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I really hope the City of Edmonton and others backing the Expo bid don't take this loss as a reason to try harder for the Expo.
I hope they take it was a way to bow out of such bids for a little while and fix a few things around the city.
You want to know what world class cities have? Nice stuff, including world class transportation and transit. Then everyone will be happy to tell their friends to visit.
If the Mayor of the winning Universiade city is slagging your outdated venues how about you build some new stuff, then you bid.
And since the Universiade and Expo 2017 stories tend to include economic spin-off numbers, how come we question the same numbers from the money-losing Indy race but these numbers look solid to people?
I recently wrote about how I found it misleading for news stories about the 2009 Rexall Edmonton Indy to not mention the projected deficit for this year's race. It was nice, however, to see the mention of last year's (taxpayer covered) $5.3-million deficit. Now I've just got an issue with the race organizer, Northlands.
After last year's deficit became known, and Edmonton taxpayers were reminded they were on the hook, Northlands talked about the economic spin-off of the race. They claimed the race put $80-million dollars into the Edmonton economy.
Those numbers were quickly questioned. The problem (or the good thing for Northands) is that it's hard to nail down (dispute) a spin-off number because you're guessing at how much people paid for a hotel (if they used one) a rental car (or taxis, transit), shopping and meals. It should be noted, however, Montreal race organizers only claimed a $75-million dollar benefit from their race.
Soon after my rant I wonder if Northlands even cares about running in the red. There's a projected deficit of more than $1-million for this summer's race and instead of trying to cut costs they're paying to put Alex Tagliani in the driver's seat.
It seems to me that if a driver can't find anybody to back him financially he may not be the draw that's going to help you turn a profit, or break even.
You may have to spend money to make money, but it will be interesting to see if spending money where nobody else cared to will help the 2009 Rexall Edmonton Indy, make money.
Or maybe the idea is for Edmonton taxpayers to buy a ticket and cheer on Tagliani. After all, their tax rate depends on it.
I don't know whether to file this under "reminder" or "critique" but it's been bugging me.
Back around March 19 those behind the 2009 Rexall Edmonton Indy called a news conference to talk about this year's race. It got coverage in the Edmonton Sun, iNews880 and the sports sections of the Sun and Edmonton Journal.
I appreciate the news stories mention the fact last year's race lost $5.3-million dollars and that tab falls to Edmonton taxpayers. What I'm not keen on in is the fact none of those stories mention the race is projected to run a deficit again this year (more than $1-million) which will again be picked up Edmonton taxpayers. I believe a column from Graham Hicks on the same publication day as the Sun news story was the lone source to mention it.
It seems to me that talk about the brighter financial future of the race requires a reminder to Edmonton taxpayers that they could still be on the hook, for at least two more years. It strikes me as a needed fact to balance the rosy comments from the president of Northlands.
The stories also take on a "spin" feel when I'm reading about how things are going to be better this year but I know there's a deficit predicted and it's not a hidden fact.
