News and Blog Report: Training camp & Preseason News & Notes, **New Pole Added**

[Heavy Dee]

Serious question. Have you been to the DT lately. Abandoned is the word that comes to mind. Nobody wants to work there, play there, live there. Anything not around Ice District the streets are deserted or filled with homeless and addicts.

So has all the DT impetus made the city better? No. The DT has never been worse place to visit.

The biggest single improvement to the city and its industry and infrastructure AND population was the Henday Ring Road. That transformed everything and shot up real estate. That was a provincial undertaking, and imo money well spent as it actually supports the industry and economy. DT spending, not so much.

Not isolated to here but few cities have paid so astronomically to try to make their nothing DT happen. Dt is retail dead. That meaning even less reason to go there. unfortunately so many pundts figure if a DT is the shits it means a city is dying and they try everything possible to prop it up. Edmontons strength and power structure has been outlying regions and industry for nearly a Century.

The Decline of Downtown Retail: Exploring Edmonton's Struggle and the Impact on Canadian Cities [Podcast]

Craig and Lee discuss the challenges facing downtown retail in North America, focusing on Edmonton's decline. They explore the impact of suburban shopping centers, changing consumer behavior, and potential solutions for reviving downtown vibrancy, touching on issues like crime and urban planning.

retail-insider.com

1/3rd of downtown Edmonton storefronts empty: U of A study - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

A new study by the University of Alberta's School of Business found 33 per cent of downtown Edmonton's storefronts are sitting vacant.

globalnews.ca

So tell me how all this DT expenditure has made the city better. Waiting for it.

Well you didn't answer the question about how you expected to profit from the development.

So without the district, the downtown would be as good? Better? Ridiculous.

Since you have all the answers, I would like to know exactly how much your property taxes went up to support that project. Waiting.

I can't believe people still bitch about this not being a positive change for the city.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

I'm also really high on this kid, been saying that since the day we got him. He has something to prove and plays the game exactly what we need in a bottom 6 forward. My only concern is this org not giving him or RL a real shot to thrive, and the geriatric 4th liners just get the ice time over our kids.

Podz was my favourite prospect and I'll still cheer for him despite being traded.

If the plan to make him a bottom six winger, I think it's a mistake.

While he's good defensively in that role, he provides nothing offensively, he plays defensevly ok but he stops trying anything offensively.
Coaching was definitely not the issue and when they played him on a 3rd line with Lindholm and Garland he showed some creativity.

I wish he would have gotten a shot in the top six but I get why he wasn't.
I fear with the oilers he won't get a chance in the top six and he will continue to play for a job instead play to get into the top six.



Maybe the Kane injury get him a chance?

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

 

[Soundwave]

Where in my post am I saying Katz is a villain? I'm saying he's the one person that profited. For damn sure as a taxpayer I haven't. The CRL that the city collects on this development over and above what would have been anyway far less than the public expenditure and costs.


This isn't really a club that requires the miniscule amount Perry is bringing on the ice or in the room. Its a pretty self motivated bunch here on the club. Who is Perry talking to that needs talking to?

Don't shoot the messenger, I don't give two farts about Perry.

I'm just saying the speed with which the Oilers signed in the UFA period (almost immediately) to me suggests that Jeff Jackson was told by McDavid (or McDavid and Draisaitl) that they want him back.

Now thinking about why that could be, well both of these guys are kind of quiet. Maybe they liked having some one with a big mouth in the room. Seasons are long, some night's it's probably nice to have someone else blow a fuse in the room or before a practise instead of it having to be the same two or three guys (the other guy being Hyman).

I think basically everything Jeff Jackson did on July 1 or much of it came out of the exit meetings specifically with Connor + Leon. He didn't just randomly go out and sign those players.

 

[Spawn]

Don't shoot the messenger, I don't give two farts about Perry.

I'm just saying the speed with which the Oilers signed in the UFA period (almost immediately) to me suggests that Jeff Jackson was told by McDavid (or McDavid and Draisaitl) that they want him back.

