[bootlegga]

Quote:

CALGARY — Premier Ed Stelmach is reiterating that Alberta will not contribute direct cash to help build a new downtown arena for the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers cleared a major hurdle toward getting a new arena by working out a framework deal with the City of Edmonton.

That deal hinges on either the Alberta or federal governments coming up with $100 million for the project.

Stelmach says his government will not put any direct cash into the deal, but he is open to helping with infrastructure costs if it gets to that stage.

But he says the government is continuing to meet with the project's stakeholders.

Alberta is expected to run a $3.4-billion deficit this year while it waits for oil and natural gas prices to rebound.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/201107 ... st-110714/

[andyt]

Good for him. It's about time sports became private enterprise instead of sucking at govt tit.

[Caelon]

I have to agree with Stelmach on this one as well. No taxpayer money for a new professional sports facility. It is private enterprise and the owners are more than happy to pocket the extra proftis from a subsidized facility. If it makes good business sense then they should have no trouble financing it through normal channels. If that cannot be done then why waste tax dollars on a bad investment.

Alberta is no longer flush with cash although with current oil prices I would be surprised if the 2011 deficit ends up at $3.4 billion. Belt tightening is still called for and new arena for the Oilers would be frivolous.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

Besides, I'm sure the people of Calgary would be just thrilled with helping to fund a new arena in Edmonton.

[DrCaleb]

Now, if we could convince Ontairo . . .

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/tec ... le2098602/

[bootlegga]

I have to admit I'm torn - as an Edmontonian, I'd like to see the arena built in the hopes that it can help revitalize the downtown (which is why some people call it Dedmonton), but I'm not a big fan of corporate welfare either, especially given that the City has already promised 125 million for it.

[bootlegga]

PublicAnimalNo9 wrote:

Besides, I'm sure the people of Calgary would be just thrilled with helping to fund a new arena in Edmonton.

Well, it'll only be a matter of time before it's time to replace the Saddledome too...

[PublicAnimalNo9]

DrCaleb wrote:

Now, if we could convince Ontairo . . .

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/tec ... le2098602/

Meh, not really much of a comparison there. Ontario has been trying to make things comfortable for high tech industry, especially since a good portion of its manufacturing base has been gutted. High tech industries also provide good paying, full-time jobs. They also provide products/services to people globally.
Arenas create mainly part-time jobs and provide entertainment to a very local population. $7 million to help create and/or protect a few hundred jobs is nothing compared to $100 million for what is essentially an expensive playground.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

bootlegga wrote:

PublicAnimalNo9 wrote:

Besides, I'm sure the people of Calgary would be just thrilled with helping to fund a new arena in Edmonton.

Well, it'll only be a matter of time before it's time to replace the Saddledome too...

I thought it was time already

[peck420]

This whole project concerns me.

The cost of the arena will be more than $450 million.

They can't come up with the projected 450....how will they come up with the extra?

Are they going to try to come up with the extra after construction at an even higher additional cost? Or, will they start being upfront with it and try to get the extra now?

(Based on preliminary construction budgets that were presented, in which NONE met the $450M mark in current dollars)

[andyt]

PublicAnimalNo9 wrote:

DrCaleb wrote:

Now, if we could convince Ontairo . . .

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/tec ... le2098602/

Meh, not really much of a comparison there. Ontario has been trying to make things comfortable for high tech industry, especially since a good portion of its manufacturing base has been gutted. High tech industries also provide good paying, full-time jobs. They also provide products/services to people globally.
Arenas create mainly part-time jobs and provide entertainment to a very local population. $7 million to help create and/or protect a few hundred jobs is nothing compared to $100 million for what is essentially an expensive playground.

The only way govt should be investing in any business is in the form of a loan.

[DrCaleb]

andyt wrote:

PublicAnimalNo9 wrote:

DrCaleb wrote:

Now, if we could convince Ontairo . . .

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/tec ... le2098602/

Meh, not really much of a comparison there. Ontario has been trying to make things comfortable for high tech industry, especially since a good portion of its manufacturing base has been gutted. High tech industries also provide good paying, full-time jobs. They also provide products/services to people globally.
Arenas create mainly part-time jobs and provide entertainment to a very local population. $7 million to help create and/or protect a few hundred jobs is nothing compared to $100 million for what is essentially an expensive playground.

The only way govt should be investing in any business is in the form of a loan.

I agree. But Eddie doesn't seem to.

Quote:

Premier Ed Stelmach ponied up for an early centennial gift for the Calgary Stampede to the tune of $25 million.

The cash will be used to construct the Agrium Western Event Centre and pay for renovations of the existing agriculture facilities.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/07/14/st ... nnial-gift

[Choban]

NO GOVERNMENT $ for any pro sports team...... I'd say the same if they were blowing the same horn for the saddledome, if a team that makes millions in profit every year for their owners and stars can't dig up the funds themselves then tough. Every year here there's people complaining about the lack of facilities for kids teams, I'd rather se my $ go there than to fund a multi million companies/teams arena