What ppl don't mention is the fact edmonton went throught the same thing with a 50/50 split (ownership/city funding) and the reimbursement of the city funding im x years. Nenshi only wants 1/3 of city funding. The NEXT proposal was one for a total new sports complex (hockey, football, etc) probkem with that proposal is the contaminated soil on that land would increase the costs to clean up.

You've entirely missed the point here.

The City of Detroit couldn't afford to help fund the new arena - but they did it because politicians get incredibly stupid with taxpayer dollars when it comes to subsidizing sporting venues.

You think Calgary taxpayers should foot the bill because Detroit taxpayers did?

Wow.
- Atomic Wedgie

DET is an epic failure and that is the baseline here?

Good god Eklund this mobile layout is poop

move them to Seattle! done!

I like the CalgaryNext plan with the rink, field and sports facilities. This would have opened up so much for Cowtown. Not only a new arena for better concerts but a Indoor stadium for CFL and possibly MLS.....plus any number of other events. Add to that a field house and other sports related attractions this would have benefited Calgary for a long time. Do like Sask and make it a loan.....Calgary needs this done..
sooner than later....plus I would love to see the CFLs best team playing indoors...
- FlamesNOTLames

And you will....every year on Labour day.

move them to Seattle! done!
- wingz4life

(frank) off Loser!

OK, let's do this - shall we?



I don't have a dog in this fight, so whatever.

But it's a bit silly to suggest that Flames owners aren't the problem in negotiating a deal when they are asking for a lot of money. Like what, they've asked really nicely several times, so they deserve it?
Okay Atomic Wedge:
Why would you even comment about the situation when you obviously do not know the facts/details? The Flames owners have suggested/provided several options - the city continually says no but does not counter, & does not negotiate! Nenshi acts like the school yard bully. Please show a little respect & don't simplify the whole mess by implying that Flames just made a couple changes with how they asked for money



Once again, it's the Flames' job to create a deal that is acceptable to the City of Calgary, not the other way around.
And why is that now?? The city will gain more from keeping the Flames in town, than the Flames will by having a new stadium. The city will lose millions/billions of dollars if the Flames leave. You don't see that? Why do the Flames have to satisfy the city? This is a negotiation & both parties have to give in order to move ahead - that's how business works!



Well, this is where we get into blind fan-logic. The Flames are asking for taxpayers to pay for a large portion of it.

The Flames themselves are also paying for a large portion of it. Why shouldn't the taxpayers pay for some of it. All of us will benefit in one way or another from stimulation of the economy we are living in as a result of keeping the team here.



The $400,000 donation is a bit misleading. A lot misleading, actually.

It's not like they took $400,000 out of their pockets. They essentially collected it from the public and corporations. For at least the corporations, they would have earmarked that money to charities if there was no Flames golf tournament. So the Flames make a big donation and enjoy the tax benefits. Clap clap clap, but let's not make them out to be martyrs, OK?

You can choose to spin this however you want but the fact is that the local charities would not have received $400,000. yesterday if the Flames did not have their golf tournament fund raiser. The money donated is a direct result of the Flames in the community.


Why does the city need to provide the Flames with a new stadium?

Again - this is a 2 way street - a negotiation - both parties benefit immensely - why should the Flames owners shoulder 100% of the load? Yes - they are very wealth businessmen - so what! That doesn't mean they should just spend it because they have it. A fair & equitable agreement should mean that all parties that benefit, should contribute to the cost


I guess we will see if the bolded statement is correct. But the current polling disagrees with you.
- Atomic Wedgie

What polling are you talking about - how can you just make blind statements like that knowing nothing about what you are talking. If you are referring to the Calgary election, there have been zero polls yet.

Reasonable people will understand that it will require a negotiation and contributions from both sides before this happens. And don't kid yourselves - the Flames can leave Calgary - ask Winnipeg, ask Quebec City. Why did they both build stadiums (WITH PUBLIC MONEY) after they lost their NHL Teams???

no

Ok, there are a lot of comments on this post that are just wrong - - and that I think are written from a perspective of the comment writer truly not knowing the situation in Calgary. I will provide some facts to help out.
--Mayor Nenshi is a pompous, self righteous, loud mouth who does not have a clue in almost everything that he is involved in. He is the worst Mayor that Calgary has had in my 30 years living here. The problems with getting a deal done is all on him - not on the Flames! he needs to be voted out in the Oct election - but he probably won't be.
--The Flames have been trying, in good faith, to get a deal done for several years now. They have adjusted their plans, they have accommodated City (Nenshi) requests. Nenshi just will not put any priority on it at all and has been putting them off.
--The Flames are not asking taxpayers to pay for it, they are asking that a combination of the Flames pay a portion (over $200 million) and then a combination of governmental money (Municipal, provincial and federal governments) chip in. There is nothing wrong with that request - it is fair. Edmonton got 3 levels of government chipping in on their rink - why should we be any less?
--The Saddledome is the oldest building in the league and it is out dated. Calgary deserves better. The Flames have given back millions & millions of dollars to the community since coming to Calgary (just yesterday they donated $400,000 to local charities from their golf tournament). This is not a take take take situation by the Flames.
--The city (Nenshi) needs to stop putting off the Flames owners and they need to come to the plate. Either way, a new arena will get built - the city can choose to do it with Flames money - or without Flames money. Pretty much a no brainer isn't it?
--The building will be in use for many different functions/events other than Flames games. It will be a part of Calgary's identity - just as the Saddledome is today. It deserves government money.
--This issue is way too big and way too many details for me to try to summarize - but I just wanted to let people know that there are lots of Calgary taxpayers like me who want their tax dollars to go toward a new arena. Nenshi has wasted a poop load of my money already on things he had no business doing, now here is the 1 thing that I agree with spending money on and he is stonewalling.
--If you live in Calgary - please vote in the municipal election and help us to get rid of that waste of skin.

