The good and the bad: Edmonton's proposed new arena

On the issue of a new arena, we defer to our guest poster on the AGRDT sports beat, MR. Thanks for an insightful analysis!

The long awaited Edmonton arena feasibility report came out on Tuesday, and to the surprise of no one, it glowingly endorsed a downtown arena. What people seem to forget about this report is that it is only the preliminary stage of the process, it’s not a plan and therefore it lacks the details that would be associated with a plan. Nonetheless the document will guide future decisions so let’s take a look at the good, and the bad:

The Good

•“That existing parking in the multipurpose activity district be maximized.”

According to the report parking and traffic will not be a concern because last new years “more than 35,000 people gathered in Sir Winston Churchill Square without overcrowding, creating parking challenges, or causing any traffic problems as the crowds dispersed.” So take that… Seriously though, while I don’t agree that one debatably successful instance of smooth mass exodus from the downtown core proves anything, I do agree that parking and traffic should not be a concern. That is assuming that the location selected has proximal access to public transportation. A lack of parking might even encourage people to leave their vehicles at home.

• “The facility should be programmed to maximize use through concerts, events, shows and community uses, given the limited numbers of Oilers games annually.”

To me this was recognition of the fact that it is not a good idea to simply plop an arena that remains dark on most nights into the downtown core…it’s a start.

• “That a sports/entertainment facility within a multipurpose activity district be designed to link the neighbourhood, the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton capital region and central and northern Alberta.”

Anyone who read my previous post knows that I think it is absolutely crucial for this project to be more then just a big old building. There is not much detail here, but at least the idea is being presented. Hopefully, as the planning process continues we will see the district development and the arena development merge because I think that planning the two as separate entities, or phases, is a huge mistake. 

• “That the sports/entertainment facility be environmentally sustainable, using LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria.”

Very good…Enough said.

The Bad

• “The subcommittee believes that there is potential to identify additional sources of revenue associated with a revitalized downtown area such as a downtown parking levy and/or an increase in the existing ticket surcharge.”

A new arena means more expensive tickets, which means even fewer games for me and probably you. Expected, but still bad.

•“There is precedent in Alberta for the use of a community revitalization levy (CRL) for enabling projects such as this. A CRL allows a municipality to raise funds against future increases in the tax base.”

The Mandel loop hole: apparently tax money doesn’t include future potential tax money.    

How things will go down…

    There will be a new arena and it will be downtown, any alternatives have pretty much been steamrolled over by the municipal government and the Edmonton media. There will be public funding, not direct tax increases, but by other means, and the province will give nothing. The report’s suggestions seem to point to the development of an entertainment district which, hopefully, will be part of, and not separate from the arena planning process. Unfortunately, I don’t see the city using this project as a means to fight any of the other major civic problems (like say…affordable housing). Just my thoughts…how do you see it playing out?

UPDATE: The Canadian Finals Rodeo threatens to pull out of Edmonton, if new downtown facility is difficult to access via truck and livestock trailers.

For more insight on the new Edmonton downtown arena plan, check out our friends Daveberta and Covered in Oil.

Comments

[CMRB]

It is reassuring that, at least at first glance, the people in charge seem to be taking the right steps. Please say we are wise enough to mimic the success that Columbus Blue Jackets had with their new stadium.

MR, please continue to keep us posted and please dont be shy about expressing your analysis.

[Christopher Thrall]

Oh, this makes me mad enough to spit... What an asinine idea! Tax money, high-priced tickets and a perfectly serviceable building/site "rendered redundant" - what the hell is wrong with using the existing location?

Whether reconditioned or knocked down and restarted, the Northlands site is fully serviced, has existing public transit, is accessible by several major routes, and located next to other recreational/convention-centre venues (the race track and the Agricom)... why does this thing have to go into the downtown core, which was just starting to revitalize ITSELF with increased residential and commercial services?

This crew will have a lot to answer for when this Katz guy sells the team, the Oilers leave and we're sitting on an enormous white elephant that sees a concert once a week...

[eh]

I speculate that Katz will not sell the Oilers anytime soon, based on the following evidence:

1. He is born and raised in Edmonton and he has been trying to by the Oilers since the late 1990s.

2. He just built a 25 000 sq.ft. palace over looking the River Valley last year.

3. His company, Rexall Pharmacies, has the same signature colours (copper and blue) as the Edmonton Oilers to reflect Katz's love of the team.

4. He is ranked the 486th wealthiest person in the world, and as such, seemingly has money to burn.

Other than that, I agree that taxpayer dollars shouldn't be spent to build the arena, if Vancouver and other cities can raise the private capital, why can't Edmonton? Moreover, I strongly object to plopping an arena down in the middle of the city with out proper planning and zoning to allow for the kind of success the Bluejackets accomplished in their rink design (which actually included affordable housing units).

[MR]

"This crew will have a lot to answer for when this Katz guy sells the team, the Oilers leave and we're sitting on an enormous white elephant that sees a concert once a week..."

That's good buisiness...overpay for a hockey team, spend $100+ million on a new arena, and then move the team out of town...geez, it's no wonder that he is the 486th wealthiest person on the planet.

The only way Katz moves the team is if a new arena doesn't get built and it will get built so thats not going to happen! That being said, there is definitely a right and a wrong way to go about building this thing. As much as some people don't want to believe it this is an opportunity for the city... let's hope we don't squander it in truly albertan fashion.