New Hockey Arena

[barleyfarmer]

After being at the sled show on the weekend I was wondering why is there such a push for a new arena?I don't think the government should kick in the 100 million that they are short.I kates wants a new arena he should just build it since he is a BILLIONAIRE!The Oilers have a hard enough time putting asses in the seats now I don't think a new arena is going to change that!I'm not a hockey fan to begin with so building a new place for a hockey team is just stupid!This Kates seems shady enough that if he changes his mind a year or two down the road he would sell the team and leave and there will be Edmonton with two empty arenas!Pocklington screwed Edmonton and the province when he pulled his stunt with the oilers but everyone seems to forget how these oilers owners seem to always end up being crooked!I don't live in the city so if they build a new arena I could give a s... as long as the province doesn't stick any money into it!!There is more places around this province that would benefit from that 100 million than the oilers billionaire owner!!Also if the arena is built who is going to support or bail out northlands because they won't last long!!Around the city their share of the arena costs would go along way fixing more streets and building rec centers for the population that doesn't use the arenas!I'm not bashing Edmonton or their team(I could care less) but I wish people would make more of an issue of this since it has an effect on all tax payers!!

 

[Bogger]

Putting asses in the seats is not an issue, edmonton is full of asses willing to support the oilers.
The alternative to a new arena is sinking 250+ million into an aged too small facility.
The city has no issues sinking hundreds of millions into sir winston churchill square, the art gallery, and theaters that less than 20% of the population will use, yet over 50% will utilize a new arena.
The oilers will NEVER be allowed to leave edmonton, they are in one of the top 5 markets of the entire NHL.
Should Katz get a free ride... NO, and I don't think he is under the new proposal BUT even better would be to not accept his cash and the city/province build it exclusively then RENT it to him.
Every civic project has an impact on ALL taxpayers yet in this case because it is tied to Big business it gets more vocal opposition.
Again not sure where you get the impression on an empty arena... seasons tickets are sold out and there is a 3 year waiting list.
Northlands needs to learn how to function in the business world without government assistance, pretty sure they do for the most part already, thier casino pulls in enough cash to support the entire operation.
Rexall place is currently one of the top 5 busiest arenas in NORTH AMERICA... pretty sure a little competition won't sink them.

EDMONTON/630 CHED - In terms of concert bookings, the home of the Oilers comes in number 12 internationally among major arenas. Rexall Place is number five in North America.

The tracking is done by Pollstar, which serves the concert industry, and only thirteen venues world wide through the mid point of 2007 have cracked two hundred thousand tickets for music events. Had there been one more in the first half of this year, they would have hit the top ten according to councillor Bryan Anderson who is on the Northlands board.

He says its tough filling dark nights.

"There might be some concern about the fact that with the full NHL schedule and now the Oil Kings schedule, that jockeying, trying to get that entrepreneur that's trying to get a concert booked into Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver in five days, it does create some difficulty in making sure that we can handle all of the concerts that come our way," Anderson said.

Its about a $2-million hit, the taxpayer backstops operations. With out these shows it could be a lot more.

After being at the sled show on the weekend I was wondering why is there such a push for a new arena?I don't think the government should kick in the 100 million that they are short.I kates wants a new arena he should just build it since he is a BILLIONAIRE!The Oilers have a hard enough time putting asses in the seats now I don't think a new arena is going to change that!I'm not a hockey fan to begin with so building a new place for a hockey team is just stupid!This Kates seems shady enough that if he changes his mind a year or two down the road he would sell the team and leave and there will be Edmonton with two empty arenas!Pocklington screwed Edmonton and the province when he pulled his stunt with the oilers but everyone seems to forget how these oilers owners seem to always end up being crooked!I don't live in the city so if they build a new arena I could give a s... as long as the province doesn't stick any money into it!!There is more places around this province that would benefit from that 100 million than the oilers billionaire owner!!Also if the arena is built who is going to support or bail out northlands because they won't last long!!Around the city their share of the arena costs would go along way fixing more streets and building rec centers for the population that doesn't use the arenas!I'm not bashing Edmonton or their team(I could care less) but I wish people would make more of an issue of this since it has an effect on all tax payers!!

