits the Flames provide, likewise there are also many of those same economic benefits for other companies. But it's hard to overcome the quality of employment difference a company like PetroCanada or CP provides compared to the Flames. It's pretty much insulting to suggest they're the same.
It's why if anyone thinks the city investing in an arena is more worthwhile than trying to lure Amazon here, I really don't know what to say other than my new standard "Sports really blinds us" line.
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I think you need to look a little deeper into the operations of an enterprise the size of a major league sports team, and the ancillary benefits. I think I can easily respond to your comments above with your new standard "Sports really blinds us" line. Suggesting a $200-250M enterprise is not worth maintaining in the city shows your blind spot.