Hockey Trash Talk & BS thread

It's a tough time to sell the public on such an expensive building. I'm glad the Oilers were able to get theirs underway when they did. Otherwise I don't think it would've happened.
I really have a hard time seeing the NHL allowing a Team - especially Calgary - to move.

 

Fuck Seattle , put a team in Quebec City

 

Probably. And since the ref (who was standing 20 feet away) didn't call a penalty - they might get away with it more often than not.

 

They're the most likely expansion destination along with the stupid Vegas idea

 

It would of been tough but doable if Bettman acted like he understood how tough the times are and promoted the economic spin off from such a major project. Instead he acted like calgary was a shit hole town and should pay up before they leave town. Listen to the interview. I'm sure it's up somewhere. It was bad. CBC radio in calgary did it.

 

Maybe he's looking for a spot with the NDP. People need to be promoting the economy here - not doing shit to smother it.
Already feeling it pretty hard - with my own business.
As much as I hate the fLames - I definitely hope they get a new building eventually. Last time I was in the Saddle Dome, it didn't seem too bad. But outward appearances can be misleading. Maybe they can hang in there for a few more years.

 

It's now the oldest building in the league without a replacement on the way.

Yeah, I'm lucky I just moved into a higher level position with a large Ag company. I'm not perfectly safe, no one is, but this industry is a little more sheltered for sure than anything else in Alberta... unless you are a farm of course now that the NDP have rammed that shaft in too.

That's exactly how I think Bettman feels. He can't understand why a city won't take on a third to a half a billion dollars in debt to appease a hockey team that only a few percentage of people will get to afford to enjoy live. I wouldn't go to any games if I didn't get the odd set of free tickets to entertain customers and other relations to my company. Neither would the average Calgarian. I think the city was slightly pro stadium, as long as they only paid for maybe a 1/4 of the cost directly and got a public field house out of the deal, but now that Bettmans taken shots directly at the mayor and city any good will the league had is gone. Ken King is a great guy and I think Bettman just torpedoed him thinking his asshole approach would go over well for some crazy ass reason. If I were Ken, I'd tell Bettman to stay the fuck out of town for a while.

The budget plan for Calgary was basically this. Ken and the ownership of the Flames and Stamps (local CFL team) would build an Arena, public field house, and CFL stadium on reclaimed land were an old oil refinery (or something dirty like that, I can't remember what it was) used to be. It was to cost a good chunk of change but one third was to come from the team ownership right in the form of cash. Another third the team and city together would put up but expect back in the form of a parking tax over the next 15 years. The last third was to come from the city and, arguably, represent what the City would get out of the deal. The city would have full access to the Football facility for the U of C team and other local teams (possibly MLS expansion) plus the city would have a field house for it's future Olympians. A lot of people have been advocating for a field house since Calgary is a major training hub for Olympic hopefuls and that's a facility that is needed by both the Olympic program and local athletes.

Anywho, the mayor and council rightfully want ownership to show the cash and get the land cleaned up before they make any promises. They also want guarantees on the cost and more leverage on the money they spend to dictate how the whole project is put together. Most credible people around here figured by the end of the year Calgary would have a plan all set in stone and the city would vote on it. It might take another 1-2 years to actually get the vote passed and the money flowing but once you can get to that voting phase it's really just a matter of time. However, now, I'm guessing the city will refuse to pay a dime because of Bettmans antics. The mayor didn't want to meet Bettman when he was in Calgary this week because there was another vote that day he needed to be at and, rightfully again, he didn't want to just sit down without some more actual information being presented to him. He didn't want to hear the same things Ken King had told him. He and Ken do a lot of community work and I have no doubt they've talked a lot casually about the project. When Bettman learned that he was in Calgary for a few days, for other meetings, but had been stiffed by the mayor he went into his CBC radio interview clearly angry and ready to lay down the law. The interviewer did an awesome job of forcing Bettman into tough questions and Bettman whiffed on the answer with another childish insult to Calgary each time. He fucked up big time.

 

Move the Flames to Quebec City

 

...at least they stayed in CA (for now..talks of Texas are resurfacing)

 

Jerry Jones wont allow that.

 

Bettman works for the owners (owners are already millionaires) so he uses the Coyotes model where the League goes after the government to save the owners as much money as possible.

 

Like it or not....this statement is spot on.

Hard pill to swallow at times. When Katz was still in negotiation to get the Oilers new home underway - there was a royal battle as to where the last large money chunk was going to come from. Everyone with a computer simply looked up 'Daryl Katz Net Worth'......and went, "WTF??!!"
But there's a reason these guys are millionaires and billionaires.

 

Did you hear Bettman on the radio this week in Calgary? Sounded like an "interesting" convo with the radio show hosts.

I'm looking for a link, but here's a great pic. I will say one thing, the Canadian media always has the best pics of this guy:
http://www.foxsports.com/nhl/story/nhl-gary-bettman-calgary-flames-taxpayer-money-011316

 

Yeah, heard about it. Tough situation. I remember (not so fondly) the angst us Oilers Fans went thru a few years ago.....with Katz / Bettman / And Edmonton City Council.

 

That's the conversation I was talking about.

 

Linesman just called a double minor high stick against the Canucks

Are they allowed to make all the same calls as the refs now ?

I didn't even realize they could call penalties beyond delay of game / over the glass

 

Oilers offered RNH for Seth Jones before the Columbus trade. I'm sure Poille hung right up on Chiarelli


http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/west-coast-bias-oilers-made-big-push-for-seth-jones/

 

FU Carolina and your 2000 fans

 

ooh

Now we get Ducks / Stars

 

Holy Shit , these Fox Sports / Stars dudes are homers lol