Edmonton's proposed new arena

[DaBoltsNIsles]

As of today, Quebec is further along with their arena than Edmonton...

/Quebec Oilers?!?

The Islanders don't have ANY arena plans. If it's not Brooklyn, they're probably headed elsewhere. Wang doesn't have the money to build it himself. The politicians are against him & the people in Nassau County already told him to go to hell.

 

[blindbaby]

How far away is Brooklyn from Uniondale? Seems like that wouldn't be too bad a move, no?

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

How far away is Brooklyn from Uniondale? Seems like that wouldn't be too bad a move, no?

Brooklyn is fine in terms of location & transportation. The problem is the seating. Is 14,500 to 15K enough seats for the NHL?

 

[dash]

Brooklyn is fine in terms of location & transportation. The problem is the seating. Is 14,500 to 15K enough seats for the NHL?

The MTS Centre in Winnipeg holds 15,003 patrons. So I guess the answer to that question is affirmative.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The MTS Centre in Winnipeg holds 15,003 patrons. So I guess the answer to that question is affirmative.

We're going to find out if it's enough for Wang in a couple of years because things have been quiet on the new arena front for the Islanders.

 

[dash]

A little tidbit from the Edmonton Journal:

EDMONTON - The Katz Group asked city council for more money to fund the proposed downtown arena Wednesday, but councillors said no.

Asked if he was still optimistic the arena will be built, Edmonton mayor Mandel said “optimistic might not be the best word.
“Frustrated might be a better word,” he said.

Asked if council had been blindsided, Coun. Kim Krushell said, “I would characterize it that I was surprised.

There is growing concern among some, including the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, that the $450-million project is in trouble. The city has yet to find all the funding it needs for construction.

Mandel said the ball is in the Katz Groups’ court.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

A little tidbit from the Edmonton Journal:

EDMONTON - The Katz Group asked city council for more money to fund the proposed downtown arena Wednesday, but councillors said no.

Asked if he was still optimistic the arena will be built, Edmonton mayor Mandel said “optimistic might not be the best word.
“Frustrated might be a better word,” he said.

Asked if council had been blindsided, Coun. Kim Krushell said, “I would characterize it that I was surprised.

There is growing concern among some, including the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, that the $450-million project is in trouble. The city has yet to find all the funding it needs for construction.

Mandel said the ball is in the Katz Groups’ court.

Wow!!

I thought this was much closer to being a done deal.

 

[dash]

I was just thinking that it would be pretty funny if Darryl Katz showed up on "Dragon's Den" with his Edmonton arena/downtown revitalization proposal asking for investors...

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Well the Oilers are NHL Network's team so anything to do with the Oilers will be on their show.

 

[dash]

Well the Oilers are NHL Network's team so anything to do with the Oilers will be on their show.

What's the name of that show? Oil Change? Looks like the city and Katz need a lot more than just spare change?

 

[puckhead]

Wow!!

I thought this was much closer to being a done deal.

What's the name of that show? Oil Change? Looks like the city and Katz need a lot more than just spare change?

Katz has the money, but he is just an unbelievably cheap douche, and wants Edmonton to pay for it anyways
will nickel and dime endlessly over a multi-million dollar deal.

put him and bettman alone in a room and you could generate electricity from the sheer force of the stubbornness.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

What's the name of that show? Oil Change? Looks like the city and Katz need a lot more than just spare change?

You're right it's called Oil Change. I've watched a few episodes. The draft stuff is interesting. They truly believed they hit homeruns on Tyler Pitlick & Martin Marincin in 2010. The jury is still out on those guys.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Katz has the money, but he is just an unbelievably cheap douche, and wants Edmonton to pay for it anyways
will nickel and dime endlessly over a multi-million dollar deal.

put him and bettman alone in a room and you could generate electricity from the sheer force of the stubbornness.

Is it too much to ask owners to put some of their own money into these arenas? I'm not saying Katz should pay for the entire thing himself, but I don't think 25% is too much to ask.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

interesting!!!

David Staples ‏@dstaples
Some at city hall worried Katz is trying to scuttle deal so he can take better offer in Seattle. Suspicion/paranoia abounds!

 

[dash]

interesting!!!

David Staples ‏@dstaples
Some at city hall worried Katz is trying to scuttle deal so he can take better offer in Seattle. Suspicion/paranoia abounds!

But I thought Katz bought the team from the EIG (Edmonton Investors Group) because he loves the Oilers and wanted to make sure they stayed in Edmonton?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

If the Coilers move to Seattle Id like to see them go with the "Thunderturd" name and logo

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Are the Oilers really suffering as a franchise that they need to move? Can't we save the potential landing spot of Seattle for PHX, FLA, CBJ, NYI (sadly), NJD (sadly)?

 

[dash]

If the Coilers move to Seattle Id like to see them go with the "Thunderturd" name and logo

Oh man, that's bad, but funny

 

[dash]

Are the Oilers really suffering as a franchise that they need to move? Can't we save the potential landing spot of Seattle for PHX, FLA, CBJ, NYI (sadly), NJD (sadly)?

No, they're not struggling at all, but they do need a new arena. Katz is just being a tightwad and wants public money (municipal and provincial) to kick in additional money to help him finance it.

 

[puckhead]

No, they're not struggling at all, but they do need a new arena. Katz is just being a tightwad and wants public money (municipal and provincial) to kick in additional money to help him finance it.

as a reminder, Daryl Katz estimated net worth is $2.43 billion
which, by the way is greater than the operating budget of the city of Edmonton.