Now thinking about why that could be, well both of these guys are kind of quiet. Maybe they liked having some one with a big mouth in the room. Seasons are long, some night's it's probably nice to have someone else blow a fuse in the room or before a practise instead of it having to be the same two or three guys (the other guy being Hyman).

I think basically everything Jeff Jackson did on July 1 or much of it came out of the exit meetings specifically with Connor + Leon. He didn't just randomly go out and sign those players.

Or it means that Jackson had a week before free agency started to negotiate with Perry?

“Don't shoot the messenger”?

This is just your conjecture. It’s made up.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Well you didn't answer the question about how you expected to profit from the development.

So without the district, the downtown would be as good? Better? Ridiculous.

Since you have all the answers, I would like to know exactly how much your property taxes went up to support that project. Waiting.

I can't believe people still bitch about this not being a positive change for the city.

I'm saying simply that the DT is worse, much worse despite all the spending, and not JUST the arena, but multiple LRT lines, financing new library rebuild, New museum, decades of revitilizing schemes all for nothing and DT is dead. Any non game night its dead.

I sure don't profit from it or benefit in anyway. I do pay several X the property tax I used to though. 4X as much to be precise.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Serious question. Have you been to the DT lately. Abandoned is the word that comes to mind. Nobody wants to work there, play there, live there. Anything not around Ice District the streets are deserted or filled with homeless and addicts.

So has all the DT impetus made the city better? No. The DT has never been worse place to visit.

The biggest single improvement to the city and its industry and infrastructure AND population was the Henday Ring Road. That transformed everything and shot up real estate. That was a provincial undertaking, and imo money well spent as it actually supports the industry and economy. DT spending, not so much.

Not isolated to here but few cities have paid so astronomically to try to make their nothing DT happen. Dt is retail dead. That meaning even less reason to go there. unfortunately so many pundts figure if a DT is the shits it means a city is dying and they try everything possible to prop it up. Edmontons strength and power structure has been outlying regions and industry for nearly a Century.

The Decline of Downtown Retail: Exploring Edmonton's Struggle and the Impact on Canadian Cities [Podcast]

Craig and Lee discuss the challenges facing downtown retail in North America, focusing on Edmonton's decline. They explore the impact of suburban shopping centers, changing consumer behavior, and potential solutions for reviving downtown vibrancy, touching on issues like crime and urban planning.

retail-insider.com

1/3rd of downtown Edmonton storefronts empty: U of A study - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

A new study by the University of Alberta's School of Business found 33 per cent of downtown Edmonton's storefronts are sitting vacant.

globalnews.ca

So tell me how all this DT expenditure has made the city better. Waiting for it.

Without getting too political. Everywhere I have been in the world since lockdown ended, city centres are drying up. We are seeing paradigm shift in how people shop and what they do when the go out

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Without getting too political. Everywhere I have been in the world since lockdown ended, city centres are drying up. We are seeing paradigm shift in how people shop and what they do when the go out

That’s not really anything political. Online shopping has taken over and online food delivery is more and more popular as well. Covid just accelerated what is a natural evolution of convenience of buying from home.

Getting back to actual hockey, can’t believe the first Oiler preseason game is tomorrow. Is it televised?

 

[FlameChampion]

Has there been any rumours about players who stand out so far in terms of improvement ?

 

[Tobias Kahun]

You think that Katz put up the money for all the buildings? He bought up all the land at very low costs and sold most of it back to the city and the other developers. He also rented out the space to the city for their offices.

And he promised to build the Golden Bears a new arena. He isn't a scumbag or thief like Pocklington was but his contributions are/were to his favor.

So what you're saying is hes a businessman?

 

[Fourier]

Serious question. Have you been to the DT lately. Abandoned is the word that comes to mind. Nobody wants to work there, play there, live there. Anything not around Ice District the streets are deserted or filled with homeless and addicts.

So has all the DT impetus made the city better? No. The DT has never been worse place to visit.

The biggest single improvement to the city and its industry and infrastructure AND population was the Henday Ring Road. That transformed everything and shot up real estate. That was a provincial undertaking, and imo money well spent as it actually supports the industry and economy. DT spending, not so much.

