Ryan Smith is a great owner for the NHL. It's a breath of fresh air getting good owner the last few years. I'm used to gloriified sport fan millionaires tryingt o squeeze a NHL team they coudln't foot the bill for completely.
Eh... to be fair, a lot of franchise owners do their level best to leverage local/state governments to get exactly what they want. Not that it makes any of that right, it's just what happens. Just ask the folks in Calgary about their new arena project.I have my concerns. Just part of his business plans he has put forward is slightly off side
He said he was not asking for any money but yet he ended up doing it and then saying with that giant complex he is building that he would get all the tax that usually would go to the state or city--I found that interesting
He is getting a lot of help from government
Eh... to be fair, a lot of franchise owners do their level best to leverage local/state governments to get exactly what they want. Not that it makes any of that right, it's just what happens. Just ask the folks in Calgary about their new arena project.
As for the business plan, not everyone can be David Thomson. The league seems happy with Smith's plan, otherwise he wouldn't be the owner right now.
Welp... one very important phrase applies here: Always get it in writing!But and this for me is a BIG BUT
He original announcement was that it would ALL be privately paid for. For me and me alone. I am seeing warning signs about how this guys does business.
You also never know if the various governments approached him about a deal so that they could get more revenue in their coffers.But and this for me is a BIG BUT
He original announcement was that it would ALL be privately paid for. For me and me alone. I am seeing warning signs about how this guys does business.
You also never know if the various governments approached him about a deal so that they could get more revenue in their coffers.
I could see him getting tax credits or something to offset any potential taxes, but no corporation or individual is allowed to collect taxes of their own accord. That is strictly a governmental thing. But if you were to say that Smith wants to forgo any entertainment or ticket taxes on his entities in favor of collecting all of the parking/concession/ticket fees...that's very plausible.Here is the thing. I am still digging through the stuff on line--One of his requests, that I am not sure if it was allowed, was that his company would collect and keep all the taxes raised in that one area, year round