GO CANADA GO!


Halifax, Nova Scotia won the Canadian bid in a unanimous decision over three Ontario locations, York Region, Hamilton and Ottawa. Canada last hosted the Games in 1994 in Victoria, British Columbia.

If successful, a new stadium and many other new sporting facilities will be built. These would become national training facilities after the games. A new stadium would also aid in Halifax's quest for a CFL team, and possibly act as a venue for Canada's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid.

Halifax's intention is to provide world-class facilities to create an athlete-focused Games. The centrepiece will be a planned Commonwealth Park. This will include:

- a new stadium which would be the Commonwealth Stadium of the Games;
- a state-of-the-art aquatics centre;
- a new field house;
- and an Athletes' Village.

Some existing facilities will be upgraded to world-class standards, while others will be constructed within existing permanent structures to serve on a temporary basis. Halifax plans to build it's facilities in venue clusters that will allow the athletes' transportation times between venues and events.

The current (August 2006) estimated cost to taxpayers is $750,000,000 CDN. This figure could rise, but is expected to stay under $1,000,000,000 CDN.

Halifax plans to have at least half of the athletes able to walk to their competition venues, and all athletes will be within walking distance to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

http://www.tradecentrelimited.com/photos/1/CWG%20Eng%20w%20Tagline%20COL.jpg

http://www.2014halifax.com (2014Halifax.com)

:banana: I'm excited - just over a year until they pick the host city.

Jim Jones will go ballistic when he sees this thread :shocked:

Jim Jones will go ballistic when he sees this thread :shocked:


ballistic as in "YAY!" or "NAY!"? :scouserd:


POST 2000!

Nay, look around, he's created a million anti-games threads. I think he's mostly concerned about the cost, but IMO it'll be worth whatever we end up losing. We'll need a stadium eventually, so we might as well build it now. Plus the Shannon Park site, a bunch (over 50) of low-rise apartment buildings where they plan to build the games park, will need to be demolished either way (costs a lot) - it can't just sit there forever.

Congratuations on 2000 posts!

Nay, look around, he's created a million anti-games threads. I think he's mostly concerned about the cost, but IMO it'll be worth whatever we end up losing. We'll need a stadium eventually, so we might as well build it now. Plus the Shannon Park site, a bunch (over 50) of low-rise apartment buildings where they plan to build the games park, will need to be demolished either way (costs a lot) - it can't just sit there forever.

Congratuations on 2000 posts!

Thanks!


Well, he does have some merit. It's a huge financial burden for such a small population to overtake and I'm rather quite dissapointed that this self-proclaimed "New Government of Canada" is only 35% financially committed to the Games cost when both Toronto Olympic bids in 1996/2008 and the Vancouver 2010 bid got 50-50 financial backing........which is why Canada needs to vote Liberal red! what is the budget btw?

Other than that, I completely agree.

How big is this game? Attendance?

What cities hosted the previous two games? What were the benefits for the host? Seems like a game not known much by countries outside the commonwealth.....

How big is this game? Attendance?

What cities hosted the previous two games? What were the benefits for the host? Seems like a game not known much by countries outside the commonwealth.....

It's about a third to a half the size of the Winter Olympics; one of the world's largest sporting events though we don't hear much about it in Canada anymore now. It has a tv viewership of 1 billion.

Athletes: 4,500


I'd suggest Halifax to build as many temporary venues as possible and build venues that have temporary seating in which that seating space can be turned into community space. Follow the Victoria 1994 model in building venues and Halifax should be fine....we didn't build anything fancy either. Whether or not that will get the Commonwealth Games Federation on Halifax's side is another story, but the fact that post-Games legacy and sustainability is the focus will be a huge plus.

It's about a third to a half the size of the Winter Olympics; one of the world's largest sporting events though we don't hear much about it in Canada anymore now. It has a tv viewership of 1 billion.

Athletes: 4,500


I'd suggest Halifax to build as many temporary venues as possible and build venues that have temporary seating in which that seating space can be turned into community space. Follow the Victoria 1994 model in building venues and Halifax should be fine....we didn't build anything fancy either. Whether or not that will get the Commonwealth Games Federation on Halifax's side is another story, but the fact that post-Games legacy and sustainability is the focus will be a huge plus.


Yes you see you dont understand what the commonwealth games have become post victoria. In victoria is was a 168 million dolars affair . Kuala Lumpar in 1998 it became a mini olympics in financial scale . A college campus affair in Victoria to Kuala Lumpar with a state of the art perminent stadium of 100,000 capacity, a perminent velodrome and a perminent aquatics centre. All to olympic Speced designed and engineered by Olympic preferred european contractors.

the bulk of broadcasters for the 1 billion viewers for the commonwealth games had to pay less then ten thousandth of a cent per viewer. Indias TV rights package was 450,000 us the same was the ammount for the rest of asia.
With the calgary olympics the fee for ABC TV in the united states was 396 million for that country alone. NBC's deal is about 1 billion per olympic games.
The India public boradcaster threated a blackout of India if it had to what the melborune committee asked for $ 650.000 dollars US. The indian government backed the broadcaster up with a law that the Public Broadcaster would have to have a share of the broadcast time if a private broadcaster bought the right for india. That made the indian market a monopoly for the CWGs host cities to deal with and bow down to with the price the Indians want to pay which is totally valueless to covering any costs with the games.

Rogers and Bell are paying 138 million US for the canadian rights to the vancouver 2010 games LOL.

jim jones

GO CANADA GO!


Halifax, Nova Scotia won the Canadian bid in a unanimous decision over three Ontario locations, York Region, Hamilton and Ottawa. Canada last hosted the Games in 1994 in Victoria, British Columbia.

If successful, a new stadium and many other new sporting facilities will be built. These would become national training facilities after the games. A new stadium would also aid in Halifax's quest for a CFL team, and possibly act as a venue for Canada's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid.

Halifax's intention is to provide world-class facilities to create an athlete-focused Games. The centrepiece will be a planned Commonwealth Park. This will include:

- a new stadium which would be the Commonwealth Stadium of the Games;
- a state-of-the-art aquatics centre;
- a new field house;
- and an Athletes' Village.

Some existing facilities will be upgraded to world-class standards, while others will be constructed within existing permanent structures to serve on a temporary basis. Halifax plans to build it's facilities in venue clusters that will allow the athletes' transportation times between venues and events.

The current (August 2006) estimated cost to taxpayers is $750,000,000 CDN. This figure could rise, but is expected to stay under $1,000,000,000 CDN.

Halifax plans to have at least half of the athletes able to walk to their competition venues, and all athletes will be within walking distance to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

http://www.tradecentrelimited.com/photos/1/CWG%20Eng%20w%20Tagline%20COL.jpg

http://www.2014halifax.com (2014Halifax.com)


Oh by the way MR X. the federal funding for the vancouver games is not 50 percent. The 50 percent is for the latest cost overrun of 110 million dollars with a warning from the conservatives that this will be the last federal funding for the next 4 years in regards to capital costs. Somewheres between 35 percent and maybe 40 is the truth of the funding and considering that you probably had 500 million out of the liberals you might be looking at a percentage point or two over 35 .

good luck with holding down the costs as you people will need it in a red hot real estate and construction market LOL

jim jones

Oh by the way MR X. the federal funding for the vancouver games is not 50 percent. The 50 percent is for the latest cost overrun of 110 million dollars with a warning from the conservatives that this will be the last federal funding for the next 4 years in regards to capital costs. Somewheres between 35 percent and maybe 40 is the truth of the funding and considering that you probably had 500 million out of the liberals you might be looking at a percentage point or two over 35 .

good luck with holding down the costs as you people will need it in a red hot real estate and construction market LOL

jim jones

Jim, i hate to bring your world down.....but the truth is, 2010 venue funding has always been 50-50. 2010 sport venues during the bid process were pegged at $620 million; $110 million of that is dedicated to a 30-year venue endowement. The federal government and BC provincial government agreed to fund the venues 50-50; $310 million each. The actual capital budget is $470 million and since, both the feds and BC have committed the $110 million cost increase 50-50. $80 million in cuts to venue scopes have already been made before the request for more funding was made.

The same 50-50 promise was made to Toronto 2008.

VANOC has stated that only $200 million in venue construction has not started, and with all venues pegged to be completed late-2008 you can bet there will be very little or even zero venue cost increases. VANOC is already ahead of schedule in building its sport venues.

I should also mention that VANOC's finances should level off or even come up with a surplus with much higher than expected domestic rights and sponsorship contracts, much higher international IOC sponsorship/rights contracts, and much higher than expected IOC tv rights contracts around the world including here at home. VANOC has no idea what it will receive from the IOC until after 2010 and it is probable that it will be the most a Winter host city has ever received from the international body.

Yes you see you dont understand what the commonwealth games have become post victoria. In victoria is was a 168 million dolars affair . Kuala Lumpar in 1998 it became a mini olympics in financial scale . A college campus affair in Victoria to Kuala Lumpar with a state of the art perminent stadium of 100,000 capacity, a perminent velodrome and a perminent aquatics centre. All to olympic Speced designed and engineered by Olympic preferred european contractors.

the bulk of broadcasters for the 1 billion viewers for the commonwealth games had to pay less then ten thousandth of a cent per viewer. Indias TV rights package was 450,000 us the same was the ammount for the rest of asia.
With the calgary olympics the fee for ABC TV in the united states was 396 million for that country alone. NBC's deal is about 1 billion per olympic games.
The India public boradcaster threated a blackout of India if it had to what the melborune committee asked for $ 650.000 dollars US. The indian government backed the broadcaster up with a law that the Public Broadcaster would have to have a share of the broadcast time if a private broadcaster bought the right for india. That made the indian market a monopoly for the CWGs host cities to deal with and bow down to with the price the Indians want to pay which is totally valueless to covering any costs with the games.

Rogers and Bell are paying 138 million US for the canadian rights to the vancouver 2010 games LOL.

jim jones


yes i do understand. for one thing, i live in British Columbia where the 1994 Commonwealth Games were hosted. secondly, i followed the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Secondly, the Commonwealth Games Federation does not require the host city to build stadiums so grandiose as those seen in Kuala Lumpur, Manchester, and Melbourne. The main reason why Kuala Lumpur hosted and built extravagant facilities was because it had Olympic ambitions - it wanted to host the Olympics and it wanted to use the Commonwealth Games as a stepping stone and evidence that the city/country can host large event successfully. It bidded for the 2008 Olympics, but loss. The same goes for Manchester.....after it unsucessfully bidded for the 2000 Olympics, it immediately jumped into bidding for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Same with Melbourne - it has Olympic ambitions as well - and India is doing the same thing too, it originally wanted the 2020 Olympics but then instead bidded for the 2010 Commonwealths....now, it has 2010 and is aiming for the 2016 Olympics.

40,000 seats, most of which were temporary, were the main stadium in 1994. and obviously, you can't host and build much with $168 million.......what i'm saying to Halifax is it needs to build small - build what is only required, use existing facilities to the greatest extent, and build as many temporary venues as you can. This was the Victoria 1994 model.

i should also mention that the Australians, Melbourne 2006, love their sports. just look at all of their stadiums, their sport teams, and the crowds at the stadiums.

Unfortunately, Halifax tends to get pretty poor deals when it comes to funding these things. The city (HRM) will have to pay for a fairly large percentage of the cost of the games. The HRM has traditionally been treated as a cash cow by the province of NS.

At one point, the HRM was getting $30M in federal money for its $300M Harbour Solutions project, the same funding that St. John's was getting for $90M in sewage system upgrades. The city also gets very little for transit and in the past didn't get much investment. The last sports investment money to come from the federal government was supposedly for a baseball diamond in the 1960s.

Either way, I don't see what Kuala Lumpur has to do with this. The competition is Glasgow and Abuja. I think Halifax will be fine if the bid is reasonable for us. My only concern is that we might have gotten caught up in a kind of bidding war over the event, but I don't know that that is the case because few details have been made public.

Unfortunately, Halifax tends to get pretty poor deals when it comes to funding these things. The city (HRM) will have to pay for a fairly large percentage of the cost of the games. The HRM has traditionally been treated as a cash cow by the province of NS.

At one point, the HRM was getting $30M in federal money for its $300M Harbour Solutions project, the same funding that St. John's was getting for $90M in sewage system upgrades. The city also gets very little for transit and in the past didn't get much investment. The last sports investment money to come from the federal government was supposedly for a baseball diamond in the 1960s.

Either way, I don't see what Kuala Lumpur has to do with this. The competition is Glasgow and Abuja. I think Halifax will be fine if the bid is reasonable for us. My only concern is that we might have gotten caught up in a kind of bidding war over the event, but I don't know that that is the case because few details have been made public.

If you ask me, Halifax has a good chance at winning 2014:

1) The Commonwealth Games Federation didn't vote for Canada when Hamilton bidded for 2010. They'll feel like they owe us something and if Halifax comes up with a solid and sustainable bid....anything is possible.

2) Glasgow's proximity to the 2012 Olympic Games, London, is a factor and you can bet it'll hurt the bid. Historically, the Commonwealth Games are held away from the immediate Olympic host city.

3) The Federation's decision to let New Delhi host the 2010 Commonwealth Games was a huge risk and the risk showed just last year.....there were problems with the organizing committee that even threatened that the Games be moved to Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, or Manchester. The Federation wouldn't want to face that type of risk again......so, Abuja may be out of the question.

Glasgow is close to London and it's also very close to Manchester (a couple hundred kilometres).

Abuja seems very risky.

It's certainly possible that Halifax may win. It should come across as an interesting city that's a pretty sure bet in a country that hasn't held the games for a while. I just hope that the final price tag is reasonable if the city is chosen. If a moderate amount of money is spent on a stadium and things that would actually be useful then that's fine. We certainly could use some of that. However, I wouldn't want to foot the bill for games where huge sums are spent on the actual staging of the event, security, etc. None of those things will contribute meaningfully to life in the city over the long term.

Glasgow is close to London and it's also very close to Manchester (a couple hundred kilometres).

Abuja seems very risky.

It's certainly possible that Halifax may win. It should come across as an interesting city that's a pretty sure bet in a country that hasn't held the games for a while. I just hope that the final price tag is reasonable if the city is chosen. If a moderate amount of money is spent on a stadium and things that would actually be useful then that's fine. We certainly could use some of that. However, I wouldn't want to foot the bill for games where huge sums are spent on the actual staging of the event, security, etc. None of those things will contribute meaningfully to life in the city over the long term.

Security expenses are the responsibility of the federal government, as in Vancouver 2010, and should be the responsibilty of the federal government for Halifax 2014 as well. Stuff like cultural events including the Opening & Closing Ceremonies, which cost at least $20 million together, are the responsibilty of the organizing committee.

Regarding venues:

- a simple stadium with 35,000 permanent seats, expandable to 50,000 for CFL Grey Cup, would cost $200 million
- an aquatics centre with diving pool and an Olympic sized pool, with 5,000 seats (4,000 temporary seats), would cost $90 million.
- a new field house...not exactly sure
- an Athletes' Village for 4,500 people.....cost: $150-300 million

What should be and what actually happens are two different things, especially in Halifax.

It would be good if they arranged for some private developer to retain ownership of the Athetes' Village and turn it into permanent housing. I believe that is more or less their plan. They would maybe just have to handle the costs of cleaning it up and converting it.

What should be and what actually happens are two different things, especially in Halifax.

It would be good if they arranged for some private developer to retain ownership of the Athetes' Village and turn it into permanent housing. I believe that is more or less their plan. They would maybe just have to handle the costs of cleaning it up and converting it.

That would probably be the best option. It'll cost the organizing committee around $30 million for athlete facilities in the Athletes Village, such as a dining hall, health facilities, drug testing facilities, etc.

That would probably be the best option. It'll cost the organizing committee around $30 million for athlete facilities in the Athletes Village, such as a dining hall, health facilities, drug testing facilities, etc.

Well lets try about 80 million canadian for the athletes villiage in melbourne.

Thing is Victoria had a great way of funding the games at the 168
milion dolar level of 1994. It is called pigbacking. In victoria the facilities and athletes village were jointly funded by neighbooring communities inwhich the velodrome and aquatics centre where constructed. with the main stadium is was the track and field facility for the university of victoria with 35,000 temporary seats added for the games. The Athletes village became dorm for the university.

In Halfiax with the present proposal there is not other funding options outside of the province, city , federal and corporate sectors. victoria had two neighbooring communities , a university the federal and provincial government fund a modest games.

With ABuja as a competitor big is better will contunue and the votes will go to abuja with a Asian/ African / Carribean block that awarded the games to New Delhi in 2003.

jim jones

You know Jim, if you didnt think Halifax had atleast a chance, you wouldnt be spending your time preaching your case you everybody. So you must have atleast a little fear of it winning the bid.

YEAH!! I really hope you guys get it! I think you would do a great job and would finally get that needed stadium!! Also, you know the stadium is gunna be a good facility and look nice since its brand new for the games!! GOOD LUCK!!

Jim seems to be scared about anything and everything, and it's this kind of attitude that stalls Canadians from improving themselves and succeeding. It's almost as if there's this crazy person running down the street, pointing and screaming at everything and running away from it.

Take a look at Singapore....this small country only had farmland not too long ago, but because of their determination to succeed they're now one of the richest countries per capita on the planet with skyscrapers dominating the skyline.

An event like the Commonwealth Games is Halifax's and the Maritimes opportunity to show to the world, Canada, and most importantly itself that it can accomplish something, be proud of it and reap the benefits of hosting these Games.




Anyway, Jim....your facts are wrong, again. The capital cost of the Melbourne 2006 Athletes Village for the organizing committee was $35 million (not $80 million) - which involves providing furniture, security infrastructure, a dining hall, etc. for the Village. The $85 million of the actual cost to build the Village, funded by taxpayers, was $85 million (not $80 million). This development includes a major post-games social housing component.

Jim seems to be scared about anything and everything, and it's this kind of attitude that stalls Canadians from improving themselves and succeeding. It's almost as if there's this crazy person running down the street, pointing and screaming at everything and running away from it.

Take a look at Singapore....this small country only had farmland not too long ago, but because of their determination to succeed they're now one of the richest countries per capita on the planet with skyscrapers dominating the skyline.

An event like the Commonwealth Games is Halifax's and the Maritimes opportunity to show to the world, Canada, and most importantly itself that it can accomplish something, be proud of it and reap the benefits of hosting these Games.




Anyway, Jim....your facts are wrong, again. The capital cost of the Melbourne 2006 Athletes Village for the organizing committee was $35 million (not $80 million) - which involves providing furniture, security infrastructure, a dining hall, etc. for the Village. The $85 million of the actual cost to build the Village, funded by taxpayers, was $85 million (not $80 million). This development includes a major post-games social housing component.



You are absolutly correct, this is an amazing opportunity and its attitudes of people like Jim that brings this country down.

You know Jim, if you didnt think Halifax had atleast a chance, you wouldnt be spending your time preaching your case you everybody. So you must have atleast a little fear of it winning the bid.

A one percent chance is way too much for me. The bid should be withdrawn that would be my goal and if showing the reasons why we will A. be in debt for over 100 years and B. show that even the money being put into the bid is perhaps wasteful and will not be rewared in the end .

I beleive you have a very convincing case to end the entire bid from halifax and let glasgow and abuja duke it out by themselves. We are not even in the same league for facilities and the standard they have set will be 2 billion to meet when you do have to pay for security, operations and the 80 million dollar franchise fee to the federation.

I have said it before wishblade get a logical stadium development without europeans telling you what to do and it would have my support. wrapping a CFL stadium in commonwealth games bid is not that way to gain a stadium at any reasonable cost.