 

[Bogger]

Some pretty impressive company to keep I'd say

1. Manchester Evening News Arena
2. Madison Square Garden (NYC)
3. Wembley Arena (London)
4. The Point (Dublin, Ireland)
5. Bell Centre (Montreal)
6. Air Canada Centre (Toronto)
7. The NEC Arena (Birmingham England)
8. Acer Arena (Sydney Australia)
9. HP Pavilion at San Jose
10. Coliseo de Puerto Rico
11. Brisbane Entertainment Centre
12. Rexall Place
13. Arena Monterrey (Mexico)
14. Amway Arena (Orlando)
15. American Airlines Arena (Dallas)
16. General Motors Place (Vancouver)
23. Pengrowth Saddledome (Calgary)
25. Scotiabank Place (Ottawa)

 

[linksys]

After being at the sled show on the weekend I was wondering why is there such a push for a new arena?I don't think the government should kick in the 100 million that they are short.I kates wants a new arena he should just build it since he is a BILLIONAIRE!The Oilers have a hard enough time putting asses in the seats now I don't think a new arena is going to change that!I'm not a hockey fan to begin with so building a new place for a hockey team is just stupid!This Kates seems shady enough that if he changes his mind a year or two down the road he would sell the team and leave and there will be Edmonton with two empty arenas!Pocklington screwed Edmonton and the province when he pulled his stunt with the oilers but everyone seems to forget how these oilers owners seem to always end up being crooked!I don't live in the city so if they build a new arena I could give a s... as long as the province doesn't stick any money into it!!There is more places around this province that would benefit from that 100 million than the oilers billionaire owner!!Also if the arena is built who is going to support or bail out northlands because they won't last long!!Around the city their share of the arena costs would go along way fixing more streets and building rec centers for the population that doesn't use the arenas!I'm not bashing Edmonton or their team(I could care less) but I wish people would make more of an issue of this since it has an effect on all tax payers!!

Hey Bfarmer;
Whether Katz is a Billionaire or a kazillionaire....why does that matter???
He is giving over 5% of his net worth into an arena that will not be his. What part of your net worth are you willing to give???
Yes, he will make money from the new arena because of the agreement between the city and him but in the end, it is the city who is gaining by his donation......

Maybe all you rich farmers should give 5% of your net worth (land , bldgs, machinery, etc) and then we wouldn't have to worry about taxpayer money being used. I am sure the city and Mr Katz would work you in as an investor so you can re-coupe your investment over the next 20 years......

So if you own 5000 acres (free & clear) at $1500/acre = 7,500,000.00, plus an average farm yard with a house and outbuildings = $1,200,000.00, plus machinery equity of $500,000.00, you would have a net worth of just over 9 million x 5% = $46,000 donation. Are you willing to give $46,000.....not gonna happen is it?

But yet, the billionaire is willing to donate $100,000,000 and all you whiners complain that it is not enough.

The city needs to replace this (Rexall Place) building sooner or later (within the next 10 to 12 years if you go later). Is it a better business decison to build it all from city money or take advantage of a private doners $100,000,000???

Stop whining or come up with a better solution.

Oh, and by the way, when you were at the sled show, you were NOT in the arena......it is the 30 year old structure across the bridge from where you were.....you were in the new Expo center.

 

[Summiteer]

Hey Bfarmer;
Whether Katz is a Billionaire or a kazillionaire....why does that matter???
He is giving over 5% of his net worth into an arena that will not be his. What part of your net worth are you willing to give???
Yes, he will make money from the new arena because of the agreement between the city and him but in the end, it is the city who is gaining by his donation......

Maybe all you rich farmers should give 5% of your net worth (land , bldgs, machinery, etc) and then we wouldn't have to worry about taxpayer money being used. I am sure the city and Mr Katz would work you in as an investor so you can re-coupe your investment over the next 20 years......

So if you own 5000 acres (free & clear) at $1500/acre = 7,500,000.00, plus an average farm yard with a house and outbuildings = $1,200,000.00, plus machinery equity of $500,000.00, you would have a net worth of just over 9 million x 5% = $46,000 donation. Are you willing to give $46,000.....not gonna happen is it?

