2026 Olympics- Calgary votes no- 56%

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by greyshep

I have tended to avoid asking co-workers which way they are leaning as I didnt want the workplace to become polarized, but the topic naturally came up today. I am shocked at the number of people who have no clue about the facts here.

A bunch of the No folks who still think Edmonton is hosting the hockey games.

If you are going to be passionately against something like this, please at least get your facts straight.

Originally Posted by greyshep

Yes, seemingly smart people are getting swept up by the wave of negative nellies out there. I am disappointed and disheartened with the level of research these people have put into this topic. Another example of how its easier to just be lazy and pessimistic and latch onto a popular tagline.

You haven't been paying attention to how politics has gone the last few years eh? This is how it is now, it's why it's so vitally important to be able to get control of the message right away. The Yes side did not do that here, and it may cost them their chance to get this through.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Calgary Herald:https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...g-for-olympics
City of Calgary:https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...lympic-figures
Calgary Flames: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...osts-1.3918929

Just so you are aware, CalgaryNext is basically dead.

Can you explain the other numbers you are listing?

Other numbers from the CEBC report which had a real nice break down of spending needed per venue. McMahon numbers from some links in this thread previously.

Not sure what anything I said has to do with CalgaryNext. The flames saying the field house will cost 260 million is the absolute cap it would cost. As inflation that value provided more coty savings when making the pitch. The 272 million includes that 40 million in costs identified in the exploration report for the ice plant and to make it Olympic ready. So 232 no Olympics no ice seems like a reasonable number.

[White Out 403]

These games aren't going to be for my family or most peoples families. The games will be expensive and for rich ####s and their families and the elite of the city. In exchange I'll be paying higher tax dollars so people can brag about being the host city and watching it on their flatscreens they bought at walmart for 499.

The overruns will run huge as they always are, city taxes will skyrocket, and slashing of needed social infrastructure will occur. All so the rich and elite of the city can have an orgy of money, greed, and wealth, under the guise of the Olympic spirit. They trot out celebrities to make people vote with their feelings instead of their brains. It's all so openly gross and transparent.

The bid is garbage.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

These games aren't going to be for my family or most peoples families. The games will be expensive and for rich ####s and their families and the elite of the city. In exchange I'll be paying higher tax dollars so people can brag about being the host city and watching it on their flatscreens they bought at walmart for 499.

The overruns will run huge as they always are, city taxes will skyrocket, and slashing of needed social infrastructure will occur. All so the rich and elite of the city can have an orgy of money, greed, and wealth, under the guise of the Olympic spirit. They trot out celebrities to make people vote with their feelings instead of their brains. It's all so openly gross and transparent.

The bid is garbage.

But how do you really feel?

[GGG]

I voted finally, line about 15 minutes, it really sucks to be a fun sponge and vote no.

As an aside stuff like this should never go to a plebiscite. We elect a government to spend 5 billion a year this 500 million plus anothe 500 I’m risk is nothing compared to the greenline or other expenditures. The NDP are using this as political cover to spend the money. Our elected officials should have been able to do this themselves.

The other drawback of a plebiscite is that a No vote kills it and a Yes vote makes it much more politically difficult to stop. So both results undermine the city position in negotiations with the flames, the IOC and the federal government..

Direct Democracy sucks.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

These games aren't going to be for my family or most peoples families. The games will be expensive and for rich ####s and their families and the elite of the city. In exchange I'll be paying higher tax dollars so people can brag about being the host city and watching it on their flatscreens they bought at walmart for 499.

The overruns will run huge as they always are, city taxes will skyrocket, and slashing of needed social infrastructure will occur. All so the rich and elite of the city can have an orgy of money, greed, and wealth, under the guise of the Olympic spirit. They trot out celebrities to make people vote with their feelings instead of their brains. It's all so openly gross and transparent.

The bid is garbage.

Not that the bid is great but social spending will not be affected by the Olympics and just being in the Olympic city is amazing with or without tickets. And if they price games like Vancouver Wmens Hockey and Curling will be affordable for at least the lower middle class. Tickets were $20 each for Vanoc. And before you say those events suck they don’t. The Olympics turn a Finland Sweden women’s preliminary hockey game into a playoff game atmosphere. The event itself is awesome.

