Comments on: On the $400 Million Arena Loan Request:

By: Don Iveson :: Edmonton City Councillor, Candidate for Re-Election Ward 10

Don Iveson :: Edmonton City Councillor, Candidate for Re-Election Ward 10 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:09:53 +0000

[...] This post follows up on three previous posts on the Arena topic: here, here and here. [...]

By: does downtown edmonton need a katz arena district? | daveberta.ca

does downtown edmonton need a katz arena district? | daveberta.ca — Sun, 30 May 2010 08:05:17 +0000

[...] While I liked the video, Mr. Katz avoided the most important question of the exercise: money. It is no secret that the Katz Group would like the City of Edmonton to loan upwards of $400 million towards a new downtown arena, likely making it the largest non-transportation-related one-time investment that our municipality will have ever made (Councillor Don Iveson recently explained the funding request issue more articulately than I ever could here and here). [...]

By: Shetal

Shetal — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:55:46 +0000

Hi Don,
I agree that no tax dollars should be used in the development in the arena project but I wish for something to be done for this arena to take place. I’ve been life long Oilers and the one complaint I had about our downtown is that there is very little to do. Most people that leave downtown by 5pm and it becomes barren with very little life. But with a new arena downtown, it will generate some revenue in the retail side as more and more people will have place to go to after the game for a place to eat. Currently, Rexall place does not have many venues near by that are appealing to even go to. West of Rexall is barren and suspect at best.
I agree with you on not using Tax payers dollars by force by it should be optional and it should be the citizens choice.
I have come up some ideas:
-hotel tax levy where if anyone stays at our hotels they would have to pay an extra 1 or 2 percent or;
-some sort of investment fund that would allow public citizens like myself to invest in the new arena no matter how small or how large the investment is

Whether these are even feasible or not is to be determined there has to another way for funding of a downtown arena.

By: JJK

JJK — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:25:51 +0000

Don, congrats, you have seen through some of the smoke screen. this is all about money. Katz is trying to get a new building where he gets all the revenues from concerts, and someone else pays for it, while he picks up the increase in value from his surrounding developments. If someone were doing the analysis they would find that the oilers are 7th most profitable team in NHL with the current deal. This isn’t about building the downtown, its about money. Money in the teams pocket, guised as revitalization. They had an option to renovate the building take it up to the newest standards everyone speaks to. Only problem, they wouldn’t get the concert revenue and they wouldn’t get the new suites they want. So they turned to the oldest gimmick in the books. There are lots of arenas they cite as examples where arenas have redeveloped a downtown. But they forget to mention is the countless others where they sit idle for the majority of the year and haven’t done a thing to revitalize a citys core. Keep up the great work and ask the tough questions, that why we elected you.

By: G.Smith

G.Smith — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:40:19 +0000

RE: Tax payers to pay $400 Million for new downtown arena

I am deeply opposed to the idea. There are truly more important items demanding our tax dollars and attention including; crumbling infrasture; homelessness; social programs; healthcare, transit, crime, etc. If the Katz Group wishes for a new building, they should flip the bill. Especially since reports have it they will be reaping the rewards including all revenue. Most Edmontonians cannot even afford to park at Oilers games. And this is what is all about, rich NHL owners getting even more rich off the backs of working class people. No way – I vote No to using tax payers dollars for a new downtown Arena!!

p.s keep up the good work !

G.Smith

By: Edmonton Notes for 2/13/2010 at MasterMaq's Blog

Edmonton Notes for 2/13/2010 at MasterMaq's Blog — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:23:05 +0000

[...] and the fallout that went along with it. Don’t miss Paula’s column on the issue, or Don’s two [...]

By: Martin Levenson

Martin Levenson — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:29:44 +0000

I get terribly nervous when developers start exchaning “promises” for tax concessions from City Council. We have an unfortunate history in this city of providing concessions, only to have the developer back out or greatly modify the plan. And there’s never any legal recourse should they do so.

Do people not remember the fiasco surrounding the development of Eaton Centre (now City Centre West)? Triple Five Corp promised office towers, residential towers, and a hotel. Well, I guess we got the hotel,but it’s a lot smaller than was proposed.

What about the old Bay development? There have been 3 or 4 proposals before the UofA finally moved in to “Enterprise Square”. In the meantime, the place stayed empty for a looooonnng time.

I’m not sold on the need for a downtown arena, and unless there are considerable PUBLIC facilities included (e.g. rec centre, pool, a decent concert venue-like an ampitheatre- seperate from the arena) I’m opposed to public money funding this.

I just hope our city councillors don’t get stars in their eyes and get suckered again. I’m all for downtown revitalization, but a better approach might be to tax all those ground level parking lots out of existance, and quit granting greenfield development permits for areas so far away that providing services is uneconomical!

By: Lee Harding

Lee Harding — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:28:17 +0000

Don, thank you for taking this stance and for clarifying the reasons you have done so.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation opposes public dollars going towards NHL arenas such as this one, so this is one issue on which you and the CTF agree.

The CTF campaign (with a link to a petition) is here: http://taxpayer.com/node/10979

P.S., I like your quip at the bottom of the screen.

By: Don Iveson :: Edmonton City Councillor, Ward 5

Don Iveson :: Edmonton City Councillor, Ward 5 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:02:22 +0000

[...] On the $400 Million Arena Loan Request: [...]

By: Edmonton Tax payer

Edmonton Tax payer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:49:12 +0000

I am glad to hear Don that you are listening to the wishes of your constituents. $400 million dollars is a lot of money in my opinion. If this is the stance that council will take on all issues I have no problem with it. My problem is that you guys pick and choose projects to support and rarely listen to the public. I made it quite clear to any politician who came to my door that I think the money that is wasted on the LRT is for the benefit of a minority of people in Edmonton. We could build a lot of arenas for what has been wasted on that project. Now you and your fellow councilors want to run this money pit to St. Albert. How much money is St. Albert contributing to this project? I admire your stance on the arena project, however you and the other elected officials should take the same stance and listen to the people on the money wasting train wreck that is the LRT.