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Calgaryâs city centre is on life support and now that the arena project is on hold one has to wonder what implications that has on the future of our downtown. There has been much controversy over the arena and the value it will add or not add to the revitalization of the city centre. Should the city be spending taxpayer dollars to support a new arena for billionaire owners, elite hockey players and a few music fans?
I know building new downtown sports facilities (arenas, stadiums, baseball parks) have been successful in downtown neighbourhood revitalization in several U.S. cities, but in Canada it isnât a guarantee. In Hamilton, the downtown arena was part of a major plan to revitalize its downtown that included a new library, farmerâs market, convention centre, public art gallery, major indoor shopping centre, office and hotel complex. It failed. Winnipegâs new downtown arena right on Portage Avenue has spurred some development nearby, but still the downtown struggles. Even Edmontonâs fancy new arena, while it has been the catalyst for new development around it, has not revitalized the downtown at large. In both Winnipeg and Edmonton, their Hudsonâs Bay stores have closed.