[Travis Munroe]

I remember reading multiple posts about the federal governments policy for hosting sporting events and how the money would be spent anyway. It isn't a matter of save and pay down debt vs Olympics but a matter of Olympics or something else somewhere else in Canada.

Anyone have a link to how that funding is broken down?

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

These games aren't going to be for my family or most peoples families. The games will be expensive and for rich ####s and their families and the elite of the city. In exchange I'll be paying higher tax dollars so people can brag about being the host city and watching it on their flatscreens they bought at walmart for 499.

The overruns will run huge as they always are, city taxes will skyrocket, and slashing of needed social infrastructure will occur. All so the rich and elite of the city can have an orgy of money, greed, and wealth, under the guise of the Olympic spirit. They trot out celebrities to make people vote with their feelings instead of their brains. It's all so openly gross and transparent.

The bid is garbage.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

an orgy of money, greed, and wealth

Welp, I’m in!

[Inferno099]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

These games aren't going to be for my family or most peoples families. The games will be expensive and for rich ####s and their families and the elite of the city. In exchange I'll be paying higher tax dollars so people can brag about being the host city and watching it on their flatscreens they bought at walmart for 499.

The overruns will run huge as they always are, city taxes will skyrocket, and slashing of needed social infrastructure will occur. All so the rich and elite of the city can have an orgy of money, greed, and wealth, under the guise of the Olympic spirit. They trot out celebrities to make people vote with their feelings instead of their brains. It's all so openly gross and transparent.

The bid is garbage.

I do not care for the bid itself; however 25+ years later and for past 6 years my child has been using the Oval which we would not have without 88 Olympics. I never entered the Oval before that, but am glad we have the option for people and families to experience. And no I do not expect to have a child in the Olympics as a reason to vote yes.

I believe further legacies will be provided for our city if 2026 occurs in Calgary.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Inferno099

I do not care for the bid itself; however 25+ years later and for past 6 years my child has been using the Oval which we would not have without 88 Olympics. I never entered the Oval before that, but am glad we have the option for people and families to experience. And no I do not expect to have a child in the Olympics as a reason to vote yes.

I believe further legacies will be provided for our city if 2026 occurs in Calgary.

I basically grew up at the Nordic Centre, and the Canmore rec centre(which was built for Olympians). I then went to UofC where we used to skate, and many of us would run laps there. My 2 step-sisters competed at speed skating there as well. I'm sure many others have stories of growing up at Nakiska and COP. So many people are in better health because these facilities exist to exercise at.

These venues get used for all sorts of things, and they are bringing in money and tax dollars through athletes and their support staff, world class events held at them etc. It's not just a 2 week party, the benefits abound.


Anyway, off to vote YES.

[dammage79]

I'd have voted yes if I was in CGY. Would mean some good contract work for me in security. Olympics would be a good winter financially.

[Wormius]

Pretty busy up in our Ward 3 station.

[transplant99]

As of 5 PM, 207,000 votes have been cast.

Regardless of how it goes, its great to see democracy in action and government allowing citizens to decide such a major undertaking.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by GGG

Tickets were $20 each for Vanoc.

They've said tickets should average about $250ish I think.

[Weitz]

Just voted no. Interestingly, was a 45 min wait at the same station for the municipal vote a while ago. Took me less than a minute I think.

[Fuzz]

That was quick. 1709 had voted at mine.

[shermanator]

Voted about an hour ago. I've never seen a voting station that busy, but got in an out in about 10 minutes. Thought the experience was incredibly smooth.

Voted no, because outside of the field house, I thought the plan lacked money towards infrastructure that this city needs (e.g. Green Line). That and the numbers were constantly changing.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Just voted no. Interestingly, was a 45 min wait at the same station for the municipal vote a while ago. Took me less than a minute I think.

Scantrons have helped I see. It was lined up at 8AM this morning for the doors to open.

Just saying we have a great city that cares about itself. It makes me feel better either way to know so many care enough to take time to vote.

[habernac]

Just under 800 had voted at mine at 4pm. Yes for me.