Downtown Arena Timeline

The following is a time line list, generated by the "alternate Mimi". A huge thank you for taking the time to provide such a comprehensive list of information...Since her list will show in the twitter time line "in reverse", I've taken her tweets, fixed a few date formatting issues, and changed her "see tweet below" to "see tweet above". I have also resisted the temptation to put several tweets in bold...

• The TwitterRock Opera begins! The year is 2006. #1 on the charts is Justin Timberlake's SexyBack.
•  9/14/06: Edmonton Journal’s Paula Simons reports “anonymous backers” are floating an idea for a new arena on the Canada Post site.
•  11/16/06: Edmonton Journal polls readers on idea of a downtown arena: 52% say “Great idea.” 48% say “Bad idea.”
• 12/22/06: Mayor Mandel talks about a $1B downtown arena proposal: “We need to be creative and not burden the taxpayers,” he says.
• 1/13/07: Awaiting HOK Coliseum renovation cost report, Mayor Mandel says: “It always has been my hope that we will have a downtown arena.”
• 1/19/07: Oilers Pres Patrick LaFarge tells Globe & Mail the team is excited by all the new arena talk; he declares current barn “tired”.
• 2/22/07 Northlands releases HOK Report which says it would cost $225-250M in 2008 dollars to renovate Rexall to current NHL standards.
•  2/23/07: Mayor Mandel says a committee should look at building a new arena and evaluate potential locations. Predicts a decision by summer.
•  4/24/07: Journal’s Gary Lamphier predicts arena will attract “plenty of banks, private equity pools & major pension funds" looking 2 invest.
•  4/25/07: Mayor Mandel strikes Arena Feasibility Committee, says he has ideas for financing an arena “that wouldn't require any city money.”
•  5/5/07: In a surprise bid, local billionaire Daryl Katz offers $145M to buy the Oilers from the struggling Edmonton Investors Group.
•  5/7/07: Edmonton Investors Group advises Katz that the Oilers are not for sale.
•  6/2/07: Edm Journal reports Leger Marketing poll re: downtown arena indicates 56% Edmontonians opposed, 67% opposed if tax dollars used.
•  6/2/07: In response to Journal poll, Mayor Mandel vows no property tax or infrastructure money from feds or province will be used for arena.
•  7/24/07: Katz ups Oilers bid to $170M; promises to invest $100M in downtown arena, build training facility at U of A if his offer accepted.
•  8/2/07: Mayor Mandel tells the Journal, “Taxpayers are not going to foot the bill for a new arena,” regardless of who owns the Oilers.
•  8/7/07: Katz’ $185M Oilers purchase offer rejected. Katz Group says that there will be no more offers to buy the team.
•  9/18/07: Ben Henderson, then Ward 4 council candidate, tells the Edm Journal he’s in “wait and see” mode on downtown arena proposal.
•  9/19/07: Ward 3 candidate Tony Caterina tells Journal the Oilers, as private business, are free to pursue a new arena at their own expense.
•  9/21/07: Voter at election forum asks about possible referendum on arena. Mayor Mandel replies, “No taxes of yours will go into an arena.”
•  9/21/07: Ward 6 candidate Amarjeet Sohi tells Journal he doesn’t support a downtown arena and sees “no role at all” for city to play.
•  9/25/07: Coun Sloan tells election forum that if borrowed public money going to pay for a downtown arena, question should be put to a vote.
•  9/25/07: Asked about arena, Coun Ed Gibbons says a new arena should be in Ward 3, run by Northlands and cost the city no money whatsoever.
•  10/2/07: Ward 2 candidate Dave Loken tells the Edmonton Journal he supports the downtown arena “as long as no tax dollars are used.”
•  12/13/07: Katz Group tables a new $200M offer to purchase Oilers, includes a promise of $100M towards building a new arena.
•  12/14/07: Councillor Kim Krushell says she’ll call for a plebiscite if a new arena involves large amounts of tax money.
• 12/15/07: Premier Stelmach asked about funding arena: "It's a private-sector arrangement ... has nothing to do with the gov’t of Alberta."
• 12/16/07: Coun Bryan Anderson suggests building a new arena near The Meadows east of Mill Woods. Says doing so would spur LRT expansion.
