Uneasy Rhetoric

I know Heckasac is tired of it. I know I’ve already made my feelings known. But Carl, who is all for a new arena, puts it all on the table in one simple post.

I’m absolutely for building a new arena downtown, but for me to continue to support a new arena, the agreement MUST include the following:

• The Maloofs MUST pay at least 20 percent and preferably 25 percent of the new arena costs.
• The old $70-odd million loan from the city MUST be paid separately from the payment above.
• Local government MUST get a piece of the arena revenue, given that local citizens would be paying for it.

I think a deal that had these elements would go a long way to selling a new arena to the public (setting aside the location issue for a moment). It wouldn’t quiet all of the opposition, but it might make fewer of us feel like the Maloofs are just asking us nicely to bend over and take it.