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Sunday, March 6, 2011

This Can Be Done!!

How many of us hate the penny? How many of us have bowls or whatever of spare pennies just laying around? Is the penny the answer to getting Regina its domed downtown stadium? Ever since the idea was first floated out there about building a new entertainment facility for the Riders, the city of Regina and the province of Saskatchewan, I have always thought about the provincial government consulting with those in Denver about how not only Coors Field was built, but how Invesco Field at Mile High was built as well. I have thrown this out there before, and I'm throwing it out there again.

When Colorado lawmakers decided it was time to build a baseball stadium in downtown Denver, a decision was made to institute a one percent sales tax in the six counties of the state that surround Denver. The sales tax was instituted for a certain time frame (I’m not sure the exact dates), but in the end, 75 percent was paid for this endeavor by the public with the other 25 percent coming from the Rockies themselves. It worked so well that the owner of the Denver Broncos, Pat Bowlen, said he would put in 25 percent for a stadium if the state extended the time frame. The measure was overwhelmingly approved and as a result, Denver has two great sporting facilities---facilities that bring in a lot of money for the county, the city and the state in a variety of ways.

Can this not be done here? I would gladly accept a one cent sales tax for the next three years on goods purchased if it meant a shiny, new enclosed facility that all of Saskatchewan could enjoy. I would have no problem if the sales tax was imposed in just Regina with the rest of the province being exempt. I think we could live with one cent more being added to our purchases. We take those pennies now and throw them in the ashtray, or wherever. Lets start putting them to use. It sounds as if between the city and the provincial government we have more than the 25 percent. This can be done! Premier Wall and the Saskatchewan Party need to sit down and see if something like this could work here. I don’t know how it couldn’t. With all the goods that are purchased in Regina and in Saskatchewan in a month, it would not take long before that bank account could grow to the point that the money would be in place to build a facility that we can enjoy now and that our kids can enjoy in the future.

I don’t want an open air stadium because it serves no purpose in the winter months. A retractable roof or a dome is the way to go and this is a way to fund such a project. I know there will be some who will be naysayers, but you will have that no matter what happens. Lets do this! Lets build this thing under the same formula that Denver and the state of Colorado has used. Let that useless piece of copper that we don’t want when getting our change be the thing that puts us over the top and lets us start watching Rider football and other things at the corner of Lancaster Drive and Reed Way.

14 comments:

Terry said...

I believe the Riders need a new facility but beyond them it is a Regina facility not a provincial facility. Living in Saskatoon and having friends who have NEVER EVER been to a Riders game or even Taylor Field why should anyone outside of Regina pay for this facility?

Pat Fiacco will not stand up and say that the City of Regina will pay for the operational shortfalls this facility may face and let's be realistic WILL face. If Moose Jaw's new multiplex is asking for $3600 a day to operate what would a domed stadium cost?

The business plan presented for this facility is unrealistic, the music touring industry is dying a slow painful death, trade shows won't work not with Regina's population base and it would have to be exemplary for anyone to make the drive to see it. I have friends who have been to Glendale and with their population base can barely make a trade show work.

I would like a new facility as much as the next person but as I attend a game every two years I do not want to fund the construction. I also do not want to fund the daily operational costs of a facility like this as my interest in this facility is 10 days a year... Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon is self-sufficient and need no money from the city and until the brain trust behind this new facility show how REALISTICALLY they can make that happen I think everyone should let it go.

Anonymous said...

Works for me.


Dale

Anonymous said...

It looks good in theory, but you know the left wings out there will find some reason to say no and everyone will cower down because Saskatchewan can't change even though we say we can.

Anonymous said...

i hope we can get it done , but the colorado situation is different , your talking about denver and six counties ( a population of 4 million ) we only have 1 million in the whole province , 1 % wouldn't be near enough

Worcth said...

Personally, I'd rather have a 1 cent tax to get a state-of-the-art Children's Hospital located in the province.

Anonymous said...

There is a childrens hospital being built in Saskatoon. That argument no longer holds water.

Ken

Worcth said...

You are correct Ken. Thank you for pointing that out. I'd rather be wrong and corrected than continue to be wrong. Cheers.

Anonymous said...

I love this idea. Let's do it! I mean what's a penny to us nowadays? Its a cent for goodness sakes.

Anonymous said...

Again, blame the Left Wing which is a red herring. Advocating for another tax when we are already highly taxed is mind boggling.

Blame the Left Wing? We have 3 levels of government that are Right Wing, in some cases neo conservatives yet they couldn't pull this off. Sorry, but the players involved in all 3 levels couldn't do it. They couldn't even convince the Business lobby to pony up the money or even take the lead on getting this done.

One thing I'll just note. I get accused of being "Left Wing". That is so off the mark. I am social liberal/fiscal conservative. Which means frankly on your time I don't care what you do, but when it hits me in the pocket book be prepared to throw down.

Actually the NDP were in power when funding came through to refurbish Evraz Place/Agridome, and build the Co-Operators Centre. That makes a guy pause for thought. I'm just saying.

Obama

Anonymous said...

The population base isn't enough. I knew someone would come out and start picking holes at this. We would get a huge amount out of this (even in Regina alone) in a three year time frame. No one wants to keep their pennies so lets put them to good use.

Darrell

Anonymous said...

Actually Terry, the CUC is "self-sufficient" and needs "no government money" because the provinical govt. invested multi-millions to build it in the late 80's and has also invested millions since then to upgrade & increase the seating. And yes that was paid with PROVINCIAL tax dollars. The same provincial tax dollars invested in the Moose Jaw multi-plex, Yorkton Gallagher Centre, new Melville rink, etc...your tax dollars and mine go to lots of facilities that neither of us will ever use. Get over it.

Anonymous said...

I like the idea. Have you sent this to the Mayor or the Premier? I'm sure they're aware of it, but if not.

Hey, if it works, you can ask for a free parking space and all the popcorn and coke you can handle in the new place. HA HA!!

Tony

Anonymous said...

have a lottery, weekly 50/50. that way if you wantt o support it you can while also getting a chance for a payoff

Anonymous said...

Say were does all the money that is not paid out in prizes from the 649, Max etc go? I can't ever recall hearing about any project that was funded. Anybody?