Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[Locke]

Hes pretty adamant about not committing public funds.

[HOWITZER]

Considering the government just announced a provincial election on May 5th, and that the Flames will likely play at least one round of playoff hockey taking them to near the end of the month I doubt we hear anything for some time now. Probably the earliest news will be given is the end of the season or after the election, whichever comes last.

[CroFlames]

If Edmonton can get public funds, why can't CGY?

Wasn't the Quebec City arena funded by equalization payments?

[Buster]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

It shouldn't. This is yet another non-news story.

- We already know Nenshi does not support public funding
- We still have no idea if the Flames intend to ask for public funding

Shouldn't that be in green text?

[sureLoss]

"there ain't no money" sends a confusing message.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

That's good that there "ain't no money" because everyone knows "mo money, mo problems".

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

"there ain't no money" sends a confusing message.

It's the double negative

[Bunk]

I think what he means is that capital funding available to the City is already fully committed. In other words there's not money just sitting around waiting to be spent, and if City money is required, something needs to change (i.e. new grants, or something else).

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

If Edmonton can get public funds, why can't CGY?

Wasn't the Quebec City arena funded by equalization payments?

Just because Edmonton was insanely idiotic does not mean Calgary should be insanely idiotic too. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal all built their arenas without public money. Wouldn't you rather be associated with those good cities rather than the utterly no good Edmonton? (Note: the cities are good, not the teams)

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Just because Edmonton was insanely idiotic does not mean Calgary should be insanely idiotic too. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal all built their arenas without public money. Wouldn't you rather be associated with those good cities rather than the utterly no good Edmonton? (Note: the cities are good, not the teams)

Haha I assume that is a rhetorical question

But given that this is going to be a multi-plex that benefits the community, not just Calgary Flames LP, I would assume the levels of government pony up.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

How much power does the Mayor really have on this anyway. Public funding for these type of things, don't they actually mostly come from the Province, and even with the city budget, that's all coming from the province anyway.

I feel like the mayor might not be the major political force that needs to get on board, but I honestly don't know.

[The Ditch]

Public money shouldn't go to make a private business more profits, I don't care how they try to sugar coat it or scam the people into thinking it's in the public's best interest because it isn't.

There is no reason why they can't pay for their own new stadium with less seats, higher prices and more suites, there is already precedent for it.

[Coach]

What's important is not whether or not the Flames ask for public money, they will.

It's what is the public money for? Infrastructure updates around the complex? Free land? funds for the public field house? I am good with all of those things.

Any dime of public funds going to the actual arena is not OK with me.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

Public money shouldn't go to make a private business more profits, I don't care how they try to sugar coat it or scam the people into thinking it's in the public's best interest because it isn't.

There is no reason why they can't pay for their own new stadium with less seats, higher prices and more suites, there is already precedent for it.

Public money goes to private business all the time to make them more profits, so that they locate their businesses here and create jobs. Not saying that means an arena should get funding, but public money, whether it be in the form of payments or tax breaks, gets funnelled to private business constantly and there is many cases when it is in the public's interest.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

How much power does the Mayor really have on this anyway. Public funding for these type of things, don't they actually mostly come from the Province, and even with the city budget, that's all coming from the province anyway.

I feel like the mayor might not be the major political force that needs to get on board, but I honestly don't know.

The Mayor is one vote on City Council, but he's got the bully pulpit representing all Calgarians on Council.

A lot of the City's capital funding comes from Provincial and Federal grants, but the City largely has full discretion within the categories of infrastructure funding is earmarked for (for example gas taxes granted to the City are to be spent on Transportation needs) on what it will spend it on. The City also does have some of its own sources for capital from levies and property taxes, as well as the ability to do East-Village style Community Revitalization Levies, which seems to be likely part of any proposal for West Village.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by MattyC

What's important is not whether or not the Flames ask for public money, they will.

It's what is the public money for? Infrastructure updates around the complex? Free land? funds for the public field house? I am good with all of those things.

Any dime of public funds going to the actual arena is not OK with me.

If Calgary Flames LP said "Well there is a shiny new rink in Kansas City, and it's free. Free sounds better than spending $500 million of our own money. Let's go there".

Would you be OK with some public funding then?

The reality is, governments need to entice private enterprise to come/stay in their jurisdictions. Private enterprise creates jobs. This happens all the time, not just with pro sports.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yeah, this is going to get ugly.

Pretty much as this is just Nenshi being Nenshi as he's essentially shooting things down before there's an actual proposal. This is his thing getting in to heated debates as he lives for this stuff. While I don't think the Flames would play the "threaten to move" card if anyone would elicit that response it would be Nenshi as he's not going to work with the Flames at all which is what the Flames owners have realized and why they are treading lightly here.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

It shouldn't. This is yet another non-news story.

- We already know Nenshi does not support public funding
- We still have no idea if the Flames intend to ask for public funding

It's pretty clear they will ask for public funding. They probably already have informally and were told to pound sand hence, why it's April 8th, 2015 and we still haven't seen anything announced.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Pretty much as this is just Nenshi being Nenshi as he's essentially shooting things down before there's an actual proposal. This is his thing getting in to heated debates as he lives for this stuff. While I don't think the Flames would play the "threaten to move" card if anyone would elicit that response it would be Nenshi as he's not going to work with the Flames at all which is what the Flames owners have realized and why they are treading lightly here.

Or maybe King is hinting at Public Money and Nenshi wants to consult with the public? While king may not?

That is sort of how I am reading it.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

If Calgary Flames LP said "Well there is a shiny new rink in Kansas City, and it's free. Free sounds better than spending $500 million of our own money. Let's go there".

Would you be OK with some public funding then?

The reality is, governments need to entice private enterprise to come/stay in their jurisdictions. Private enterprise creates jobs. This happens all the time, not just with pro sports.

No. Because that threat is empty and if they want to destroy the value of their team by moving it to a market like KC, be my guest. We would have a new franchise here so fast it would make their heads spin. Threatening to move is assuming stupidity on the part of the city and fans and using emotion to provoke them to throw money at the Flames.

Frankly, I would find it insulting.

And I said I am fine for public funding for the surrounding complex, any infrastructure updates, land, facilities that are for public use, and any types of breaks that a normal corp would get for putting up a building.

But for the actual arena where the Flames play their games and people shell out $100's of dollars per seat, not to mention revenue from parking and concessions? No.