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Edmonton taxpayers are going to be fleeced without affection or mercy by the Katz Group. This has been in the cards since this atrocious deal was pre-approved last year. Having done some reading though, we can still pull out of this money trap and it looks as if Katz is giving us the golden ticket out. Tony Caterina said in today’s Edmonton Journal:
“The company’s new demands aren’t just for more capital dollars and an ongoing $6-million subsidy for the proposed arena, Coun. Tony Caterina said.
“They don’t want to pay taxes,” he said. “They want help now in operating the arena. They want a guaranteed subsidy. They want the city to be their tenant in a major office building. They want the casino licence.” These were the requests presented behind closed doors last week in a meeting Caterina said should have been public.
“If everybody knew exactly what these new positions were, I think everyone would have seen it as council saw it, which is very unreasonable.”
You don’t say.
This entire arena process has been about trying to get the best possible terms for the legalized blackmail of the the city of Edmonton from Day 1. Otherwise Katz and company are going to move the team. Good. Go. There are myriad of other city projects that actually help the city that need funding, the LRT, Low Income housing, road repair are all in need of more cash. If Katz wants to have a new arena, he can pay for it himself.
The other option is that the city of Edmonton builds and OWNS the arena and gets ALL of the revenue benefits from the complex, plus rent from Oilers.
I’m not hearing a lot from the usual right-wing suspects about the arena because, of course, socialism for the rich is just fine. If this was funding a school or a woman’s shelter I’m sure the hemming and hawing would already be loud and clear, building toward the usual “fiscal crisis” Armageddon they manufacturer when tax dollars are spent on the disadvantaged.
Woo! It is lock out time for the NHL and not a moment to soon. The great showdown between millionaires is about to begin supported by the gullible hockey fan. Just take in the love they have for fans as they gouge you for parking, beverages and food. Oh and ever higher ticket prices, let us not forget that.
“Damage from another lockout will occur almost immediately, and there is no telling how jilted fans and sponsors will react to another shutdown, especially if it stretches through the fall and into the winter.
Management’s latest offer has a short shelf life. Once the lockout begins, Bettman says the economic damage would cause owners to offer players a less beneficial deal.
Players currently receive 57 per cent of hockey-related revenue, and the owners want to bring that number down as far as perhaps 47 per cent — which is an increase from their original offer of 43 percent.
“The fact is, we believe that 57 per cent of HRR is too much,” Bettman said.
The union offered a deal based on actual dollars, seeking a guarantee of the $1.8 billion US players received last season. Annual industry revenue has grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion under the expiring deal.
Players are concerned management hasn’t addressed the league’s financial problems by re-examining the teams’ revenue-sharing formula. Having made several big concessions to reach a deal in 2005, the union doesn’t think it should have to make more this time after record financial growth.”
It is you, the fan, paying for all these rubber disk chasers and yes you might be pissed off now, but you’ll come crawling back and they *KNOW* that. Maybe this time they won’t spread rice on floor before you prostate yourself once again to the hockey gods, and you’ll be happy.
Sadfaced millionaires and sadfaced billionaires are fighting it out right now about how to divide the outrageous plunder made in the National Hockey League.
Boo-Frickety-Hoo!
The players in the NHL are overpaid. Chasing a rubber disk around a rink should not be multi-millionaire territory. I’m thinking important occupations that improve our society should get the big bucks, you know like doctors, scientists,engineers, educators, social workers et cetera; occupations that make a difference.
My solution to the NHL vs. NHLPA problem?
1. No one makes over a million dollars. Too bad so sad, you’re lucky to be paid for playing a game.
2. Profits from advertising/ticket sales/ concessions are capped at 15%.
3.The excess money goes back into developing the game at the grassroots and making it safer for all those involved. From midget leagues on up, kids would have the best equipment and facilities to practice the great game of hockey. Medical care for injured players and further medical research into common injuries would be fully funded in order to make the game safer and generally make the game better for all those involved.
4. A retirement pension fund would also be established to help players retire/transition to other roles in society.
5. Ticket prices would be reduced to make the game accessible to more people, while keeping the funding structure in place to support points 3 and 4.
The inflated greed that ruins the NHL makes it unwatchable. Wow! overpaid douche one just scored on overpaid douche two, oh the drama of it all.
Bringing hockey back to a reasonable level would be awesome, I’d watch hockey again because then truly it would be Canada’s national sport (kinda like Lacrosse which actually is Canada’s national sport).
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
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