•  As 2008 begins, there is no sign of the Arena Feasibility Committee report the Mayor figured would be completed by the end of summer.
•  2/7/07: Arena Task Force report delayed until after the provincial election. Mayor Mandel reiterates no tax or grant money will be used.
•  2/12/08: UofA Sports Econ Prof. Brad Humphreys tells conference new arena won’t produce jobs, boost economy but might increase civic pride.
•  2/15/08: ‘Edmontonians Against Public Money for the Downtown Oilerplex’ facebook page launched.
•  3/25/08: Mayor's Arena Committee recommends a downtown arena be built, with all 3 levels of gov't contributing to the estimated $450M cost.
•  3/27/08: Edm Journal’s Paula Simons writes that the “fix was in” with arena committee and predicts taxpayers will be left holding the bag.
•  3/29/08: Councillors Sohi & Caterina complain that they aren't allowed to see arena economic analysis reports partially paid for by city.
•  7/20/08: UofA Pop Research Lab survey indicates 48% Edmontonians support using tax dollars for a new arena; 50% opposed to the idea.
•  8/10/08: Cdn Taxpayers Fed reveals committee report draft mentioned TO, VCR, OTT & MTL arenas built with private funds, final report omits.
•  11/14/08: Econ downturn plus financial uncertainty created by arena talks forces city to guarantee $60M loan for Northlands expansion project
•  12/17/08: NHL’s Gary Bettman tells Chamber of Commerce luncheon Oilers need new arena. Journal’s Dan Barnes dubs speech “political drive-by.”
•  5/7/09: Northlands Chair says the organization is keen to work with the Katz Group on a new arena proposal.
•  8/20/09: Ipsos Reid poll shows 76% respondents (43% strongly) don’t want taxpayer dollars used for new arena.
•  8/28/09: Coun Bryan Anderson: “I don’t think there’s an appetite on council for the involvement of a whole bunch of municipal dollars.”
•  9/1/09: Katz Group secures d/t land options; say $1B development cd include 18,500-seat arena, theatre, casino, practice rink, studnt housng.
•  9/4/09: Premier Stelmach tells the Calgary Herald, “It’s very clear: we’re not putting money into arenas.”
•  9/11/09: Pat LaForge says Oilers “lost quite a bit of money last year” and, therefore, the Katz Group will need 100% of all arena revenues.
•  9/20/09: Patrick LaForge tells the Journal's David Staples that the Katz Group is in the process of hiring a “starchitect” to design arena.
•  9/26/09: Journal’s Gary Lamphier questions why no private developers or partners have stepped forward expressing interest to invest in arena.
•  10/7/09: Journal’s Scott McKeen calls Katz secret meeting invitation to councillors a sign of “bungling”; city lawyer warns probably illegal.
•  11/7/09: Media reports that the Katz Group has hired former Deputy Premier Peter Elzinga to lobby province on its behalf.
•  11/12/09: Forbes reports Oilers posted $9.4M operating profit; LaForge tells Journal they had a “break-even year”. (Note: 9/11/09 entry above)
•  12/17/09: Citing “confidential numbers” & info provided by Katz Group, Econ Development Edmonton says arena could generate $1.25B in wages.
•  2/10/10: Katz Group advises that its $100M contribution will not go towards arena but to surrounding development.
•  2/11/10: Mayor Mandel rejects putting arena proposal to a vote during the October election, says politicians should have the final say.
•  2/14/10: Journal runs letter from Katz: people misunderstood commitment, says he hasn’t broken his $100M pledge; it's a “new funding model”.
•  2/1910: Mayor Mandel says a ticket tax could cover $125M of the arena cost.
•  2/25/10: Katz Group launches Edmonton Arena District social media campaign.
•  2/26/10: Coun Leibovici, whose husband is a Medicine Shoppe VP, obtains a legal opinion that says she has no conflict of interest on arena.
•  3/10/10: CTV/ACCESS TeleResearch poll: “Should City of Edmonton build a new arena for Oilers?” Yes 22.55% No 55.45% Undecided 22%
•  3/20/10: In Journ guest column, Katz VP Bob Black says arena dist w/ have community rink, student housing, Winter Grdn, hotels & office twrs
•  3/21/10: Northlands Chair tells the Edmonton Journal that Rexall could operate “for decades”.