There is no commerical value in a commonwealth games period.

jim jones

Jim seems to be scared about anything and everything, and it's this kind of attitude that stalls Canadians from improving themselves and succeeding. It's almost as if there's this crazy person running down the street, pointing and screaming at everything and running away from it.

Take a look at Singapore....this small country only had farmland not too long ago, but because of their determination to succeed they're now one of the richest countries per capita on the planet with skyscrapers dominating the skyline.

An event like the Commonwealth Games is Halifax's and the Maritimes opportunity to show to the world, Canada, and most importantly itself that it can accomplish something, be proud of it and reap the benefits of hosting these Games.




Anyway, Jim....your facts are wrong, again. The capital cost of the Melbourne 2006 Athletes Village for the organizing committee was $35 million (not $80 million) - which involves providing furniture, security infrastructure, a dining hall, etc. for the Village. The $85 million of the actual cost to build the Village, funded by taxpayers, was $85 million (not $80 million). This development includes a major post-games social housing component.



Geee you mention singapore how come they have pulled out of biding on the commonwealth games a couple of times since victoria but they undertake a opera house that cost 1 billion dollars. Please stop with the 35 million for the games village it is out in the open in fairfax media papers like the age and the sunday herald what the cost of the melbourne facilites were. But Hey that will not be the way it goes in halifax afterall as we should be all so neive to think that bureaucrates from the HRM and the Province of Nova Scotia will lead us to beleive . There will be no labour unions to deal with, no materials going up over the next couple of years Gasoline and diesel will be at 2 bucks a gallon. It will be a buyers market for steel and concrete and the europeans will let Us get away with the proposal for an outdoor velodrome on the side of citidel hill as opposed to the indoor velodromes that have been at the last three games and are part of the bids from Abuja and Glasgow.

Yes that is why you look at it and say that halifax is in the worst position to even try to pull an estimate of 785 million. Glasgow and Abuja atleast have many if not all the facilities in place today so they know there costs.
The final tab for a games does not come until you pay for the facilities completely and borrowing for the taxpayers is not paying for the facilities it is denying services that are really needed get the shaft on the deal.

Man oh man mr x you dont seem to get it do you 85 million paid for by the taxpayers is the cost. Who gives a crap about what the committee paid they are civil servants paln and simple with a check book from the government LOL. There is no social housing component when the condos are going for 850,000 a piece and the medium price of a house in melbourne is 365,000. sounds like the taxpayers fudned a big fat gouge and that no one would be able to afford to live there but the rich.

jim jones

Geee you mention singapore how come they have pulled out of biding on the commonwealth games a couple of times since victoria but they undertake a opera house that cost 1 billion dollars.

Like many other cities, Singapore has Olympic ambitions and has been wishy washy on using the Commonwealth Games as a stepping stone. Nevertheless, the nation still has that ambition and determination to succeed and be on top of the mountain.

Singaporeans appreciate and embrace culture and sport - unlike Canadians....which explains for a $1 billion opera house.




Please stop with the 35 million for the games village it is out in the open in fairfax media papers like the age and the sunday herald what the cost of the melbourne facilites were. But Hey that will not be the way it goes in halifax afterall as we should be all so neive to think that bureaucrates from the HRM and the Province of Nova Scotia will lead us to beleive....

....Man oh man mr x you dont seem to get it do you 85 million paid for by the taxpayers is the cost. Who gives a crap about what the committee paid they are civil servants paln and simple with a check book from the government LOL. There is no social housing component when the condos are going for 850,000 a piece and the medium price of a house in melbourne is 365,000. sounds like the taxpayers fudned a big fat gouge and that no one would be able to afford to live there but the rich.

Parksville Athletes Village Construction Cost: $85 million
Commonwealth Games Facilities Cost (responsibility of organizing committee) at Parksville Athletes Village: $35 million

Really...nobody takes you seriously here and at GamesBids so I don't really know why you keep coming back unless you feel very threatened. I actually find your posts to be quite entertaining and I'm sure others do too.

200 of the 1000 units at the former Athletes Village at Parksville are now social housing units. The $85 million development was funded by the government. In order to balance the books for building the village and the 200 units of social housing, the other 800 units have to be sold for a lot more money - for the wealthy. Everybody wins...the taxpayer, the rich, and the poor.

Take a look at a similar government development in Vancouver, called Woodwards. This development is meant to rejuvenate Vancouver's downtown slum neighbourhood. The gov't, city, Simon Fraser University, and the contractor are funding this $200 million development which includes 200 social housing units, shops, community and public green space, a daycare, and a new addition to the SFU downtown campus: the School for Contemporary Arts. In exchange for the tens and tens and tens of millions worth of amenities the contractor will build, the city has allowed the contractor to build an additional tower on the site as well as raise the height of the other tower for 500 market housing units. These 500 market housing units were all sold within days for prices between $700,000 to a little over $2 million - and this is in Vancouver's slum.

That's the genius of these kind of developments, which began in Vancouver....in exchange for public and social amenities built by the developer/contractor, they receive allowance to build more. For example, nearly all of Vancouver's condo development in the last 15 years included some exchange for a public amenity. Vancouver has received elementary schools, parks, day cares, roads, community centres, social housing, and many more in exchange for additional building density and height for market development. Again, everybody wins.

new stadium = cfl expansion team

can anyone say ATLANTIC SCHOONERS?

hope this happens, would be great for Canadian Sports on the East Coast

so wasnt there supposed to be a social assistance hosuing development in vancouver for the displacement of homeless peoples prior to Expo 86. That group was lead by a man who is now city councillor. Seems to me it was to be in a building in the gastown area called the woodworth building I beleive.
So what ever happened to that project the politicans got rid of the problem and then didnt fullfil the promise they made. LOL

Anyways the athletes village cost 85 million in melbourne no matter how you divide it. I would like to know how shannon park will have enough room for an athletes villiage of 6000 athletes, coaches and official , a stadium of 35,000 . A field house and an aquatics centre. Seems to me there is not enought room there LOL after all you might be looking at 300 units when shannon park was operating as military housing .

yes like the velodrome on citidel hill which would be on land the HRM does not own and will never because it is a national historic park we have these neive dreamers who cant even put a proper plan together let alone deal with political realities of a tory minority government looking at a metro area with no chance that they will win a single seat in that area. If we were looking at a spring election and the liberals by a miracle were to take power the paper shuffle would be too late for the halifax bid.

Say MR. X did you know that the provincial minister of energy and resources for nova scotia Mr. Bill Dooks was in Whitehouse two weekends ago pleading with the federal tories to honor the funding commitment of the former liberal government for converting the universities, hospitals and provincial government building to natural gas at a cost of 20 million in the pennisual of halifax???. If the provincial government cant afford that little project how do they think they will fund the 600 million they claim will be the upper limit of funding for the commonwealth games for the provincial share ????



Of course you already knew that didnt you MR. X.
LOL

jim jones

For people outside of and unfamiliar with Halifax, here's an overview of the proposed games site, as well as a little background information:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h140/halpic/shannonpark2.jpg

By the way, this is on the Dartmouth side of Halifax Harbour.

I would like to know how shannon park will have enough room for an athletes villiage of 6000 athletes, coaches and official , a stadium of 35,000 . A field house and an aquatics centre. Seems to me there is not enought room there LOL after all you might be looking at 300 units when shannon park was operating as military housing .
Jim, if Shannon Park was too small, don't you think someone would've noticed by now?! :rofl:

Obviously Jim should take his amazing new discovery to the bid committee immediately.

so wasnt there supposed to be a social assistance hosuing development in vancouver for the displacement of homeless peoples prior to Expo 86. That group was lead by a man who is now city councillor. Seems to me it was to be in a building in the gastown area called the woodworth building I beleive.
So what ever happened to that project the politicans got rid of the problem and then didnt fullfil the promise they made. LOL

That man you speak of is not in city council anymore and in fact lost his election as mayor of the city last November. Get your facts straight.




Anyways the athletes village cost 85 million in melbourne no matter how you divide it. I would like to know how shannon park will have enough room for an athletes villiage of 6000 athletes, coaches and official , a stadium of 35,000 . A field house and an aquatics centre. Seems to me there is not enought room there LOL after all you might be looking at 300 units when shannon park was operating as military housing .

Ummm.....Shannon Park is 40 hectares or 100 acres. That's plenty of space.

Secondly, the $35 million is a separate expense from the $85 million.




yes like the velodrome on citidel hill which would be on land the HRM does not own and will never because it is a national historic park we have these neive dreamers who cant even put a proper plan together let alone deal with political realities of a tory minority government looking at a metro area with no chance that they will win a single seat in that area. If we were looking at a spring election and the liberals by a miracle were to take power the paper shuffle would be too late for the halifax bid.

:baaa: *rollseyes* :hahaha:




Say MR. X did you know that the provincial minister of energy and resources for nova scotia Mr. Bill Dooks was in Whitehouse two weekends ago pleading with the federal tories to honor the funding commitment of the former liberal government for converting the universities, hospitals and provincial government building to natural gas at a cost of 20 million in the pennisual of halifax???. If the provincial government cant afford that little project how do they think they will fund the 600 million they claim will be the upper limit of funding for the commonwealth games for the provincial share ????

Hardly any information has been released on the bid plan, as with the two other bids. At this point of the bid race, the 2010 Olympic bid cities did not release any detailed information either nor did the 2012 Olympic and 2010 Commonwealth bid races.....nor have the 2014 Olympic bid cities. The 50-50 government share of the 2010 Olympic bid was not announced until after the bid book was released.

This event has the potential to spur economic growth in Nova Scotia, and that is simply the fact.




Of course you already knew that didnt you MR. X.
LOL

Actually, I did. And of course, you can never ever get your facts right.

Obviously Jim should take his amazing new discovery to the bid committee immediately.

Jim, if Shannon Park was too small, don't you think someone would've noticed by now?!

:rock: :rofl: :cheers: :grouphug:

Jim, if Shannon Park was too small, don't you think someone would've noticed by now?! :rofl:

Yes and it is a red herring I threw into the trend. But really who knows because I know Geoff reagan your friendly neighboorhood liberal MP has state he does not what shannon park elementary school torn down for the commonwealth games . Seems to me that decreases the area by a bit.

Thing is you must admit the outdoor velodrome thing is totally stupid of a committee to forward after all the spec for holding a commonwealth games is to have an indoor velodrome with baltic birch broads as the track surface. Victoria cant even host the track cycling as it stands right now as it is outdoor , concrete and 333 metres long. The spec now for competition is indoors 250 metres long and baltic birch wood. that raises the cost to about 50 million.

The thing is if the people involved had some brains they could pull the games off with less cost . First Aquatic centre in shannon park GONE. Yuo get one of those porta pools they are using in melbourne next year for the fina world aquatics championships and put it in the dartmouth sports plex . the community pool you convert into a the diving pool.

A temporary velodrome surface could be constructed now and stored for a new aircraft hanger at the international airport. A temporary veldrome is what the Atlanta Games in 1996 had.

There are all kinds of creative ways the problem for halifax and canada in general is we get jerked around by the europeans time and time again .
nothing will change in hlaifax and it would actually be worse because of the eagarness of the local lobbists to be great hosts.
it is the nova scotian way.

jim jones

Yes and it is a red herring I threw into the trend. But really who knows because I know Geoff reagan your friendly neighboorhood liberal MP has state he does not what shannon park elementary school torn down for the commonwealth games . Seems to me that decreases the area by a bit.

Thing is you must admit the outdoor velodrome thing is totally stupid of a committee to forward after all the spec for holding a commonwealth games is to have an indoor velodrome with baltic birch broads as the track surface. Victoria cant even host the track cycling as it stands right now as it is outdoor , concrete and 333 metres long. The spec now for competition is indoors 250 metres long and baltic birch wood. that raises the cost to about 50 million.

The thing is if the people involved had some brains they could pull the games off with less cost . First Aquatic centre in shannon park GONE. Yuo get one of those porta pools they are using in melbourne next year for the fina world aquatics championships and put it in the dartmouth sports plex . the community pool you convert into a the diving pool.

A temporary velodrome surface could be constructed now and stored for a new aircraft hanger at the international airport. A temporary veldrome is what the Atlanta Games in 1996 had.

There are all kinds of creative ways the problem for halifax and canada in general is we get jerked around by the europeans time and time again .
nothing will change in hlaifax and it would actually be worse because of the eagarness of the local lobbists to be great hosts.
it is the nova scotian way.

jim jones

Weeelll, I agree with you there that they could be spending their money better when it comes to certain things (or saving it, for that matter). Although I don't think they'll have trouble finding uses for these additional facilities if they're built.

This event has the potential to spur economic growth in Nova Scotia, and that is simply the fact.

Please I cant beleive you actually said that at you related to Rodney Macdonald????

We would just be peeing away the gas royalites on a 10 day circus followed by a cfl team that would be subsidized. I know you people in western canada love to subsidize your football teams so continue on to do so while we go to Loudon New Hampshire in droves and see a sport you could only wish you could see in the northwest . NASCAR racing LOL.

Aw the things we do for entertainment here on the east coast are so different and less expensive to the ordinary taxpayers who are snapping those rolling stones tickets in droves on the show on the commons Sept Sept Sept 23rd

Did i say Sept sept sept 23rd the rolling stones play halifax LOL.

jim jones

Weeelll, I agree with you there that they could be spending their money better when it comes to certain things (or saving it, for that matter). Although I don't think they'll have trouble finding uses for these additional facilities if they're built.

I agree as well.

Anyway, like I've said before....if they're building new venues, the majority of the seating should be temporary to lower costs. Commonwealth Stadium should be designed as either:

1) a track & field with 35,000 temporary seats. cost: $15-30 million

2) a 35,000 seat stadium with partial permanent seating and partial permanent seating. for example, a 35,000 seat stadium consisting of 15,000 temporary seats and 20,000 permanent seats....cost: $80-120 million

3) a 35,000 permanent seat stadium with the capability to be expanded to 50,000 for events like the Grey Cup. cost: $150-200 million

This event has the potential to spur economic growth in Nova Scotia, and that is simply the fact.

Please I cant beleive you actually said that at you related to Rodney Macdonald????

We would just be peeing away the gas royalites on a 10 day circus followed by a cfl team that would be subsidized. I know you people in western canada love to subsidize your football teams so continue on to do so while we go to Loudon New Hampshire in droves and see a sport you could only wish you could see in the northwest . NASCAR racing LOL.

Aw the things we do for entertainment here on the east coast are so different and less expensive to the ordinary taxpayers who are snapping those rolling stones tickets in droves on the show on the commons Sept Sept Sept 23rd

Did i say Sept sept sept 23rd the rolling stones play halifax LOL.

jim jones

I think nearly all Haligonians here would agree with the statement that "The 2014 Commonwealth Games has the potential to spur economic growth in Nova Scotia."


NASCAR racing.....hundreds and hundreds of kilometres away........wow. Is that your argument? Not only that, this attraction is in the United States......geez, no wonder tourism business is going down here in Canada. Nova Scotians, or rather just yourself, must be so proud to have a NASCAR racecourse outside of their country. It's like saying Vancouverites are proud of having Disneyland in California.



The Rolling Stones.....also performing at Vancouver and :weird: Regina........and more than two dozen other cities in North America. Wow....that's like....so unique. :weirdo:

I agree as well.

Anyway, like I've said before....if they're building new venues, the majority of the seating should be temporary to lower costs. Commonwealth Stadium should be designed as either:

1) a track & field with 35,000 temporary seats. cost: $15-30 million

2) a 35,000 seat stadium with partial permanent seating and partial permanent seating. for example, a 35,000 seat stadium consisting of 15,000 temporary seats and 20,000 permanent seats....cost: $80-120 million

3) a 35,000 permanent seat stadium with the capability to be expanded to 50,000 for events like the Grey Cup. cost: $150-200 million

thing is we are not the people who decide this it is the european sports federations that do TOTALLY. you dont play their games and they threaten to pull the games.
To me the best economic choice is to pass on the commonwealth games and deal with the needs of the people who live in the city and province 24 7 365
not some spoiled athletes from other countries who are here for 20 day in 2014.

there is nothing temporary about the commonwealth games since kuala lumpar. And considering the facilities in abuja
http://www.fussballtempel.net/caf/NGR/Abuja.html
there is not going to be a temporary solution voted for .

These current venues in The Hrm are in debt now to the tune of 15 million and that does not include the debt of the trade centre and exhibtion park company.
The problem is with halifax is they think they have a need and then dont tear down the old building like was the case with the halifax forum. You then have two buildings for two purposes that the forum would take care of. The atlantic winter fair and ice hockey with a capacity for a crowd of 5000 and up. You have the metro centre , exhibition park and the Halifax forum all competting with each other to this day nearly 30 years after the opening of the metro centre.

Remember with your first proposal you are not really leaving room for the track and field surface which was 18 million AU dollars in melbourne and was installed by a company from italy.
So with all these european companies doing work as olympic preferred contractors wheres the economic benefit for the taxpayer companies in Halfiax , nova scotia or canada for that mattter???
The velodrome was a german company final velodrome and melbourne had opened a brand new ron webb velodrome two years after being awarded the games. Ron Webb is australianand certainly has the resume to satisfy the IOC in athens but somehow in a rush a new velodrome had to be constructed in 2002 two year after the opening of the vodafone arena.

jim jones

I think nova soctians would agree your Anchor Idea for the CFL football team is great and would be the symbolism of what a commonwealth games would do to nova scotia for the next 30 years.
You see we live closer to montreal then you do and can remember that whole kettle of fish . That is why the support numbers went south by 16 points the last time a pole was taken on the commonwealth games. The committee knows not to conduct a pole again because it will probably be below 50 percent since the last poll was only the beginning of the opposition getting the facts out and the vale of secrecy became a public ploicy on the issue .
The question has been on the hotline shows "show me the money , show me the costs , show me what is involved for our grand kids to have their futures morgaged for a couple of sport pyramids.

jim jones

These current venues in The Hrm are in debt now to the tune of 15 million and that does not include the debt of the trade centre and exhibtion park company.
The problem is with halifax is they think they have a need and then dont tear down the old building like was the case with the halifax forum. You then have two buildings for two purposes that the forum would take care of. The atlantic winter fair and ice hockey with a capacity for a crowd of 5000 and up. You have the metro centre , exhibition park and the Halifax forum all competting with each other to this day nearly 30 years after the opening of the metro centre.

The Metro Centre was built because the forum was too small, and outdated. The forum still has plenty of uses though, so why tear it down? Also, you need more than one venue if you're going to have things like hockey games (Metro Centre) and dog shows (Exhibition Park) happening around the same time. Plus the MC and Exhibition Park are owned by the same company, I don't think they're really in competition with each other.

what is more import for canadians? Panam Games or commonwealth games?

what is more import for canadians? Panam Games or commonwealth games?

the Commonwealths.

the Commonwealths.

and the commonwealth games are so important to canadains that the public broadcaster paid 10 million of worldwide broadcasting rights to the PaN AMgames last addition while the last addition of the commonwealth games had the melbourne committee paying the CBc to boradcast the games.

Seems to me when the CBC is actually making a smart business move for once it goes to show what has more vluae in the western hemisphere.

That is the problem for TV rights there is no value in taped games when the results of commonwealth games competition are known before anyone steps on the palying field . Jamiacians will win speed events in track , New Zealand will win rugby. The english will win lawn bowling, india will win the wrestling.

It goes down the line of now much a non competitive event the commonwealth games are. Atleast with the PaN AM games you have some interesting competitions that are on a world class level. Bravil VS Argentina for soccer you can get much better then that. Cuba vs the United States for
baseball you might as well say a real world championship there.
your speed events in track the jamiacain main competition is the untied states so you are seeing a possible world record event.