But yet, the billionaire is willing to donate $100,000,000 and all you whiners complain that it is not enough.

The city needs to replace this (Rexall Place) building sooner or later (within the next 10 to 12 years if you go later). Is it a better business decison to build it all from city money or take advantage of a private doners $100,000,000???

Stop whining or come up with a better solution.

Oh, and by the way, when you were at the sled show, you were NOT in the arena......it is the 30 year old structure across the bridge from where you were.....you were in the new Expo center.

Better solution is to have private investors come up with the money and share in all the profit, the city is responsible for providing transit access and roads to the facility. The cost of the transportation infrastructure that the city provides as well as future maintenance costs are recouped through future property and business taxes. The billionaire is not "donating" anything...He's investing his money with the expectation of reaping a profit.

 

[rzrgade]

Here is a shining example of why we need well paid professionals making our decisions for us........what a bunch of non factual ,miss information this thread started with........
The gist of what you are saying is Katz is a billionaire, so he must be a crook/shady etc. etc.What a bunch of short sited ,jealous hogwash. There are lots of everyday working people who are just as ruthless/crooked as Katz ,but because they are not filthy rich that`s okay i guess......

The fact is you either grow or get left behind, if we want to grow we need a new arena. We HAVE been subsidizing northlands for ever any how, how is this different ? Above you state that the city gets revenue thru business & property tax. Well if you let the city get left 30 years behind everyone else how much business /property tax will you collect in the future ??
If he wants to build it and make a profit .BLOODY good on him i hope he makes millions...........As long as we get our share out of it WHO cares. Or we could chase him out of town and let you hire all the people his company hires now ,so as they still get a paycheck to spend in our province ....Or we could do what B C did a few years back , and try and shut down all the entrepreneurs so we all have nothing and no jobs, that will show them............LOL

We need more people like him ,willing to get things done,takes risks and make ideas come alive.......That is why North America is falling behind ,we don`t want some one else to get ahead so we shut em down..........

Quick story; We were at the Hoover dam ,where the guide was telling us what a tremendous financial success the project turned out to be over the years. A fellow asked how long it would take to build it today ? The guide said " It would of never been built today,they woulda shut it down before they got started".............
,

 

[rzrgade]

Looks like she is a done deal , let`s get er built and get to work...............

 

[STYKO]

Looks like she is a done deal , let`s get er built and get to work...............

I likes the sound of that!

 

[byronkentgraham]

Looks like she is a done deal , let`s get er built and get to work...............

Still a few $ short. 100 million to be exact.

Any money the province puts in will have to be matched for Calgary's new arena. The province better not put up the money, unless they are collecting 22.2% of all the profits the arena brings in.

The Katz group is not "donating" anything to the arena. They are making a subsidized investment. They will reap the benefits of the new arena more than anyone else.

 

[Summitric]

City council voted 10 - 3 in favour of the new hockey arena, hotels, business center, casino, shopping complex.........construction won't start for about 1 year they said ......... Gitr'done!!!!

 

[rzrgade]

Still a few $ short. 100 million to be exact.

Any money the province puts in will have to be matched for Calgary's new arena. The province better not put up the money, unless they are collecting 22.2% of all the profits the arena brings in.

The Katz group is not "donating" anything to the arena. They are making a subsidized investment. They will reap the benefits of the new arena more than anyone else.

We can come up with 60 mill easy !! Just fire all the flames and pay minor league players peanuts to play for instead of them......They could not be any worse, and we would be close to 60 million better off.................

 

[Cyle]

Still a few $ short. 100 million to be exact.

Any money the province puts in will have to be matched for Calgary's new arena. The province better not put up the money, unless they are collecting 22.2% of all the profits the arena brings in.

The Katz group is not "donating" anything to the arena. They are making a subsidized investment. They will reap the benefits of the new arena more than anyone else.

Exactly, I am dumbfounded why they voted for it. O wait, it's politics I will bet ANYTHING mandel possibly more has a backdoor deal with katz........

I guess one good thing can come from this, mandel will not be back as mayor. Though I doubt he cares because katz surely give him a pretty good deal to go for it.

