Edmonton Arena Funding Feud

Original Air Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012

Negotiations between the Katz Group and the City of Edmonton to finalize a deal for a new downtown NHL arena are on shaky ground, with the mayor saying he is still unsure what the group is asking for, after they came looking for a further $6 million a year in operating costs.  

With an October 17th deadline looming to have a request in to council, the Oilers owner is considering other NHL markets and this week took a trip to Seattle.  All this while the debate rages as to where the dollars for the development should – or could - come from.

Is moving the Oilers a legitimate threat?  And where should funding come from for a new arena: private business, taxpayer dollars or casino revenues?

Joining us for this discussion are Bill Foster, an associate professor at the Augustana campus of the University of Alberta specializing in strategic sport management; Scott Hennig, Vice President of Communications for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation; and Andrew Conte, a reporter with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and author of "Breakaway" the story of the rebirth of the Pittsburgh Penguins which saw them settle a deal for a new arena in that city.