CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has renewed its petition opposing tax dollars for pro sports arenas, to reflect the recent request by the billionaire owners of Calgary Flames for taxpayer assistance.

The owners of the Calgary Flames are expecting taxpayers to front a possible $690 million – 75 per cent (or more) of the costs of a new NHL arena and sports complex in Calgary.

“Pro sports complexes should be paid for with tickets, not taxes,” said CTF-Alberta Director Paige MacPherson. “The Flames franchise is worth hundreds of millions and is owned by some of Canada’s wealthiest people. We think they can pay for it themselves.”

The owners are asking taxpayers to front $240 million for a Community Revitalization Levy, a $250 million ‘ticket tax’ (not including shortfall costs) and $200 million for a fieldhouse the community could also use.

“If Calgary wants a field house for community use, great, but should it cost $200 million and have 30,000 seats?” asked MacPherson. “And should we build it on a highly contaminated site? The answers to those questions are probably not.”

The land identified for the CalgaryNEXT site is contaminated with creosote. Who will pay the estimated $50-$300 million in cleanup costs is unknown, but the Flames owners said they want all levels of government to help out.

“These billionaire owners are expecting taxpayers across Canada to clean-up the site of their for-profit business development,” said MacPherson.

Most NHL arenas in Canada have been built with no tax dollars, including the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the Bell Centre in Montreal, the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, and the Rogers Arena in Vancouver. 

“I don’t think anyone can argue that the Air Canada Centre doesn’t draw big, so-called ‘world class’ events to Toronto,” said MacPherson. “Pro sports arenas don’t require corporate welfare to succeed in Canadian cities.”

Neither Calgary council nor the provincial government have rejected this funding.

Click here to view the CTF petition, No Tax Dollars for Pro Sports Arenas.

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For more information:

Alberta Director Paige MacPherson
cell: 403-478-7184, email: [email protected]   

The CTF is Canada's leading non-partisan citizens' advocacy group fighting for lower taxes, less waste and accountable government.  Founded in 1990, the CTF has more than 84,000 supporters and seven offices across Canada.  The CTF is funded by free-will, non tax-receiptable contributions.