•  4/14/10: Mayor Mandel tells the Journal that $450M arena cost estimates being “blown out of proportion” by people who “don't have details”.
•  4/16/10: Katz Group hires former journo Steve Hogle as VP Pub Affairs & Communications to handle arena media & stakeholder relations
•  4/19/10: Katz Group files formal rezoning application for a downtown arena. No plans or designs are submitted with the application.
•  4/20/10: Journal Straw Poll on arena zoning application: 35% You bet; 11% Nope; 41% Only if there's no public money; 13% Need more info
•  5/5/10: Coun Iveson: "There's an irony here, which is that someone else is designing a building, which we're being asked to fund and own."
•  5/6/10: Katz Group hosts Edmonton Arena District open house at Art Gallery (to which Coun. Iveson was referring, above).
•  6/7/10: Katz Group withdraws zoning application. Says greater funding 'clarity' needed. Insider tells Journal put off until after election.
•  6/29: Katz Group spends day denying reports Oilers could move to Hamilton. Rumours triggered by Oilers execs high profile visit to Hamilton.
•  7/3/10: Coun Ben Henderson tells Journal, "It's all being played out in headlines & press releases, and that's not building trust."
•  7/14/10: Katz Group releases Jun 29 letter, which councillors had not yet seen, that puts $100M for arena back on table.
•  7/21/10: Journal's McKeen reports Katz proposed arena site ranked 5th and Northlands 1st in arena consultant's report councillors never saw.
•  7/21/10: Katz confirms he’ll commit $100M for arena plus $100M for arena district, but vows Oilers won't play in Rexall past 2014.
•  8/26/10: Downtown Business Assoc. surveys downtown residents, find 46% support arena proposal.
•  9/27/10: City Manager Farbrother tells Macleans magazine the federal gov’t consideration of QC arena funding request “framework-changing”.
•  10/6/10: Coun Sohi tells election forum "downtown arena can be built and should be built, but it does not need any support from taxpayers."
•  10/23/10: City announces arena open houses and discussion groups, along with an online presentation and survey. Cost: $150K
•  11/20/10: Oilers use demon dialer to promote on-line survey; city rep says “never designed to be a statistically valid opinion poll.”
•  12/1/10: Canadian Press reports Oilers in Quebec talking arenas. LaForge says, "We are not planning to move the Oilers at this time.”
•  12/4/10: Councillors receive answers to 140 arena questions, Council advised that Katz Group continues to refuse to open its books.
•  12/11/10: Northlands vows to keep Rexall open if shut out of downtown arena. Mayor Mandel responds “There won't be two arenas, regardless.”
•  12/16/10: Ex-Oiler, Deputy fed Green Party Leader Georges Laraque offers $100K for arena if city will move Lucy the Elephant to warmer home.
•  City poll: “Do you think CofE shd contribute funds to new d/t arena as long as it doesn't raise prop tax rate or reallocate infrast funds?”
•  1/13 Poll Results: Strongly Disagree 23% Somewhat Disagree 7% Strongly Agree 41% Somewhat Agree 26% Unsure 3%
•  1/13/11: City releases arena rpt incl on-line survey results, which Journal's Simons calls “something of a farce” (see demon dialing above).
• 1/14/11: City commissioned telephone survey: 59% respondents approve of arena if number of conditions met, including a plan for Rexall.
• 1/17/11: Council refuses to hear from citizens (incl this one!) & Cdn Taxpayers Federation rep registered to speak at arena public hearing.
•  1/18/11: Council approves rezoning application. When citizen (me, again!) tries to speak about viability of two arenas, Mayor cuts her off.
•  1/25/11: Katz Group's Bob Black repeats promise that student housing part of Katz' arena district vision; U of A says it's interested.
•  2/20/11: Watching Oilers game, Gary Bettman declares to media, “There's no question about it, they're not going to stay in this building."
•  3/3/11: Fed gov’t announces it will not fund NHL arenas. Mayor Mandel tells Journal a decision must be made by the end of the month.
•  4/1/11: City unveils CRL map; new prop taxes in 29-blk radius to fund arena. Admin says $ won’t B enough to service debt for at least 10yrs.