City should of told katz to go fawk off and built it with their own money and ran it, instead of just paying for it......

But who's really surprised the city fawked up? Not like it was the first time the taxpayers will pay more for bullch!t.

 

[sunshinesmiles]

We can come up with 60 mill easy !! Just fire all the flames and pay minor league players peanuts to play for instead of them......They could not be any worse, and we would be close to 60 million better off.................

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Not..............some of yer friends are Flames Fans..............watch it buckoo !!!!!

 

[rzrgade]

Exactly, I am dumbfounded why they voted for it. O wait, it's politics I will bet ANYTHING mandel possibly more has a backdoor deal with katz........

I guess one good thing can come from this, mandel will not be back as mayor. Though I doubt he cares because katz surely give him a pretty good deal to go for it.

City should of told katz to go fawk off and built it with their own money and ran it, instead of just paying for it......

But who's really surprised the city fawked up? Not like it was the first time the taxpayers will pay more for bullch!t.

I think you are forgetting Katz owns the oilers ,not the city ..........So telling him to fawk off and building a new arena would not put you in the running for a Nobel prize.............

On a side note, has Katz approached you about being his personal driver.........................??

 

[byronkentgraham]

We can come up with 60 mill easy !! Just fire all the flames and pay minor league players peanuts to play for instead of them......They could not be any worse, and we would be close to 60 million better off.................

Better yet the oilers can trade RNH and Eberle to the flames for $5 million. We already have a nice arena.

 

[Bogger]

Chit... I wonder if they know Cyle does not approve!!!!!!

 

[imdoo'n]

I think you are forgetting Katz owns the oilers ,not the city ..........So telling him to fawk off and building a new arena would not put you in the running for a Nobel prize.............

On a side note, has Katz approached you about being his personal driver.........................??

cyle is now the Katz's building construction super of all north american developments, maybe world wide next year if all goes right.
i heard buck 50's new mega house will be bulldozed next month, something about no approval(wrong nails used)

 

[rzrgade]

There is only one man who can take down Obama next election ,go for it Cyle ,your our man................

 

[rzrgade]

cyle is now the Katz's building construction super of all north american developments, maybe world wide next year if all goes right.
i heard buck 50's new mega house will be bulldozed next month, something about no approval(wrong nails used)

I heard Katz is just a frontman for Cyle, and it is he (cyle) , who really owns the oilers and a rather large drug empire...........

 

[fargineyesore]

After being at the sled show on the weekend I was wondering why is there such a push for a new arena?I don't think the government should kick in the 100 million that they are short.I kates wants a new arena he should just build it since he is a BILLIONAIRE!The Oilers have a hard enough time putting asses in the seats now I don't think a new arena is going to change that!I'm not a hockey fan to begin with so building a new place for a hockey team is just stupid!This Kates seems shady enough that if he changes his mind a year or two down the road he would sell the team and leave and there will be Edmonton with two empty arenas!Pocklington screwed Edmonton and the province when he pulled his stunt with the oilers but everyone seems to forget how these oilers owners seem to always end up being crooked!I don't live in the city so if they build a new arena I could give a s... as long as the province doesn't stick any money into it!!There is more places around this province that would benefit from that 100 million than the oilers billionaire owner!!Also if the arena is built who is going to support or bail out northlands because they won't last long!!Around the city their share of the arena costs would go along way fixing more streets and building rec centers for the population that doesn't use the arenas!I'm not bashing Edmonton or their team(I could care less) but I wish people would make more of an issue of this since it has an effect on all tax payers!!

Just because you're not a hockey team building a new arena is stupid? Oilers can't put bums in seats? The Oilers sell out almost every game. Many people come from out of town to watch games, and spend money in the city. If you disagree with public money being spent on any business venture, do you also agree with no public money going to farmers? I'm told often by farmers that they run a business, so what's the difference. There are many things in my County I don't agree with my tax money going into, such as equine facilities, centres, etc. as I don't ride horses. It is not just an arena being built, it is a downtown entertainment complex, and will benefit the city as a whole. Northlands can do the rodeo, they don't need hockey. I'm in agreement with you that money shouldn't be spent on business, but only if that applies to ALL business, including agriculture. Do you agree?