New Downtown Calgary Arena

[geotag277]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

That is complete nonsense that keeps getting propagated by the media because they want to be the ones to have the biggest say in who wins.

That's some grade A conspiracy kookiness right there.

Media would benefit hugely from unrestrained political budgets. They rake in the money with campaign ads on top of the usual extra attention during election season which increase advertising dollars. Election periods are typically the most profitable time for media companies, largely due to campaign ads driving up the cost of advertising.

Where else do you think this money would go?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle...6-9c6f-11e6-9980-50913d68eacb_story.html

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Is it because you think elections can be bought?

Saying elections cannot be outright bought therefore money isn't a problem is like saying water only makes me wet therefore drowning doesn't exist.

Money is a huge influencer on elections, and just because there have been some high profile cases where the bigger budget doesn't necessarily lead to the winning outcome, doesn't mean we shouldn't keep a close eye on campaign finance laws.

Bill Smith arguably leveraged a highly well funded campaign to get greater than 40% of the vote. He didn't have any ideas or any platform, that was the sheer influence of having such a well funded campaign. If the election was decided on ideas, why didn't Chabot get more votes, since he had more ideas than Smith?

Money and politics is a dangerous relationship, we shouldn't be headed in the wrong direction here.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by geotag277

That's some grade A conspiracy kookiness right there.

Media would benefit hugely from unrestrained political budgets. They rake in the money with campaign ads on top of the usual extra attention during election season which increase advertising dollars. Election periods are typically the most profitable time for media companies, largely due to campaign ads driving up the cost of advertising.

Where else do you think this money would go?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle...6-9c6f-11e6-9980-50913d68eacb_story.html

I'm well aware that media companies would benefit financially from more campaign spending. I'm also aware that it wouldn't be enough to make a difference to them--we're talking Canada here not America. I'm also aware that the media in this country are part of the elite. You must be very naive to think that they don't have a ton of influence politically in this country.

Saying elections cannot be outright bought therefore money isn't a problem is like saying water only makes me wet therefore drowning doesn't exist.

Money is a huge influencer on elections, and just because there have been some high profile cases where the bigger budget doesn't necessarily lead to the winning outcome, doesn't mean we shouldn't keep a close eye on campaign finance laws.

I've stated numerous times before that disclosure laws need to be strengthened and enforced. What I've called for goes way beyond what's happening now. As for your "some" comment, I listed damn near every recent election. The narrative that elections can be bought just isn't true. Maybe in corrupt third world countries it is but we're talking about North America.

Bill Smith arguably leveraged a highly well funded campaign to get greater than 40% of the vote. He didn't have any ideas or any platform, that was the sheer influence of having such a well funded campaign. If the election was decided on ideas, why didn't Chabot get more votes, since he had more ideas than Smith?

You think Smith got ~43% of the vote because of the amount of money he spent? I thought you said you paid attention to what happened during the election? You clearly didn't! People voted for him b/c he was the best anti-Nenshi candidate available. As for Chabot, he didn't get more votes for a number of reasons: his ideas weren't sold enough (thanks to very little campaign contributions) and thus the public didn't know much about him despite his lengthy time on council, he couldn't sell himself as the complete anti-Nenshi candidate because of his voting record on council, and because the media focused almost exclusively on the Smith vs. Nenshi storyline. Smith's background and conservatives using the election to hone their battle skills for the big prizes up for grabs in 2019 were way more interesting to the media than underdog Chabot's story. If Chabot had more money it might have been a different story.

[Quote/Money and politics is a dangerous relationship, we shouldn't be headed in the wrong direction here.[/QUOTE]

Having an uneducated electorate is even worse, especially when so many are influenced by biased media reports. I want to hear in detail and directly from the candidates exactly what it is they plan on doing and how they plan on keeping their promises. People should not be basing their votes on bullet-point lists their local paper comes up with which 99% of the time are slanted to favor the candidate the owner of the paper wants to win and not what each candidate actually stands for.

By the way, thanks for the insult at the beginning. It shows your inability to engage in serious debate when confronted with view points that you don't agree with and/or don't understand.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

You think Smith got ~43% of the vote because of the amount of money he spent?

I wouldn't have said so before the election, but seeing a complete nobody with no policies go from nothing to the strongest contender in no time, and everyone claiming a fact that Nenshi is 'arrogant' and against an arena despite no one thinking this a few months ago , I now believe that there have to have been people/money influencing the media to coerce the public into thinking how they do. I actually can't believe 'arrogant' is even an insult here anyway, considering the typical Albertan Conservative is the most entitled, arrogant, ignorant bile spewer possible (see Jason Kenney).

