bodsbods9090
Active Member
"But here you go Calgary. We'll bend over and give you whatever you need to give to your billionaire owner".
Pathetic.
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- Thread starter Ned
- Start date
Pathetic.
David A
Senior Member
I am no fan of the UCP but am even less a fan of self defeating negativism. When funding the Calgary arena, the UCP actually indicated a willingness to fund some similar things in Edmonton.
This wasn't very specific or decided and still isn't, but it seems improvements to Commonwealth could fit the parameters. So we have an opportunity to host the Grey Cup upcoming and improve the facility.
So it seems like a good proposal to put forward. Lets not be our own worst enemies. We should not assume it will not be accepted or take an initial non committal response as a firm no.
This wasn't very specific or decided and still isn't, but it seems improvements to Commonwealth could fit the parameters. So we have an opportunity to host the Grey Cup upcoming and improve the facility.
So it seems like a good proposal to put forward. Lets not be our own worst enemies. We should not assume it will not be accepted or take an initial non committal response as a firm no.
TAS
Senior Member
It seems like a good proposal to put forward?
The city has already been requesting provincial money to upgrade Commonwealth Stadium - even after FIFA. It was in Sohi's letter to the province again prior to the last budget - a request for $185 million. Crickets!
Sohi asks province for roughly $2B in cash including $185M for Commonwealth Stadium upgrades
Edmonton's mayor has unveiled a multi-billion dollar wish list – including money for affordable housing, hydrogen buses and upgrades to Commonwealth Stadium – as Alberta works on a new budget.
And they will continue to do so again. I don't think that request of the city is in doubt.
But seriously, what else can Sohi do? He has requested money for various initiatives, including things that Calgary receives funding for, and he hears nothing. The city has heard nothing on its requests.
Maybe some public pressure? I don't know. But this notion that the city just needs to ask and we shouldn't be our own worst enemies is an interesting interpretation of what's happening here.
David A
Senior Member
You put it as a question, so I am wondering do you not think it is a good proposal to put forward?It seems like a good proposal to put forward?
The city has already been requesting provincial money to upgrade Commonwealth Stadium - even after FIFA. It was in Sohi's letter to the province again prior to the last budget - a request for $185 million. Crickets!
Sohi asks province for roughly $2B in cash including $185M for Commonwealth Stadium upgrades
Edmonton's mayor has unveiled a multi-billion dollar wish list – including money for affordable housing, hydrogen buses and upgrades to Commonwealth Stadium – as Alberta works on a new budget.edmonton.ctvnews.ca
And they will continue to do so again. I don't think that request of the city is in doubt.
But seriously, what else can Sohi do? He has requested money for various initiatives, including things that Calgary receives funding for, and he hears nothing. The city has heard nothing on its requests.
Maybe some public pressure? I don't know. But this notion that the city just needs to ask and we shouldn't be our own worst enemies is an interesting interpretation of what's happening here.
What else can Sohi do - ASK AGAIN!!! I am not blaming him here, but sometimes you need to be persistent and forceful. Perhaps, public pressure might help too.
Again, crickets is not NO. It could keep trying rather than giving up. No one said getting things is always easy.
Gronk!
Senior Member
Alberta has a surplus therefore they don't have any excuse to delay this.
TAS
Senior Member
Yes. I think we should request this funding of the province - as the city has done multiple times and will do so again. No one has said anything about giving up, certainly not Sohi or the city.
Not sure what you mean by being more persistent and forceful.
MacLac
Senior Member
YEG's share will come in due to time....Cartmell even said so a few months ago...."a proposal is in the works etc...."
David A
Senior Member
You seem to be somehow taking this as an attack on the Mayor which is really not my intention here.
Ned
New Member
Could you please explain more on the context of what Cartmell said. For example, was it in relation to matching the Calgary arena money or any details on the proposal itself?
TAS
Senior Member
Edmonton Commonwealth Stadium's $250-million renovation dream has no funding in reality
New renderings show what major upgrades at Commonwealth Stadium would look like, but Edmonton's mayor says the city can't afford it.
edmontonjournal.com
The $330 million for Calgary arena was noted.
“We know that it is a priority for the city to look at rehabilitation of the Commonwealth Stadium, but we would not be able to do this on our own. We need partnerships with the team as well as well as with the provincial government,” he told Postmedia Thursday.
Coun. Ashley Salvador agrees. The stadium, just outside her area of Ward Métis, is a huge driver of economic activity for the city and Western Canada, she said. Large crowds descended on the city for summer concerts, including Pink and Metallica.
“Edmonton needs a fair deal, right? Like that’s really what it comes down to.”
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IanO
Superstar
I still have this feeling that you will see a mixed-use outdoor 'stadium'/amphitheatre north of Rogers Place that will have a capacity of 25k, expandable to 35-40k for larger concerts or say a Grey Cup that will have a variety of partners involved.
*pure speculation
*pure speculation
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David A
Senior Member
A smaller amphitheater would be nice, but I don't think any sort of decent new stadium could be built for $250 million. Maybe the owner of the Elks will chip in bit, but we are not talking an NHL hockey team with a billionaire owner here. So that means even after any provincial money Edmonton taxpayers will probably be on the hook for another $250 million to $500 million.
TAS
Senior Member
Perhaps Katz would be chipping in as well given the noted location.
David A
Senior Member
Because he is the go to person to always ask for money? The NHL arena makes sense, but I don't think he gains much if anything by a CFL stadium. And if probably reduces the land he can develop here in the future.
Gronk!
Senior Member
Surely a CRL can suffice instead of municipal taxes? The current downtown CRL has worked quite well for the Ice District and is giving us the Warehouse Park.