[News] Ken King: Flames' owners no longer pursuing new arena with City of Calgary

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

As put forth before, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto all built their arena with private money, why can't the flames?

Arthur Griffiths built the arena in Vancouver with private money, lost his shirt, and had to sell the team.

The Molsons built the arena in Montreal with private money, lost their shirts, and had to sell the team. The arena cost $270 million to build, and just five years later, the arena plus an 80 percent interest in the Canadiens sold for $275 million. I think it's safe to say that the franchise was worth more than $5 million, and therefore, that the owners took a loss on selling the arena.

Toronto is probably the only market in Canada big enough for a 100% privately funded arena to pay for itself.

[Rejean31]

If Ken King and Nenshi would both #### off, 2 more sensible people could probably get a deal done inside a month!!

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by nik-

I don't believe this, I think you're lying until you can provide proof that a new plan was submitted after the Victoria Park counter was provided by the city. My disbelief is based on the fact that Ken King has shown himself to be completely capable of effectively performing any work in regards to this arena project. He's a hack. A hack who has presided over almost two decades of mediocrity who somehow thinks this entitles him to make demands for a known losing gamble from a municipality.



Again, prove a new plan was submitted after the Vic Park counter or stop spreading this garbage.

Please don't call me a liar.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Eric Francis @EricFrancis
Gary Bettman addresses Flames golf tourney participants w news Flames won't pursue new arena here. Crowd is stunned

They strategized to bring Gary F.. Bettman in to make this announcement at their flagship charity event....

Disgusting.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

Please don't call me a liar.

Then stop making incredibly bold claims until you provide proof.

Because yes, I think you're lying. Want me to stop, show some information to back up what you're claiming, which totally flies in the face of how this process has gone. Or stop posting your untrue statements.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by saXon

Schoolyard tactics. So childish it's embarrassing.

From the CSEC side, it's gotten that desperate.

I love how they have to call Bettman in as the heavy as well. They're too feckless to face the music themselves so have to use Bettman as a foil. Grow a spine Edwards.

[dissentowner]

Ken King is the worst thing that ever happened to this club. He has now surpassed K Lowe ineptitude. All he does is continue to threaten his own fan base, the guy is a total piece of garbage and he needs to be gone ASAP.

[sureLoss]

and there it is:

Eric Francis @EricFrancis
Bettman on what Calgarians can do now: "You need to make your voice heard if you think the city is moving in the wrong direction."

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Rolling on the floor laughing! I honestly don't care if they leave. Also don't care if they stay.

So why are you even here then?

[mikeecho]

King spent the 2000's talking about the Flames being in a new arena by 2012... delivers his half baked proposal in 2015 and then complains about things going nowhere. Priceless.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Major Major

Embarrassing move for sure. Wake me when it is over.

Bettman, Edwards and King seem like the holy trinity of out of touch. They have one supporter on a flames message board to build a new arena and his name is Iamnotkenking. They think that they have any sway over public opinion? Laughable. Actually, not laughable, it's completely true, but they are actually going to push more voters to Nenshi.

Well-played dufuss'

Personally I hate how this whole situation is being managed and how it has played out.

However, I doubt the public opinion will place all of the fault /blame etc solely on the Flames

This situation has equal blame on both sides....

[BigT112]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

and there it is:

Eric Francis @EricFrancis
Bettman on what Calgarians can do now: "You need to make your voice heard if you think the city is moving in the wrong direction."

This is just gross. Electioneering.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

and there it is:

Eric Francis @EricFrancis
Bettman on what Calgarians can do now: "You need to make your voice heard if you think the city is moving in the wrong direction."

i just threw up in my mouth

grow up CSEC

[dammage79]

Flames were going to put in 200m on their projected 900m fieldhouse/arena.

Im guessing they now how only 60m to put in on a 400m arena.

[FaFaFlamey]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

This is all about trying to impact the election. They don't want to deal with Neshi, hoping the tilt the favor to someone more pliable.

Bang on! I think this will backfire on them. Not many people like billionaires throwing tantrums. This might make Nenshi look like the hero.

[Tinordi]

Needs to be reiterated: The threat to move is groundless. NHL Board would never approve it and the NHLPA would sue if they tried.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

That reminds me of that girl I messaged on Tinder and she didn't respond. I mean, does she like me or not? Why wouldn't she respond? Talk about ruining my summer, I couldn't hook up with anyone else until she responded. Still waiting. I have hopes that she likes me and is just playing coy.

It should not remind you of that.
It should remind you of a situation where both sides purport to want something done, and one side is waiting for the other to respond to an offer, based upon what they publicly said they wanted, being an arena in the Victoria Park area, as opposed to the original West Village area.

Short version:
CSEC came up with the CalgaryNEXT idea. It had flaws in presentation for sure. There are funding questions for sure.
The City responded, and CSEC responded back. The original $890MM cost turned into $1.8B, then down to $1.3B. I don't know, but feel the true cost is likely between $890MM and $1.3B. Personally, I can see where CSEC got their funding model from, being 50% from them, 25% from the City, and 25% from the CRL. I can understand why some people don't like that.
The City then said it would like Plan B, being Victoria Park.
CSEC said OK and provided a proposal.
There has been no response to the proposal.

[Robbob]

The reactions are pretty amusing in part we don't know all the facts, which is the biggest issue getting points from twitter. Honestly I don't think anyone, unless they are part of the process, will know where everything stands. Until then it's all poop on the internet. I think reading in between the lines the flames went back to the city after the vic proposal with something and the city hasn't commented on it. Who knows what that was.

I don't think it is worth the effort worrying about all the politicking and business side. If they can't sit down and figure it out well then it's on both of them. Sure the fan gets caught in the middle, and it sucks, but that is the new nhl.

[greyshep]

The ignorance of the Flames owners/executive on this topic is amazingly bad. Such desperate lame tactics being used here just makes them look like fools and idiots. I am embarrassed for them.

I understand council holds some responsibility here too, but they certainly arent doing the spoiled kid stomp/pout.

[dieHARDflameZ]

This is all just posturing. There is at least three other teams in line for relocation before the Flames: Arizona, Carolina, Florida. What a crock of ****.