Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[Locke]

Honestly, without significant funding promises from the other levels of Government I really dont care.

If its just 'The Party' or the Olympics then I really cant be bothered. They can host the Winter Olympics in Rwanda for all I care.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by RM14

Bidco should never have been funded for the $30 mill if they didn't even have some understanding of the funding expected from the three tiers of Gov't.

To paraphrase Michael Caine:

"The bidco is by all accounts terrible. However, I have seen what it has done to my bank account, and it is terrific."

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Shazam

To paraphrase Michael Caine:

"The bidco is by all accounts terrible. However, I have seen what it has done to my bank account, and it is terrific."

If you think the people involved in the Bidco - like Mary Moran did this primarily for the purpose of the paycheque, I think you're totally wrong. I'm sure it involved a lot of brain damage and sacrifice in time and commitment.

[RM14]

Salt Lake City probably gets 2026 at the end of the day. They are already eyeing up sliding into a worst-case scenario role. IOC would pop champagne.

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2018/1...-lake-olympic/

[JBR]

Considering the players involved in the three levels of government in the room, why am I surprised that this has turned into a complete gong-show, the disappointment for those in favour of the bid, and an embarrassment for the city.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by flambers

I'll believe it, after the votes occurs.

Not sure this is dead.

Technically, it still needs to be voted on by Council.

But if they don't already know they have the 10 votes to pass the reconsideration (they voted 14-0 to refer it to tomorrow), things are in a much, much worse state than initially thought...

[Senator Clay Davis]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057368831453093888

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by JBR

Considering the players involved in the three levels of government in the room, why am I surprised that this has turned into a complete gong-show, the disappointment for those in favour of the bid, and an embarrassment for the city.

Pretty much. As for the Olympics I can take it or leave it but if it would have resulted in some legacy facilities for the city I would be fine with it. As you say looking at the players involved it's really no surprise they couldn't get anything done in time. You have federal government that twiddled their thumbs and bungled the Trans Mountain Pipeline to the point they bought it despite not being overly interested in getting it done. Provincial government so close to getting the boot that it's furiously busy trying to formulate UCP attack ads. Then you have our mayor who if he had a child, he/she would probably go nameless because he wouldn't be able to agree with his partner on a name as it would be his picked name or no name.

[Jiri Hrdina]

What happens if no city wants these games?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What happens if no city wants these games?

Esports replaces it.

[getbak]

After the vote to make the recommendation to Council was passed today, Ray Jones tweeted this calling for the plebiscite to go ahead, and was retweeted by Gian-Carlo Carra...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057372965732372480

I don't know if that's an indication that they both plan on voting against killing it, but if it does, will there be 4 other Councilors to join them?

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by getbak

After the vote to make the recommendation to Council was passed today, Ray Jones tweeted this calling for the plebiscite to go ahead, and was retweeted by Gian-Carlo Carra...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057372965732372480

I don't know if that's an indication that they both plan on voting against killing it, but if it does, will there be 4 other Councilors to join them?

Jones is stupid. Wants a plebiscite where the public gets no information other than the 3 levels of government are bunglers.

[atb]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What happens if no city wants these games?

Curious about that as well. Is the IOC capable of increasing their contribution to a point it makes financial sense for a city?

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What happens if no city wants these games?

I thought about your question and just googled “how much money does the olympics make” and found this decent article.

I think that if nobody steps up to host the IOC comes back to a city like Calgary and steps up their game. Like if they stand to make between $3-5B profit off the games then I feel like there is a lot of contribution room for them to come to the table... heck the city shutting this down could actually be not a bad little gamble if they do.

Like how does the IOC square away with NBC that huge TV contract set to cover multiple Olympics if the 2026 games can’t happen??

http://https://www.bustle.com/p/how-much-money-do-the-olympics-make-in-2018-empty-stands-arent-actually-the-issue-8270993

[curves2000]

I have always been on the no side of this for a variety of reasons, mainly fiscal but also how poorly this thing appeared to be run in a lot of ways.

