How not to build a downtown arena

[oilboy2]

While calgary and edmonton going through the process of trying to build new arenas here is what fort mcmurray is doing to build their arena:

http://www.mix1037fm.com/content/blogcategory/1/60/#top


Despite questions over due diligence, the municipality will bulldoze a handful of downtown businesses and clear the way for a Sports and Entertainment Arena.

Last night, council voted 8-2 in favor of the expropriation of five Franklin Avenue properties, what is considered a critical step in bringing a developer on side.

Councillor Phil Meagher and Dave Kirshner voted against the proposal, highlighting concerns over piecemeal negotiations with tenants and landowners, as well as risks surrounding funding and site viability.

I find it laughable to think they put 100 million price tag on this when they only recently had a multipurpose sports center get built for 180 million which is 3 times the original project cost.

Just imagine calgary or edmonton started bulldozing businesses downtown with no studies done on how a project would even suceeed. I feel very sorry for the fort Mac taxpayers.

Perhaps they will land a WHL or AHL team for this 8000 seat arena but with such an undesirable location it could be doubtful that ever happens.

[Rathji]

I am confused, is some/all of that post a quote?

[psicodude]

All of it up until the "End Of Article" is a quote.

This entire thing will be tied up in court for years to come. What a disaster.

[cDnStealth]

There is literally nothing on Franklin Ave that shouldn't be replaced. The whole thing is a dump, especially at that end of the town. Not sure why they even need an arena though considering they just built that huge complex on MacDonald Island.

[saskflames69]

I understand why a downtown arena is desirable but it wouldn't hurt to put it somewhere else. Closer to the residential areas perhaps?