Monday, July 19, 2010

Edmonton's New Arena / A Rant By Oil Freak / Guest Column

Once again here at OilersJambalaya.com we step outside of the boundaries. Today we have a guest post from a gentleman from the Twitter world. I seen his ranting on the arena debate and I asked him if he would want to type it out and post it here at OJ. He said yes. So here it is, an Arena Rant by Oil Freak.

Arena Rant - By Oil Freak

I have been quietly sitting back and listening to the public debate over the construction of a new arena / entertainment facility in Edmonton, but I can't sit by quietly any longer. If I have to listen to one more mouth breathing HYPOCRITE on the tv and radio broadcasts I'm going to PUKE !!!!!!!

The next time I hear someone say "I don't want my tax dollars paying for a new arena" I swear I'm going to explode. They are obviously very narrow minded, misinformed and don’t use the current facility. This is not simply an arena, it’s an “Entertainment Complex”.

These concerned citizens are the same ones that were fine with spending $100 million on a new Art Gallery. Did you hear all of us that won’t be using that facility denouncing the use of public funds in it’s construction.

We finally have an owner that is willing to sink some serious money into a new arena and entertainment facility that will put this city back on the map. Not to mention generate a crap load of revenue and thousands of jobs for the city.

We all love Rexall Place and have many fantastic memories, but the old girl is 35 years old, has no windows, is built in one of the worst parts of town and does very little for generating revenue and jobs in the surrounding area.

Northlands has reported that they could have Rexall retrofitted (a fancy way of saying renovated, lol) for around $190 million. They say 190, I say it will end up costing 250-300 when all is said and done. We have to remember where this information is coming from, Northlands, the group which stands to lose the most should the new project go ahead. Does it make a shred of sense to possibly spend over $250 million for a short term fix? I think not.

You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still just a pig.

Let's move into the new age and take some pride in our city.

I am ecstatic to hear that this project should be getting the go ahead very soon. If you belly achers don't like it, don't come down, cause chances are you don’t support the current facility anyways. You are not welcome to enjoy the fruits of our sports and entertainment culture that we have worked so hard and spent our hard earned money to build. You will all be eating CROW with EGG on your faces very soon, mark my words !

To all the supporters, we'll see you down there in 2014, YEE HAW !!! This will be a successful, state of the art venture that we can all be very proud of.

That's my rant for now, what do you guys think ? Agree or Disagree ? I'd like to hear from you !!!

Hit me up on Twitter @Oilfreak

-Written/Ranted by Oil Freak-

8 comments:

  1. I agree 100%. I highly doubt it will cost the $400-450 million that everyone says it will. Unless I'm out in left field I think that the new arena will cost roughly as much as the new Pittsburgh arena did($331 Million CAD and that was over budget). Even if it costs $350-375 million to build, the city investment is still the same as renovating Rexall. I hope when Katz speaks to Council next week, those points are brought up, if not it will be a long, long debate.

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  2. I agree 100% also.

    I can honestly say I was one of the ones that HATED the idea of a new building. You can't recreate the history that is ingrained into Rexall. I have played in that arena before with the Oilers logo and all. What a feeling to sit on the very same bench that Gretzky, Messier and all the great former Oilers sat. It was AWESOME!

    But, times have changed. I'm on board and I'm all for the new downtown complex. Time for the future.

    Great article Oil Freak!!!

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  3. Good article guys. I can't wait for the new arena.

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  4. SOLD!!!

    Can you tell me if the lrt will be expanded/routed in that direction?

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  5. @Anonymous I have no idea if they will alter or expand the LRT route. You would think that they would, but come on.... this is Edmonton's Silly Council that will have to decide that. So who knows?

    I will try to find out what the plan is. Great question.

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  6. @Smokin' Ray and Anonymous From what I heard/read the LRT will run past the proposed site of the arena/entertainment district.

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  7. @Brandon Thanks for the info. I figured as much.

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  8. Thanks for posting this up Ray. I'm fairly certain that Northlands is behind alot of the dissension in city council. This is totally a power play and our "non-profit agricultural society" (man, I have to laugh every time I think about it) has its hands in some very influential pockets around town. Don't anybody be fooled. Its all about the cash.

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Keep it nice, keep it civil. GOILERS!


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