Your reactions: Should public money be used for a new Ottawa NHL arena?

[guest]

A few days ago, we published a story on Mayor Jim Watson musing about whether the group wanting to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats will ask for help from taxpayers.

From that story:

“I don’t know if they’re going to come forward and ask for any of those dollars,” Watson said Wednesday after a council meeting. “Certainly I want to make sure that whatever happens there is the benefit to the taxpayers of Ottawa.”

Asked if he would be open to the city funding an arena, Watson said: “We haven’t received any asks, so I’m not going to speculate on something that hasn’t been asked.”

Tom Anselmi, president and CEO of the Senators, said nothing has come up about the city’s involvement in building a new arena.

“There’s been no discussion about any of that, so it’s still really, really early in the process,” Anselmi said outside city hall, where politicians raised the Senators flag to mark the beginning of the club’s run for a Stanley Cup championship.

“We’ve got to figure out what the plan looks like and then figure out how it’s going to come together and we’re a long way from that,” Anselmi said.
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We put the question out on Twitter: What would you think about using public funds?

Curious: Ottawans, would you want public money going towards a new NHL arena in LeBreton? https://t.co/wsniR4XKHs

— Alison Mah (@alisonmah) April 12, 2017
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Here is some of the reaction we got. Drop yours in the comments below, or tag us on Twitter with your thoughts!

Hell no. https://t.co/UjSOKjyfYk

— Peter Raaymakers (@rymkrs) April 12, 2017
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I personally think public money is reasonable. It depends on HOW MUCH tho. An entertainment space like that brings a lot of good to the city https://t.co/mqntqh5a84

— T O M S E N S (@TomSENS) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah No. Proven over and over not to payoff. Unless city get cut of tickets, concessions etc.

— NiallBBBB (@slowrvr) April 13, 2017
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@alisonmah Absolutely not. Unless the city is the an owner/part owner of the arena and shares in the revenue (which would never happen).

— Andrew (@Thermops) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah Depends: will I have a say in hockey operations?

— Eric Lapointe (@AccurateEric) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah I won't give it a strict "no", but probably not, and definitely not a significant amount.

But no problem if it's an existing grant program.

— Brad T (@Sammich_BLT) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah depends on what it’s for, how much, etc. Can’t prejudge until we know the ask

— Spencer Callaghan (@Senturion) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah @apt613 how many ways are there to say 'no'?

Imagine I used all of those.

— Evan (@GiantTourtiere) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah @apt613 No. Would rather see the city spend that money on infrastructure around the future rink so that it isn't just a wasteland beside the arena

— Matthew Chan (@1matthewchan) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah @apt613 @OttawaCitizen inevitable. Modern arenas are unviable without public money and perks

— Gord Boissonneault (@gordboi) April 12, 2017
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It’s fair to say most of the reaction was short and simple: No.

@alisonmah no.

— so-called "simon" (@stillwellgray) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah No way.

— Jeff Mitchell (@jeffismitchell) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah No.

— Andrew (@ottawaleafsfan) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah No!

— C (@cronin) April 13, 2017
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@alisonmah No way.

— Ben Jolliffe (@jbenjolliffe) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah @apt613 No thank you.

— Apophatos (@Apophatos) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah Nope

— x-Joe (@slowhnds) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah Absolutely not.

— Pete Anderson (@dairpo) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah No. No. No to the power of no

— Mr. Pants (@lostbaycabin) April 12, 2017
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@alisonmah @apt613 No thank you.

— Apophatos (@Apophatos) April 12, 2017
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