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United They Stand
Posted 10/18/2012 4:59:00 AM

What happened to city council?  I don’t recall seeing them so fired up or frustrated before.  Has the administration been questioned so in depth in the past?  The biggest surprise to me was that they all voted in favor of ceasing negotiations.  I thought there would be one or two hold-outs.  I thought someone would want to give the Katz Group one more chance, but no, they unanimously dropped the gloves.  Hockey fans were either applauding this show of strength or gasping in horror, with visions of losing the team.  So, what happens next?  We own half the design, so can we see about building it ourselves and keeping the revenue and leasing to the Oilers?  Would it be a scaled down model the taxpayers can afford, maybe still grand, but not as grandiose?  Some on council would support that.  I still think before that idea takes hold the first shovel that goes into the ground will be to bury the hatchet with the Katz Group.  There’s far too much at stake on both sides for an agreement to be impossible in a city as hockey-mad as this one.  We want this to end with an arena, not a penalty box. Let me know what you think.

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Posted By: Bob Layton  

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  • 22
  1. Richard posted on 10/18/2012 06:54 AM
    Bob, I think council finally, right at the very last moment woke up.

    I don't want an arena, but if we have to have one, let us build it ourselves and keep all the revenue.

    What the Katz group was doing was like asking us to buy a car for him. He gets to use it, he gets to rent it out, in exchange he parks it on our driveway!
    That deal wasn't good enough for him. Then he wanted us to pay him to use our car, pay him to advertise on our car, and rent a garage off him.
    It is great having the Oilers here, but we have many many more things to be proud of.
    Thank goodness council woke up.
    1. larry posted on 10/18/2012 11:50 PM This comment was edited by a moderator at 03:45 AM on 10/19/2012
      @Richard Nice, could not have said it any better myself.
  2. Barry posted on 10/18/2012 07:10 AM
    Morning Bob:

    Katz says he needs a $6 million subsidy. I am not a financial wiz,but I know that if I go to the bank for a loan I have to show financial records as to why I need the money. DK seems to think he can thumb his nose and just not show up to discuss this matter,and council will write a blank cheque. Sorry,not this time and I say good for council to just back away from this and wait for DK's next move. BTW who the heck is given Katz advice ?
    1. The Infidel - Mr. John posted on 10/18/2012 10:13 AM
      @Barry B_I_N_G_O !!!! Right on Barry! Pull that kind of boner at the bank, when you are trying to get a loan, and you'd see where your butt would be sitting,..out on the parking lot trying to figure out what happened!
  3. Andrew posted on 10/18/2012 08:31 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 10:23 AM on 10/18/2012
    Bob , your Poll should state , Do you agree with Mr KATZ ceasing the arena negotiations not the city.... lol
  4. Darryl posted on 10/18/2012 09:19 AM
    It's a old western showdown to see who blinks first!
  5. fred posted on 10/18/2012 09:35 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 10:22 AM on 10/18/2012
    So, remind me, how much money have we spent to get here? Now that the book of "How do I get my name in lights" is no longer the flavor of the day what is the new one to be called?
  6. Bob $ posted on 10/18/2012 09:40 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 10:21 AM on 10/18/2012
    "so can we see about building it ourselves and keeping the revenue and leasing to the Oilers?"
    Well, the puck finally dropped and the council team finally got their sticks on the ice, all at the same time. Keep the revenue and lease the building for the games to the Katz group.
    It was absolutely absurd of an idea to have this man involved in having the exclusive rights to ALL the revenue from EVERY event at this new building. What has been wrong with the format of operation that The Coliseum (I can't use those words Rexall Place right now) has been operating under. Hockey operates in that building for about 50-55 dates a year. Why would you turn ALL the revenue of that building over to someone who is only a part-time renter??? I don't get it!
    1. larry posted on 10/19/2012 12:03 AM
      @Bob $ Yes, what an oxy moron. we spend all this wasted energy and time and tax dollars debating over millions, which I also do not agree with, then turn around and say oh wel , maybe we will build it ourselves. What??
      Where is the minds of our Mayor and council. Maybe drenched in the over flooded under passes on the Whitemud.
  7. Big John posted on 10/18/2012 09:51 AM
    "Would it be a scaled down model the taxpayers can afford, maybe still grand, but not as grandiose?"
    Hey,...who wanted a new arena. Daryl Katz! Who led this whole fiasco for a new arena? Daryl Katz! Who has been throwing monkey wrenches into this whole deal to bring it down to the drop dead stop that it has become. Daryl Katz. Does this man "really" want this arena,..or is he just bored or something?
    This kind of thinking is typical of the society that we have become. A man is living in fear of losing his job because of the economy,...but he gets another paycheck,..and he says "Hey, I got another paycheck, let's celebrate, I can afford that new car now!"
    The taxpayers, more against this arena, than for it, have spoken, but the checkbook writers, the councillors, have not been listening. Well, maybe they will be listening now!!!
  8. Senator George posted on 10/18/2012 09:53 AM
    Boy, don't you want to be Daryl Katz, sitting in the packed out stands, at Rexall Place, coming to see "your hockey team" playing their first game, after the hockey lockout!
    Daryl,...show up,...your FANS will be there waiting for you. Not me thanks!
    1. Big John posted on 10/18/2012 10:10 AM
      @Senator George Yeah Senator George....That would be the first time that he would have to deal with "his fans", face to face, face off to face off, and it would not go over very well for him. Not only has he alienated his fans, by all this flip flopping and these hands off letters and news releases, he has managed to kick himself out of his own arena.
  9. Garry Chubb posted on 10/18/2012 11:12 AM
    It still looks like a "porkchop" to me!
    1. Zena D posted on 10/18/2012 10:39 PM
      @Garry Chubb Yeh...porkchop with a lot of fat around the edges.
  10. Jenny J posted on 10/18/2012 11:14 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 12:17 PM on 10/18/2012
    Daryl,..we don't want to play anymore! Daryl,....Daryl,....we don't WANT TO PLAY anymore,....games OVER!