Will we eventually get to see BS' donor list now that the election is over?

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Will we eventually get to see BS' donor list now that the election is over?

Legally required by March 1st, for donations over $100.

[Socguy]

Corndogger, If you believe that elections cannot be bought why are you concerned with donor lists? Why should it matter who is giving money if money can't influence elections?

Perhaps we should we pass laws banning private and business donations but allow unlimited union donations? Shouldn't matter if money doesn't influence elections... right...?

[Calgarian]

Are we really talking about this in 3 threads now?

[Socguy]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Are we really talking about this in 3 threads now?

Good point. Elections over. Time to move this to it's own thread or at least the general one.

[patm]

Originally Posted by suburbia

It is a massive market and hugely important. The contract stipulates three Western Canadian teams.

Hard to be dismissive about the biggest piece of revenue for the entire league.

Flames broadcasts routinely come in below american teams on Rogers (last season). Sure its an important market relative to Canada, but it's not some insurmountable hurdle. In fact, I'm sure they have contingencies for losing Canadian teams in the contract.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by patm

Flames broadcasts routinely come in below american teams on Rogers (last season). Sure its an important market relative to Canada, but it's not some insurmountable hurdle. In fact, I'm sure they have contingencies for losing Canadian teams in the contract.

Irrespective, it is the value applied by the media companies. Comes back to the dollars this is all linked to.

I agree the product is not very good - and that is why I've also stopped watching.

[Black Star]

Calgary has just bought Northlands.....Congrats brothers.

From of Moodib C2E.



giphy by BLACK STAR III, on Flickr

[Suburgatory]

Why are they taking it to the Arizona desert?

[Rollerstud98]

Phoenix needs a new team since the Coyotes are now Arizona

[Jay in Cowtown]

If they were clever enough to dub Rexall Place & Global News graphics in to that video... you'd think they could have colored the sand white too.

[patm]

The relocation threats are now official.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/houston-nhl-expansion-calgary-flames-arena-relocation/?shawct=1

Frankly, if the only way they stay is by extorting hundreds of millions of dollars from tax payers with no chance of recouping any of it then they can leave. Seeeee ya.

[Calgarian]

Flames aren't going anywhere.

[Rollerstud98]

Nothing in that article came off as a thread from the Flames of relocation.

[patm]

I guess official is a strong word but the rumours are now starting.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by patm

I guess official is a strong word but the rumours are now starting.

Video of PatM's source:

[geotag277]

I wonder if the Flames will connect the lack of demand for their product with their insufferable behaviour?

This is not how business in Calgary is successful. Whining and pouting and bitching and threatening your own customers and extorting hard working tax payers in the largest recession this city has seen in a generation where real small business owners are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising taxes.

They should leave. Their entire management team has shown itself to be absolutely tone deaf, incompetent, and outright insulting to the intelligence of every citizen of this city and every one of their loyal fans.

I've always thought it made the most sense for them to just leave to a new American market so that the NHL can continue with their expansion and interest building in the American market, while a hopelessly non-viable expansion south of the border can come back to Calgary once they are on the brink of bankruptcy. It makes sense for them to have a proven profitable market in their back pocket as they continue to experiment with the NHL in different American markets.

Hopefully next time the team can have owners more like Harley Hotchkiss, and less like these entitled overly political conservative old boys club idiots who routinely think nothing of insulting our mayor and threatening their own fans. Hotchkiss would have never allowed this.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by geotag277

I wonder if the Flames will connect the lack of demand for their product with their insufferable behaviour?

This is not how business in Calgary is successful. Whining and pouting and bitching and threatening your own customers and extorting hard working tax payers in the largest recession this city has seen in a generation where real small business owners are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising taxes.

They should leave. Their entire management team has shown itself to be absolutely tone deaf, incompetent, and outright insulting to the intelligence of every citizen of this city and every one of their loyal fans.

I've always thought it made the most sense for them to just leave to a new American market so that the NHL can continue with their expansion and interest building in the American market, while a hopelessly non-viable expansion south of the border can come back to Calgary once they are on the brink of bankruptcy. It makes sense for them to have a proven profitable market in their back pocket as they continue to experiment with the NHL in different American markets.

Hopefully next time the team can have owners more like Harley Hotchkiss, and less like these entitled overly political conservative old boys club idiots who routinely think nothing of insulting our mayor and threatening their own fans. Hotchkiss would have never allowed this.

Exactly! I also just don't get how people can still be so loyal to a team that shows such disdain for its fans.