The Pan AM games are smaller but it is also more affordable, mean more from the mix of sports are played in north america and perhaps a stepping stone with facilites to other things.

jim jones

The Metro Centre was built because the forum was too small, and outdated. The forum still has plenty of uses though, so why tear it down? Also, you need more than one venue if you're going to have things like hockey games (Metro Centre) and dog shows (Exhibition Park) happening around the same time. Plus the MC and Exhibition Park are owned by the same company, I don't think they're really in competition with each other.

Yes they are owned by the same company called the TAXPAYER. LOL
they can put up every shell company they like but it is the same thing as
PAVCO in british columiba a provincial corporation .
So if the Forum is outdated why not tear it down as its purpose in the seventies is now served by both the metro centre and the exhibition park?
Now with the talk of a new metro centre it just goes to show how certain sport venue lobbists in the HRM are basically kids in a candy store who eat too much candy. The parents or the taxpayers end up with the dential bills.

Atleast with PAVCO and the building of the bc place they then tore down commonwealth stadium as it was a facility they not longer needed.

Halifax does not have that type of rational thinking to build on a facility and that has come from decades of crying how they need it and then having the rest people of the province nova scotia pay for it thru our provincial and federal treasuries.

Jim jones

Yes they are owned by the same company called the TAXPAYER. LOL
they can put up every shell company they like but it is the same thing as
PAVCO in british columiba a provincial corporation .
So if the Forum is outdated why not tear it down as its purpose in the seventies is now served by both the metro centre and the exhibition park?
Now with the talk of a new metro centre it just goes to show how certain sport venue lobbists in the HRM are basically kids in a candy store who eat too much candy. The parents or the taxpayers end up with the dential bills.

Atleast with PAVCO and the building of the bc place they then tore down commonwealth stadium as it was a facility they not longer needed.

Halifax does not have that type of rational thinking to build on a facility and that has come from decades of crying how they need it and then having the rest people of the province nova scotia pay for it thru our provincial and federal treasuries.

Jim jones


Building a new Metro Centre makes perfect sense. The current size at 11,000 is to small for a lot of events that would otherwise come here. The building is 30 years old and will need a major make over soon. So why not build a new one with a larger capicity that will draw more concerts and events. Also since the Metro Centre is attached to the World Trade Cerntre it could easily be converted into convention space which is also well in demand in Halifax and is in need of more space. Its a win win...but of course negative Jimbo Jones will disagree and write a book about it that no one will read because who wants to read a post that a page long.

Yes they are owned by the same company called the TAXPAYER. LOL

I thought they were owned by Trade Centre Limited (unless that's a crown corporation or something?)


So if the Forum is outdated why not tear it down as its purpose in the seventies is now served by both the metro centre and the exhibition park?

The forum is only outdated for certain things, it still has plenty of uses; weekly flea market, youth hockey, yearly home show, small concerts, alternate Moosehead's site, trade shows, bingo, etc.

The buildings all serve different purposes and at times there are multiple events going on at once. The Metro Centre would not be able to handle all of the different events that go on.

Maybe this sounds strange to somebody from a small town with one grocery store, one entertainment venue, one traffic light, etc..

I wouldn't mind the PanAm's either. If it were up to me, they would go to either Winnipeg (again :P) or Quebec City.

I thought they were owned by Trade Centre Limited (unless that's a crown corporation or something?)


The forum is only outdated for certain things, it still has plenty of uses; weekly flea market, youth hockey, yearly home show, small concerts, alternate Moosehead's site, trade shows, bingo, etc.

What really shows the forum competes with the metro centre is the WWE shows that go into the Forum along with other concerts such as a Motorhead a few summer ago.

Thing is you get rid of the forum and then the metro centre has more business. All the Flea markets and lesser events should be at the EX.
The supply for hlaifax for venues is a buyers delite.
The WWE shows that going into the Forum on occasion are the touring shows and not the pay for view events or network broadcasts of Raw and Smackdown. You just have two venues competting against each other while the taxpayer picks up the bill on both ends for the shortfalls. The Trade Centre and Metro Centre were funded by the taxpayer totally and it was the city that ran the metro centre. The entire complex has been run very well since the take over but adding a new building will only further the shortfalls for a metro centre and the forum . Agian it is the taxpayer who pays with higher taxes or reduced services.
There is no reason for the metro centre to not have a renovation to add seating on the duke street end of the building. It may not be the desired end to increase concert capicity but the concert business is so very little fo the annual schedule and is undependable especially in light of the rolling stones ticket sales. If you get a lower canadian dollar vs. the american then we will be back to a very lean time for Concerts in Halifax. This year has been great for shows in the metro centre and that is because of the high canadian dollar.

Moncton is going to be the concert centre in the summer with the message sent to both the country and rock worlds that a good sized crowds will show up.The stones played to the largest crowd of the first leg of the big bag tour and both Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson probably played before their largest audiences this year in moncton. Who ever is in city office directing the acts that are playing magentic hill has a great head on their shoulders. I can see both a country and a rock show next summer for moncton and who knows if it will be Aerosmith, Ac Dc , or any number of combinations of country acts. The message has been sent with to nashville, los angeles,new york and london that moncton has the goods. When the message arrives to the record industry from so many points with 12 months it will get the attention of the power to be to take a chance on moncton. Halifax's slow sales and perhaps not selling out at even 75 percent of monctons capacity will not be good for the concert biz in halifax.

The Stones show in Halifax is going to set Halifax back and it is a shame because the city is much more capiable to draw. Just the timing , the act that everyone say last year 200 miles away and that a half a billion dolars worth of ticket sales for the stones following their 350 milion dolar plus take a couple of years ago . The Rolling sotnes gold mine is beginning to be played out at a bad time for Halifax to buy the show.

jim jones

The buildings all serve different purposes and at times there are multiple events going on at once. The Metro Centre would not be able to handle all of the different events that go on.

Maybe this sounds strange to somebody from a small town with one grocery store, one entertainment venue, one traffic light, etc..

And how many top 50 companys' heaquarters does Halifax have? We have two here LOL.

Entertainment venues? two amphi theatres . An arts centre , A 4000 seat hockey stadium , A community rink for each municipal unit incluing the county, four curling rinks, and four golf courses, a ciniplex , five super markets all for a county of 46,000 people. By the way in the town of new glasgow there are 17 sets of traffic lights hopefully your preception of the reality in the commonwealth games bid is not off by the same factor of 17. that would make the total cost 13,345,000,000 dollars at the committees last sliding scale of upward estimates but hey you get CFL at that price at little over the provincial debt of nova scotia . The province with it the highest debt per capita in Canada.

I have said is tear down the Halifax forum 30 years after it was supposed to be outdated. keeping the forum up does not justify the metro centre or the EX park together. If you have too many events going on send the business to the dartmouth sportplex which is another underused facility.

Oh and the one traffic light in new glasgow. Do your lobbist and politicians go past the single traffic light on your way to Peter Mackays office to lobby for Commonwealth games monies ???? Or is that one of the 3 traffic lights in the Town of Stellarton that the committee has to go thru to see one of their top tier sponsors (and the biggest sponsor in nova scotia) Sobeys foods.

The honorary Chair of the 2014 committee Dr. John Hamm you have to go thru all 3 traffic lights in Stellarton to get to his house in valleywoods subdivision LOL. I think you have a lovely picture of DR John who seems to have a passion of projects in halifax but will not take care of the problem with nova scotia power and the fly ash from the Trenton powerplant in his own riding of pictou centre LOL. funny thing is the economic engine of the maritimes as you like to put it had nothing to do with John Hamms election or the vast majority of the provincial toires for that matter. So why bother us for your pet projects ?? Perhaps it is persons in the new glasgow area that hold the only live lines to your dear projects LOL


jim jones

Well, I've noticed Halifax isnt the only city in NA that's had slow ticket sales. Its actually becoming a global event where their concerts arent selling out. In Boston ticket sales have been so slow, their selling some seats for $22.50 and its still not selling it out.

Well, I've noticed Halifax isnt the only city in NA that's had slow ticket sales. Its actually becoming a global event where their concerts arent selling out. In Boston ticket sales have been so slow, their selling some seats for $22.50 and its still not selling it out.

Again like I said . ashame that Halifax felt the need to have a follow up show to counter Monctons and the Rolling Stones felt greedy for the marketplace .
The victim is halifax in this case. The Stones tickets have not been selling in europe this summer and the local events people here should have had their eye on that. If a band of the rolling stones resume is wanting to sign a deal less then 90 days before the show there is something up . If the Rider demands can go from 650,000 to 100,000 then the Stones are running out of places to play.
The Stones I am sure have seen the writing on the wall prior to moncton as no act would come to a place like moncton or halifax unless they are either on the way up or on the way down. There are plenty of easier places to play in america and europe then Halifax or Moncton. Who knows moncton may actually be in the top 20 audinece attendances for rolling stones shows of all time. How ironic would that be ?? Rio of course was number one but that was a free concert. Sars Aid would be the biggest paying show. If Halifax does not draw what glasgow did last month what does that say about a commonwealth games bid between glasgow , halifax and abuja ? It says Glasgow would have more drawing power then halifax which is evident anyways by population and the number of sports stadiums glasgow has with soccer and rugby.

Actually Wishblade I am very shocked and remember you and I said Atleast 50,000 if not coming close to selling out. What perplexes me is that Kaye
West with recent grammies, critical aclaim and huge record sales seems not to have an effect on the draw for Halifax. Could the Tragically Hip (a band without any big following south of the broader) , maroon 7 and other lesser acts be better draws in moncton then Alice Cooper , Sloan and Kaye West in halifax with about 3 to 4 times the population in the HRM ???
Troubling very troubling.

U2 or AC DC would have been the smart move to counter moncton but it is too late now. With the stones under their belt in a big way moncton is going to be the choice for rock acts with big shows in the summer. Even with a firesale you are not going to have people decide to change plans so soon to stand in a field for the rolling stones.
Watch for 30 dollar tickets for college students for the commons show because with production costs the Rolling stones could take a good bath on a halifax show without that little concession to college kids or cancel the show entirely cutting to the chase and going from foxboro mass. to giants stadium in new jersey.
You will also tend to have a backlash for events in the future with high prices if there is a cut rate ticket for college kids. That will destroy the HRM's creditiblity for large music events and even have an impact on the metro centre for sales. "why buy the 100 dollar ticket when the same promoters gave away the 100 dollar tickets for 30 bucks for the rolling stones show." Instead of putting halifax on the map for the concert acts the Stones move might have erased it if the results keep up. I would be very pissed if I paid 100 to 300 dollars for a ticket and a college kid was standing beside me with a 30 dollar ticket. That will not be kept a secret as you have absolutely poor college students asking perhaps their parents attending the show for 30 bucks for a stones ticket LOL.


Yet another reason a stadium in the Hrm May not be needed as Stadium rock acts are retiring or dying off. There are few being developed for stadiums and the last one really is U2. By 2014 U2 will have ben on the shelf for 34 years and might not be in the stadium playing mode or retirement. Who knows a member could die and end that band. You cant depend on either the CFL or concerts as post games tennants for a stadium .

I bet organizers and management maybe hoping that the Hurricane approaching Bermuda comes eastwards to wash out the Commons and thus cancel the show. It would be a very easy excuse that would save face, expense and a commonwealth games bid from becoming a very heating debate with citizens of the HRM and the province.

I can here is now " halifax cant draw for a one day event of 60,000 involving the world greatest rock band , how does it think it will sell out a 55000 seat stadium for 10 days strait with second tier athletics. how will it fill a 5000 seat aquatic centre,a 3500 seat velodrome and a host of other venues ?"

Jim jones

Edit: Oops, wrong thread, delete this post.

well to the people who dont beleive ABUJA is the leader . Today it has been reported that Mike Fennell (the president of the commonwealth games federation) apon touring that city has endorsed Nigeria for the games as a host. The further we dig into the taxpayers pockets for an international bid the clearer it is becoming that up to 10 million dollars will be wasted on Halifax's bid only to be voted out in the first round.

So when Mr. Fennell comes to Halifax what will he be shown to compare to a 600 million US dollar sports park in Abuja.
http://www.fussballtempel.net/caf/NGR/Abuja.html

Scott Logan "Ah yeah MR. Fennell we have to go to the architects office to see the stadium we hope the feds will pay for , Then we will take a drive past the place we hope the federal government will hand over to us to build the park".
"Did I tell you we are thinking of scaling down the games ???""

A quote from Mike Fennell in Abuja
“We are working to increase the standard of the games to enable it remain attractive to both athletes and participating countries,” by Mike Fennell that does not spell scaled down games by any means.

Yes with about 25 of the nations being from africa a abandoned military housing site compared to abuja stadium should be a stark comparision.

additionally MR fennell said
that the facilities of the bidding countries would be inspected by representatives of the 71 Commonwealth countries before a final host would be decided.

So how embrassing is it that we will have absolutely nothing to show but drawings and vacant military housing in shannon park .

We should get out before the embrassment to the commonwealth comes from the visiting nations. I am sure the africans are just going to laff very hard after A. using the abuja facilities in the 2003 all african games and B.
Coming to Halifax to visit the architects office and then shannon park.

the URL is http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=09/11/2006&qrTitle=C%E2%80%99%20Wealth%20Games%20boss%20okays%20Nigeria%E2%80%99s%202014%20bid&qrColumn=SPORTS

Jim jones

When is Mr. Fennell due to come to Halifax? Or has there been a set date for that yet.

What's so "embarrassing" about not having facilities built before being awarded the games? They plan to build them for the games.

When is Mr. Fennell due to come to Halifax? Or has there been a set date for that yet.


I dont know but maybe he is coming during the stones show .
Either way pre, post or during the Stones show he is going to see what a paper tiger the HRM is .

I do not rejoice in that it is very embrassing for the province as a whole that we have been lead down the path this way.

Think about the other countries especially the developing part of the commonwealth.African nations who used abuja stadium in 2003. Malasyia with the 1998 comonwealth games stadium of 100,000 capicity. Abuja's stadium is a scaled down version of the kuala lumpar stadium. The city really has its pants down on this one and to me it shows the idiotic policticans and bureaucrates in the worst case.

If this city was real about doing something it would get off the two other levels of government tits and look to planning the city realistically . Choose a good site for sports complex that would have the beginnings of a outdoor stadium . build apon the atlantic bowl and then look to cfl if things went well.
Knoxville Tennessee is the model that we should be looking to. Moncton for some reason has picked up on at logic of a plan for a stadium for the 2010 iaaf juniors much like knoxville did in 1921 with the first part of the construction of neyland memorial stadium . Today knoxville at 650 thousand people has one of the largest stadiums in north america at 108 thousand seats and they continue to build. When Konxville was halifax's size they had a 55,000 plus seat stadium.

jim jones

What's so "embarrassing" about not having facilities built before being awarded the games? They plan to build them for the games.

Come on a main stadium , a stadium for rugby sevens , a lawn bowling facility ,a velodrome, an aquatic centre and an athletes village all required to host a commonwealth games just on paper in Halifax with being awarded the games the tigger for construction. Plus there has not been any application for acquiring the land from the federal government yet ??? That leaves plenty of room for damage to the commonwealth games franchise because of cost overruns for Halifax. Then you have a 35 percent commitment from a junior minister not total financial commitment for the head of state of the host country with Halifax's sitaution.

Doesnt that assume a bit to much when the president of the commonwealth games federation is coming from a city that is more prepared then the last host city for facilities??? Repeat that process 69 times for the different commonwealth games associations. At this point in the biding process atleast melbourne had a main stadium and was constructing the indoor velodrome.
Abuja is more prepared then any of the bidders today and more prepared then
New Delhi, Melbourne or Manchester at this stage of the process.

The safe bet for no cost overruns is clearly Abuja and all international sports festival bodies are wanting to insure that the tide of opposition is brought down from the levels it is now.

With a meeting with the head of state of nigeria for mike fennell and the statement of total support by their federal government in terms of all resources needed. It will be in stark contrast to the premier , mayor , maybe michael chong and peter mackay meeting with Mike Fennell for a tour of absolutely nothing. Stephen Harper is not going to come from Ottawa for support.

Read the new website for Abuja 2014 and you will see the most prepared city for 2014 is sharpening their game plan and kicking it into overdrive.
www.abuja2014.org
notice the opening flash pointing to the history of the commonwealth games and how it has never been held in africa.

The nigerians are lining up the support thru diplomatic means . Canada well need I say more.

jim jones

Come on a main stadium , a stadium for rugby sevens , a lawn bowling facility ,a velodrome, an aquatic centre and an athletes village all required to host a commonwealth games just on paper in Halifax with being awarded the games the tigger for construction. Plus there has not been any application for acquiring the land from the federal government yet ??? That leaves plenty of room for damage to the commonwealth games franchise because of cost overruns for Halifax. Then you have a 35 percent commitment from a junior minister not total financial commitment for the head of state of the host country with Halifax's sitaution.

Doesnt that assume a bit to much when the president of the commonwealth games federation is coming from a city that is more prepared then the last host city for facilities??? Repeat that process 69 times for the different commonwealth games associations. At this point in the biding process atleast melbourne had a main stadium and was constructing the indoor velodrome.
Abuja is more prepared then any of the bidders today and more prepared then
New Delhi, Melbourne or Manchester at this stage of the process.

The safe bet for no cost overruns is clearly Abuja and all international sports festival bodies are wanting to insure that the tide of opposition is brought down from the levels it is now.

With a meeting with the head of state of nigeria for mike fennell and the statement of total support by their federal government in terms of all resources needed. It will be in stark contrast to the premier , mayor , maybe michael chong and peter mackay meeting with Mike Fennell for a tour of absolutely nothing. Stephen Harper is not going to come from Ottawa for support.

Read the new website for Abuja 2014 and you will see the most prepared city for 2014 is sharpening their game plan and kicking it into overdrive.
www.abuja2014.org
notice the opening flash pointing to the history of the commonwealth games and how it has never been held in africa.

The nigerians are lining up the support thru diplomatic means . Canada well need I say more.

jim jones


Wow, the finally got a web site...about time isn't it.

well hey the Nigerians didn t want Scott Logan getting an bright ideas LOL.
And looking at how the Nigerians conducted this I would say two things are at play A. influence of Ron Walker coming aboard and B. the nigerians would provide little knowledge to take advantage of western ignorance of their country. I assumed Abuja was a bad joke even after I visited the west african countries of senegal and gambia last year.
I cant beleive Scott actually is using the Nigerians and the Scots will steal our ideas to cover for the in camera stuff and the secrecy. If they had federal funding they would announce it and how much to try to convince the population of Nova Scotia and the HRM to support the games.

The silence just adds to the worry residents have that they will be left holding the bag LOL.

Seems to me the nigerians have had a plan way before the domestic biding process for canada and that stems beyond the 2003 all african games which by the way has more athletes then the commonwealth games.

Looking at the Abuja website and seeing that Abuja has wireless internet access for the entire city via both Wi Fi and Radio, that is very impressive.
So when does Halifax get the same thing that is being installed in Philadelphia total wireless accesss to the internet??? I suppose that would be another call to ottawa for wireless access city wide in the HRM.
Abuja will have a squadren security helicopters by games time. Right now they have a number of chopers for medivac and security . Abuja has security cams all over the city. On the books is light rail transport for all districts of the capital city region. These people certainly have their act together and probably have more capability to be flexable for a commonwealth games federation or even the IOC for a future olympic bid which is untimately where they are going. That is what you get when a world renouned japanese urban architect designs your city from a ground breaking in 1976. Both Halifax and Glasgow have big disadvantages being much older cities then Abuja.

