Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by GGG

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/calgaryh...he-numbers/amp

Toombe’s who has been fairly anti olympics throughout does consider the federal contribution “Free Money” or at least money that would be spent anyways so no affect to taxation. I don’t think I’ve seen any that looked at just the Calgary contribution though.

From the article, this is the CEO? Non-standard accounting practices I guess?



Mary Moran, CEO of Calgary 2026, stood by the bid corporation’s economic numbers with regard to the creation of 15,400 new jobs and a $10-to-$1 return on investment.

“Everybody has a different opinion,” Moran said of the economic breakdown.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Locke

I read that this morning and I have to say, it has me thinking that the whole Whistler part of the proposal is a 'Bait-and-Switch' to get the funding model to somewhat work prior to the plebiscite and then they can claim that they couldnt use it which is why they had to spend more money.

Pretty sure Canmore hasn't even voted if they are participating yet.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

The student units was cut, not the affordable units.

Yes that is correct I was lumping all housing together which is not quote right. The 600 units of affordable housing and 200 units of senior housing are still in the bid. The 2800 units of housing benefit that gets stated now is 1800 units, 500 Market, 200 senior, 600 affordable, and 500 Unknown (I suspect these are used as a buffer on cost over runs as it creates a 100-200 million dollar unstated contingency)

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

i work in architecture and have never seen this kind of insurance...

if you have any info, i'd appreciate it as it might be useful to clients/corporations i work with

Originally Posted by Envitro

Same here, not in construction/architecture, but I'm a Project Manager and the only cost overrun insurance that I know of is doing your job well so you don't get fired. That, and a healthy contingency to cover the known and unknown unknowns.

I work in O&G and my company does provide a "cost-cap insurance" on certain operations that limits financial risk - at a cost. My CEO was talking about it when they rolled it out, and mentioned some other examples it was used and was talking about it being common, but I can't quite recall exact examples.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GGG

Victoria park is coming from the CMHC master plan and is only included in the Olympic bid to get the matching federal funds. The Olympics have no bearing on that piece of infrastructure and the money the city is paying for the Olympics does not include that number(I think). 0 dollars of city or provincial or federal funds have been committed for the GreenLine as part of the Olympics. 1000 units of Affordable housing was cut from the bid. There is still 800 units in the bid.

The deal has potential to be very valuable at the end of the day. Fact is, Calgary doesn’t have a field house and Edmonton some how has 3. The cost of a field house would be roughly $260 million. Include affordable housing along with renovations to existing infrastructure and you have yourself hundreds of millions of dollars that the city and taxpayers would eventually be on hook for anyway.

When you look at the legacy that could be created, the numerous jobs, the added tourism and worldwide marketing that the city will receive, the value is there to be a good deal. Calgary has lost a lot of luster in recent times, this could be a good way to get it back and have outsiders talking about this city and this province in a positive light again.

[JagrBombs68]

I don't like the low rent proposal - why do we need to take events to Whistler? - why not fix up/ replace the ski jumps and facilities we have here? Why is there no new NHL Caliber arena ? why does it not include major LRT infrastructure? why is there not a replacement for McMahon ? I get that these add costs but these are all items we could use for the next 30-40 years If these were included I would vote yes in heartbeat

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by JagrBombs68

I don't like the low rent proposal - why do we need to take events to Whistler? - why not fix up/ replace the ski jumps and facilities we have here? Why is there no new NHL Caliber arena ? why does it not include major LRT infrastructure? why is there not a replacement for McMahon ? I get that these add costs but these are all items we could use for the next 30-40 years If these were included I would vote yes in heartbeat

The whole premise of this bid is to align with Agenda 2020. Everything you asked for here conflicts with that approach.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by JagrBombs68

I don't like the low rent proposal - why do we need to take events to Whistler? - why not fix up/ replace the ski jumps and facilities we have here? Why is there no new NHL Caliber arena ? why does it not include major LRT infrastructure? why is there not a replacement for McMahon ? I get that these add costs but these are all items we could use for the next 30-40 years If these were included I would vote yes in heartbeat

The one thing I don’t get out of everything is the 5000 seat arena. It’s costly to build and will be used sparingly after the games are over. I would put that money towards the propsed NHL arena. Guaranteed, if a brand new shiny arena was on the table, a YES vote would be all but assured.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

The one thing I don’t get out of everything is the 5000 seat arena. It’s costly to build and will be used sparingly after the games are over. I would put that money towards the propsed NHL arena. Guaranteed, if a brand new shiny arena was on the table, a YES vote would be all but assured.

