[zahav]

Great proposal for Saskatoon. Nothing like a new arena and convention centre to solidify yourself as a major city. And it looks well thought out. But it is very much just a vision, it is not funded whatsoever. I don't know the political/civic climate in Saskatoon, but look what a saga it has been for Calgary to get a new arena/convention centre. So many attempts, then failure, and a lack of cooperation amongst all parties (the city, the team owners, and the province). Finally it got approved just last year. A quick Google search on the project already turns up news articles and opinion pieces against the project (I won't torture myself by reading that). I can understand when people's concern is strictly around public money being used, that is a legit consideration, as the costs for mega projects like this can be enormous, and especially risky for a city Saskatoon's size. But some people just oppose it because "the existing venue is just fine". Obviously just as an outsider with no in-person experience of the current arena:
-it looks adequate in size (over 15,000, very respectable considering there's no professional sports other than minor leagues). Arenas like Save On Foods Centre in Victoria (7,006 Hockey and 9,000 for Concerts) and Prospera Place in Kelowna (5,507 hockey and 8,000 for concerts) have much lower capacities, while having the same type of sports playing as Sasktel Centre.
-it is not that old. 1988 is not old beyond all hope, updates can be done to keep using an arena from that time. Look at BC Place, it is 6 years older than Sasktel Centre and was renovated adequately. And Sasktel is only 7 years older than Rogers Arena in Vancouver, so basically a right in between Rogers and BC Place, both of which have plenty of life left
-the main factor here is location. Had Sasktel been built right in downtown, I don't think there would be a push to build new. But circumstances as they are, Sasktel is an adequate venue for what it serves, but in the wrong location
-the convention centre expansion is a good idea (again, I have no clue the health or demand for that in Saskatoon particularly, but it is almost always a good decision putting larger, newer convention space right in a downtown). I assume the same logic applies to Saskatoon, it certainly has potential as a bigger convention destination). And governments always foot the bill for convention centres, it's the way it's done. Other than tourism boards or smaller civic groups, the bulk of funding for civic centres/convention centres is by levels of government. People will always hoo and haw about cost or necessity of these venues, but as long as they aren't a white elephant, they usually turn out being popular for a city in years to come (even iconic in some cases, ie. Canada Place). The uproar over cost normally dissipates and stops being a focus once the venue opens, even in projects that run well over budget. As long as the venue delivers, is popular, and generally has a positive impact on the downtown, then people move on from costs.

The arena portion though... that's a different story. Subsidizing a new arena to replace "a perfectly good existing one" would be less popular, especially being publicly funded. And without a big sports franchise in the city, not sure where the private investment would come from? But I do hope it gets done, everyone's rooting for you Saskatoon!