Not isolated to here but few cities have paid so astronomically to try to make their nothing DT happen. Dt is retail dead. That meaning even less reason to go there. unfortunately so many pundts figure if a DT is the shits it means a city is dying and they try everything possible to prop it up. Edmontons strength and power structure has been outlying regions and industry for nearly a Century.

The Decline of Downtown Retail: Exploring Edmonton's Struggle and the Impact on Canadian Cities [Podcast]

Craig and Lee discuss the challenges facing downtown retail in North America, focusing on Edmonton's decline. They explore the impact of suburban shopping centers, changing consumer behavior, and potential solutions for reviving downtown vibrancy, touching on issues like crime and urban planning.

retail-insider.com

1/3rd of downtown Edmonton storefronts empty: U of A study - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

A new study by the University of Alberta's School of Business found 33 per cent of downtown Edmonton's storefronts are sitting vacant.

globalnews.ca

So tell me how all this DT expenditure has made the city better. Waiting for it.

The decline of the DT core significantly predates the arena though. Major retailers were bailing for years. Part of this is simply that Edmontonians like their local amenities. You are also correct that it is hard to actually quantify the economic benefit of an arena because it is challenging to determine how much activity is truly new and how much is just transferred from some other place.

As someone who lives in a community of 600k without one, I view major arenas as infrastructure. Having one allows a city opportunities that they would not otherwise have. But like most infrastructure projects some will benefit others won't. For example, the Gateway Boulevard exchange project cost $238M. It was a pretty crucial project for anyone traveling in that area. But my 82 year old mother in law contributed to its construction and will almost surely never even see the result.

If you want something a little closer in spirit take a look at the Terwilliger Rec Center. The cost came in at $108M. A portion of my taxes went to pay for that but I don't even know where it is. We had a similar development in my city that cost me as a tax payer far more on an individual basis than the arena cost Edmontonians. And I have only been in the facility once for an open house.

What complicates the issue for an arena is that private business makes a lot of money off the project. This tends to color people's impression of the project, which I certainly get. But again as someone who lives in a place that lacks such a facility I think that the city would be a lesser place without it. Where I live the 407 highway is privatized but it is clearly still an important piece of infrastructure. Even people who never travel on the road benefit because it takes some pressure off the truly insane 401.

 

[Heavy Dee]

The decline of the DT core significantly predates the arena though. Major retailers were bailing for years. Part of this is simply that Edmontonians like their local amenities. You are also correct that it is hard to actually quantify the economic benefit of an arena because it is challenging to determine how much activity is truly new and how much is just transferred from some other place.

As someone who lives in a community of 600k without one, I view major arenas as infrastructure. Having one allows a city opportunities that they would not otherwise have. But like most infrastructure projects some will benefit others won't. For example, the Gateway Boulevard exchange project cost $238M. It was a pretty crucial project for anyone traveling in that area. But my 82 year old mother in law contributed to its construction and will almost surely never even see the result.

If you want something a little closer in spirit take a look at the Terwilliger Rec Center. The cost came in at $108M. A portion of my taxes went to pay for that but I don't even know where it is. We had a similar development in my city that cost me as a tax payer far more on an individual basis than the arena cost Edmontonians. And I have only been in the facility once for an open house.

What complicates the issue for an arena is that private business makes a lot of money off the project. This tends to color people's impression of the project, which I certainly get. But again as someone who lives in a place that lacks such a facility I think that the city would be a lesser place without it. Where I live the 407 highway is privatized but it is clearly still an important piece of infrastructure. Even people who never travel on the road benefit because it takes some pressure off the truly insane 401.

Good post.

I would add that downtown decline is a problem in virtually every major city in NA. It's not unique to Edmonton.

However there are real examples of downtown revival being sparked by inclusion of sports venues and development. The best example might be Detroit. Complete transformation in less than 10 years.

Edmonton is still ranked as the best value living for a major city in Canada. Its because of affordable (relatively) housing and a growing and diverse job market.

Katz and other developers understand they need people residing downtown before they can grow the development around it.

Drive downtown and see all the new condo units under construction everywhere. It will feed the district and it will thrive over time. It's a long play.

