“I also don’t understand why you’d say you have a $120MM business while you’re simultaneously pleading poverty. Usually even the really poorly run teams know how to present a certain image when they’re asking for a handout.”
Tyler Dellow looks at the recent statement by Oilers Vice-President Allan Watt that the Oilers are a $120 million dollar business.
***Update*** Jonathan Willis also takes a look at this issue.
***Bonus*** Here’s a story from today’s Edmonton Journal, noting that only 46% of downtown residents surveyed by Downtown Business Association are in favour of a downtown arena. And Mayor Mandel is in complete denial.
Why Downtown? 
If you’re going to be taken seriously in this debate, you could at least do a little extra research…it took me 20 seconds to find the PDF of the DBA poll.
Pretty sure I’ve done my research, Andrew. And it wouldn’t have changed what I wrote. It’s still only 46%, from people living in the area that is supposed to be “revitalized.” Just curious, what’s your last name and who have you covered civic politics for?
Northlands, using 100% taxpayer dollars will ride to the rescue and Edmonton’s Old Boys Club will be intact enjoying their perks and sinecures.
I don’t care for that option, either. But I’m not content to be taken advantage of by one Old Boy’s Club because it’s a little less worse than being taking advantage of by another.
Also: luddites. Are you trying to insult the entire population of Edmonton by suggesting they are scared of industrialization and new technology?
I know exactly what a Luddite is and it’s apparent you had to do a Google search to discover the original meaning.
Now, go Google metaphor and see what turns up.
You seem obsessed with who I am and what my “stake” is in this as opposed to dealing with the reality of the issue.
The bottom line is only 30 percent of those most closely affected by this issue are opposed to it while 70 percent are in favour or undecided.
In order to preserve a shred of credibility, you should address that issue but I’m certain you won’t.
I know exactly what a Luddite is and it’s apparent you had to do a Google search to discover the original meaning.
Lol. Yeah, totally apparent. Couldn’t be that I finished high school.
You seem obsessed with who I am and what my “stake” is in this as opposed to dealing with the reality of the issue.
You were the one who was obsessed with transparency. I think it’s therefore only fair to ask who you are. You also claim to have 20 years experience covering civic affairs in Edmonton, and I don’t know of any “Andrew DSFs” who have done so, so it’s only fair that I ask you to tell me who you got that experience with. If you want to hide behind an acronym, that’s fine. But don’t complain to me about transparency while doing so, Mr. Smith.
The bottom line is only 30 percent of those most closely affected by this issue are opposed to it while 70 percent are in favour or undecided.
In order to preserve a shred of credibility, you should address that issue but I’m certain you won’t.
You’ve made your point clear on this. We’ve also seen, through your tirade against the burghers and the Luddites and the Old Boys Club (I’m surprised you didn’t also blame the Illuminati), where you stand on the issue. You’ve had your chance to reiterate the numbers you wanted everyone to see. I’ve never blocked or denied your comments. They are all here. You want to focus on the 30% opposed, and toss in the undecided to aid your argument. I could use the high number of undecideds to aid my argument, too, but I just wanted to focus on what the Mayor said in response to the less than 50% in favor. I linked to a story that also uses the 46% number. If they had their comments open, you could complain about their credibility and the Luddites, too. Time to move on.
If you would have taken at least a minute to look at the actual survey of downtown residents
Click to access FINAL%20RESIDENT%20SUMMARY%202010%20(v2)(2).pdf
you would have discovered that 46 percent are in favour of a new downtown arena, 21% are neutral, only 30% are opposed and 3% don’t know.
In any democracy, that’s a plurality.
A little more transparency from you would be appreciated.
In any democracy, that’s a plurality.
It’s a poll, not a vote. And not to be picky, but a plurality isn’t a winner in every democracy.
A little more transparency from you would be appreciated.
I didn’t see the report, just the story. And I was more concerned with the Mayor’s reaction than anything. I can admit I should have looked at the report, but I don’t think it would have changed my mind about what I wrote. But speaking of transparency, care to leave a name and affiliation other than DSF?
Name is Andrew and I have no affiliation.
I do however have a couple of decades covering civic politics in Edmonton and have seen this movie before.
The plot is, the phlegmatic burghers of Edmonton, riding on a wave of support from the Luddite population who think Regina is a great model for Edmonton of the future because nothing ever changes there, are able to thwart anything resembling vision. (see the decades long debate over the City Centre Airport for pertinent reference)
I hate giving away the ending but this will end in a plebiscite 3 years from now, it will be defeated and the Oilers and their fans will be faced with a grim reality.
Northlands, using 100% taxpayer dollars will ride to the rescue and Edmonton’s Old Boys Club will be intact enjoying their perks and sinecures.
BTW, the headline for your *****Bonus***** section should have more honestly read: “Only 30 percent of downtown residents oppose a new arena.”
If you’re going to be taken seriously in this debate, you could at least do a little extra research…it took me 20 seconds to find the PDF of the DBA poll.
Since you’re whooping about “only” 46 percent of downtown residents being in favour of a downtown arena, perhaps you should be a little more thorough and also state how many were opposed and how many undecided.
Or would that not fit your agenda?
Or would that not fit your agenda?
It fits my agenda jut fine. Thank you for sharing the full report.
This whole arena scam is to disgusting for words. Andy, if there is anything I can do to help, let me know. I do have some knowledge of LA Live.
Keep up the good work.
You listened to Oilers Lunch? You poor bastard.
It could be that he was talking about all the teams, but I can’t see the Oil Kings and Capitals bringing in enough revenue for it to make a difference? Agreed? How much could they possibly bring in?
I go home for a late lunch. Not everybody will agree, but I really like Stauffer’s interviews. He knows his stuff pretty well and gets a whack of good guests, even if the conversation is “somewhat” directed. Sure he’s a corporate shill, but it’s not a hidden agenda. And listening to him talk on behalf of the Oilers tends to give you clues about that agenda.
To your question about the Caps and Kings revenue streams, well that’s the nut isn’t it?
Andy, I believe Mr Watt was talking about all the teams the Oilers/Rexall Sports owns. That would include the Barons, Caps and Oil Kings.
As Tyler noted when you made the same comment on his site, David, the context of the quote was NHL revenues, and the Oilers don’t own the Barons.
Well, there’s my “oops” for the day. I stand corrected about the Barons.
I heard the Watt interview on Oilers Lunch the other day. It really sounded like he was talking about all the teams under Rexall Sports’ ownership.
Right then. Carry on.
I’d guess Allan Watt has likely been called in for a closed-door sit-down meeting since that quote was published!