When you read the section on that city and the capabilities you actually start to wonder who is a more modern city. LOL

jim jones

Looking at the Abuja website and seeing that Abuja has wireless internet access for the entire city via both Wi Fi and Radio, that is very impressive.
So when does Halifax get the same thing that is being installed in Philadelphia total wireless accesss to the internet??? I suppose that would be another call to ottawa for wireless access city wide in the HRM.
http://www.thecoast.ca/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2006-08-03&-token.story=145286.112113&-token.subpub=

Of course Abuja is a more modern city. Halifax and Glasgow are centuries old; Abuja broke ground less than 30 years ago.

http://www.thecoast.ca/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2006-08-03&-token.story=145286.112113&-token.subpub=

Of course Abuja is a more modern city. Halifax and Glasgow are centuries old; Abuja broke ground less than 30 years ago.

well of course I know about chebucto net but with what I am talking about with Philadelpihia is an actual city government porgram to install wi fi everywheres in Phili. Chebucto is a great private person co op which is very commendable but hardly like Phili or Abuja it seems.

To me it is amazing that Abuja would be that far thinking and actually well ahead of the curve. It is not to make western assumptions of Abuja but rather that they would do it so quickly and bet many places in north america and europe to the punch.

jim jones

From what I understand the CCN is installing wi fi everywhere through Halifax. The only difference is that it's a non-profit organization and not the city doing it.

well of course I know about chebucto net but with what I am talking about with Philadelpihia is an actual city government porgram to install wi fi everywheres in Phili. Chebucto is a great private person co op which is very commendable but hardly like Phili or Abuja it seems.

To me it is amazing that Abuja would be that far thinking and actually well ahead of the curve. It is not to make western assumptions of Abuja but rather that they would do it so quickly and bet many places in north america and europe to the punch.

jim jones


Abuja has invested well into wi-fi nen=twork because there land line network is not good there Negative Jimbo Jones.

well it seems Scott Logan's out of context comments to the scottish media about glasgow being disadvantaged are not true according to the president of the commonwealth games federation mike fennel.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5057057.html
neither london 2012 or manchester 2002 is a hinderance in his opinion to glasgow hosting the games. Glasgow also got high marks for committing to building the new venues even if they are not awarded the games. If Abuja wins which is looks like it will I can see glasgow biding on 2018 as cities that repeat their bids and prepare facilities usually eventually win . Salt Lake city is a great example of that minus the bribes LOL.

So I would think seeing how mike fennel was in abuja last week and he was in glasgow yesterday that fast freddy and the boys are thinking of having Mike Fennel attend the Rolling Stones show on the commons and the NHL exhibition games in the Metro Centre.

Yes a great smokescreen for absolutely nothing going on as far as venue construction in the HRM and planned venues only having the go ahead if the games are awarded to halifax. I am sure Mike Fennel a former chairman of air jamiaca can see thru to the real intent of biding on a commownealth games for halifax.
The rolling stones show will backfire as a showcase of what the city can do because it seems many people bought multiples of tickets in hopes of reselling them at a profit. With 20,000 ticket available thru the box office and who knows how many via private sale you might just see more people attend the country show in moncton then the rolling stones show in halifax. you might also see fewer people on the commons for the rolling stones then were there for the pope in 1984.

Considering that consessions at 6000 dollars a pop are not selling for stones management the picture of how hlaifax would perform for the commonwealth games would be pretty clear.
It would be so apparent to a mike fennel that if this city cant sell out the rolling stones show and the consessions then the commonwealth games in 2014 located in halifax will be a disaster for attendance.

Games set and match may happen as soon as Sept 23rd. closing the thoughts of a commonwealth games bid because of shear embrassment of having egg on the faces of city officials.

Of course Mr. Fennel will be polite to his hosts and say how great the city is .
On the way home to england or even jamiaca the laughter would be loud in first class LOL.

jim jones

well it seems Scott Logan's out of context comments to the scottish media about glasgow being disadvantaged are not true according to the president of the commonwealth games federation mike fennel.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5057057.html
neither london 2012 or manchester 2002 is a hinderance in his opinion to glasgow hosting the games. Glasgow also got high marks for committing to building the new venues even if they are not awarded the games. If Abuja wins which is looks like it will I can see glasgow biding on 2018 as cities that repeat their bids and prepare facilities usually eventually win . Salt Lake city is a great example of that minus the bribes LOL.

So I would think seeing how mike fennel was in abuja last week and he was in glasgow yesterday that fast freddy and the boys are thinking of having Mike Fennel attend the Rolling Stones show on the commons and the NHL exhibition games in the Metro Centre.

Yes a great smokescreen for absolutely nothing going on as far as venue construction in the HRM and planned venues only having the go ahead if the games are awarded to halifax. I am sure Mike Fennel a former chairman of air jamiaca can see thru to the real intent of biding on a commownealth games for halifax.
The rolling stones show will backfire as a showcase of what the city can do because it seems many people bought multiples of tickets in hopes of reselling them at a profit. With 20,000 ticket available thru the box office and who knows how many via private sale you might just see more people attend the country show in moncton then the rolling stones show in halifax. you might also see fewer people on the commons for the rolling stones then were there for the pope in 1984.

Considering that consessions at 6000 dollars a pop are not selling for stones management the picture of how hlaifax would perform for the commonwealth games would be pretty clear.
It would be so apparent to a mike fennel that if this city cant sell out the rolling stones show and the consessions then the commonwealth games in 2014 located in halifax will be a disaster for attendance.

Games set and match may happen as soon as Sept 23rd. closing the thoughts of a commonwealth games bid because of shear embrassment of having egg on the faces of city officials.

Of course Mr. Fennel will be polite to his hosts and say how great the city is .
On the way home to england or even jamiaca the laughter would be loud in first class LOL.

jim jones


the rolling stones show isnt going to affect anything. Almost every city in North America is having just as slow, if not slower ticket sales than Halifax is, with the exception of a couple like Regina and Louisville. And again, I don't see Abuja hosting the rolling stones, or any major tours that Im aware of.

If anything, witnessing the stones concert and NHL games can only improve the image he has on the city, not dampen it.

Games set and match may happen as soon as Sept 23rd. closing the thoughts of a commonwealth games bid because of shear embrassment of having egg on the faces of city officials. Yes!!! The stones concert will be a huge failure and everyone will give up on the games!!!! Hooray!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

the rolling stones show isnt going to affect anything. Almost every city in North America is having just as slow, if not slower ticket sales than Halifax is, with the exception of a couple like Regina and Louisville. And again, I don't see Abuja hosting the rolling stones, or any major tours that Im aware of.

If anything, witnessing the stones concert and NHL games can only improve the image he has on the city, not dampen it.


Well now wishblade in this mornings halifax herald is a huge ad for Good Seats still available for the Pittsburg Pengiuns Game at 85 bucks a crack . Tuesday the 19th is the date of the game. A hometown hero Sydney Crosby who is hyped as the next gretzky cant sell out the metro centre for his local NHL debute ???? the same week as the stones with tickets sold way in advance of an announcement of the rolling stones show? Seems to be some going on with Halifax it is called Choking.

Man the excuses start to tumble away with a 600 dollar ad for an NHL 4 days before the game when a promoter would usually A. have a vast majority sold and B. be able to have walk up traffic on game day would sell up 10 percent.
It becomes apparent the city just does have what it takes to mount a commonwealth games even from a support of events point of view because you would be looking at ten to twenty times the tickets for sale for a commonwealth games for events and canadians dont support track and field events beyond 10,000 people in Copps coluseum in hamilton. Imagine Mr. Fennels thoughts at seeing a half full field for the rolling stones , who knows how many empty seats for NHL games in a 10,000 seat arena in Syd the kids hometown.

The idea that rolling stones fans and NHL hockey fans are the same if also defeated with that AD. Yeah the rolling stones the highest grossing touring act in history and the hottest player in the NHL, both on and off the ice for commerical endorsements, not selling out their events way in advance isnt going to have any effect on Mike Fennels view of Halifaxs ability to host a commonwealth games.

Yes you must believe Mike Fennel is deaf, dumb and blind
Mike Fennel will know his little sports circus will find greener pastures and world class facilites in a place he has stated he wants to see host the commonwealth games AFRICA . Abuja does not have to host any first world concerts to beat halifax after all it is vast majority of the commonwealth that does not get the rolling stones either and that fact did not stop kuala lumpar, new delhi or kingston jamaica from hosting. With more athletes attending the All-african games hosted by Abuja in 2003 then the commonwealth games they have something that relates closely to the commonwealth games. Not selling out the metro centre for the highest level of canada's national sport ICE Hockey would be too apparent to a mike fennel.

I am actualy very shocked to all this because the economic engine should have the money to fill all these events with absolutely no excuses.

Game set and match baby games set and match.

jim jones

Well now wishblade in this mornings halifax herald is a huge ad for Good Seats still available for the Pittsburg Pengiuns Game at 85 bucks a crack . Tuesday the 19th is the date of the game. A hometown hero Sydney Crosby who is hyped as the next gretzky cant sell out the metro centre for his local NHL debute ???? the same week as the stones with tickets sold way in advance of an announcement of the rolling stones show? Seems to be some going on with Halifax it is called Choking.

Man the excuses start to tumble away with a 600 dollar ad for an NHL 4 days before the game when a promoter would usually A. have a vast majority sold and B. be able to have walk up traffic on game day would sell up 10 percent.
It becomes apparent the city just does have what it takes to mount a commonwealth games even from a support of events point of view because you would be looking at ten to twenty times the tickets for sale for a commonwealth games for events and canadians dont support track and field events beyond 10,000 people in Copps coluseum in hamilton. Imagine Mr. Fennels thoughts at seeing a half full field for the rolling stones , who knows how many empty seats for NHL games in a 10,000 seat arena in Syd the kids hometown.

The idea that rolling stones fans and NHL hockey fans are the same if also defeated with that AD. Yeah the rolling stones the highest grossing touring act in history and the hottest player in the NHL, both on and off the ice for commerical endorsements, not selling out their events way in advance isnt going to have any effect on Mike Fennels view of Halifaxs ability to host a commonwealth games.

Yes you must believe Mike Fennel is deaf, dumb and blind
Mike Fennel will know his little sports circus will find greener pastures and world class facilites in a place he has stated he wants to see host the commonwealth games AFRICA . Abuja does not have to host any first world concerts to beat halifax after all it is vast majority of the commonwealth that does not get the rolling stones either and that fact did not stop kuala lumpar, new delhi or kingston jamaica from hosting. With more athletes attending the All-african games hosted by Abuja in 2003 then the commonwealth games they have something that relates closely to the commonwealth games. Not selling out the metro centre for the highest level of canada's national sport ICE Hockey would be too apparent to a mike fennel.

I am actualy very shocked to all this because the economic engine should have the money to fill all these events with absolutely no excuses.

Game set and match baby games set and match.

jim jones


:| :| :|

I don't see how ticket sales for an NHL game have much to do with potential sales of tickets for the Commonwealth Games. The idea for the Commonwealth Games is to have people come to the city from around the world. That is not going to happen for an NHL exhibition game or a single stop on a Rolling Stones tour.

good luck to halifax...its going to be tough to come close to beating abuja and glasgow, decent effort though

when can i see some renderings?

in a few months...

??

http://www.cbc.ca/ns/features/commonwealthgames2014/images/halifax.gif

Where did you get that?

the internet...
so the stadium is set for shannon park..thought id try and create a little vision of a say 30-40000 seat athletics stadium

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7955/shannonparkstadiumsmallxg9.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2323/shannonparkstadium2smallgz1.jpg

Wow, you're good!

http://www.herald.ns.ca/Search/535655.html

By AMY SMITH Provincial Reporter

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay says an announcement about the federal contribution to Halifax’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games is coming within days.

"We want to put forward a competitive entry that will convince those Commonwealth countries that have a vote that this is the best place in the world to have the Commonwealth Games," he told reporters while aboard a boat for a look at the Dartmouth waste-water treatment facility, part of the $330-million Harbour Solutions Project.

Mr. MacKay said Canada has hosted five major international Games — three in the West, one in Ontario and one in Quebec — but none in Atlantic Canada.

"It’s Halifax’s time," the Central Nova MP said. "It’s our region’s turn and we are going make a very, very aggressive and competitive and attractive pitch to the bid committee to see that Halifax hosts the Games in 2014."

Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said Ottawa and the Nova Scotia government have both been very supportive of the city’s push to host the Games.

"And for us, it helps carry us a long way in competing with Glasgow, Scotland and Abuja, Nigeria," the mayor said.

The deadline for submitting bids is May 9 and the winner will be announced in November 2007.

Premier Rodney MacDonald would not speculate on how much the total cost would be if Halifax is chosen, but he said the event would be very significant.

"You are dealing with a project that is in the hundreds of millions of dollars but one that will have more of an impact in Halifax and Nova Scotia than any other project will for the next 25 to 50 years," the premier said.
--------------------------------------------------------
Its about time th East gets some federal investment!

So by a few months (renderings), how long is that?

I just said that because I don't remember off the top of my head, I think May?

Check out this link though, these were probably the original renderings (that were never officially released), I have no idea how close these are to what they're working with now, though.
http://www.cbc.ca/ns/features/commonwealthgames2014/halifax-earlypitch.html

25 000 That's too small! I would say to leave it at 30 000 35 or 40...

25 000 That's too small! I would say to leave it at 30 000 35 or 40...

It's actually 25,000 permanent seats expandable to 40,000 or 50,000. During the Commonwealth Games, the stadium will be in a mode of 40,000 or 50,000 seats.

Yeah, so I think it should have 30 000 permanent seats.

the internet...
so the stadium is set for shannon park..thought id try and create a little vision of a say 30-40000 seat athletics stadium

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7955/shannonparkstadiumsmallxg9.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2323/shannonparkstadium2smallgz1.jpg

Well Mo nice rendering but the committee here is looking at a design that presumes that you would not have a stadium like Abuja or Glasgow inwhich there is a roof over the grandstands. They also presume that they will do it without the ends of the stadium having any stands perminently. This is what I have seen in regards to the rendering from their local architect for the 2010 bid.
The city and the committee falsely beleive that they can build this sport park for a mere 350 million canadian while Abuja built the sports park that stand today for 650 million american in 2003 dollars.

The committee also assumed that an outdoor Wood temporary Velodrome in citidel hill would be allowed . Of course this differs from the case of the last three commowealth games with perminent indoor velodromes . The Standard is indoor wood surfaced perminent.

Of course the Halifax 2014 committee assumes that they will be given the land by canada crown corporation for the desposal of federal facilites. So far no application which require public hearings into many issues. That process according to the federal minister in charge takes up to 18 months.

Considering that we are less then a year awy from an awarding of a bid you would think someone would be thinking about this and what if the bid is won and the feds say Nope to the sale of the land to the committee.Why would the feds say no you ask ? Because they are trying to sell the coast guard buildings down the harbour to private interests that will acutally pay them real money. Not a 1 dollar deal like the city would like to have.

Who knows the land value could come off federal funding?
Considering the coast guard in halifax harbour may be selling its buildings further up the harbour on the dartmouth Side Shannon park may be more valued by the federal government as a replacement for the coast guard head quarters for the east coast of canada. The location is good for a coast guard
headquarters replacement property. The Bedford institute of oceanography is in the same shannon park.

consdiering mike fennel and company toured the vacant military housing complex a couple of weeks ago , the committee would look very stupid to come back in may with another proposed site for the stadium.

This is how badly organized the Halifax bid is.


Jim jones

Billion dollar baby?

Ottawa has bumped up the spending limit for a 2014 Commonwealth Games in Halifax.

Sports Minister Peter Van Loan announced Thursday that Ottawa will pitch in half the total public funding or 35 per cent of the total Games cost, to a maximum of $396.5 million.

With money from the province, the municipality and the private sector, there could be more than $900 million to spend on the Games if Halifax wins the right to host it.

"The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Halifax will create jobs, increase tourism, attract investment, produce state-of-the-art sport infrastructure and help develop our high-performance Canadian athletes," Mr. Van Loan said at a Halifax news conference.

"The hopes of Canadians are with us, because this bid is Canada’s bid."

Halifax is competing with Glasgow, Scotland, and Abuja, Nigeria, for the right to host the international sports competition.

Bid officials have estimated the cost of the Games at about $785 million, but the provincial and municipal governments still haven’t said how much they are prepared to pitch in.

The price of hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Halifax will not be released until spring, but Ottawa’s contribution of up to $396.5 million suggests the budget could top $900 million.

If Ottawa’s $396.5-million boost makes up half of the public sector’s contribution, the total amount coming from all three levels of government could reach $793 million.

Then there’s the private sector. Private sponsors would generally pay about 15 per cent of the budget for an event of this size, said Deborah Hashey, spokeswoman for Halifax 2014.

"Corporate partnership at Games time is a significant portion," she said.

Typical levels of corporate support would add $140 million, pushing the Games bankroll over the $900-million mark. But Games CEO Scott Logan wouldn’t say whether he’s expecting the province and city hall together to match Ottawa’s contribution.

"We haven’t written down the math on that yet," he said. "It’s a very nice gesture on the federal government’s part, but our efforts will be around ensuring that we’ve done a very thorough business plan (to) present (to) all levels of government."

In an earlier interview, Mr. Logan said the Games estimate of $785 million would change but wouldn’t say whether the figure would be higher or lower.

But a federal source said Thursday he believes the other two levels of government could match or top Ottawa’s funding.

Premier Rodney MacDonald said Thursday the province won’t reveal how much of the Games budget it will pay until spring. That’s when the Halifax committee will reveal its bid.

"We’ll be releasing those numbers . . . at the same time as the city," Mr. MacDonald said.

Halifax 2014 released its budget Thursday for bidding on the Games.

The group expects to spend $14.3 million to prepare its international bid. The province and Ottawa will each contribute $3.5 million, the city will spend $3 million and the rest will come from corporate sponsorships and merchandising deals.

Before this week, few details of the bid or the potential cost of staging the event had been disclosed, prompting some to charge that hundreds of millions of dollars are being tossed around without public scrutiny.

There have been grumbles about whether Halifax should be hosting the Games at all, although the gripes pale in comparison to the opposition Vancouver encountered when it successfully bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Most of the complaints on editorial pages and in letters to the editor have focused instead on the fact that the bid has been kept under wraps.

"What bothers me is the secrecy surrounding it," Bruce DeVenne, the Games’ most vocal opponent, said in an interview.

"I want to see an accounting on what they’ve spent and where they spent it. I want a list of the nickels and dimes that they’re spending."

Mr. DeVenne, who started a website to argue his position, said the public should know the amounts that governments are prepared to spend — especially if there are better uses for the money.

"I don’t want the debt," said Mr. DeVenne, who said the Games could cost far more than $785 million. "If this kind of money is around, give it to us. We’ve got roadwork. We need the harbour cleaned up."

MP Peter MacKay, whose cabinet portfolio includes the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, said the Games would create infrastructure that would benefit Halifax long after the closing ceremonies. For example, Halifax would need to build many of the sports venues, including a stadium, aquatic centre and badminton facility.

"There is going to be a lasting legacy, I would suggest, that is difficult to quantify in terms of dollars," Mr. MacKay said at the announcement in Halifax. "This is going to be a very accurate, fiscally prudent operation. It’s going to be done within budgets and on time."

Michael Hooper, head of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said it’s not unusual for cities to keep wraps on the details of their bids.

"Let’s be fair to the team in Halifax: They are in a competitive environment, and they want to keep their cards close to their chest in the meantime," Mr. Hooper said in an interview from London, England. "It’s the logical thing to do, clearly."

Glasgow, for example, has said the Games would cost the equivalent of $550 million Cdn, but that figure does not include any new facilities. The Scottish government would pay 80 per cent of the final bill, although the exact details of where the money would go haven’t been released.

Mr. Hooper echoed the argument that the benefits of hosting a major sporting event are difficult to measure.

"If the Games come to Halifax, we see the capacity of the city to be able to host future events and other things that will come," he said. "There’s regeneration of certain areas — isn’t that a good thing? Look at what it does longterm."

