[News] Calgary, Alberta, & CSEC agree in principle to $1.223bn Event Centre + infrastructure

[calgarygeologist]

If there is anything shady or unfavorable in this deal I'm pretty certain it involves the Stampede and I doubt that it is anything that the Province would be writing into the deal or have any control over. While the province is kicking in a big chunk of cash I don't think they had much involvement in the overall structure of the deal which would be between the City, CSEC and Stampede. When all is revealed I think the people we will be upset with are the city reps and Council as opposed to the province and Smith.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

What a crock.

I don’t get it . Sorry

Why is it a crock?

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I feel like that as a small online community we're making good progress in settling this debate once and for all. We're just on the cusp.

I know you’re being sarcastic, but if we could all agree that this is a terrible deal but completely on brand for this government and hey, at least we got something cool we could probably lock this thread.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I don’t get it . Sorry

Why is it a crock?

Because it was said by Danielle Smith.

Minds were made up long before anything was announced, and literally nothing said afterwards will change them.

[Strange Brew]

ROI isn’t the reason taxpayers are kicking in for this.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

If there is anything shady or unfavorable in this deal I'm pretty certain it involves the Stampede and I doubt that it is anything that the Province would be writing into the deal or have any control over. While the province is kicking in a big chunk of cash I don't think they had much involvement in the overall structure of the deal which would be between the City, CSEC and Stampede. When all is revealed I think the people we will be upset with are the city reps and Council as opposed to the province and Smith.

Out of all the parties involved Smith seems to be trying to take the most credit for getting the deal done though, just saying. I actually agree with you that the provincial component probably had the least impact.

Happy to get a new arena but I think this deal is garbage for the taxpayers.

[topfiverecords]

It was at least nice the Sutter is the problem talk died down for 24 hours while complaining about arena funding returned for the 16th season.

I’ve been against a significant percentage of the costs being covered by public funds but after 16ish years of this debate I can’t be bothered to argue anymore.

I’m saving my energy for insisting the facts are kept straight and a heavy focus on criticizing the to be released design.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

If there is anything shady or unfavorable in this deal I'm pretty certain it involves the Stampede and I doubt that it is anything that the Province would be writing into the deal or have any control over. While the province is kicking in a big chunk of cash I don't think they had much involvement in the overall structure of the deal which would be between the City, CSEC and Stampede. When all is revealed I think the people we will be upset with are the city reps and Council as opposed to the province and Smith.

The Stampede stuff sounds like random conjecture, but I think the bolded is probably spot on. I'd still argue it's bad faith political opportunism from the provincial gov't that rushed a clearly incomplete and generally poor deal to the announcement stage. It's not dissimilar to how a federal gov't election promise lead to a completely unrealistic budget/scope for the Green Line announcement.

"Here's $330M conditional on an announcement by April 25. If you don't do it the money is off the table whether we win or lose, and you know it's unlikely the NDP would link funding to the arena like this."

I can see why the city might bend to this ultimatum and sign a bad deal, as the alternative is trying to squeeze $330M out of CSEC and/or the next provincial gov't (which could mean an even more hostile UCP gov't if they don't play ball here).

So the city will end up wearing this #### deal, but IMO it is because they were backed into a corner by a gov't who has no interest in quality governance.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I’m saving my energy for insisting the facts are kept straight and a heavy focus on criticizing the to be released design.

I for one applaud your hybrid “Glass half full” and “When life gives you lemons..” approach.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

At the end of the day this is a permanent 2.4% increase in property taxes, which means it is costing 88 dollars a year for every single property tax payor. It will be up to folks to determine if a permanent 2.4% increase in their property taxes is worth an arena.

I missed this. Source please?

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

ROI isn’t the reason taxpayers are kicking in for this.

Then why do taxpayers kick in for anything?

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1651363940188954624

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Then why do taxpayers kick in for anything?

To realize some benefit, which in most cases isn’t measured in financial terms.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

The Stampede stuff sounds like random conjecture, but I think the bolded is probably spot on. I'd still argue it's bad faith political opportunism from the provincial gov't that rushed a clearly incomplete and generally poor deal to the announcement stage. It's not dissimilar to how a federal gov't election promise lead to a completely unrealistic budget/scope for the Green Line announcement.

"Here's $330M conditional on an announcement by April 25. If you don't do it the money is off the table whether we win or lose, and you know it's unlikely the NDP would link funding to the arena like this."

I can see why the city might bend to this ultimatum and sign a bad deal, as the alternative is trying to squeeze $330M out of CSEC and/or the next provincial gov't (which could mean an even more hostile UCP gov't if they don't play ball here).

So the city will end up wearing this #### deal, but IMO it is because they were backed into a corner by a gov't who has no interest in quality governance.

If this was the case do you think that the council vote would be 15-0? Wouldn't some of our more savvy councillors vote against a bad deal that is being pressured on them by the province? I don't believe for a second that Smith bamboozled or was able to coerce the entire council in Calgary.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Goriders

If you’re a socialist or a union head like her husband yes.

Oh no, not a (gasp) socialist!!
You mean someone who uses public funds to intervene in the free market, such as providing a publicly funded rink for a private enterprise??

This isn't the US; please don't try to make political theories a scare tactic (I mean, have you been to Scandinavia??)

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Oh no, not a (gasp) socialist!!
You mean someone who uses public funds to intervene in the free market, such as providing a publicly funded rink for a private enterprise??

This isn't the US; please don't try to make political theories a scare tactic (I mean, have you been to Scandinavia??)

Her husband isn’t the head of the Union he works for by a long shot either, but let’s let Goriders live in the fantasy world he’s conjured up in his head.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

To realize some benefit, which in most cases isn’t measured in financial terms.

So it always is an ROI thing, even if the return isn't actual dollars.

Keeping the Flames here and revitalizing urban areas are good things that we want, but they can't come at literally any cost...

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Then why do taxpayers kick in for anything?

Well most things taxpayers kick in for don't have TV deals.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by nik-

Well most things taxpayers kick in for don't have TV deals.

You’re just trolling the CBC haters now nik-

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

So it always is an ROI thing, even if the return isn't actual dollars.

Keeping the Flames here and revitalizing urban areas are good things that we want, but they can't come at literally any cost...

And literally zero risk to Murray edwards