[News] Tentative Agreement Reached! New Arena!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I never did really understand why fan bases clamor for new arenas/stadiums. You just pay more money for the exact same thing. It never made much sense for me.

I mean, did you ever actually attend a game at Northlands?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I never did really understand why fan bases clamor for new arenas/stadiums. You just pay more money for the exact same thing. It never made much sense for me.

Isn’t it mainly because the owners seem to have cities by the short and curlies as far as moving the team vs. really wanting to pay for a shiny new toy? Though I guess that’s part of it.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I never did really understand why fan bases clamor for new arenas/stadiums. You just pay more money for the exact same thing. It never made much sense for me.

a couple years back I went to a couple of concerts within a span of two weeks, first at the Saddledome and the other at Rogers Place. at the Dome with its crap acoustics, everything sounded like muddy ass, the floor was sticky and my seat had dried xenovomit on it, and half my time on the concourse was spent pinned between the wall and a pickup truck.

it's been frequently said here that Rogers Place is overrated. but the act I went to see there didn't bother with Calgary, because as with most big tours they wouldn't even be able to set up in the Dome. the sound was much more clear, everything was cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing, my sight-line was better compared to what the equivalent would have been back home, and the concourse was actually wide enough that I didn't have to physically touch too many Edmontonians.

you're free to believe it's all the same, but I'd wager that most people who go to events frequently at both their home and out of town arenas will be able to come up with a big list of differences that matter.

[dino7c]

Concerts sound terrible at the dome... especially loud ones. I thought all my favorite bands sucked until I watched them elsewhere

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

So basically what Staples is saying is that the $155.1 million "facility fee" actually constitutes the majority of CSEC's $275 million contribution to the deal?

My understanding was that it was entirely separate and recouped after-the-fact...? CSEC is paying $275 million PLUS that fee, right?

CSEC doesn’t pay the fee, users do. But the key difference is that the fee is going to act as a reimbursement to the city, rather than to the arena

With that considered, the deals are essentially:

Calgary’s

City: 22%
Ticket Tax: 28%
CSEC: 50%

Edmonton’s

City: 50%
Ticket Tax: 22%
OEG: 28%

CSEC is slated to pay over ~$125M more than the Oilers did. The city of Calgary is putting up essentially the same up front but getting $155M back with the ticket tax.

[oldschoolcalgary]

The Saddledome is 36 years old...

this isn't about getting something 'new and shiny'... the Dome was going to have to be replaced sooner or later. Buildings have a life span... the saddledome is reaching the end of that life span.

there are cities without any pro franchises at all that have built arenas because they serve a purpose beyond sports

[Stanley]

cupholders for every seat pls,

thx

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Stanley

cupholders for every seat pls,

thx

2x cupholders and 2x separate armrests for every seat please

[Madman]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

2x cupholders and 2x separate armrests for every seat please

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Stanley

cupholders for every seat pls,

thx

cup holders in seats are overrated.

you then only get one armrest as the person next to you is using theirs for their drink.

if you use your one arm rest and are a beer drinker, you're probably getting your sleeve in your drink or in the foamy beer that seeps through the lid.
people squeezing through can to hit your drink as they go by.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

cup holders in seats are overrated.

you then only get one armrest as the person next to you is using theirs for their drink.

if you use your one arm rest and are a beer drinker, you're probably getting your sleeve in your drink or in the foamy beer that seeps through the lid.
people squeezing through can to hit your drink as they go by.

Put the cup holders on the back of the seat in front of you.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I never did really understand why fan bases clamor for new arenas/stadiums. You just pay more money for the exact same thing. It never made much sense for me.

You ever see a movie in one of those theaters with the recliners and food/drink service?

Ultimately though, buildings arent magic. They dont last forever and if they're an integral part of a business then they need to be addressed.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by Roughneck

CSEC doesn’t pay the fee, users do. But the key difference is that the fee is going to act as a reimbursement to the city, rather than to the arena

With that considered, the deals are essentially:

Calgary’s

City: 22%
Ticket Tax: 28%
CSEC: 50%

Edmonton’s

City: 50%
Ticket Tax: 22%
OEG: 28%

CSEC is slated to pay over ~$125M more than the Oilers did. The city of Calgary is putting up essentially the same up front but getting $155M back with the ticket tax.

The Calgary deal is much better than the Edmonton deal. CSEC is also committed to $75 million in amateur sport spending. Not sure what the Oilers spend. That someone like Staples can write an article about how Calgary's deal is worse is nuts.

[Toonage]

The Oilers are the amateur sport

[Resolute 14]

I think CSEC's amateur sport spending requirement just replaces what they already do through the Flames Foundation. IIRC, it's not really new money.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Dion

Put the cup holders on the back of the seat in front of you.

But then you get soaked in Coke when the kid starts kicking the back of your seat.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think CSEC's amateur sport spending requirement just replaces what they already do through the Flames Foundation. IIRC, it's not really new money.

It will however be 100% Calgary focused now as before a percentage (not sure how much) was distributed outside of the city by the Stampede Foundation.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think CSEC's amateur sport spending requirement just replaces what they already do through the Flames Foundation. IIRC, it's not really new money.

It really is new money and a new commitment.

Also, the Flames Foundation is not just amateur sport, but is devoted to health and wellness, education, and amateur and grassroots sports, which I do not expect to deviate or change.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

The Saddledome is 36 years old...

this isn't about getting something 'new and shiny'... the Dome was going to have to be replaced sooner or later. Buildings have a life span... the saddledome is reaching the end of that life span.

Bang on. The Saddledome is basically nearing the end of its building life cycle. It does not meet current fire code ratings, and is several versions outdated from current building code as well. There's also major structural issues with the facility that would be too costly to renovate at this point in time.

It's best for the City, the Stampede and all involved parties to decommission and demolish this structure once the new arena is complete.

[mikephoen]

Staples is so full of bull####. On the city of edmonton website they spell out the deal, and they mention this:

The Katz Group is paying $132.5-million. $112.8-million of their contribution will be paid to the City as rent over 35 years, and cover the City’s principal and interest costs. The remaining $19.7-million will be paid as cash.

He put up 19.7M up front! The city put up the rest, and they get rent paid over 35 years to make back a small percentage of it. The city threw Katz some other downtown land as well (I'm sure that had no value), and I believe the City was on the hook for the cost overruns too.