The chances of replacing the Saddledome
Posted Aug 29, 2011 2:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Conference Board of Canada says while the three biggest Canadian cities can afford to privately fund new sports facilities, the same can’t be said for smaller markets like Calgary.
Chief Economist Glen Hodgson tells 660News new arenas in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto were built with private money and are successful, but that’s not the case elsewhere.
“In other places, more and more we’re seeing a blend of private and public money,” says Hodgson. “For example in Winnipeg at the MTS Centre, where the Jets are going to play this fall,” (it) “was built largely with private money but there was also a public sector component there. For me that’s kind of the interesting model evolving.”
Hodgson feels governments investing in facilities isn’t a good idea, but at the same time it’s not all about money either.
“It’s about quality of life,” he adds. “It’s about happiness within the community. So there” (are) “trade-offs involved in where governments would invest. Should you invest in a rapid transit system? Should you invest in a library or should you invest in a pro sports facility?”
He says Calgary might have to look to a mix of public and private funding to build new facilities such as a replacement for the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Hodgson’s comments come as the Conference Board released its seventh study into the state of professional sports in Canada.
