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

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by New Era

One last thing to consider here, and it is a scary thought, does Murray Edwards have a little more insight on the direction of the Calgary economy? Maybe he knows the days of oil are coming to a close and is not willing to roll the dice on the Calgary economy diversifying in any substantial way so it could support a team any longer?

I think if that were the case they wouldn't have made CalgaryNEXT as ambitious as it was, even with the sizable city contribution. They'd still be on the hook for operating the arena, based on corporate dollars driving revenue.

[442scotty]

I think the west village idea with a little design tweaking was an awesome idea.. expensive? Yep but the city has no problem spending money on stupid art , bicycle lanes used by a few dozen people at most and let's not forget the $$ spent on the downtown library to be used by maybe ? A couple hundred people?

The west village is an awesome idea that with some tweaking would bring a lot of people and money downtown as a complete entertainment district. Nenshi should have thought about it but he didn't and it's burning a hole in his butt.

I for one am tired of a lot of politicians in this city but municipal politics being what it is they are all coming back because nobody cares enough to change things and toss some of the dead weight out

[getbak]

If the Flames have put forward such an amazing offer to the city with no response from the city, why don't they go public with it? If they want to turn this into an election issue, let's see what we're voting on.

The stupid thing about making this an election issue is the Flames aren't going to win the popularity contest between spending a bunch of public money on a new arena and not.

Have any candidates for council come out in favour of rolling over and giving the Flames whatever they're asking for?


Here's Bill Smith's policies from his website...

SPORTS FACILITIES

There is little doubt that the Saddledome does not meet the needs of Calgarians. I believe a new arena can be constructed with minimal direct cost to Calgary taxpayers. A new arena would support local sports, hospitality and entertainment industries.

McMahon stadium has a rich and long history, but this facility is in need of significant upgrades. I am confident that this stadium could be upgraded with a plan that would see significant improvements paid for through operational efficiencies.

Here's what he said in response to Nenshi's announcement yesterday...

But mayoral candidate Bill Smith said he’s troubled that such a grand vision includes no estimated price tag, only a suggestion that the city could work with the Flames’ owners, other levels of government, and several other partners, including the private sector, to cover any costs.

“It’s indicative of the way this leadership has operated,” said Smith. “They don’t care about dollars. They don’t care about taxpayer money. They’re just going to throw stuff out and hope that they’re going to get re-elected, and I don’t think Calgarians are going for that.

“I’ve heard at the doors, time after time, it’s time for a change, and I believe quite strongly that the current mayor has heard that message as well, and so now he’s grasping at straws.”

Doesn't sound like a guy who's looking to throw a couple billion dollars around for CalgaryNext.

It's like Nenshi said months ago, he'd love to see anyone run against him on the platform of giving the Flames what they're asking for with CalgaryNext because he's not worried about losing to any candidate who took that stance.



What a bunch of idiots.

[OmegaV4]

Originally Posted by nik-

we spent 500k, might as well spend half a billion?

Touché.

[GirlySports]

King is a joke. Still can't forget how bad the original Calgary next presentation was.

[handgroen]

why would anyone in their right mind leave this hockey market?

flames: "we'll move to seattle!"

hurricanes, coyotes, panthers, islanders: "when they leave can we be the one who gets to move there?"

just doesn't pass the smell test, and because of that reason, f*** this whole pissing match i'm giving this news story a big old tl;dr

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Can't believe King and the Flames got Bettman in to stick his nose in and give his 2 threatening cents.

It's just all so embarrassing. Amateur hour.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Gee, a personal attack on a politician? You're right, that's totally beyond the pale. Nobody ever did that before.

Does that make it right? Don't think so.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by JFK

Bingo, stop.

Oh Jesus here we go again.

I think both sides are being stupid, and now here comes the "you are only allowed to hate King" brigade.

You stop.

[morgin]

oops deleted the post I was quoting

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Does that make it right? Don't think so.

For what it's worth, the laws on defamation have specific exceptions for commentary on public figures. Calling politicians names is an old and legally protected right.

[Cole436]

This is idiotic. The Flames will be losing a significant amount of money moving to Seattle. They'll have to pay a relocation fee which will be significantly more than 100 million dollars, they will have to significantly lower ticket prices, their attendance will be significantly lower over time (just like almost every American city) they will take a massive hit in merchandise revenue and they'll lose a significant amount of money from their TV deal with Rogers.

The amount of money they would lose over a 5 year period would probably pay for the ####ing calgaryNEXT deal.

Really gross tactic by the Flames.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Can't believe King and the Flames got Bettman in to stick his nose in and give his 2 threatening cents.

It's just all so embarrassing. Amateur hour.

Tinordi mentioned what's most embarrassing, but yeah the "we won't be Edmonton" line actually turned out to be kinda true. They're actually being worse.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The relocation fee needs to be considered as well. Also the likely lawsuit from Sportsnet losing a major market from its TV deal. Not sure if the NHLPA could win a lawsuit here but there could also be that too. And you're assuming they'll make a profit and not lose money. I suspect they lose money or barely break even. Remember they'll be looking up at the Sounders in the Seattle sports pecking order.

Ride the saddledome into the ground and sell when the time comes or the breakeven point changes

[bluejays]

I'm from Toronto, so aside from the team, I have no vested interest in the city of Calgary, however, when you really dig deep the Flames have a pretty damn good local fan base where games are almost sold out, so why does ownership and the NHL demand a new arena? Granted the Saddledome is dated, but gate revenues would be good given the fan base, so why now spend all that taxpayer money in something that IMO, isn't really needed? I personally see the arena as a nice-to-have-new-toy, and for ownership to be playing such petty games in the new toy market just because Edmonton got something new, it really slaps the Calgary population in the face. It is fair that the city does subsidize it, but it really shouldn't be much. It really is such a dangerous game the front office cronies are playing. I don't know all of Nenshi's policies, but I would tend to side with him more in all this when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars during such a fragile time.

[puckbrain]

Originally Posted by 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.

i don't know if that would work....

[442scotty]

Another thought.... I'm sure the owners took a real beating with the oil downturn. Easy way to back out of the arena idea by blaming it on the city when the truth is they can't afford to build an arena anymore

[442scotty]

The owners can't stand Nenshi and I can't say that I blame them

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Another thought.... I'm sure the owners took a real beating with the oil downturn. Easy way to back out of the arena idea by blaming it on the city when the truth is they can't afford to build an arena anymore

Murray Edwards' net worth is $2.2 billion, and he isn't even the only owner. That figure is also six years old, and it's entirely possible that it's gone up significantly.

The idea that the Flames' ownership is running out of money is patently absurd.

[InglewoodFan]

I think the ####tiest thing about all of this is that neither side seems capable of negotiating in good faith. Who runs a business like this?

On a crankier note, why not throw out ultimatums before season ticket holders have to renew?