Gary Bettman speaks to the media in Calgary

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The way the Olympic bid is going, the Flames may not even have a seat at the table.

They don't need a seat at the table. They just need the one big table scrap from dinner

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Flames may not care, and is fine with that and being only tenants in whatever building a built. But then the user fee that they would have to pay probably will be (and should be) high.

Apart from being able to control revenues, to me it seemed like the Flames cared more about the development potential around an arena more than the arena itself. An Olympics bid probably wouldn't prioritize these development dreams very highly...and if they keep playing the silent treatment with the City, perhaps not at all.

[GGG]

Bettmen is doing the correct thing now.

State the flames aren't talking about a new arena right now and that they will do their best to turn a profit. They took their shot at the election and lost. The next pressure point is the Olympic bid. So the Flames will do nothing until the city comes and asks them if they want to be part of an Arena for the Olympics.

Until an Olympic decision is made there is no reason for the Flames to change their public stance. Once it's made we will see the rhetoric start up again.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Bettman “this team used to write a cheque for revenue sharing and for the last years they have received a cheque and its getting bigger.”

Yeah that has everything to do with the building being old and not that disposable income has gone down the drain with people losing their jobs, and all the corporate seats, company boxes, and sales guys buying seats to close deals have gone away too.

I would say it is a combination of both.

[Badgers Nose]

I actually like GB. I wish I was a billionaire and had a minion like him.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Bettman “this team used to write a cheque for revenue sharing and for the last years they have received a cheque and its getting bigger.”

Yeah that has everything to do with the building being old and not that disposable income has gone down the drain with people losing their jobs, and all the corporate seats, company boxes, and sales guys buying seats to close deals have gone away too.

Does all of this not show why we don’t have a new arena? The Calgary economy seems like a bad bet to invest in, so why would Flames ownership invest in a city that can’t make a privately funded arena financially viable?

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Apart from being able to control revenues, to me it seemed like the Flames cared more about the development potential around an arena more than the arena itself. An Olympics bid probably wouldn't prioritize these development dreams very highly...and if they keep playing the silent treatment with the City, perhaps not at all.

You're correct. Forgot about that when I composed the post. The real estate development is the entrée here, and Flames need to be part of the bidding process to get in on it.

Although they could still be involved post awarding of the bid. (If we get it - don't count chickens and all)

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Table 5

What I'm confused about is what Bettman/CSEC are expecting to happen next. They keep saying they are finished and not interesting in talks, but then they keep making these snarky comments about the arena.

What are they hoping for exactly? For the City/fans to come grovelling on their knees or something? It just seems so childish.

they're so smug

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yes....its the arena.

The price of Oil and the Canadian Dollar have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Its the arena. Its the Saddledome's fault.

This. Salaries are in USD, revenues are in CAD. Par vs 25-30 points

Bettman’s comments were greasy and he is fully aware

[Realistic]

Wouldn’t a new building in Calgary mean more revenue sharing = higher salary cap = more money for the Coilers?

We can make the Saddledome work for a few more years.

[Northendzone]

Too bad Brett and did not bring charts and graphs with actual numbers and whatnot, so we could see for ourselves how dire things are for some of the richest men in Canada.

I’d like to know if the oilers are contributors to this fund, or are they receiving some cash as well? What about the nux and the jets?

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Apart from being able to control revenues, to me it seemed like the Flames cared more about the development potential around an arena more than the arena itself. An Olympics bid probably wouldn't prioritize these development dreams very highly...and if they keep playing the silent treatment with the City, perhaps not at all.

It's been not at all before the silent treatment, Olympic bid or not. The Flames don't own anything to develop. CMLC is in charge of the city and Stampede owned lands.

[Freeway]

It's entirely about the development potential. But the City feels that CMLC is eminently more qualified to develop it than the Flames, and so there's a stalemate. If this was about the arena, we'd have an arena by now.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I actually like GB. I wish I was a billionaire and had a minion like him.

Well, he’s certainly the right size for a minion. No goggles, though.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Freeway

It's entirely about the development potential. But the City feels that CMLC is eminently more qualified to develop it than the Flames, and so there's a stalemate. If this was about the arena, we'd have an arena by now.

They're not wrong. I think CMLC did a great job with the East Village, and part of the Flames playing in Victoria Park with an upgraded 17th Ave and entertainment district is a fantastic idea.

I really, really want the West Village too, but that is just such a boondoggle that it would take an act of god for that to work. But the Flames are sticking to it and won't really budge. Must really want all that delicious parking revenue.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

It's too bad the media have become lapdogs of the league and refuse to ask the right questions:

"Mr Bettman - the people of Edmonton contributed $313 million from their future roads, rec centers, and libraries for a team that continues to be no good. Why you think that was a good tradeoff for their future?"

"Will the league consider restricting the number of times that Edmonton can pick 1st overall?"

[Locke]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

It's too bad the media have become lapdogs of the league and refuse to ask the right questions:

"Mr Bettman - the people of Edmonton contributed $313 million from their future roads, rec centers, and libraries for a team that continues to be no good. Why you think that was a good tradeoff for their future?"

"Will the league consider restricting the number of times that Edmonton can pick 1st overall?"

At the end of the day though thats not his problem. The City of Edmonton didnt have to pay for the arena, nobody had a gun to their heads. They chose to do it.

Bettman's job is to grow League revenues, new arenas are a great way of doing that because they generate more revenue. He personally probably couldnt care less about how the arena is paid for as long as it gets done.

As for the #1 picks. If Edmonton ever wins another Draft Lottery I fully expect him to just say 'Nope' and drop the ball on the floor and stomp on it.

"Nothing to see here. That never happened."

And whoever pulled the ball out of the machine is promptly cross-checked in the face by Dennis Wideman who they employed to be there to do exclusively this....just in case.

[Badgers Nose]

No kidding, GB would just troll them.

“If you didn’t want the arena more people should have voted for anti arena candidates. The fact that it got built tells me the majority of Edmontonians were for it, despite what a vocal majority might way to the contrary.”

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

It's too bad the media have become lapdogs of the league and refuse to ask the right questions:

"Mr Bettman - the people of Edmonton contributed $313 million from their future roads, rec centers, and libraries for a team that continues to be no good. Why you think that was a good tradeoff for their future?"

"Will the league consider restricting the number of times that Edmonton can pick 1st overall?"

I agree with the above replies. Bettman's answer would be a thinly veiled, why are you asking such a stupid question that I don't care about. Did you get your journalism degree from DeVry.

He followed his mandate, which is acting in the interest of the league. He helped Edmonton get a building that will secure increased revenues and ensured the Oilers stability.

Job done.

I also wouldn't be surprised if behind closed doors somebody forgets to drop Edmonton's ball into the machine.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I also wouldn't be surprised if behind closed doors somebody forgets to drop Edmonton's ball into the machine.

"...And after all the confusion, mistakes and general mismanagement that had become the Edmonton Oilers, that 'somebody' turned out to be:

Peter Chiarelli.

And now you know the REST of the story."