What you're failing to recognize is that everything is relative to it's time. The original six rinks probably didn't need to be upgraded or changed for as long as you say, because things in the world and the game didn't change much for about 50 years. There's been more change in players salaries in the last 5 years, for example, that than there was for about 50 years from 1940-1990. There was never the need for corporate boxes or corporate support like there is today for decades upon decades. Point is, you need to change and improve with the times, or get left behind to die. The old Montreal Forum or MLGs could stay viable for decades during the last century. There is no way they could make it that long now. Maybe Rexall place would have lasted and been viable 60 years if built in the 1930's. Not a chance now. It's the way things are.
With all due respect if we're talking "relative to time" few of those US rinks would ever be built in todays economic downturn. They were built in the middle of an overly optimistic bubble.
"The way things are" is that fewer and fewer people want to be spending high ticket prices to see spoiled brats chase a puck. Ever since the last lockout 10 dollar seats and dirtcheap ticket promotions have been commonplace in US rinks.
No US municipality in their right mind should want to service this kind of debtload financing of private arena's in the midst of towns and cities going bankrupt across the US.
Northlands does "excellent business" in the concert business because it has virtually no competition. Its main competitor is an arena hundreds of kms away that can't accomodate the elaborate sets of many of the major touring acts...unlike Rexall Place.
Sure but where exactly have they screwed that business up? They've taken advantage of the situation but Jamin is saying they've "run every event and Rexall place horribly" what evidence do we have of that?
Have they chased that concert business out of town? Do promoters or bands complain about Northlands after they've been here? Did the World Curling championships say the event was poorly run? Or has the Rodeo tried to move to a different venue because they didnt like whats happening here? Havent seen any evidence of that. Rather it looks like Northlands has successfully pulled off all those events with nothing but praise going their way.
I dont think you just give Northlands the arena management for nothing and let them make nothing but profit. In any deal I see them taking on a lot of what Katz was supposed to commit to, maintenance and operation costs of the facility in exchange for the revenues from all non-hockey events.
We need a Packers style community owned team in the NHL. There are so many of these in Europe. How cool would a community driven hostile take-over be?
Get 250,000 to invest $1,000 a piece and buy the team for $250M. You can have different levels of investment too. Anyone who invests more that $50K gets a founders club share. There can be a specially built club for founders club members at the new arena.
We need a Packers style community owned team in the NHL. There are so many of these in Europe too. How cool would a community driven hostile take-over be?
That would be ideal but the NHL doesn't allow their teams to be community owned.
We need a Packers style community owned team in the NHL. There are so many of these in Europe. How cool would a community driven hostile take-over be?
Get 250,000 to invest $1,000 a piece and buy the team for $250M. You can have different levels of investment too. Anyone who invests more that $50K gets a founders club share. There can be a specially built club for founders club members at the new arena.
What part of arena updates are you paying for as a 1000 dollar owner? How much of the losses the team may incur will you be willing to absorb?
Yet, they don't deserve the same scorn when they come asking for cash?
You wonder why Northlands has dropped so far down in the minds of city residents....
Wonder how much Katz pays in taxes? Probably more then Northlands brings in for the government. That doesn't even count his business and everything else he runs.
Yet, they don't deserve the same scorn when they come asking for cash?
You wonder why Northlands has dropped so far down in the minds of city residents....
Northlands is a not-for-profit with close oversight and direction from the city. It's not a private for-profit corporation like Rexall/the Oilers. Apples and oranges.
Northlands is a not-for-profit with close oversight and direction from the city. It's not a private for-profit corporation like Rexall/the Oilers. Apples and oranges.
Most auditors will tell you that they see more graft in not-for-profits than they ever see in a private corporation.
So let me get this straight, Edmonton tax payers are willing to pay a hell of a lot more for a new Arena if its run by a not for profit company compared to if its run by Katz?
So let me get this straight, Edmonton tax payers are willing to pay a hell of a lot more for a new Arena if its run by a not for profit company compared to if its run by Katz?
What evidence is there that it would cost more? Again: Katz doesn't want to front anything here.
So let me get this straight, Edmonton tax payers are willing to pay a hell of a lot more for a new Arena if its run by a not for profit company compared to if its run by Katz?