Mr. Hooper pointed to the 2002 Games in Manchester, which have been credited with revitalizing the city after it was rocked by an IRA bombing six years earlier.

Some have suggested that the success of the Manchester Commonwealth Games even helped London successfully bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The Commonwealth Games Federation will announce the winning city next November in Sri Lanka.

^^ ^^
"I don't want the debt." How old is he anyways? Most of the people creating protest won't be around long enough to pay for the debt. That sounds mean, and I'm sorry, but it's the truth. My generation will, we have to ask, are we willing to support this event, because it's going to be us that will end up paying for most of the cost of the games, through our lifetimes, and are we okay with not knowing the full details until next November? I am, if that counts, it just kind of makes me check they're website more regularly. I mean even the head of the Commonwealth games said this is normal behaviour, I think it's good the feds gave a proper recorded figure, but where's the rest coming from? I think that's all anybody really wanted to know. So that way they can ask the right questions to the right people. So just a question to that, and please take me with this bag a salt I have, If they did already ask the 'younger generations' when was it and what was the verdict?

I think this a great opportunity for Halifax. It is well worth the investment. I 'm really getting sick of all these nay sayers.

^^ ^^
"I don't want the debt." How old is he anyways? Most of the people creating protest won't be around long enough to pay for the debt. That sounds mean, and I'm sorry, but it's the truth. My generation will, we have to ask, are we willing to support this event, because it's going to be us that will end up paying for most of the cost of the games, through our lifetimes, and are we okay with not knowing the full details until next November? I am, if that counts, it just kind of makes me check they're website more regularly. I mean even the head of the Commonwealth games said this is normal behaviour, I think it's good the feds gave a proper recorded figure, but where's the rest coming from? I think that's all anybody really wanted to know. So that way they can ask the right questions to the right people. So just a question to that, and please take me with this bag a salt I have, If they did already ask the 'younger generations' when was it and what was the verdict?

actually the people who are rasing this issue that you will have a massive debt are people who have lived thru the montreal olympics and saw what happened there. You are talking about the same numbers and nothing has changed in regards to cost overruns of sports festivals , stadiums and arenas.
They want a place that their kids or grand kids can afford to live in.
History is on the oppostions side. 30 years of debt repayment in quebec with the people of the province of quebec and the city of montreal enduring hardship for many years. The quebec government was only able to climb out of the olympic debt after 30 years of a 19 cent a pack cigarette tax.

With the announcement there are a few key things to consider

A. Up to 400 million with cost overruns not paid for by the feds
The 3.5 million comes right off the possible 400 million so you are down to 396.5 million of possible fed funding
B. with all three levels of government having equal shares in the biding it says that the feds are not allowing extra ordinary funding in this situation
So the city is bound to paying the exact same as the feds and the province
is taking that lead as well.
C. the debt now with the city is 285 milion
D. the debt is 12.5 billion with the province
E. at the current estimate of 785 million if you did not include corporate sponsorship or any revenues. we would be looking at 261,666,666 dollars per level of government.
F. With the montreal games if they had of been held to 1 billion dollars
you were looking at 210 dollars per every person for debt in the city of
montreal. With halifax the current debt load is about 740 dollars per person in the HRM. The funding share would put that per person debt up by 679 dollars up to 1419 per person . THAT IS IF THE ESTIMATE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
G. go to 1.2 billion a very conservative number and the limt of the federal share . 1038 million is the per person share of the city debt. add this to the per person debt and you have 1778 dollars per every person.
H. Not every pays property tax in the HRM . So the burren is on the people with properties not college students or people renting places. The landlords of palces will have to raise their rents to deal with the increased taxes.

This is what I have been driving at . IF you can't afford the service you have now with curling rinks ,ice hockey rinks , soccer pitchs and senior baseball field in bad disrepair then you cant afford the COMMONDEBT GAMES.

The city currently is running a 2.5 million dollar deficit for this year.

The thing is about this agruement of the younger generation . You people can screw off to alberta and leave senior citizens and people with a huge tax burden for houses they have spent a lifetime paying taxes on . ONce the economic reality hits there will be no more growth in halifax that was shown with montreal with a multi billion dollar airport of miribel never getting off the ground and being closed a couple of years ago because of the economic disaster surround the olympics.

Going to the province is pretty much a political no go. Conservatives make up three seats in the HRM. the other 20 seats are in rural nova scotia. With 60 percent of the provinces taxpayers outside the HRM and the NDP breathing down the back of the tories in the last election the tories will not do any extra ordinary funding for the Commondebt games. Halifax yuo are probably on your own if it got over 1,2 billion which it will. historical estimates on sorts festivals have been off by a factor of 3 . 2.2 billion would be the bill if history was to repeat in halifax.

Jim jones

The 3.5 million comes right off the possible 400 million so you are down to 396.5 million of possible fed funding

3.5 million is not a significant part of 400 million. It's less than 1%.

C. the debt now with the city is 285 milion

The city is currently running surpluses which can be applied to the debt or CWG costs.

E. at the current estimate of 785 million if you did not include corporate sponsorship or any revenues. we would be looking at 261,666,666 dollars per level of government.

Right, except the $400M in federal funding means that only $385M would be left for the province and municipality if the original estimate is true. It may or may not be, but your $262M figure is simply false. If the province and city added $262M each to the $400M fed contribution the overall games funding would be $924M. So, in other words, that funding level from the city and province could cover games costing up to $924M with zero contribution from the private sector.

F. With the montreal games if they had of been held to 1 billion dollars
you were looking at 210 dollars per every person for debt in the city of
montreal. With halifax the current debt load is about 740 dollars per person in the HRM. The funding share would put that per person debt up by 679 dollars up to 1419 per person . THAT IS IF THE ESTIMATE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

The olympic stadium cost in the range of $1B, not the entire olympics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Stadium_(Montreal)), and dollar amounts from the 1970s are not comparable to dollar amounts in 2014. Accoring to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Summer_Olympics, Montreal lost over $2B so the games must have cost considerably more than that. The games in Montreal also happen to be horribly corrupt, so I don't see why they're a good example of what the CWGs here would be like.

G. go to 1.2 billion a very conservative number

Do you have any real basis for saying this or is it just conjecture?

The 3.5 million comes right off the possible 400 million so you are down to 396.5 million of possible fed funding

3.5 million is not a significant part of 400 million. It's less than 1%.

C. the debt now with the city is 285 milion

The city is currently running surpluses which can be applied to the debt or CWG costs.

E. at the current estimate of 785 million if you did not include corporate sponsorship or any revenues. we would be looking at 261,666,666 dollars per level of government.

Right, except the $400M in federal funding means that only $385M would be left for the province and municipality if the original estimate is true. It may or may not be, but your $262M figure is simply false. If the province and city added $262M each to the $400M fed contribution the overall games funding would be $924M. So, in other words, that funding level from the city and province could cover games costing up to $924M with zero contribution from the private sector.

F. With the montreal games if they had of been held to 1 billion dollars
you were looking at 210 dollars per every person for debt in the city of
montreal. With halifax the current debt load is about 740 dollars per person in the HRM. The funding share would put that per person debt up by 679 dollars up to 1419 per person . THAT IS IF THE ESTIMATE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

The olympic stadium cost in the range of $1B, not the entire olympics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Stadium_(Montreal)), and dollar amounts from the 1970s are not comparable to dollar amounts in 2014. Accoring to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Summer_Olympics, Montreal lost over $2B so the games must have cost considerably more than that. The games in Montreal also happen to be horribly corrupt, so I don't see why they're a good example of what the CWGs here would be like.

G. go to 1.2 billion a very conservative number

Do you have any real basis for saying this or is it just conjecture?

Yes I do have a real basis for saving this melbourne, manchester and kuala lumpur all cost more then 1.2 billion. Melbourne did not have to build a stadium and it cost 1.7 bilion. Then we have the study of one Sir Ron Scott of New Zealand who did a study on the cost of the games if new zealand hosted in 2014 . Sir Ron Scott was the chair of the 1974 commondebt games in christchurch new zealand and he was commissioned by the Hon Trevor Mallard last year to look into hosting. The Hon.Trevor Mallard was the Minister of sport for new zealand during the last commondebt games held in auckland in 1990.

The province and city share they are 33 percent partners just like the federal government. 3.5 million feds 3.5 million province and 3.5 million city for the sharing arrangement for the international bid looks like 33 1/3 percent to me ????

So again the cities share at a very low ball figure is $261,666,666 minus the sponsorship money split three ways.

The stephen harper tories did what I said they would do. The vastly underfunded and threw the whole thing in your faces to have a crushing debt on your plate. In other words the tories are not funding the commonwealth games. The provincial tories are keeping in step with that as well. Read the paper this morning councillor Murphy is saying it is not enough from the feds , Councillor Mc Cluskey was saying unless we were only paying a small portion of this we can not do it. The Tories are masters of getting what they want . Out of having to support special interest groups on the government tit.
Councillor Murphy should be very grateful . the province and mostly the HRM just got 35 million for transit from the feds. Then there is the harbour clean up fund . The tories could always take away that. Then there are the federal transfer payments that the province depends on for 21 percent of the budget . Rodney mac donald knows not to push for further federal money for the commondebt games as he risks the rural ridings that make up 20 of the 23 seats in his government. With a 43 percent saying the commondebt games is a bad idea by pictou country residents rodney knows the issue is one that could defeat his rural mla's.
Oh and something that has been missed is that security will come out of the possible 400 million dollars and no other budget funds like the militaries of rcmps. with a 200 million dollar bill in melbourne and a 1 billion bill in torino you are lloking at security being apid for by the city totally once you blow thru the 1.2 billion conservative figure.


Go read the official press release from the federal government UP TO $ 400 million not we are giving 400 million so if your 785 million estimate is right that you federal, provincial and hrm civic servants get a free ride at the rest of the countries expense LOL.

I predict Mayor Kelly and council will pull out in febuary or sooner. They are the ones without the money for the bid and the feds cant be excpeted to provide halifax with a billion dollars when vancouver only got a little over 500 million for a real sport festival that there are revenues for.
The councilor how realize they are up crap creek without a paddle. ROtflmao

jim jones

Yes I do have a real basis for saving this melbourne, manchester and kuala lumpur all cost more then 1.2 billion. Melbourne did not have to build a stadium and it cost 1.7 bilion.

Uh huh. And you fail to realize that Melbourne Organizing Committee spent AUD$400 million in renovating the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the main stadium.

That Kuala Lumpur and Manchester built new main stadiums for the Games.

That all three cities went all out on hosting a grand Commonwealth Games to satisfy their failed attempts to bid for the Olympic Games.

Uh huh. And you fail to realize that Melbourne Organizing Committee spent AUD$400 million in renovating the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the main stadium.

That Kuala Lumpur and Manchester built new main stadiums for the Games.

That all three cities went all out on hosting a grand Commonwealth Games to satisfy their failed attempts to bid for the Olympic Games.


What you fail to understand is the debt load in the province of nova scotia and the city of halifax . Melbourne is a city of 3.5 million in a state of 5 million in a county with about 20 million. Hallifax is 385,000 people in a province of nova scotia with 950,000 people in a country of 30,000,000 . The city of Toronto colapsed its 2015 wordl expo committee citing lack of federal support.
Melbourne had huge support of the government levels and actually the city of melbourne itself was on the hook for very little. it was the state of victoria and the federal governments that bore the costs .

The feds are not paying for security and who knows shannon park may be valued at tens of million by the department of national defence. That could bill that is rolling in the possible 396.5 million of fed funding. Then there is the unknown of what a military hosuing complex from the 1950's has in store for environmential clean up costs right beside halifax harbour. Yuo could be looking at ten of millions of site prep for the clean up.
Failed olympic bid or not Mike Fennell has said the quality of the games and venues will not be scaled back. Glasgow and Abuja certainly dont have scaled back veneus in their bids.

jim jones

The thing is mr. x the tories have more at stake with the games funding in birtish columbia then they do with a possible games funding in Halifax.

Harper is limiting possible liabilities. In the interior of british columbia are many tory MPs with huge majorities and who constituents could feel the debt of 2010.
A mere 55 milion in additional fuiding goes into the games after months of footdragging for the tories.

With nova scotia you have two tory MPs and avoiding involvement in a bottomless pit of a sports festival could yield the tories maintaining those two seats. Notice the timing of this anoouncement. During the weekend of the liberal convention. The UP to 400 million will go un noticed in western canada especially.

Really what is going on here is that the tories are slapping the nova scotia pcs and the HRM council in the face and saying wake the hell up .

This funding announcement is a false panacea . The councillors know people are realizing that we cant afford the games and that they will be the ones holding the bag. not ottawa. Really what ottawa did was provide the opposition groups with the bullets to put the games bid out of its misery.

Hey good luck with trying to keep the cost down on the venues. The speed skating oval is always the ballbreaker. That sport is the sport with the highest
standards for allowed tolerances.

Jim jones

Well, the political and local mood here in British Columbia is we won't have debt from the Olympic Games, and the truth is we won't. The provincial government is already contributing $450 million to a $2 billion rapid transit rail line in Vancouver, more than $300 million for a new $600 million convention centre, about $300 million for a $1-billion light-rail line in the region, increased wages for the public sector by $6 billion, a $4-billion project to build new highways and bridges in Vancouver, the $600 million Sea-to-Sky highway improvement project, and of course the province's $700 million commitment to the 2010 Winter Games.............and yet, we are not in deficit. The economy is in its highest gear in over three decades, we are second economic growth in the nation after Alberta, we are paying off our debt, we are running consecutive surpluses, and this year's estimated surplus has doubled to $2.1 billion.

Regarding the Olympic oval, well I can't say much about that. The fact is it should've stayed at the original site at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. All I can say is that maybe Richmond should have thought it through more carefully, but in the end I'm sure they'll be fine in the end with the costs. The city is under a windfall of money with tons of people moving there, and with tons of development proposals bringing in $. And the oval will be a great facility - a big local community and athlete training centre after the Games.

To say that $55 million or a $500 million increase in cost for B.C.'s share in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics is a drop in the bucket when we are already able to be on a spending spree and yet, are still running huge surpluses. But perhaps, this is a different story on the other side of the country and I do understand that, and the reason I support Halifax 2014 is because I believe the maritimes have not received the attention it deserves from the rest of Canada....that we could use the Commonwealth Games in Halifax as a celebration of Canadians for Canadians, just like how the Vancouver Olympics will be "Canada's Games".

Sometimes, it's more than just numbers and figures and money.....but certainly, also not another Montreal.

Even if Halifax does lose 2014, I do hope the region will go forward in hosting another mega-event because it does deserve it.

Well, the political and local mood here in British Columbia is we won't have debt from the Olympic Games, and the truth is we won't. The provincial government is already contributing $450 million to a $2 billion rapid transit rail line in Vancouver, more than $300 million for a new $600 million convention centre, about $300 million for a $1-billion light-rail line in the region, increased wages for the public sector by $6 billion, a $4-billion project to build new highways and bridges in Vancouver, the $600 million Sea-to-Sky highway improvement project, and of course the province's $700 million commitment to the 2010 Winter Games.............and yet, we are not in deficit. The economy is in its highest gear in over three decades, we are second economic growth in the nation after Alberta, we are paying off our debt, we are running consecutive surpluses, and this year's estimated surplus has doubled to $2.1 billion.

Regarding the Olympic oval, well I can't say much about that. The fact is it should've stayed at the original site at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. All I can say is that maybe Richmond should have thought it through more carefully, but in the end I'm sure they'll be fine in the end with the costs. The city is under a windfall of money with tons of people moving there, and with tons of development proposals bringing in $. And the oval will be a great facility - a big local community and athlete training centre after the Games.

To say that $55 million or a $500 million increase in cost for B.C.'s share in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics is a drop in the bucket when we are already able to be on a spending spree and yet, are still running huge surpluses. But perhaps, this is a different story on the other side of the country and I do understand that, and the reason I support Halifax 2014 is because I believe the maritimes have not received the attention it deserves from the rest of Canada....that we could use the Commonwealth Games in Halifax as a celebration of Canadians for Canadians, just like how the Vancouver Olympics will be "Canada's Games".

Sometimes, it's more than just numbers and figures and money.....but certainly, also not another Montreal.

Even if Halifax does lose 2014, I do hope the region will go forward in hosting another mega-event because it does deserve it.



Yes your auditor general he shares your views of the situation ROTFLMAO.

We deserve JACK Please . The province is a welfare case at 21 percent of the budget coming from federal transfer payments.

This "canadas games crap " please we get that fussy feel good crap here too.
The country has hosted enough of these high priced circuses.

If anything we would be better off to actually support athletes directly with funding then to build another set of venues with not tennants and little use.


jim jones

The auditor general never said anything about debt, all he said was he thought there were other things that should be classified as an Olympic cost of B.C. taxpayers (provincial government), about $1.5 billion. He is right to an extent, things like the:

- BC Olympic Secretariat ($41 million)
- BC Cultural Legacies ($20 million)
- BC Canada House Pavillon in Torino ($6 million)
- Own the Podium 2010 Athletes Funding ($10 million)
- Callaghan Valley road to Whistler Nordic Centre ($20 million)
- Paralympic Centre in Kimberly to help train athletes ($3.9 million)

However, it should be noted that these expenses are not required for hosting an Olympics and are simply projects to milk out even more benefits from hosting the Games. These are all funded by the provincial government and are not related with VANOC.



BUT, he is wrong with these things being provincial government Olympic expenses:

- Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project: $600 million. This project is NOT an Olympic project - the highway was last improved in the 1970s and it was designed for a future expansion (the bridges on the highway were four lanes while the rest of the highway were 2-3 lanes). It was in the Transportation Ministry's plans to expand the highway in 2012, but with the Olympics the project was fast tracked four years to 2008.

- Squamish and Lil Wat Cultural Centre: $6 million. The Squamish Nation has been wanting to build a cultural centre for decades and they got funding from the provincial government.

- Canada Line funding at "Olympic Village Station": $8 million. The station was originally part of the Canada Line, but was later deferred to be built in the future. However, the City of Vancouver saw this project as critical to the neighbourhood with the redevelopment of South East False Creek over the next 15 years to be home to 20,000 people (the Olympic Village is part of this, for 4,000 people). So, the City committed $20 million and the Province committed $8 million so this station could be built when the line is completed in 2009.

Not to mention that our Auditor General is a New Democrat, the opposition of the B.C. Government that is using this as an opportunity to attack the BC Liberals.




If you think the Maritimes is "jack", then you should move somewhere else.

This "Canada's Games crap"......wow.....really shows your patriotism. No wonder why we're a divided nation, with people like you.


The Vancouver venues will be well-used after 2010:

- RICHMOND OVAL will be a big hit with locals, being a huge community centre and would even serve as an athlete training centre, but to a lesser extent than Calgary's oval.
- CURLING RINK is adjacent to an aging community centre, skating rink, and pool in Vancouver that needs replacing, as well as a new local library. It has always been in the City's long term plans to build a new community centre and pool in the area, and the Olympics are paying most of the costs for this.
- UBC THUNDERBIRD ARENA has replaced the old facility. This is 4-rink facility is the most used arena in the province, with minor hockey teams constantly using it. It's constantly booked, 13 hours a day. And of course, it'll provide with legacies for the university.
- CYPRESS, with the new ski, snowboard, snow-making facilities, as well as a new lodge.....millions of people go here each year to have fun in these local slopes, and it would only improve their experience.
- WHISTLER NORDIC CENTRE, it's a complement to Whistler/Blackcomb and it provides cross-country trails which Whistler does not have. And as we all know, Whistler is the largest [and best] ski resort in North America. Athletes will also train here.
- WHISTLER OLYMPIC VILLAGE: will provide housing for First Nations, cheap housing for Whistler employees, and for athletes in training.
- WHISTLER SLIDING CENTRE: it's at the Village Centre....locals will definetely use it, plus athletes.

