I know there are those that won’t be happy about the City of Edmonton’s agreement with the Katz group to build a new downtown arena, but thankfully, there was enough foresight to believe that it is worth the investment of time and money to make it happen.
I must admit, I may be biased because of what I do, but it doesn't take someone who works near the Oilers or because of the Oilers to see that this can and should be a great step forward for the city and the team.
Edmonton is spending a lot of money these days on light rail transit (LRT), the provincial legislature grounds has a new museum, so why not a new arena?
The proposal is for an arena, but it will actually result in much more than that. An entire arena district will be built.
The development will improve how others view the Alberta capital.
Speaking of capital, as in money, the price has been capped at $450 million, which sounds like a very generous amount of money to build a facility like this.
Three-hunder and fifty million has been accounted for and it's the last $100 million that needs to be found for this to happen.
The provincial and federal governments would be a great place to start.
Having seen other new arenas around the league, I like to use the analogy that I like my house and I’m comfortable in it, but it's 12-years-old.
When I go to the show home in my neighborhood and see a brand new home, it makes me think my place could use a renovation.
Well, Rexall Place has been nicely renovated over the years, but it's more than three decades old and so it’s time the Oilers had a new home.
I was working in Winnipeg when last-ditch efforts to save the Jets fell through. It was two fold. One, they needed someone or some people to buy the team. Two, they needed a new facility.
There wasn't enough money for both to happen.
There were those who seemed primed to purchase the club, but not without a new building. No new building, no team.
Edmonton: No new building and no team either.
Simply stated that's what would have happened.
My wife's family is from Winnipeg and I have family there as well. My cousin Dan has been dying a thousand deaths with all this Phoenix is coming…oh, wait a minute maybe not. Now Atlanta's on the way…well, just hold on a second.
It's winter seven months of the year in the prairies, so what we need more than anything is an NHL team…and maybe a snow blower.
I don't want Edmonton to be Winnipeg and be sitting around 15 years later waiting for the phone to ring.
I believe a team will eventually go back to Manitoba. Now it appears a team won't be leaving Edmonton...at least for the next 35 years.
On March 29, 1980 the Oilers beat the Maple Leafs 8-5.
That's the first time they won by that score and Wednesday night it was again the final score from city councillors in what's shaping up to be a best Katz scenario for the Oilers and Edmontonians.
