Details from a Feb. 21 proposal by Calgary Flames ownership to the city have emerged in a report by The Globe and Mail.
The letter sent to Calgary officials contains terms which outline Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp.’s desire to obtain much more than funding for a downtown arena.
Flames owners proposed “an option to buy and develop land near the events complex, a slice of the Stampede Casino’s revenue, all parking revenue from major events it would manage at the events complex,” and several other requests, according to the report. The Calgary Stampede is a non-profit organization.
In addition to the above revenue streams coveted by CSEC, the February proposal stipulated several expenses being covered by the city.
“The demands included the city of Calgary covering the cost of flood insurance, reimbursing the club for all provincial property taxes that may be imposed on the facilities, and requiring local ratepayers to pick up the bill for a public gathering place suitable for festivals next to the arena,” reads The Globe‘s report.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi rejected CSEC’s offer, and has butted heads with the private corporation over ensuing negotiations, calling the Flames’ next submission “not particularly different” than the original.
Flames president Ken King denied Nenshi’s claim.
“The process evolved and we ended up in quite a bit different place than where we started,” King told The Globe. “It is quite academic what, if any, the difference was.”
The two sides continued negotiations throughout the next months, with things coming to a halt on Sept. 12 when the Flames stepped back from the table, citing a lack of tangible process.
The following weeks have seen a war of words between Nenshi, King and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman play out in public, with a resolution seemingly far from being devised.
The Flames have played out of the Scotiabank Saddledome since 1983.
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