"canada's games crap " is what all these sports circus farses use to for the fuzzy feel good PR campaign the IOC directs the local bid committe to use.

That and you will be getting improved infrastructure BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Sydney australia got a 100 million dollar light rail extension that no one uses .
Sydney australia got a sports park that loses 40 million a year.

There is a history of olympic facilites that are over priced, vastly underused and cost greatly for maintainance.

"canads's games crap" is the same as great britians games and nova scotias games chinas games. The same bogus patriotism arguement in used time and time agian while the europeans attempt to destroy our industries at every opportunity.

Yeah the european carpet bag people with this so called partiotism that has foriegners in control of our treasuries . Fortuately for this country the Harper conservatives see the forest for the trees and Said dont come back for further extra ordinary funding .

British columbia has a debt of 32 billion dollars which is about 2.5 times nova scotia debt but of course that is spread over four times the population .
The GDP is having great growth in BC.

So with 2.1 billion in a surplus why does canada have to pay for mismanagement of the Vanoc???? WHy not pay down your debt and fund the games yourselves ???? and if you have so much money out there why are you concerned with bumping up your TV rights share????

Seems to me a NDP auditor general sees the limb of the liability tree the committee has the province out on .

No if you are going to talk about the country falling apart and canadas games maybe we should actually play montreal 35 percent of the costs for the montreal games that they flat out didnt recieve in 1976.

So getting back to halifax and the commonDEBT games i find it ironic that rBC has a 32 bilion dollar debt and Nigeria retired 32 billion or their entire Paris Club commitment . Nigeria I would say is more prepared for the commonDEBT games then nova scotia LOL.

jim jones

If you think the Maritimes is "jack", then you should move somewhere else.

This "Canada's Games crap"......wow.....really shows your patriotism. No wonder why we're a divided nation, with people like you.




Good point Mr.x...my thoughts exactly. Negative Jim Jones is obviously a very negative unhappy person. He is a perfect example of what is wrong with this country. People like him do nothing to contribute to our society they just bring it down. Maybe he should move to Nigeria...lol.. Canada would be much better off with one less negative person.

"canada's games crap " is what all these sports circus farses use to for the fuzzy feel good PR campaign the IOC directs the local bid committe to use.

"canads's games crap" is the same as great britians games and nova scotias games chinas games. The same bogus patriotism arguement in used time and time agian while the europeans attempt to destroy our industries at every opportunity.

can you not spell correctly?

Wow....some patriot you are.....not to mention a complete moron. With this logic, if this is false patriotism, then pretty much every act of loyalty towards ones country - not just in Canada - is flawed.



That and you will be getting improved infrastructure BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Sydney australia got a 100 million dollar light rail extension that no one uses .
Sydney australia got a sports park that loses 40 million a year.

Because we are actually getting infrastructure we need? The rapid transit projects that are going on in Vancouver are serving severely congested corridors and have always been long-term rapid transit plans. Road improvements, such as the Sea-to-Sky Highway, will make the drive along the highway safer - more than two dozen people have died on the highway this year, plus thousands of car crashes.

The Sydney Light Rail extension to the Olympic Park will serve future high density commercial and residential development in the park. That's why it was built.

The Sydney venues are actually doing fine and paying their way. It's mainly the upkeep of the main Olympic Park precinct that's costing money. Any public precinct in any city of the world costs money to maintain: Central Park NY, Trafalgar Square London, Stanley Park Vancouver, etc.



British columbia has a debt of 32 billion dollars which is about 2.5 times nova scotia debt but of course that is spread over four times the population .
The GDP is having great growth in BC.

So with 2.1 billion in a surplus why does canada have to pay for mismanagement of the Vanoc???? WHy not pay down your debt and fund the games yourselves ???? and if you have so much money out there why are you concerned with bumping up your TV rights share????

First of all, how did VANOC mismanage? They did their best to cut down venue expenditures - they cutted $80 million away before asking the governments for more funding. They've done their best to keep venues on schedule, on budget, and on time - any condo developer in the city will tell how nobody could have predicted skyrocketing labour and materials costs - these developers are even asking their customers for more money. And at this point, VANOC acquired $200 million more in domestic sponsorships than what the bid estimated....and it is estimated that the committee will receive an additional $150 million more in the years ahead.

Secondly, if you went out for dinner and the manager knew you and wanted to give you a 50% discount. Would you accept the discount, or would you pat the entire bill for yourself? That's why we have funding from the federal government split with the province.....which btw, both are filthy rich with consecutive surpluses. It's also why VANOC is going after corporate sponsorship and additional IOC sponsorship.

Third point. As I have said before, VANOC is only going after its fair share after the IOC saw a 30% increase in tv rights on a ratio to ratio basis based on past Games.

Also, you're criticizing how the Games here in Canada will cost taxpayers a fortune and when we try to get a third party, corporations (IOC and sponsors), to pay for these costs you complain again about how we are asking them for money and why we can't pay for it ourselves. So typical of you to contradict yourself.



No if you are going to talk about the country falling apart and canadas games maybe we should actually play montreal 35 percent of the costs for the montreal games that they flat out didnt recieve in 1976.

While you're at it, why don't we talk about the origins of Quebec separatism as well.

That was thirty years ago.



So getting back to halifax and the commonDEBT games i find it ironic that rBC has a 32 bilion dollar debt and Nigeria retired 32 billion or their entire Paris Club commitment . Nigeria I would say is more prepared for the commonDEBT games then nova scotia LOL.

I'm fascinated at how you find your own comments funny, yet nobody is laughing, which is sad. Nearly all of your posts end with "ROFTMALAO", "LOL", or "LMAO".

I don't get why $400M from the feds is such a bad deal? If the cost is to be split three ways between the three levels of government, even if the games do cost $1B, and there is absolutley no corporate sponsorship, the $400M (or $396.5M, or whatever) that the federal government has pledged covers more than 1/3 of the costs. Why are people acting like this is a huge blow to the bid?

I don't get why $400M from the feds is such a bad deal? If the cost is to be split three ways between the three levels of government, even if the games do cost $1B, and there is absolutley no corporate sponsorship, the $400M (or $396.5M, or whatever) that the federal government has pledged covers more than 1/3 of the costs. Why are people acting like this is a huge blow to the bid?

Correction, JIM is acting like this is a huge blow to the bid.

Good point Mr.x...my thoughts exactly. Negative Jim Jones is obviously a very negative unhappy person. He is a perfect example of what is wrong with this country. People like him do nothing to contribute to our society they just bring it down. Maybe he should move to Nigeria...lol.. Canada would be much better off with one less negative person.

So lets look at your statement here . I should move to nigeria OMG.

There is one thing that nigeria did in regards to a sport festival that is very novel actually with regards to the athletes village for the 2003 all-african games.
They had a city wide lottery for the apartment units which were worth about 100,000 us dollar per unit. $10 dollar us I beleive was the ticket price and they sold 10 million worth of tickets.

That is a very good way to involve the people.

Pardon Me but is Alex J walling now your enemy for asking what fast freddie and company are spending on first class air tickets????
With the papers now full of anti games letters to the editor I think it is you who are in the very small minority in halifax and the province of nova scotia.

51 percent of people responding to an online poll conducted by the daily news beleive the CommonDEBT Games is a terrible Idea for Halfiax 51 percent.
27 said it is a fantastic idea. Wait until the province shows their commitment which will be no more then the feds because 20 tory MLAs are dependant on rural voters who probably have a more negative view of another hand out to 40 percent of the population that reside in the HRM.

I wil Laff very hard because you people dont get it . The council is going to step away from the vat of poison kool aid caleld the commondebt games

ROTFLMAO @ jackasses on the pro games side.

The campaign of death by a 1000 google searches in winning.

jim jones

Correction, JIM is acting like this is a huge blow to the bid.

Man oh man wishblade look at the announcement "up to 400 million with the first part being a 3.5 million contribution to the bid" Yuo cant see the math can you or the politics. The feds are in for 33 1/3 precent. 3.5 million the city had to put in and so did the province.
that means the city share has to match the feds at 33 1./1 percent or 256 million without any sponsorship . The feds have also said no cost overruns will be funded beyond the 396.5 million . Ths city is out on a branch of a tree. 256 million for the low figure will almost double the debt . this goes to 1 billion you are looking at 70 million more for the cities share.
The citizens beyond these broads have done the math and it is very easy to see the games cost a conservative 1.5 billion and the city is on the hook for up to 700 milion dollars . History has shown that it could even reach 2 billion dollars. New delhi right now is looking at 17.5 billion for the inprovements to the city they have to make to host the games. I do by any stretch of the imagination belevie it would come near 3 billion but that is a good possiblity . With no support from the fdes beyond the 1.2 billion mark.

60 people calling one councillor during the weekend makes it clear people understadn what I am seeing clearly . The Tories are not funding this because the vast underfunding cuts the committee of at the knees.
Very very smart move by the feds . What can halifax do vote agianst the tory MPS they dont have . ROTFLMAO.

The pressure is not applied to the province and you have much the same no friends on teh government side of province house and the tory minority.

IT is over IT is over it is over . THe anti games people can see the finish line adn we are going to slam dunk this .


JIM jones

I don't get why $400M from the feds is such a bad deal? If the cost is to be split three ways between the three levels of government, even if the games do cost $1B, and there is absolutley no corporate sponsorship, the $400M (or $396.5M, or whatever) that the federal government has pledged covers more than 1/3 of the costs. Why are people acting like this is a huge blow to the bid?


The blow to the bid is that the council needs about 1 billion from the feds to isolate themselves from the debt. They cant afford to pay the 33 percent share .
LOL

People in the city are not going to tolerate huge tax increases it would reequire to finance this .


gloria mac clusky is saying more councillors are talking about rejecting this.
The reality is setting in Halifax is not getts a free commonwealth games and the pain will be 33 1/3 percent.


jim jones

So lets look at your statement here . I should move to nigeria OMG.

There is one thing that nigeria did in regards to a sport festival that is very novel actually with regards to the athletes village for the 2003 all-african games.
They had a city wide lottery for the apartment units which were worth about 100,000 us dollar per unit. $10 dollar us I beleive was the ticket price and they sold 10 million worth of tickets.

That is a very good way to involve the people.

Pardon Me but is Alex J walling now your enemy for asking what fast freddie and company are spending on first class air tickets????
With the papers now full of anti games letters to the editor I think it is you who are in the very small minority in halifax and the province of nova scotia.

51 percent of people responding to an online poll conducted by the daily news beleive the CommonDEBT Games is a terrible Idea for Halfiax 51 percent.
27 said it is a fantastic idea. Wait until the province shows their commitment which will be no more then the feds because 20 tory MLAs are dependant on rural voters who probably have a more negative view of another hand out to 40 percent of the population that reside in the HRM.

I wil Laff very hard because you people dont get it . The council is going to step away from the vat of poison kool aid caleld the commondebt games

ROTFLMAO @ jackasses on the pro games side.

The campaign of death by a 1000 google searches in winning.

jim jones


Yeah big opposition I see Bruce's petition is up to 201 signatures minus about 20 to 30 rejected signatures...LOL...what a joke. People are not against the games. There are some questions about secretecy which they will see later why... but there not against the games Negative Jim Jones.

Yeah big opposition I see Bruce's petition is up to 201 signatures minus about 20 to 30 rejected signatures...LOL...what a joke. People are not against the games. There are some questions about secretecy which they will see later why... but there not against the games Negative Jim Jones.

Yes people are not against the games . They are however agianst being blindfolded marched on to a school bus and not knowing if the bus driver is blindfolded himself while he drives 60 miles an hour towards a Cliff.

ALex J walling said it best . The committee is blowing it big time . There is no support for the games because people beleive rightly so that they are being HAD.

We are winning the war . the war of public opinion . THat is the only war that counts in this battle and I am actually surprized that 51 percetn would say this is huge waste of money thru an online poll for the daily news.

Bye bye commonDEBT games it was nice to host you the last time it was affordable in 1994.


LOL

Jim jones

Yes people are not against the games . They are however agianst being blindfolded marched on to a school bus and not knowing if the bus driver is blindfolded himself while he drives 60 miles an hour towards a Cliff.

ALex J walling said it best . The committee is blowing it big time . There is no support for the games because people beleive rightly so that they are being HAD.

We are winning the war . the war of public opinion . THat is the only war that counts in this battle and I am actually surprized that 51 percetn would say this is huge waste of money thru an online poll for the daily news.

Bye bye commonDEBT games it was nice to host you the last time it was affordable in 1994.


LOL

Jim jones

Only in your dreams Jim. An online poll... ya thats a real accurate poll. The vocal minority probabaly voted over and over again like they have in other online polls. That's the type of people these anti games people are.. I have no respect for them at all.

Although, I'd like to agree with you Haliguy, Jim's got a point, shame none of you see it through his difference of opinion. What is the public opinion? Forget online poles, the real figures. Glasgow, and Abduja, both are doing well with getting their communities involved and regularly excited. The hype here is sporadic, and yes it does kind of feel like we're being had, but what matters at the end of the day really is the number of people who want the games versus those who don't, and what are we doing to know that difference?

Although, I'd like to agree with you Haliguy, Jim's got a point, shame none of you see it through his difference of opinion. What is the public opinion? Forget online poles, the real figures. Glasgow, and Abduja, both are doing well with getting their communities involved and regularly excited. The hype here is sporadic, and yes it does kind of feel like we're being had, but what matters at the end of the day really is the number of people who want the games versus those who don't, and what are we doing to know that difference?

You see reddog we will never have the committee comission a public opinion poll it is clear. They cant even answer ,Alex J Wallings, a games supporters question of How much and who is making what salaries in the halifax 2014 offices and how do you justify your salarys that exceed the entire cost of hamilton's 2003 bid for the 2010 commonwealth games ???And even if we did have one could we actually beleive what they actually didnt cherrry picked the people they asked. IT now would have to come to a vote of the citizens.

Also in that online poll was the acknowledgment by some wise people to the tune of 14 percent that it was too little money from the federal government.

My challenge to the committee would be two fold . You think you have the numbers then two plebistes have to be conducted . One for the HRM (city of halifax) and one for the province. The provincial one for the simple fact that 60 percent of the population of the province resides outside the confines of the HRM. 60 percent of the people deserve a voice in whether we throw this province into 120 years of debt for a sport festival with absolutely no value what so ever.

If halifax is entitled to a 55,000 seat stadium then why is a place like kentville or truro entitled to a 10,000 seat arena like halifax has???? The idea of a 10,000 seat area for truro is as stupid as a 50,000 seat commonwealth games stadium in halifax.

The thing is the best anti-games movement has been the 2014 halifax committee itself. They have thru their high on the hog living and in camera high jacking of the council have shot themselves collectively in the feet.

If the olympic games needs a plebisite in vancouver then why not the commonwealth games in halifax . The financial stakes are too high even in the best case that the 785 million is absolutely right. 256 million is the 33 1/3 percent share or 630 dollars per every man woman and child in the HRM.
THe per capita debt will go to 1410 dollars. This 630 dollar figure is 3 times as much the debt figure per capita for every billion dollars the montreal games put the people of montreal in 1976.

Oh by the way for all you games supporters it has come to light thru my friend bruce that the man responsible for the construction of the 2002 commonwealth games stadium has said in an interview that halifaxs estimate is unrealistic . Again We dug up the answers while the committee makes up fairtale stories about competitive advantage and stadium costs that are a throw back to 1980's pricing. The committee and cower behind closed doors and plead competitive disadvantage , ingorance or what ever . The citizen beyonf these boards are qwuickly filling in the blanks themselves and calling their councillors.

You are probably very right that we will never know the public support numbers for sure because the council is going to kill the funding on this and like I said the feds are not funding it LOL. PETER Mackay you have my vote
even though your dad is a friend of a former airbus lobbist. I will vote proxy thru mac kay to support harper .

Jim jones

Only in your dreams Jim. An online poll... ya thats a real accurate poll. The vocal minority probabaly voted over and over again like they have in other online polls. That's the type of people these anti games people are.. I have no respect for them at all.

Who cares about your respect???? Yuo cant even see how this will destroy the city financially ???? Man I bet to make minimum payments on your credit card and have it maxed to the hilt LOL.

jim jones

Yes the scottish are laffing very hard at halifax 2014s estimate for a stadium.
So with that in mind how confident can we be in the games cost estimate????
Jim jones


Halifax should quote extra
EYEBROWS were raised last week when the Canadian city of Halifax, Glasgow's main rival to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, unveiled some of its plans. Central government confirmed that it will contribute up to $400 million (£176m) to the games, leaving the city to raise an estimated $350m itself, a fact that has angered local opponents of the bid.
Doubt has also been cast on some of the other facts and figures, particularly in relation to the planned athletics stadium. According to the Halifax 2014 bid team, the new 50,000-capacity facility will cost $97m (£42.8m).
David Payne, a consultant who worked for Sport England on the City of Manchester Stadium, constructed for the 2002 games, is puzzled by the quoted figures. "By today's prices, the Manchester stadium would cost £2,500 to £3,000 per seat [£100-£120m]. The London Olympic stadium will be £4,000 per seat. I haven't seen the designs for Halifax, but it seems very low. You would certainly question any estimate below £100m." ($227 million CDN)
Rick Howe, a talk radio presenter on CJCH in Halifax, talks about a "growing murmur of discontent," with "taxpayer worries about the possibility of a white elephant compounded by the secrecy" surrounding the overall costs.

If halifax is entitled to a 55,000 seat stadium then why is a place like kentville or truro entitled to a 10,000 seat arena like halifax has???? The idea of a 10,000 seat area for truro is as stupid as a 50,000 seat commonwealth games stadium in halifax.

They won't have any trouble filling up the 50k seats during the Commonwealth Games, and afterwards, they'll take away the temp. seating, bringing the total number of seats to 25,000, which seems perfectly reasonable for a growing city the size of Halifax.

Who cares about your respect???? Yuo cant even see how this will destroy the city financially ???? Man I bet to make minimum payments on your credit card and have it maxed to the hilt LOL.

jim jones

Jim you really are retarded aren't you with those retard jokes that you think are funny. Actaully if you really want to know Jim I have no credit card debt because I'm very good with my finances.

They won't have any trouble filling up the 50k seats during the Commonwealth Games, and afterwards, they'll take away the temp. seating, bringing the total number of seats to 25,000, which seems perfectly reasonable for a growing city the size of Halifax.

So lets think about this for a second . Melbourne is a city of 3.5 million
Manchester is a city of 2.5 million yet both had surpluses of tickets for every athletic event. Litl ole halifax cant even sell 60,000 tickets for a Rolling Stones show what is considered the greatest rock band on earth.

Yes the Stadium will be filled in either the cities of ABuja or Glasgow where the games are held not halifax.

So what do you think mike fennell and mike hooper were thinking as they filed thru the lovely shannon park ???? I thing they might have been thinking that they coud be looking at another New Delhi for potiential problems

Hampden Park one of the best stadiums in the british isles
Abuja National stadium one of the most modern and newset athletes venues in the world.

Shannon Park UUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMm

Lets get on the plane mike I think we are asking for trouble here LOL.


jim jones

Jim you really are retarded aren't you with those retard jokes that you think are funny. Actaully if you really want to know Jim I have no credit card debt because I'm very good with my finances.

Yes how nice of you to max out the cities credit on some so trivial as a games no one watches LOL

jim jones

Yes how nice of you to max out the cities credit on some so trivial as a games no one watches LOL

jim jones

:| :|

:| :|

Oh pardon me I am so sorry haliguy

I forgot all you kids that love the commonDEBT games are still going to grade school and you are home on a storm day LOL.

