Comment 46181

By jonathan dalton (registered) | Posted August 24, 2010 at 12:14:20

You're a spokesperson for a New Urbanism philosophy with clear ties to a Leftist "people over profits" agenda, which is nothing new in this town:

Couldn't be further from the truth. Look at Ryan's articles and see how many of them are focused on creating an environment in which business can prosper in Hamilton.

That being said, we are talking about a stadium to be funded almost 100% by public funds. Hundred-million-dollar stadiums are not profitable in any location - they are a public amenity. If stadiums were expected to turn a profit, which by definition would have to flow to the investors, being the 3 levels of government that pay for the stadium, no stadium would ever be built.

The 'profit' in this sense, is the benefit to the community in terms of increased tax assessment, tax revenue from new business spun off from the stadium, and secondary benefits of outside investment in the community due to its improved image. On those counts, a stadium investment could hardly hope to break even.

We build stadiums as a public good - as you say, for people and not for profit. This is true of any stadium. Thus it needs to go where it benefits the public, and the future of the city, the most.

Comment edited by jonathan dalton on 2010-08-24 11:18:23

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