Edmonton Hiding Facts From Tax Payers?

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is accusing Edmonton city officials of hiding some important facts in its review of a $450 million NHL hockey arena proposed for the downtown.

The report apparently omitted the fact that most other arenas in Canada were built with 100% private funding. Edmonton is asking taxpayers to foot 70% of the funding bill for the proposed new facility.

Meanwhile, Daryl Katz, who just purchased the franchise, has agreed to cough up $100 Million toward a new arena.

Interestingly enough, a great thought was spoken in the comments of the original article:

The number of people that would directly enjoy the Oiler play is about 20,000 or 2% of the population. The balance that watch the Oilers on TV - they could care less if the game is an old building or a new building, downtown, uptown, in the burbs or wherever. Of those 20000 seats, 10,000+ are owned by corporate sponsors. Let them pay.

Fans Have Been Priced Out Of The Market!

I must agree that the average hockey fan can no longer afford to see a live hockey game, much less several games per year.

Seriously, how many individual hockey fans can afford season tickets along with the associated costs such as parking, refreshments, food, souvenirs etc.?

It’s a damn shame that purchase of season tickets has become more of a “chest-thumping” corporate perquisite than a way to develop a community of superfans.

The premiere seats at most arenas are now filled “suits” rambling on their iPhone and/or Blackberry making it painfully obvious that the only reason they are at the game is because the “company” is picking up the tab - too bad those tickets couldn’t go to someone who actually loves the game.