Yes it isn t hard to have not credit card balance when yuo are too young to hold a credit card ROTFLMAO.


Jim jones

Oh pardon me I am so sorry haliguy

I forgot all you kids that love the commonDEBT games are still going to grade school and you are home on a storm day LOL.

Yes it isn t hard to have not credit card balance when yuo are too young to hold a credit card ROTFLMAO.


Jim jones

Man you're just so funny Jim... for someone in grade school that is. You must be in what...grade 6 or so now.

And actually I have three credit cards all in very good standing. Kind of sounds like you can't manage you're debt vey well Jim.

BTW, Jim also posts the same crap at http://www.gamesbids.com/forums/index.php?showforum=46

Quite entertaining to see such a retard entertain himself.

So lets think about this for a second . Melbourne is a city of 3.5 million
Manchester is a city of 2.5 million yet both had surpluses of tickets for every athletic event. Litl ole halifax cant even sell 60,000 tickets for a Rolling Stones show what is considered the greatest rock band on earth.

Yes the Stadium will be filled in either the cities of ABuja or Glasgow where the games are held not halifax.

So what do you think mike fennell and mike hooper were thinking as they filed thru the lovely shannon park ???? I thing they might have been thinking that they coud be looking at another New Delhi for potiential problems

Hampden Park one of the best stadiums in the british isles
Abuja National stadium one of the most modern and newset athletes venues in the world.

Shannon Park UUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMm

Lets get on the plane mike I think we are asking for trouble here LOL.


jim jones


So first you say that Melbourne didn't sell out every event. Won't dispute that. Then you say based on that fact that Halifax won't sell out events. With absolutely bo proof to that fact. Then you state that Glasgow or Abuja will sellout again with NO FACTS. Give it up jim jones, anyone can speak a line of BULL SHIT. But you seem to be a master at it.

I check this thread out every once in awhile, and I'm really sick and tired of seeing your same old song and dance.

What do you have against Halifax?

I always thought this site was about constructive dialog. Jim's rants really taints the spirit of this site.

So first you say that Melbourne didn't sell out every event. Won't dispute that. Then you say based on that fact that Halifax won't sell out events. With absolutely bo proof to that fact. Then you state that Glasgow or Abuja will sellout again with NO FACTS. Give it up jim jones, anyone can speak a line of BULL SHIT. But you seem to be a master at it.

I check this thread out every once in awhile, and I'm really sick and tired of seeing your same old song and dance.

What do you have against Halifax?

Well then please go back to the roughriders I am sure they need your tax dollar support. Did not say that abuja or glasgow would sell any tickets I just know that 45,000 tickets for the rolling stones in halifax says alot.

So who will come from anyplace in the maritimes when yuo can avoid the 100 dollar tickets and see it live for FREE. IF they broke 15,000 out of 55,000 tickets it would be the aligning of all the planets.

So why didnt regina bid on the games ?????

I thought so . They cant afford it either. How about yuor friends next door in oil rich alberta . OH they left after they investigated and knew Martin was throwing us the boobie prize so nigeria would have the weakess canadian link to compete with in an interantional bid.
Martin was a no show last year in Malta . You see bulshit is what the halifax people are very good at and the citizens in the city are beginning to realze that the leadership cant even do a websearch and find out what stadiums are costing these days.

My problem with Halifax it is constantly on the govern tit. Cant run a business past 30 years for most businesses that have been started in the last 40 years .
Then they feel the need to inflat their importance . No mr younger it is 40 percent of the population of nova scotia not almost 50 percent.

jim jones

First of all not from Regina bud. Maybe buy a map and check it out. Second how do you know anything about finances of any city? Where are your facts?

So you didn't say that Glasgow or Abuja would sellout. What about your line "Yes the stadium will be filled in either the cities of Abuja or Glasgow" You think they are going to give away these tickets?

Regina is half the size of Metro Halifax, so yep makes good sense for us to bid on them. Why didn't your precious Moncton bid for the games?

As for Alberta not going through with their bid ask them. My guess is they don't want a small potato like the Commonwealth Games. They have been thinking of bigger fish, Olympics.

First of all not from Regina bud. Maybe buy a map and check it out. Second how do you know anything about finances of any city? Where are your facts?

So you didn't say that Glasgow or Abuja would sellout. What about your line "Yes the stadium will be filled in either the cities of Abuja or Glasgow" You think they are going to give away these tickets?

Regina is half the size of Metro Halifax, so yep makes good sense for us to bid on them. Why didn't your precious Moncton bid for the games?

As for Alberta not going through with their bid ask them. My guess is they don't want a small potato like the Commonwealth Games. They have been thinking of bigger fish, Olympics.

Pretty simple why Calgary actually pulled out of biding of the commonwealth games spetember of 2005. they saw with their experince of making a profit in the 1988 winter games that the commonwealth games have become a massive project with no possible profits. Manchester they bused school kids into to no have empty stands, Melbourne much the same .

Now Halifax you just have to look at the record with the stones. Oh it was raining that night the excuse is . COME ON regina with 60 percent of the population did better with two sold out shows at over 45,000 a show.

Halifax choked comparded to moncton and regina the proof is there .
Halifax didnt even sellout Sindey Crosbys homecoming game with 10,000 tickets available.

None of these events where televised like the commonwealth games would
be. No one is moronic enough to pay one hundred dollars to watch athletes in this country to the tune of 50,000 people let alone one sided third rate competitions. and then you have aquatics,track cycling,Road cycyling, rugby sevens , shooting , netball , squash, mountain biking, lawn bowls , triatholon, Boxing, Weighlifting , wrestling, gymnastics, and perhaps rowing and padaling most of which are much cheaper tickets then
the opening ceromonies, athletics or aquatics . You would have people either watching them free of charge on tv or watching the 10 dollar events or even seeing the padaling and rowing for free along lake bankook.

No one goes to these games it is pretty simple or atleast anyone who has a brain . Australia wins the swimming events WOW what a surprize. Jamaica wins the 100 metres "Gosh i didnt see that one coming". Kenya wins the distance events " gee who would have thought".

Unless you have the Untied states, europe in asian in competition
you are really looking at something that is totally predictable and not the least bit entertaining .

Nigeria they will just give away the tickets because it will be part ot their 100 year aniversary celebrations. It does not matter that they make a profit when they have increased their foriegn capital reserves by what nova scotia is in debt for. Nigeria has added 13 billion since may thanks to the price of oil and gas . With the sponsorship, a months revenues from oil and the fact that Abuja has the venues in place they could easily give a 100 million in ticekts away. The city of halifax has to see what they can get for TV rights and tickets sales to see if they can afford the games. Kelly and company will see they are getting a pig in a poke and that it is going to be a 256 million dolar venture MINIMUM with nothing coming the other way.

jim jones

First of all not from Regina bud. Maybe buy a map and check it out. Second how do you know anything about finances of any city? Where are your facts?

So you didn't say that Glasgow or Abuja would sellout. What about your line "Yes the stadium will be filled in either the cities of Abuja or Glasgow" You think they are going to give away these tickets?

Regina is half the size of Metro Halifax, so yep makes good sense for us to bid on them. Why didn't your precious Moncton bid for the games?

As for Alberta not going through with their bid ask them. My guess is they don't want a small potato like the Commonwealth Games. They have been thinking of bigger fish, Olympics.

So Calvin I am full of shit am I
from the melbourne 2006 official site the 14th of march 2006 the day before the opening competition

Opening ceremony 4500
Closing ceremony 25,000
Swimming 1000
Athletics 247,000
Badminton 8000
Basketball 400
Boxing 15,000
Artistic gymnastics 1500
Rhythmic gymnastics 500
Hockey 17,000
Lawn bowls 200
Netball 2000
Rugby 7s 45,000
Clay target shooting 1000
Full bore shooting 380
Squash 11,000
Table tennis 700
Weightlifting 7000

Notice 247,000 tickets available for athletics, 45,000 tickets for three days of rugby sevens. Rugby sevens is something that should be sold out in australia for 58,000 seats . You are seeing new zealand, australia and many of the oceanea countries play. those type of match up are the only thing in the commonwealth games that ammounts to the best in the world yet two day before they had 45,000 tickets or about 70 percent of the capacity of a 58,000 seat stadium available. And halifax is not going to have an embrassment when 5000 people show up ????

And this is a city of 3.5 million in a state of 5 million . There are not even those numbers of people in the entire maritimes. I will also note that these were tickets that were pushed onto local vendors and the vendors tossed them back to the committee.

U2 during the commonwealth games sold over 120,000 tickets for the telstra dome (the same venue for CDG rugby sevens) for two performances. THe australian grand prix was no worse the wear for the presence of the commonwealth games.
At the end of it 16,000 tickets were given away for the closing ceremonies offficially . I am sure there were many more freebees then that.
Melbourne was recently voted one of the great sports cities of the world but not on the commonwealth games. It is the activities at melbourne cricket grounds that have attracted the crowds . The May 2006 match of australia vs greece sold MCG out unlike one single day of commonwealth games activity at MCG. the best results were about 80 percent full stands and who knows how many were given to school kids and vols

jim jones

So Calvin I am full of shit am I
from the melbourne 2006 official site the 14th of march 2006 the day before the opening competition

Opening ceremony 4500
Closing ceremony 25,000
Swimming 1000
Athletics 247,000
Badminton 8000
Basketball 400
Boxing 15,000
Artistic gymnastics 1500
Rhythmic gymnastics 500
Hockey 17,000
Lawn bowls 200
Netball 2000
Rugby 7s 45,000
Clay target shooting 1000
Full bore shooting 380
Squash 11,000
Table tennis 700
Weightlifting 7000

Notice 247,000 tickets available for athletics, 45,000 tickets for three days of rugby sevens. Rugby sevens is something that should be sold out in australia for 58,000 seats . You are seeing new zealand, australia and many of the oceanea countries play. those type of match up are the only thing in the commonwealth games that ammounts to the best in the world yet two day before they had 45,000 tickets or about 70 percent of the capacity of a 58,000 seat stadium available. And halifax is not going to have an embrassment when 5000 people show up ????

And this is a city of 3.5 million in a state of 5 million . There are not even those numbers of people in the entire maritimes. I will also note that these were tickets that were pushed onto local vendors and the vendors tossed them back to the committee.

U2 during the commonwealth games sold over 120,000 tickets for the telstra dome (the same venue for CDG rugby sevens) for two performances. THe australian grand prix was no worse the wear for the presence of the commonwealth games.
At the end of it 16,000 tickets were given away for the closing ceremonies offficially . I am sure there were many more freebees then that.
Melbourne was recently voted one of the great sports cities of the world but not on the commonwealth games. It is the activities at melbourne cricket grounds that have attracted the crowds . The May 2006 match of australia vs greece sold MCG out unlike one single day of commonwealth games activity at MCG. the best results were about 80 percent full stands and who knows how many were given to school kids and vols

jim jones



I NEVER disputed that Melbourne didn't sell out. So yes you still are full of shit.

You have a good nack of twisting facts throwing facts out there that are not relevant whatever to push your position.

Maybe Halifax should just close up shop and move to Moncton. Would that make you happy?

I'll get into a pissing contest if you want jimbo. You seem to be looking for a challenge so bring it on.

I NEVER disputed that Melbourne didn't sell out. So yes you still are full of shit.

You have a good nack of twisting facts throwing facts out there that are not relevant whatever to push your position.

Maybe Halifax should just close up shop and move to Moncton. Would that make you happy?

I'll get into a pissing contest if you want jimbo. You seem to be looking for a challenge so bring it on.

Well calvin it would be unfair to have a battle of wits when yuo are defenceless and amount to a half wit.

:bash:

Very intellectual reply there jimbo. When you have some facts to twist around again give me a call.

Poll: Most Nova Scotians support Games bid

By SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY Staff Reporter | Dec. 07/2006

Eighty-one per cent of Nova Scotians support Halifax’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, says a survey conducted by the Inside Out Report.

The survey, released Tuesday, indicates 77 per cent also say they support or strongly support funding from all three levels of government.

The Inside Out Report is published by Bristol, an Atlantic Canadian communications company.

On the Halifax 2014 website, Bristol is listed as a corporate sponsor that supported the domestic phase of the bidding process.

Don Stoddard, vice-president of Bristol Inc., also sits on the Halifax 2014 cultural advisory committee.

The poll, conducted by Omnifacts Bristol Research, was based on a representative sample of 499 Nova Scotians 18 years of age or older. It was conducted between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1.

With a sample this size, the results are considered accurate to within plus or minus 4.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Last week, cost guesstimates for the Games began to climb upward of $900 million with Ottawa’s announcement that it will contribute up to $400 million, either matching other public funding or covering up to 35 per cent of the total cost.

Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) does not support the $1-billion bid. When contacted Wednesday night, she called this "the worst poll" she has ever heard.

"I mean, what a stupid poll," she said. "Listen, the questions are asked that way so they can get the 81 per cent. The questions tell the average taxpayer nothing."

She said most people would say "sure" and "yeah" when asked if they would like to have the Commonwealth Games and if they think the three levels of government should pay for them.

"So, that doesn’t tell me anything," Ms. McCluskey said.

But Jim Meek, editor of the Inside Out Report, said that’s not the way the questions were asked.

"We’d never word a question to lead to an answer," he said. "The question was ‘Do you oppose, strongly oppose, support or strongly support the Commonwealth Games?’ "

Mr. Meek said Bristol does have a contract to help secure corporate sponsorship for the games.

"But it’s totally divorced from the poll," Mr. Meek said.

Details of Halifax’s bid for the Games will be officially released in London, England, on May 9.



But I'm quite sure Jim here would distort and twist this article to find things to attack his own region.

Poll: Most Nova Scotians support Games bid

By SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY Staff Reporter | Dec. 07/2006

Eighty-one per cent of Nova Scotians support Halifax’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, says a survey conducted by the Inside Out Report.

The survey, released Tuesday, indicates 77 per cent also say they support or strongly support funding from all three levels of government.

The Inside Out Report is published by Bristol, an Atlantic Canadian communications company.

On the Halifax 2014 website, Bristol is listed as a corporate sponsor that supported the domestic phase of the bidding process.

Don Stoddard, vice-president of Bristol Inc., also sits on the Halifax 2014 cultural advisory committee.

The poll, conducted by Omnifacts Bristol Research, was based on a representative sample of 499 Nova Scotians 18 years of age or older. It was conducted between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1.

With a sample this size, the results are considered accurate to within plus or minus 4.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Last week, cost guesstimates for the Games began to climb upward of $900 million with Ottawa’s announcement that it will contribute up to $400 million, either matching other public funding or covering up to 35 per cent of the total cost.

Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) does not support the $1-billion bid. When contacted Wednesday night, she called this "the worst poll" she has ever heard.

"I mean, what a stupid poll," she said. "Listen, the questions are asked that way so they can get the 81 per cent. The questions tell the average taxpayer nothing."

She said most people would say "sure" and "yeah" when asked if they would like to have the Commonwealth Games and if they think the three levels of government should pay for them.

"So, that doesn’t tell me anything," Ms. McCluskey said.

But Jim Meek, editor of the Inside Out Report, said that’s not the way the questions were asked.

"We’d never word a question to lead to an answer," he said. "The question was ‘Do you oppose, strongly oppose, support or strongly support the Commonwealth Games?’ "

Mr. Meek said Bristol does have a contract to help secure corporate sponsorship for the games.

"But it’s totally divorced from the poll," Mr. Meek said.

Details of Halifax’s bid for the Games will be officially released in London, England, on May 9.



But I'm quite sure Jim here would distort and twist this article to find things to attack his own region.

Gee some people cant seem to read between the lines here . "Bristol does have a contract to help secure corporate sponsorship for the games"

It is called a conflict of interest and councillor Gloria Mc cluskey has pointed it out violently to several meida outlets. There could be 100 percent approval but the fact remains the city cant afford its share of the low ball estimate of 785 million canadian . gloria knows it, coucillor younger knows it, councillor murphy knows it, and the mayor knows it. The Feds thru down the bone and now the city is going to the province trying to get more to isolate them from the debt. There is not debt isolation councillors and you are being railroaded on the costs.

Yes I could have a poll that said 100 percent of nova scotians interviewed were against the commonwealth games . I would just call every member of the HRM home owners association who 3 monthes ago voted 100 percent to demand council withdraw from the games bid. Marketing companies can get a list of jocks or any demographic they feel will point to the result their client wants . The poll cost 500 dollars to do as opposed to who knows what the committee is paying bristol for there services. The funny thing is Bristol communications offered a Poll to Bruce Devenne's if he wanted to pay for it so is there creditibility with company that offers a poll to support a view????

Jim Meek coming on and saying it is a non commissioned Poll BULLSHIT.
Your commission comes when you sell sposnorship. That is like having a fox interview chicken in a hen house to weather they beleive chicken going missing nightly are do to foxes.

Quess what kiddies Bristol seems to be doing a smashin job compared to the glasgow 2014 committee. So far the Halifax committee has gotten a 500,000 dollar commitment from Keiths beer with who knows what coming from a 1 dollar a 12 pack . keiths may actually not be donating a dime, it will be the buyers of keiths beer by choice. Talk about hedging your donation liabilites batman for some feel goos air time.

Now in Glasgow Scotland the council has approved over 30 million canadian for their share for the Glasgow arena at SECC. Cylesdale Bank is a 60 percent partner
with a share of 124 MILLION DOLLARS CANADIAN . Just like Crocodile Dundee
"thats not a knife son , this is a knife" ROTFLMAO @ morons who beleive haliffax coudl actually win.

In Nigeria the two major cell phone companies are fighting over the right to sponsor the Nigerian football league. NTMs bid is 4.5 million canadian
Globacom's bid 6.2 million canadian PER YEAR for 4 years . How can it be that two cellphone companies in nigeria would each have more capital to use on sponsorship then the 14.3 million dollar halifax 2014 bid???
Pretty simple Nigeria today has over 30 million cell phone customers with a population of 130 million. there is about 3 times the population of canada for cellphone comanies to expand into with nigeria. The number of cell phone customers in nigeria will increase by 13 million or more then the number of people in ontario or manhattan in the next 12 months. With growth like that no wonder Globacom has 48 million dollars canadian in christmas give aways . 40 honda accords are be given away to loyal globacom customers. Nigeria in 12 months is going to surpass south african for cellphone customers.
ON scale of conparision Globacom is giving away for a customer loyality program what Sobeys, Nova Scotias largest company makes on a quarterly basis in net profits. The same can be said in regards to Bell Aliants earnings equal quarterly what Globacom is giving to its customers. To be customers of theirs and recieve 25000 nigerian dollars or about 8000 canadian. Wholely CRAP robin
This globacom company is investing 800 million in India for their cellhpone network. Gee I guess that vote is gone to nigeria LOL.

We are so out of our league with these two bidding cities it is laughable and a total waste of resources and time. THe 2003 all African Games in abuja they actually gave away cars in a draws for those attending . BMW was the sponsor . Along with the cars they gave away consumer electronics from samsung and jvc. Yeah I would go to a commonDEBT games if I could win a car or big screen tv. No wonder I cant see and empty seats in the picture I would like to post here. A picture of a very full Abuja national stadium for the womens soccer final for those games with nigeria winning.