And you know what really sucks? I am writing about (frank)ing politics on a Hockey blog! Sorry all!
- hags11

Good god Eklund this mobile layout is poop
- Streit2ThePoint

Hi Streit2ThePoint,

We appreciate your feedback and take comments like this very seriously. We aim to please our customers and will get our tech department to look into this matter. Should you have any other concerns or comments, please feel free to send Eklund a private message so that he may contact the correct department.

Thank you and have a great day,
TheCat29
Human Resources Manager

Ek- this new mobile hockeybuzz site is awful. Just awful

Ek- this new mobile hockeybuzz site is awful. Just awful
- HB77

Hi HB77,

We appreciate your feedback and take comments like this very seriously. We aim to please our customers and will get our tech department to look into this matter. Should you have any other concerns or comments, please feel free to send Eklund a private message so that he may contact the correct department.

Thank you and have a great day,
TheCat29
Human Resources Manager

Ek- this new mobile hockeybuzz site is awful. Just awful
- HB77

Dude you just got me fired.

I worked my ass off on this new Mobile format and all you fukcers do is female dog. Once you get used to it you will find that it works pretty well. For a site that you don't even pay for you should really stop complaining and just enjoy the sweet rumors and sizzling hot takes.

If more of you would pay to play you could have a better site. But you ridicule the people that actually care (pay) about it and don't appreciate all the hard work that goes into it.

So, now I have no choice but to call eichiefs wife and beg her to take my broke, out of work ass back.

Dude you just got me fired.

I worked my ass off on this new Mobile format and all you fukcers do is female dog. Once you get used to it you will find that it works pretty well. For a site that you don't even pay for you should really stop complaining and just enjoy the sweet rumors and sizzling hot takes.

If more of you would pay to play you could have a better site. But you ridicule the people that actually care (pay) about it and don't appreciate all the hard work that goes into it.

So, now I have no choice but to call eichiefs wife and beg her to take my broke, out of work ass back.
- DuranDuran

That's fair. In fact, I'm gonna buy a season ticket right now.

What polling are you talking about - how can you just make blind statements like that knowing nothing about what you are talking. If you are referring to the Calgary election, there have been zero polls yet.

Reasonable people will understand that it will require a negotiation and contributions from both sides before this happens. And don't kid yourselves - the Flames can leave Calgary - ask Winnipeg, ask Quebec City. Why did they both build stadiums (WITH PUBLIC MONEY) after they lost their NHL Teams???



- hags11

Just build the biggest and best arena and make Edmonton pay for it.

Just build the biggest and best arena and make Edmonton pay for it.
- Tumbleweed

Well we already do all the work in this Goddamn province, we might as well pay for everything too.

Everyone loves to hate the Leafs, but they're one of the only teams in sports it seems that didn't beg for taxpayer money to build their barn.

It's a common practice in cities around the globe for taxpayers to foot the bill, but it doesn't change that it's a horrible disservice to taxpayers.

Dude you just got me fired.

I worked my ass off on this new Mobile format and all you fukcers do is female dog. Once you get used to it you will find that it works pretty well. For a site that you don't even pay for you should really stop complaining and just enjoy the sweet rumors and sizzling hot takes.

If more of you would pay to play you could have a better site. But you ridicule the people that actually care (pay) about it and don't appreciate all the hard work that goes into it.

So, now I have no choice but to call eichiefs wife and beg her to take my broke, out of work ass back.
- DuranDuran

Before you go, can you tell me how to get emojis on the phone version & how to go directly into the comments rather than have to open the blog - who the (frank) wants to read the blog??

Thanks double D

Before you go, can you tell me how to get emojis on the phone version & how to go directly into the comments rather than have to open the blog - who the (frank) wants to read the blog??

Thanks double D
- Aussiepenguin

Scroll to bottom of main page where blogs are listed. Look for the link at the bottom that says "desktop site". Click on those words. Enjoy the old version.

Scroll to bottom of main page where blogs are listed. Look for the link at the bottom that says "desktop site". Click on those words. Enjoy the old version.
- wreckage

Cheers for that. I'll give it a go tomorrow when I check if the Flames have moved yet!

Why would you move a hockey market team when you have other's who are in more need of a move like NJ or the Islanders? Calgary moving would be bad for hockey

Why would you move a hockey market team when you have other's who are in more need of a move like NJ or the Islanders? Calgary moving would be bad for hockey
- KreiderBomb

the arena is falling apart. if they have no arena to play in, they'll need a new place to play. its the oldest building in the nhl and the team 100% needs a new arena so if nothing happens they'll need to move.

the arena is falling apart. if they have no arena to play in, they'll need a new place to play. its the oldest building in the nhl and the team 100% needs a new arena so if nothing happens they'll need to move.
- lplafrance

I'm not sure of the geography being from a little place a little way away, but wouldn't sharing the brand new arena with the Oil be a great idea. Would bring the Battle of Alberta to a new level!?

I'm not sure of the geography being from a little place a little way away, but wouldn't sharing the brand new arena with the Oil be a great idea. Would bring the Battle of Alberta to a new level!?
- Aussiepenguin

It's a 3 hour drive city to city.

It's a 3 hour drive city to city.
- Larsson_fan

Well why the bloody hell did you guys build it so far away for??

So, not so close but just close enough for the hate to exist!