I would have been on board IF the federal government was chipping in a huge portion of the public's cost, politics aside, the feds don't spend the money in Calgary or Alberta as they do in other areas of Canada.

Alberta's portion is Alberta's money and we are in no fiscal position to be fooling around.

What I found laughable is how Calgary is a few weeks away from voting on this and we don't even have concrete buy in from either BC (Whistler) or Canmore and area if they even want or will pay any costs. I read a piece the other day that the town of Canmore was looking at voting to see if they wanted this. Imagine that? We have our partner towns not even 100% on board and YYC is going to vote to bring in the circus?? If this was a home renovation TV show, it would be like the camera crew and construction guys showing up without the homeowners even knowing if they will "love it or list it"

LOL. Management all around is a disaster. I really do wish we would have had an official NO vote to send a message that fiscally this beast can't be fed for the next 20 years or so. Now we run the risk that somebody creates this amazing "vision" to "explore if we can host an Olympic games in 20XX" in the near future.

Mail them the newspaper clippings from 1988.

[oldschoolcalgary]

why doesn't anyone want to host though?

Aren't the games supposed to be able to jump start the economies and make cities "not winnipeg"?

you'd think cities should be falling all over each other to jump on this gravy train...

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

why doesn't anyone want to host though?

Aren't the games supposed to be able to jump start the economies and make cities "not winnipeg"?

you'd think cities should be falling all over each other to jump on this gravy train...

Damn you Phoenix why can’t you see the light!!!!!

Is this what the No arguement boils down to? Cause it isn’t super popular it must be a bad idea?

Calgary has its reasons to host. Mainly economic. It has been studied by BidCo to be viable provided proper funding.

That funds doesn’t exsist due to a country that is a disfunctional mess. To say other cities aren’t bidding so we shouldn’t is way too cynical and simplistic view.

[OMG!WTF!]

I think Bidco is the dysfunctional mess. Having events in Whistler and Edmonton is going to cost more in lost ticket revenues than it will save in capital spending. People aren't going to be as interested if they have to fly to other venues. And the whole concept of getting 4 billion for free was daft thinking from the start. They needed a way better pitch.

[getbak]

What is going on?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057484572139565056

CALGARY, ALBERTA, October 30, 2018 – Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation (BidCo) announced tonight that an agreement has been reached between the Federal and Provincial Governments to consider a funding proposal that would provide their share of the public dollars needed to stage the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The agreement was signed this evening by both parties following discussions that have been on-going for a number of days.

• Deal means $4.4 billion into the local economy creating jobs, prosperity and growth
• $1 billion in wages for Calgarians, 15,400 jobs
• City of Calgary would need to invest $390 million
• For every dollar Calgary invests it gets $10 dollars in return

“This is a proposal that makes sense and is a good deal for Calgarians. I’m confident we and our government partners can agree to move forward and reach an agreement in principle,” said Scott Hutcheson, Board Chair, Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation (BidCo). “I know City Council understands how important this is to Calgary, that they know what’s at stake here, and that they will show their strong leadership and allow Calgarians to decide the outcome of the Olympic and Paralympic bid at a plebiscite November 13. These will be Canada’s Games, Calgary’s choice.”

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

I think Bidco is the dysfunctional mess. Having events in Whistler and Edmonton is going to cost more in lost ticket revenues than it will save in capital spending. People aren't going to be as interested if they have to fly to other venues. And the whole concept of getting 4 billion for free was daft thinking from the start. They needed a way better pitch.

I think that was just a ploy to not make a new arena tied to Olympic funding but a separate deal. Both to make the optics better for the budget, but also to try and maintain leverage 'We can have games in Edmonton so we don't need a new arena for the Olympics and we're sticking with the third-third-third funding model.'


I don't think that there was any real intention of not having a new arena for the Olympics as it would mean the city and CMLC would be accepting 8 years of stagnation for their Victoria Park plans. The whole point of the CMLC taking over development from the Stampede was to end the stagnation.