https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/new-calgary-arena-event-centre-ticket-tax
Article shows city council approved a 9.5% ticket tax for the CSEC to use to pay their 17 million debt each year. I mean why would we expect a billionaire to pay for anything when the fans can carry the whole cost.
by natefrost12
16 Comments
Lucky us
What an amazing deal struck by our council and DS, tax payers not only get the privilege to pay for 2/3 of the arena, we also get the privilege of paying 2/3 of the rent.
I wanted a new arena as much as any other Flames fan, but god did we get bent over. The deal Nenshi had struck was significantly better than this, and we’re probably top of the list for most public dollars spent on a private arena.
Thanks to Murray Edwards and one of the worst city councils in the history of this city.
What is the difference between this and simply increasing the ticket price?
Fine by me. Expected it the whole time and it’s the same as what’s in Edmonton, and their arena district has transformed their downtown. We should have just done Calgary Next but spent a decade giving everyone an opportunity to stand on a soap box and play to their base.
Its sad that this arena deal likely changed enough voters minds in Calgary that Smith was voted in.
I hate to break it to yall, but the taxpayers were always going to have to pay for this, it was just a question of weather it was gonna be all of it or splitting it with the Flames
As Gondek said it herself an arena would happen with or without the Flames
How do you think CSEC will pay for their debt otherwise? Either the money is collected as revenue and expensed as debt payment or it is collected as a tax and paid out to the city.
Regardless of the accounting labels and itemization of the ticket price, the cost will be passed on to consumers.
This will not make prices higher than if there was no tax. CSEC will find the ticket price that maximizes revenue and the ticket tax is included in that price calculation.
Ok cool. I’m already at peace with the idea I’ll probably never step foot in the place, mostly due to cost. This seems like another nail in that coffin. Enjoy your new arena fellow Flames fans
Soooo city (us) is fronting $800M, Murray is paying back $17M a year, except ticket tax (us) is paying more than half that.
This asshole is just cashing cheques
Between transportation, tickets, food, and drinks it’s going to be $150+ per game to sit in the nosebleeds and watch this team contend for a 5th overall pick. The building already feels like a library at times. It’s just going to get worse when the only people getting tickets are corporate expenses for making deals and entertaining clients.
Don’t vote for Gondek in the next election.
I’m also happy that as a community member of Alberta everyone outside of Calgary gets to also contribute over $300 million…
Holy yikes. This is a raw deal for us
Comon guys the flames are going to be paying at least 1 million a year for 500 years interest free. That’s pretty solid no?
You should see the tax those of us that will never step foot in the arena have to pay for it.