My understanding is that this arena is going to replace the Father David Bauer twin arenas, which are actually used quite extensively.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Tyler

The whole premise of this bid is to align with Agenda 2020. Everything you asked for here conflicts with that approach.

The premise of Agenda 2020 is to actually ensure cities will still bid on the Olympics. If Calgary wanted to spend eleventy billion dollars, the IOC would still come. It's not like spending more would actually be a disqualifier.

[transplant99]

Mary Moran on qr77 in a couple minutes...should be interesting. Danielle Smith asks tough questions.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Mary Moran on qr77 in a couple minutes...should be interesting. Danielle Smith asks tough questions.

At first, but then she'll prob just change her mind 20 minutes in and then end up working for Moran on the Yes side by the end of the interview!
I hope they give her a YES bus.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by JagrBombs68

I don't like the low rent proposal - why do we need to take events to Whistler? - why not fix up/ replace the ski jumps and facilities we have here? Why is there no new NHL Caliber arena ? why does it not include major LRT infrastructure? why is there not a replacement for McMahon ? I get that these add costs but these are all items we could use for the next 30-40 years If these were included I would vote yes in heartbeat

If I recall correctly jumpers go too far now and would be landing on 16th.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

If I recall correctly jumpers go too far now and would be landing on 16th.

I've heard this and that the tallest ski tower is now too short.

I'd rather spend $30-50m and build new ones in Canmore or Nakiska (and presumably tear down some or all of the COP jumps) than have events 1000kms away and frankly, I wouldn't want BC and its lunatic politicians anywhere near this.

[transplant99]

She says she doesn't expect any difference in sponsorship dollars whether the NHL participates or not.

Is that realistic?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

If I recall correctly jumpers go too far now and would be landing on 16th.

Might liven the event up enough that I'd want to go.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by transplant99

She says she doesn't expect any difference in sponsorship dollars whether the NHL participates or not.

Is that realistic?

Could be. Depends how long how sponsors have to commit, since the NHL can wait to announce if players are going in mid to late 2025.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by transplant99

She says she doesn't expect any difference in sponsorship dollars whether the NHL participates or not.

Is that realistic?

I doubt it. Seems like common sense that sponsors would be willing to pay more to get advertising time for games like Canada v. US if its loaded with NHL stars since there will be more viewers. It does depend on contracts, but there will be positive upward pressure if the NHL commits early.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by JagrBombs68

I don't like the low rent proposal - why do we need to take events to Whistler? - why not fix up/ replace the ski jumps and facilities we have here? Why is there no new NHL Caliber arena ? why does it not include major LRT infrastructure? why is there not a replacement for McMahon ? I get that these add costs but these are all items we could use for the next 30-40 years If these were included I would vote yes in heartbeat

So you want them to spend more? Not less. There is a lot of this going around, how the bid is so expensive but then they should add this, that, and the other thing.

You can't have your cake and eat it to.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by Locke

I read that this morning and I have to say, it has me thinking that the whole Whistler part of the proposal is a 'Bait-and-Switch' to get the funding model to somewhat work prior to the plebiscite and then they can claim that they couldnt use it which is why they had to spend more money.

During the council vote the mayor clearly stated that if there is a Whistler portion it would come out of federal funds not allocated so far(not part of this deal). There is still about 300 million(number between 1.4 and 1.7 billion) in federal funds not allocated after they struck the bargain. Furthermore the actual BIDCO budget statements included an item that indicated renovations to the jump in Calgary would cost 70 million and having it in Whistler would be 35 million.