 

[Jumptheshark]

That’s not really anything political. Online shopping has taken over and online food delivery is more and more popular as well. Covid just accelerated what is a natural evolution of convenience of buying from home.

Getting back to actual hockey, can’t believe the first Oiler preseason game is tomorrow. Is it televised?

There are quite a few people who blame Dummy for city centres dying. I was just saying it was just an Edmonton thing

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Has there been any rumours about players who stand out so far in terms of improvement ?

Philp, Savoie, Kemp according to Stauffer yesterday.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Philp, Savoie, Kemp according to Stauffer yesterday.

I'm so happy that Philp has come in and had a positive showing early.

 

[LTIR]

Well you didn't answer the question about how you expected to profit from the development.

So without the district, the downtown would be as good? Better? Ridiculous.

Since you have all the answers, I would like to know exactly how much your property taxes went up to support that project. Waiting.

I can't believe people still bitch about this not being a positive change for the city.

Yup, if DT was truly dieing then building the ice district there was genius idea. Central location where no one wanted to go previously. Now because of it parking costs can remain outrageous.

 

[FlameChampion]

Philp, Savoie, Kemp according to Stauffer yesterday.

That’s good to know with Philp. We could really use a 4C in his mold.

 

[Louis Cypher]

Holy shit it says we are playing Winnipeg tomorrow at 3pm pst. Any idea if these will be streamed for free or do we have to sign up and pay?

 

[Mr Kot]

tomorrow is the first day!

 

[bobbythebrain]

Everyone get their narratives and complaints set early!

If Knobber doesn't play the vets very much then he's an idiot and they wasted too much time on developing guys who will never make the team and the top guys didn't get a chance to mesh and gel together.

If Knobber plays the vets lots and they start the year slow (or gasp, someone gets injured) then he's an idiot for running the horses into the ground early. It's a marathon and not a sprint.

etc, etc...

Fire Knobby and Bowman. Their decisions are inexcusable!!

Daryl Katz needs to answer for this!!

The refs are instructed to screw us!!

Bettman doesn't want Edmonton to win!!

It's Carol Baskins fault!!

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

 

[booyakasha]

Holy shit it says we are playing Winnipeg tomorrow at 3pm pst. Any idea if these will be streamed for free or do we have to sign up and pay?

just watch on the other teams stream for free.

 

[Drivesaitl]

The decline of the DT core significantly predates the arena though. Major retailers were bailing for years. Part of this is simply that Edmontonians like their local amenities. You are also correct that it is hard to actually quantify the economic benefit of an arena because it is challenging to determine how much activity is truly new and how much is just transferred from some other place.

As someone who lives in a community of 600k without one, I view major arenas as infrastructure. Having one allows a city opportunities that they would not otherwise have. But like most infrastructure projects some will benefit others won't. For example, the Gateway Boulevard exchange project cost $238M. It was a pretty crucial project for anyone traveling in that area. But my 82 year old mother in law contributed to its construction and will almost surely never even see the result.

If you want something a little closer in spirit take a look at the Terwilliger Rec Center. The cost came in at $108M. A portion of my taxes went to pay for that but I don't even know where it is. We had a similar development in my city that cost me as a tax payer far more on an individual basis than the arena cost Edmontonians. And I have only been in the facility once for an open house.

What complicates the issue for an arena is that private business makes a lot of money off the project. This tends to color people's impression of the project, which I certainly get. But again as someone who lives in a place that lacks such a facility I think that the city would be a lesser place without it. Where I live the 407 highway is privatized but it is clearly still an important piece of infrastructure. Even people who never travel on the road benefit because it takes some pressure off the truly insane 401.

Agreed that the decline has been going on for years. but after all the attempt to revitalize and here we are. Dead DT. Dead retail,

I don't mind at all paying for rec center. Benefit to that. Not to building more gambling facility.

 

[BlackDogg]

Why are we still playing these rookies? Practice time is wasting!! Preseason is almost over Damnit.

Bring in Jay Woodford.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Has there been any rumours about players who stand out so far in terms of improvement ?

Connor Brown.