    Bob replies: I think council does want to play, they just need to know the rules.
    1. JennyJ posted on 10/18/2012 01:16 PM
      @Jenny J Maybe Katz and da group can print them in the paper. It would sure be nice to see "something!"
  11. bankshot posted on 10/18/2012 11:16 AM
    I don't think the Katz Group was sincere about their commitment a year ago, so here we are.
  12. Lorne Corbett posted on 10/18/2012 02:09 PM
    Hi Bob...this current game within a game resembles a chess match. The black Queen and the white Queen duelling over the King (arena) while manipulating the pawns (public) . Other chess pieces, castles,bishop etc. are represented by sports writers, businesses etc. I can't wait for the checkmate if we still have the chessboard left.
  13. steve w. posted on 10/18/2012 07:08 PM
    I think before we start to worry about a dow nntown aren should wait and see what the NHL and NHLPA are going to do as I see it right now the two side a to blind by money to see whats in the best intrest. There are to many money hungry people out there. I think these people should put them selfs in a life style with there rest of the people that stuggle to make ends meet rather than fight over millions of dollors
  14. getting by posted on 10/18/2012 07:12 PM
    this I feel is just another misleading open endeded tax grab from the people of our city, back in the day, when the stadium was built it came with the promis of having a roof on it, as an indoor venue, hasn't happened, Canada place another open ended promis, Canada place was to be the highest goverment building in canada and is less then 1/4 of the floors it is designed to have, it was promised to house all edmonto goverment and provincial positions of business all at one convemt location to cut cost to the tax payers, another open ended promis.
    where is the acountability.
    or is it just point and case, to drag on and on, the old become forgetfull and the youth where not there to witness, and those who remember are far and inbetween.
    In a majority wins socity. who wins, when we all lose.
    this arena is a bad idea the location doesn't work, one acciedent in a snow storm blocking off traffic downtown and there goes your happy ending.
  15. Gail Fox posted on 10/18/2012 10:55 PM
    Let us see how long it takes our dear mayor to announce we, the tax payers, are going to pay for a new arena. Katz sounds like he has a deal in his back pocket involving the Oilers and that is why he is doing the side-step.
  16. larry posted on 10/19/2012 12:16 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 03:44 AM on 10/19/2012
    Tired of all this expensive arena talk. Fix the civil problems, the homeless problems; the working poor problems; the handicapped problems; the affordable living for seniors problems.

    kind of like buying candy instead of real food.
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