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

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by DJones

Ya that would probably be the smart thing to do. How long of a lockout would that lead too though.

How quickly can you count to infinity?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

No, but when the City responded to the CalgaryNEXT proposal, I believe part of their criticism was that CSEC wanted to occupy the land for nothing, and that the value of that should be included as part of the cost. So if Mr. Nenshi really means it about no public funding, he'll at least insist that CSEC pay a market-value rent for the building site.

Of course, stuff like market (or even under market) rent would be something that would be negotiatable, if CSEC actually had any desire to come to the table.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Of course, stuff like market (or even under market) rent would be something that would be negotiatable, if CSEC actually had any desire to come to the table.

CSEC has been at the table all along. Ken King just announced that he was leaving the table. He specifically stated that CSEC's meetings with the City have been unproductive – which means that they have indeed been having discussions.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

To be fair, there was an NBA exhibition game in Calgary two years ago and some event the University of C that the NBA monitored to test market feasibility. It's not totally outlandish.

It will never ever happen and is outlandish. There are over 20 plus other cities in North America the NBA would look at before Calgary. The games they play in Canada are part of the Canada and international series exhibition, which has been held in Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, London and Winnipeg as well. '

The market tests were not done for any reason other than to see the interest level from a marketing perspective for NBA promotions. Nothing to do with a franchise.

[Flash Walken]

Has anyone on this board worked for an employer for 15 years in a situation where the employer didn't at least think they were doing a good job professionally? At the bare minimum?

King is not the issue here, dude.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

For those of you that are talking of turning your Flames fan membership card over this, may I interest you in a slightly used (and slightly damp) Florida Panthers fan membership? Now taking applications.

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[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by LouCypher

All I have to say is this: Why create such a horrible distraction just before the season is starting up. Front office works most of the off season to get ready. Players train most of the off season to get ready. Fans talk about the team every single day in anticipation for what could be an exciting summer. Owners and city play politics as a big FU to the fans and all those with the Flames who are working to put a competative team on the ice. I might be generalizing a bit here but it's really a great way to piss off all those who are dedicated to the Flames whether they are part of the team or us fans who support them everyday.

Because this is when they get maximum impact. Plus, the election.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Has anyone on this board worked for an employer for 15 years in a situation where the employer didn't at least think they were doing a good job professionally? At the bare minimum?

King is not the issue here, dude.

So, instead of a "Fire Ken King" chant, it should be a "Sell the team, Murray" chant?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

CSEC has been at the table all along. Ken King just announced that he was leaving the table. He specifically stated that CSEC's meetings with the City have been unproductive – which means that they have indeed been having discussions.

If CSEC has had any reasonable proposal put on the table, they certainly haven't shown the public that they have. Which would be weird, because King's reported words this evening specifically asked Calgarians to tell their councillors if they thought council was being unreasonable. How would Calgarians know if council is being reasonable if the public had no knowledge of the deal on the table?

[malcolmk14]

Can't wait to see what Nenshi says tomorrow.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

If CSEC has had any reasonable proposal put on the table, they certainly haven't show the public that they have.

And neither has the City. Whatever proposals are being tossed back and forth, both sides are keeping mum about it.

[Lord Carnage]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Nenshi's vision for an entertainment district should be exactly what CSEC wants.

No, it's exactly what the mayor wants.

The public would want AN entertainment district...

Seriously, explain why CSEC would want THIS entertainment district?




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[Krynn]

I will be dead and buried before the city cleans up that mess at the West Village.its already been what 30+ years
Hell I hated that the flames wanted to build there.its just sad that it's come down to this.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by 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

Awesome idea? That location was clearly motivated by other factors in the area. That debacle of a proposal was so bad it didn't even allow for proper pedestrian or transit access to the building.

You don't allow fatcat owners of a team to hold a city hostage for their own agendas. You ask tough questions and bargain with the city that, you know, is actually trying to maximize areas that are already under construction and rehabilitation. If they think Calgarians are going to stand for this kind of sleaze ball tactics they have clearly misjudged the city immensely.

I hope all fans take a stand and stop attending games until the CSEC gives their heads a shake and start acting like adults.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

For those of you that are talking of turning your Flames fan membership card over this, may I interest you in a slightly used (and slightly damp) Florida Panthers fan membership? Now taking applications.

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Or to anyone who is so mad that they will abandon their tickets, i'll take them.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Lord Carnage

No, it's exactly what the mayor wants.

Seriously, explain why CSEC would want this entertainment district?




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Because it's the only way a single cent of public money should go to a sports arena?

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Lord Carnage

Boy - between you and Da Chief we certainly have the insanity covered...

In this case - humorously enough - yes. Nenshi is telling them to pay for his arena/vision. I'm sure he tells himself something like this...

"I have a dream... a dream where I will have this great legacy of an East Village Entertainment district."

"And at the heart of that district, I will have the Flames pay for an arena where I want them to put it, and it will be the cornerstone of the district, and legacy, and all will praise my name..." Blah blah...

Now, would this be the better or right solution? Could well be - but he is negotiating in as bad faith as King/Edwards... he just has the "public money" argument to alter public perception.


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Or the Flames could just buy a piece of land, appropriately zoned, and build an arena. That would show Nenshi.

[dustygoon]

Is a charity golf tournament the right venue to drop this news?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

And neither has the City. Whatever proposals are being tossed back and forth, both sides are keeping mum about it.

It's not the city's responsibility to propose an arena that they wouldn't operate, and would have no financial gain from. And yet, the city has actually been doing countless hours of work on the file, unlike CSEC. No one in the public is aware of CSEC doing more than a couple of person weeks of serious work on the file.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by LouCypher

I might be generalizing a bit here but it's really a great way to piss off all those who are dedicated to the Flames whether they are part of the team or us fans who support them everyday.

I think that's genuinely CSEC's tactic here - get the fans really mad. Crazy as it sounds, they think it's Nenshi who fans will get mad at, and not the Flames ownership. They really are that dumb/desperate.