Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[RM14]

Originally Posted by troutman

It is a better question than "Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics?" with no mention of cost.

From a Federal perspective, his question should be "Should the Canadian Government amend their policy and no longer fund the hosting of world/national events? The savings on the Federal budget would be $XX CAD.."

[Locke]

Originally Posted by RM14

From a provincial perspective, his question should be "Should the Alberta Government amend the budget to no longer fund the hosting of world/national events? The savings on the Alberta budget would be $XX CAD.."

At the same time though, the current Alberta Government has wasted more on less.

Lest we forget the Lightbulbs...

For me, as long as it kickstarts Calgary's infrastructure plans I'm still listening. If not then I'm going to be a hard vote to acquire.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Hey he's (technically) right...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057665043565731842

Edit: But I thought this wasn't a desperate emotional plea Olympics, and wasn't going to use nostalgia trips?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057665849819975680

[RM14]

2026 hosting times up well with attracting private developers to Vic Park.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think the IOC is running out of suckers. We could really wait them out for a better deal.

I'm skeptical there is a better deal. The Olympic model is broken. Too many events, too costly to host and run, declining ratings. Sponsors like McDonalds (and AT&T, Hilton, and Budweiser) know which way the wind is blowing, and are pulling out.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It still seems like they have no idea what this is actually going to look like. Just throwing #### at the wall desperately trying to squeeze it through, then worry about it later once they've secured hosting.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057668591414198277

[Regorium]

My god now they're just randomly creating numbers.

This is driving me insane. When's the vote?

[nik-]

Yeah, because slashing the security costs is actually going to happen and not just be a huge red arrow on a document showing why the games went over budget.

[dsavillian]

Originally Posted by RM14

I like that Lenn Webber sends those cards out and all, but that is a really loaded question.

This has bothered me for a while now. Our MP is Tom Kimec and every mailer has a similar loaded question. The one for the bid was something along the lines of "How do you want your 3B to be spent? Green Line, Olympics or Other"

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Um, how sure are you about that?

Very sure.

There is no way that significant detailed planning has gone into actual retrofit or project costs, there simply has not been enough time to flush out actual details.

This is akin to me saying " I want to do a kitchen reno, I need new cabinets, and new floor, and want to take out a wall."

So I have done some high level planning of what needs to be done, but until I've picked out the floor, and countertops, and ripped apart the drywall to see the condition of the structure, my budget is at huge risk of overruns. Especially once the Significant other gets in there and starts adding scope creep.

[White Out 403]

I'm sorry but, people voting yes are naive. This last minute budget slashing is so transparent and untenable.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I mean I know Nenshi is desperate, but this desperate?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057678054154092544

[Nsd1]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Can’t wait to vote this craziness down. Between the Olympics and the crazy $$ art crap people need to wake up and vote some of these clowns out of office.

I for one cannot wait to see what kind of public art we end up with after this goes through.

[topfiverecords]

So what was the vote? I thought it was at 10?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Does anybody know what the TV contracts are worth, and the difference between NHL players going to the Olympics, and the current contract?

I am just wondering if there is a significant difference between an Olympics out of sync with North American time zones and not having NHL players; and one that is in North America with NHL players.

The two countries that would see the biggest ratings boost from NHL participation are Canada and the US. NBC is already locked in as the US Olympic broadcaster through the 2032 Summer Olympics, so their value won't change regardless of NHL participation.

If Calgary hosts, there will likely be a bidding war for the Canadian rights like there was for the 88 and 2010 Games. Those rights will almost-certainly be sold before the NHL fully commits (unless the new CBA has a guarantee of Olympic participation, which it might).


Overall, the revenue from the broadcast rights are unlikely to be impacted by NHL (non)participation because there's just so much more involved than just men's hockey.

The biggest impact would likely be in the ticket prices they can charge for games with NHL players compared to what they can charge otherwise. There will also likely be lower attendance for the games that don't feature either Canada or the US than there will if NHLers are playing.


In the end, I'd say that the risk of the NHL not participating in an Olympics held on Canadian soil is pretty low on the list of all the possible risks surrounding this bid.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean I know Nenshi is desperate, but this desperate?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057678054154092544

Isn't that a smart thing for Nenshi to be asking. Finding a way to meet the federal requirements to access more federal dollars without adding city Dollars. This is precisely his job on this bid.

Depending on the timing of this email it does align with Nenshi's positon that he told the fed's that the matching spending requirement was untenable.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean I know Nenshi is desperate, but this desperate?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057678054154092544

I despise Nenshi, but that seems completely reasonable?

If you need the green line infrastructure to support the Olympics, it makes sense to at least ask the question. Especially if you're trying to get the Federal government to match dollar for dollar...

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by GGG

Isn't that a smart thing for Nenshi to be asking. Finding a way to meet the federal requirements to access more federal dollars without adding city Dollars. This is precisely his job on this bid.

Depending on the timing of this email it does align with Nenshi's positon that he told the fed's that the matching spending requirement was untenable.

Yeah but it doesn't mean the actual cost of the olympics is less. What a weird thought.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by getbak

In the end, I'd say that the risk of the NHL not participating in an Olympics held on Canadian soil is pretty low on the list of all the possible risks surrounding this bid.

Kinda naive no? The NHL will be given the hammer since 2026's financial viability depends on being able to charge ticket prices with NHL players and not beer league players. So the NHL will be in position to dictate to the IOC on terms, since the the Calgary bid needs the NHL. NHL will demand it all. Will the IOC cave? Probably not.

[getbak]

The $150 million for Victoria Park/Stampede Park transportation improvements is essentially the same thing. It's money that has already been committed by the city and province. Including it in this plan basically frees up some "matching" dollars from the feds without actually requiring any more money to be spent by the city or province.