•  4/4/11: In a letter to Mayor Mandel, released to the media, Katz Group says the Oilers have not and do not agree with ticket tax idea.
•  4/7/11: Council votes to proceed with formal arena negotiations with Katz Group, though some conditions from January motion remain unmet.
•  4/8/11: City reduces CRL contribution & Katz Group agrees to ticket tax; $100M arena funding gap remains.
•  4/28/11: Council asks Katz Group to look at seat ownership proposal to help with funding; Katz Group declines.
•  5/19/11: Council votes 8-5 to approve deal framework after late-night closed-door session. Motion empowers City Mgr to finalize details.
•  5/20/11: Coun Anderson says deal requires Northlands agree to shutter Rexall. Katz sure Northlands will do what's in city's “best interests”
•  5/21/11: Coun Sloan says tells Journal, “Councillors were puppets, with Mr. Katz, Mr. Bettman & the Mayor pulling the strings."
•  5/28/11: Contending with Slave Lake fires & High River floods, Premier Stelmach says arena proposal not on his radar.
•  6/4/11: Journal reports Katz wants $125M interest-free loan (to be repaid with ticket tax) from prov in add'n to $100M provincial funding.
•  6/4/11: Coun Gibbons tells Journal he felt 'corralled & pushed to the chute" in arena vote. Coun Diotte worried about cost overruns.
•  6/12/11: Calgary Mayor Nenshi tells the Edmonton Journal he's no fan of public funding for arena-like projects.
•  7/13/11: Premier says province won’t fund arena, might help w/ infrastructure like LRT. Katz Group tells Canadian Press Oilers losing money.
•  7/22/11: Journal reports all 6 PC leadership candidates veto idea of province funding arena.
•  7/23/11: PC leader candidate Ted Morton pitches referendum to ask voters to voluntarily add 1% to GST for 2 yrs to pay for arena.
•  7/26/11: Premier Stelmach meets w/ Mayor Mandel, says province might find MSI funds for arena; Muni Affairs Minister pans Morton's tax idea
•  8/5/11: CBC reports Katz Group asked MLA offices to redirect constituent calls about arena to them for response. MLAs not amused.
•  8/6/11: Local media report Katz Group met w/ Enoch Cree re: locating arena there. Coun Iveson quips threat 2 move regionally shows progress.
•  8/23/11: Self-declared arena supporter & Journ Biz Editor Gary Lamphier writes, “downtown arena project badly needs some adult supervision”
•  8/26/11: City expands CRL zone to encompass 60 blocks with $100M to arena and $266M to 9 other catalyst projects.
•  8/29/11: In ode to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Metro News' Terence Harding writes “In Edmonton did Khubla Katz a pleasure dome decree.”
•  *9/9/11: City admits $1.2M arena costs after VUE reporter (me again!) reveals (via twitter) councillors upset the info deemed confidential.
•  9/13/11: Local media reports that Oilers owner Daryl Katz has been living in Vancouver since April.
•  9/14/11: City council announces a Special Meeting will be held Sept 23 for arena update.
•  9/15/11: PC leader candidates grilled on arena funding at final debate in Edmonton. Crowd boos loudly at any suggestion of public support.
•  9/20/11: City council agenda for 9/23 Arena Update Special Meeting released; turns out the update will not be held in public after all.
•  9/20/11 Katz Group issues press release in which it demands council come to a decision on arena by October 31
•  9/23/11 Council told arena will cost city b/w $57M - $72M to buy land, build LRT station and pedway. This is on top of arena contribution.
•  9/27/11 Admin tells council working capital fund could be used to purchase arena land; Edm Sun reports add’l costs cd be as high as $100M.
•  9/28/11 Journal quotes Coun Loken: "The $100 million isn't the crux of the conversation. We hear from the province that's going to happen."
•  9/29/11 NDP Leader Brian Mason issues press release telling prov to come clean on arena funding, cites Loken’s comments.
•  9/29/11 Katz Grp issues stmt re: deadline; indicates it’s city’s responsibility to get prov funding & get Northlands to agree to no-compete.
•  10/3/11 Oilers Pres Patrick LaForge sends out an e-mail urging people to put pressure on city council to approve arena deal by Oct 31.
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