Resolute said:
You are the first person who has mentioned the possibility for more luxury boxes. I've heard a lot of people who have said there is no room to expand though. Do you have a link mentioning the possibility of adding more luxury boxes? Trusting that there is room though, I can't see there being enough room to add 50 more luxury boxes opposite the press level. Though I havent been to that arena yet, so I could be wrong.
This is somewhat speculative on my part, but I believe True North mentioned this in one form or another as the only form of possible expansion using the existing architecture. If you look at the "levels" diagram of the Arena on their website, it certainly looks possible.
It's also worth noting that it would be theoretically possible to expand the seating by raising the roof, but the cost of this would be in the tens of millions.
Resolute said:
On the topic of television rights, Calgary and Edmonton do not have local TV deals. Costs too much for such small metro areas. I would doubt Winnipeg, who's metro is only 80% of Edmonton and 70% of Calgary would be likely to have a local deal. The problem with Sportsnet is that the west region is already split two ways by the Flames and the Oilers. For a new Jets' sake, I would hope they could get a regional deal on TSN instead, because there just arent enough available days to broadcast games on RSN as it is.
I believe the RSN deals are considered "regional deals", since Sportsnet isn't a national rightsholder.
I find it surprising to hear the the Flames and Oilers don't have local TV deals. I know Ottawa has one (A-Channel) over & above their RSN deal. Even the old Jets used to have 20 or so games on CKND (Global Winnipeg).
Resolute said:
There is also the problem of Manitoba being one of the most oppressive tax jurisdictions in North America, and Alberta being one of the friendliest. Chances are extremely high that the new Jets would be paying much more tax than the Oilers do, and that Winnipeggers wont have as much disposable income as Edmontonians do.
Actually, the Moose/True North pay exactly zero business tax, and the amusement tax is rebated to them. As well, they pay no property tax on the new arena (IIRC, can't find a definitive source to make sure) and the land on which it was built was essentially given to them by the city, as well as the necessary sewer, water and road improvements.
It's also worth noting that Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz cut business taxes by 2% for businesses in the downtown core (where the MTS Centre is located) in an attempt to draw more business to the city centre.
There are a great many challenges facing Winnipeg in it's hopes of landing a team.
Of course, this argument of mine, which is way too long already is moot until the first, and greatest, challenge is surpassed: Winnipeg needs to find an owner with enough money to outbid any group looking to bring a team to Houston, KC, Portland, etc and who is willing to put up with the difficulties of playing in the NHL's smallest arena in the NHL's smallest market.
I agree with you here, but let me leave you with this: there's more money in Winnipeg than people think, and not every deal is negotiated in the light of day. Let's not forget the efforts to save the team in 1996 by the community and local businesses was unprecedented, and the financial possibilities have only improved since.
Time will tell....