So with a 1 billion dollar theme park be constructed by malasyians , 36 million cell phone users by the the bid awarding in sri lanka in october , the facilities in place, a country with very little foriegn debt
it is such a no brainer that even you people here with no brains at all can see we are so beat on this it is pathetic

How incredibly nieve we are in this country going up against these two and for what a stadium for the CLOWN FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

JIm jones

Jim, you make good points, and if you weren't such a pretentious, over bearing snob, people might listen to you. I mean I'd actually weigh in your opinion if I wasn't constantly getting hit by your ego. But the ass does have a point. We don't have the big business support lining up, we don't have the infrastructure to imporve upon, it's all going to be brand new. As well, I've been checking regularly for any info I can get, and sadly, I'm not sure any of you have checked this out yet, but the Canadian Commonwealth Games Federation web-site only has a little link to the Halifax bid site. There is nothing about trying to drum up Pan-Canadian support. As nice as it is for the sport associations to 'support' our bid, they're really not doing sfa to help. I'm a huge supporter of us winning the right to win the games, but there are cracks forming in this shiny veneer of the games bid. But that doesn't mean we should loose hope, we can pull this off, we just need to all dig down, and support it. We need to stop being neh sayers, because that's the easiest road to take. We need to be properly informed of what's happening with the bid, and be brought up to speed so we all can help in our own way. Knowledge is power, because it gives us the power to adapt to change, and adversity. This bid to host the games is simply that, a point of adversity, where once we overtake our problems, we will truly be gifted. Preachy I know, but after the post before me, we need something uplifting :lol:
And Jim, you can slam the efforts of your fellow Maritimes all you want, it's Canada, but be careful trying to take the Canadian Football League down a peg, by calling all of us Clowns. If that's what you really think of Canadians well... be sure the feeling is reciprocated, and with relish.

Jim, you make good points, and if you weren't such a pretentious, over bearing snob, people might listen to you. I mean I'd actually weigh in your opinion if I wasn't constantly getting hit by your ego. But the ass does have a point. We don't have the big business support lining up, we don't have the infrastructure to imporve upon, it's all going to be brand new. As well, I've been checking regularly for any info I can get, and sadly, I'm not sure any of you have checked this out yet, but the Canadian Commonwealth Games Federation web-site only has a little link to the Halifax bid site. There is nothing about trying to drum up Pan-Canadian support. As nice as it is for the sport associations to 'support' our bid, they're really not doing sfa to help. I'm a huge supporter of us winning the right to win the games, but there are cracks forming in this shiny veneer of the games bid. But that doesn't mean we should loose hope, we can pull this off, we just need to all dig down, and support it. We need to stop being neh sayers, because that's the easiest road to take. We need to be properly informed of what's happening with the bid, and be brought up to speed so we all can help in our own way. Knowledge is power, because it gives us the power to adapt to change, and adversity. This bid to host the games is simply that, a point of adversity, where once we overtake our problems, we will truly be gifted. Preachy I know, but after the post before me, we need something uplifting :lol:
And Jim, you can slam the efforts of your fellow Maritimes all you want, it's Canada, but be careful trying to take the Canadian Football League down a peg, by calling all of us Clowns. If that's what you really think of Canadians well... be sure the feeling is reciprocated, and with relish.



Well soory for the clown football thing but really it is a place were guys who can cut it in the NFL come to play or are on a drug suspension like ricky williams.

You do have your occasional player go to the NFL from the CFL namely tyronne williams, doug flutie and warren moon but mostly the trend is guys who could not make the big show down south and canadian who couldnt make it in the states. LEFTovers

That being said the problem is how does a committee counter what is evident to anyone who can look up information easily. They have to present a case not hide behind in camera council meeting which I believe presnt very little to the council itself.

Today we have a curling club in the city at the sackville stadium complex that is being told they will be evicted with 500 members to make way for indoor soccer. In Glasgow today the council it is said is about to provide 2.9 milion renovation for a recreational centre that will be used for the commonwealth games.

This is the vast contrast between two biding cities. The HRm does itself no favours by letting what it has go down hill and then saying they want to host the commonwealth games for a legacy of venues.

People in the city know the stadium will not be used and the maintenance will most likely not be covered let alone the capital and operational expenses of the games. Halifax council has a history of deferred maitainance including the library on spring garden road that people know well about.

A 60/40 private public partnership for Glasgows new 175 million dolar canadian arena. Halifax well it is a dollar a case of 12 kieth beer until 500,000 dollars and what the difference in sales is keiths will make up. THat is pretty poor.

Put very simple we are way out of our league competting against the commerical sector of these two world renouned cities. Abuja may not be a household name here in the martimes but they hold enough international conferences including the commonwealth heads of state conference in 2003 and the south american africa summit days ago. Perhaps advancing the bid to have an embrassment of canada being the only vote for halifax would wake people up to reality. I think it could be that overwhelming embrassing and there is actually the possibility that we may get cut from the list anyways per federation rules. What a terrible waste a bid efford would be if that happened. The federation could do it on the grounds of lack of facilities.
This is why I think paul martin sent it down to us. To help Abuja win it .

Even with 2 billion I really dont think we could match either city for facilities and the games are on a fast track to advance their facilites not downgrade.
mike fennel has stated so.

jim jones

Jim, you make good points, and if you weren't such a pretentious, over bearing snob, people might listen to you. I mean I'd actually weigh in your opinion if I wasn't constantly getting hit by your ego. But the ass does have a point. We don't have the big business support lining up, we don't have the infrastructure to imporve upon, it's all going to be brand new. As well, I've been checking regularly for any info I can get, and sadly, I'm not sure any of you have checked this out yet, but the Canadian Commonwealth Games Federation web-site only has a little link to the Halifax bid site. There is nothing about trying to drum up Pan-Canadian support. As nice as it is for the sport associations to 'support' our bid, they're really not doing sfa to help. I'm a huge supporter of us winning the right to win the games, but there are cracks forming in this shiny veneer of the games bid. But that doesn't mean we should loose hope, we can pull this off, we just need to all dig down, and support it. We need to stop being neh sayers, because that's the easiest road to take. We need to be properly informed of what's happening with the bid, and be brought up to speed so we all can help in our own way. Knowledge is power, because it gives us the power to adapt to change, and adversity. This bid to host the games is simply that, a point of adversity, where once we overtake our problems, we will truly be gifted. Preachy I know, but after the post before me, we need something uplifting :lol:
And Jim, you can slam the efforts of your fellow Maritimes all you want, it's Canada, but be careful trying to take the Canadian Football League down a peg, by calling all of us Clowns. If that's what you really think of Canadians well... be sure the feeling is reciprocated, and with relish.

well said.

well said.

So MR x how do you feel about a 300 million dollar golf resort in cape breton with two courses designed by nick faldo ? this development is with european private capital totally.

You see the thing is the games people/ CFL lobby if they really want this should get a totally private funding package together . The problem is cape breton has gotten off the government dependancy habit and is doing very well.

Now it is Halifaxs turn to stop having us fund unrealistic dreams.

Every business person I have been in contact with in halifax and that is a few does not want the commonwealth games . And that is quite a few. They tell me that they cannot recall or find anyone with the like minds to the pro games minority.

jim jones

Feds see a good thing with HRM’s 2014 Commonwealth Games bid

WHEN WAS THE last time Ottawa came to town to deliver a commitment for $400 million?

Was it the Halifax Harbour cleanup? Nope.

That was an initial $30 million, which brought a string of smiles, followed by a second $30 million, which prompted cheers of excitement.

How about all that highway work, twinning the 103, and upgrades on the Trans-Canada through to New Glasgow? Nope.

The Sydney tar ponds cleanup in 2004? Nah, that was $280 million.

OK, then, was it that new university money that will bring tuition breaks for Nova Scotia students? Nope, that was $28.8 million.

Just to put it into perspective, $400 million is not much less than what Ottawa committed to restructure the Toronto waterfront a few years ago.

It’s a lot of money, and it’s the kind of commitment that our federal government does not make lightly, especially within a single province.

Sport Minister Peter Van Loan, in his first announcement since being recently kicked upstairs to Stephen Harper’s cabinet, came to Halifax last week. He brought a firm commitment to provide up to $396 million for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, should Halifax’s bid be successful. He also announced a $738-million athlete development fund for the Atlantic region.

Still, from the naysayers, a resounding "Boo!"

If you’re still trying to figure out when Ottawa last made this kind of a one-shot commitment to Nova Scotia, stop wondering. Outside of the $1.1-billion offshore accord, which is a little different from a typical federal investment in a project, they’ve never done it before.

On a scale of political announcements, this one is huge. It didn’t come without significant work by many people in this province and significant efforts from our federal MPs, led in this case by Nova Scotia’s political minister, Peter MacKay.

Now, before you rush to your computer to dash me that angry e-mail about money being better spent on all the items mentioned above — roads, university tuition, sewage treatment needs — take a minute to consider the upside to the Games.

This week it was revealed that the Rolling Stones concert in September — a one-day wonder that drew 50,000 people to the Halifax Commons — brought in $8 million in economic spinoffs, compared to a $50,000 outlay by the city.

The investment in the Games will obviously be much more considerable, but the payoff will also be more significant. The economic benefits during the Games themselves are one thing, the long-term legacy from modern facilities can hardly even be measured.

A modest stadium, convertible to 25,000 seats after the Games, would provide a facility that is sorely lacking in this region and which could be used for myriad events for decades to come. And if Halifax does not wish to aggressively pursue such a facility, we can be certain that Moncton would be happy to take federal dollars toward such a project. They’ve already tried.

There have been many complaints about secrecy surrounding the bid. I’ll tell you one thing: The surest way to drive up costs is to first show the competition your plans, then give your budget to your bidders.

This week an Omnifacts poll done late last month showed 81 per cent of Nova Scotians support the bid, while 77 per cent back funding coming from all three levels of government. The poll has been criticized because Omnifacts Research is a division of the Bristol Group, a corporate sponsor of the Games.

But Jim Meek, editor of the Inside Out Report, said the company would "never word a question to lead to an answer." The question was "Do you oppose, strongly oppose, support or strongly support the Commonwealth Games?"

Remember all the announcements made in recent months by the federal Tories? Most of them were cuts, as opposed to funding announcements. Try to imagine a cheaper government than Stephen Harper’s, then give a second thought to whether the Games just might be the sort of solid investment that can lead to all kinds of positive spinoffs, short term and long, for this city and this province. Never mind the poll, or the conspiracy theories afloat about the Games bid, and never mind the arguments about whether we need new sport and recreation facilities.

Just think for a minute about the Harper Conservatives. They are not about to be swayed by emotion, local polls or cries for help from a hard-up region. They tend to govern by stand-on-your-own, make-your-own-way policies and solutions.

Still, they’ve decided to make a commitment for the single largest amount they’ll ever give in this province, if the bid is successful. This, from those cheap old federal Tories.

Perhaps they just know a good opportunity, and a good investment, when they see one.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/546089.html

Feds see a good thing with HRM’s 2014 Commonwealth Games bid

WHEN WAS THE last time Ottawa came to town to deliver a commitment for $400 million?

Was it the Halifax Harbour cleanup? Nope.

That was an initial $30 million, which brought a string of smiles, followed by a second $30 million, which prompted cheers of excitement.

How about all that highway work, twinning the 103, and upgrades on the Trans-Canada through to New Glasgow? Nope.

The Sydney tar ponds cleanup in 2004? Nah, that was $280 million.

OK, then, was it that new university money that will bring tuition breaks for Nova Scotia students? Nope, that was $28.8 million.

Just to put it into perspective, $400 million is not much less than what Ottawa committed to restructure the Toronto waterfront a few years ago.

It’s a lot of money, and it’s the kind of commitment that our federal government does not make lightly, especially within a single province.

Sport Minister Peter Van Loan, in his first announcement since being recently kicked upstairs to Stephen Harper’s cabinet, came to Halifax last week. He brought a firm commitment to provide up to $396 million for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, should Halifax’s bid be successful. He also announced a $738-million athlete development fund for the Atlantic region.

Still, from the naysayers, a resounding "Boo!"

If you’re still trying to figure out when Ottawa last made this kind of a one-shot commitment to Nova Scotia, stop wondering. Outside of the $1.1-billion offshore accord, which is a little different from a typical federal investment in a project, they’ve never done it before.

On a scale of political announcements, this one is huge. It didn’t come without significant work by many people in this province and significant efforts from our federal MPs, led in this case by Nova Scotia’s political minister, Peter MacKay.

Now, before you rush to your computer to dash me that angry e-mail about money being better spent on all the items mentioned above — roads, university tuition, sewage treatment needs — take a minute to consider the upside to the Games.

This week it was revealed that the Rolling Stones concert in September — a one-day wonder that drew 50,000 people to the Halifax Commons — brought in $8 million in economic spinoffs, compared to a $50,000 outlay by the city.

The investment in the Games will obviously be much more considerable, but the payoff will also be more significant. The economic benefits during the Games themselves are one thing, the long-term legacy from modern facilities can hardly even be measured.

A modest stadium, convertible to 25,000 seats after the Games, would provide a facility that is sorely lacking in this region and which could be used for myriad events for decades to come. And if Halifax does not wish to aggressively pursue such a facility, we can be certain that Moncton would be happy to take federal dollars toward such a project. They’ve already tried.

There have been many complaints about secrecy surrounding the bid. I’ll tell you one thing: The surest way to drive up costs is to first show the competition your plans, then give your budget to your bidders.

This week an Omnifacts poll done late last month showed 81 per cent of Nova Scotians support the bid, while 77 per cent back funding coming from all three levels of government. The poll has been criticized because Omnifacts Research is a division of the Bristol Group, a corporate sponsor of the Games.

But Jim Meek, editor of the Inside Out Report, said the company would "never word a question to lead to an answer." The question was "Do you oppose, strongly oppose, support or strongly support the Commonwealth Games?"

Remember all the announcements made in recent months by the federal Tories? Most of them were cuts, as opposed to funding announcements. Try to imagine a cheaper government than Stephen Harper’s, then give a second thought to whether the Games just might be the sort of solid investment that can lead to all kinds of positive spinoffs, short term and long, for this city and this province. Never mind the poll, or the conspiracy theories afloat about the Games bid, and never mind the arguments about whether we need new sport and recreation facilities.

Just think for a minute about the Harper Conservatives. They are not about to be swayed by emotion, local polls or cries for help from a hard-up region. They tend to govern by stand-on-your-own, make-your-own-way policies and solutions.

Still, they’ve decided to make a commitment for the single largest amount they’ll ever give in this province, if the bid is successful. This, from those cheap old federal Tories.

Perhaps they just know a good opportunity, and a good investment, when they see one.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/546089.html


Nice to somone in the media with some common sense.

So MR x how do you feel about a 300 million dollar golf resort in cape breton with two courses designed by nick faldo ? this development is with european private capital totally.

You see the thing is the games people/ CFL lobby if they really want this should get a totally private funding package together . The problem is cape breton has gotten off the government dependancy habit and is doing very well.

Now it is Halifaxs turn to stop having us fund unrealistic dreams.

Every business person I have been in contact with in halifax and that is a few does not want the commonwealth games . And that is quite a few. They tell me that they cannot recall or find anyone with the like minds to the pro games minority.

jim jones

What a bunch of crap Jim this is something totally different and great to see in Cape Breton that is in great need of private investment. This is a real estate development not a games bid.

What a bunch of crap Jim this is something totally different and great to see in Cape Breton that is in great need of private investment. This is a real estate development not a games bid.

And why is it that the commonwealth games is not a totally private enterrprize???
the reason is simple it is a money losing venture. Why is it that the taxpayer has to be coralled into be a shareholder for someone hobby like fred meacgillirvay????

In Cape Breton someone is paying out of their own pockets for a longterm investment

In halifax we have a career bureaucrate with an unrealistic dream of hosting a ten day circus that entertains 30 percent of the world population if they decide to watch a celebration of former british colonial rule

that it the difference.

AS too investment in ontario they are part of the system that pays 21 percent of our province budget with nothing in return . I think they, as one third of the population of canada compared to our 1/3 of one percent are getting a raw deal compared to us. Think about it.

jim jones

Feds see a good thing with HRM’s 2014 Commonwealth Games bid

WHEN WAS THE last time Ottawa came to town to deliver a commitment for $400 million?

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/546089.html

I didn't know Slick Scotty Logan was a cross dresser who sometimes impersonates a Herald columnist?!?

I didn't know Slick Scotty Logan was a cross dresser who sometimes impersonates a Herald columnist?!?

Well keith I do have to laff at that one .

The thing is marilla is the lone voice left pro games at the paper and that was certainly no a glowing raw raw speech she has had in the pass.
Pointing to the reality that councillors should thank the feds for what they got seems to be the underlining message there.

Her words cut to the core with the debate , the committee doesnt have an unlimited vault of money from the feds and it is actually very much underfunded compared to the eventual costs.

considering the winter games federal budget is about 550 million for a world class games I can't see where harper could do much more for halifax. Up to 400 million more is actually 150 million more then the liberals had to hamiltons failed bid in 2003 for the 2010 CDGs

jim jones

Poll at the Daily News website today:


Do you support Halifax hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games?
· Bring it on, no matter how much it costs (46%)
· So long as it doesn’t bankrupt us (30%)
· No thanks – too rich for our blood (21%)
· I’m still making up my mind (3%)

A second poll is out today that backs up last weeks poll which indicates that Nova Scoatains want these games.


http://www.news957.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20061213_080338_5260

A second poll is out today that backs up last weeks poll which indicates that Nova Scoatains want these games.


http://www.news957.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20061213_080338_5260

Might as well ask people if they want free beer. I hate to say it, but Gloria McCluskey is correct on this.

Might as well ask people if they want free beer. I hate to say it, but Gloria McCluskey is correct on this.


yes and look here Keith P in the Halifax Herald today. http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/547392.html

A Totally Biased Polling company are the source these people are depending on.

That and the competting pollster which has contracts with the committee to try to secure commerical sponsorship YEAH it if smells like fish it usually is LOL.

Put up the money boys and lets have a province wide plebisite. If the numbers are really there then yuo can proceed and if it is 65 percent no that the premier can uphold democracy like he did with sunday shopping LOL.

They cant have very much faith of their polls if they dont put up the money to know the truth.

and speaking of the truth the provinces freedom of information officer bleives they could reveal more . Censored documents to even the city council is certainly a troubling sign . This BS about protecting the bid is so assine.

Assine? The word you were looking for is Asinine, as in stupid, ugly, your same old, boring broken record, short term opinion. Jim, you don't get it do you? It's great you have some idea of what's wrong, but what are you doing to improve? Move outside of the city? Weaken the tax base, don't support something that could have farther reaching benifits, than beyond your lifetime? You sound like the idiot who said the Harbour drive was a good idea. For someone who seems intelligent, you really are quite dumb. You pick one arguement and try to twist things so they sounds right for you, and won't stop using the same thing over and over. Where other people find new material to discuss, you seem to always go back to the same thing. You never have somethine new. And your constant name dropping is kind of weak, do you usually cower behind names when you try to be right all the time? Like do you do that in the grocery store when the lady says you have 13 items in the 10 item line? The only reason I'm even responding to you is I'm high, and I've got my back up, you're pointless and nothing but a drain on not just the city, but the province with your backwards ideas, and illogical fears. How would the turtle get to the ocean if it never stuck its head out of the shell? Go back to your little world where everybody is afraid of change. Oh and the real story behind the CB golf resort is the privet investors were approached by the gov't, when it heard they were originally thinking of going to Ontario. Learn the whole story before you use something for your twisted logic. Sorry to everybody else, you folks don't deserve to have to go through this.

Assine? The word you were looking for is Asinine, as in stupid, ugly, your same old, boring broken record, short term opinion. Jim, you don't get it do you? It's great you have some idea of what's wrong, but what are you doing to improve? Move outside of the city? Weaken the tax base, don't support something that could have farther reaching benifits, than beyond your lifetime? You sound like the idiot who said the Harbour drive was a good idea. For someone who seems intelligent, you really are quite dumb. You pick one arguement and try to twist things so they sounds right for you, and won't stop using the same thing over and over. Where other people find new material to discuss, you seem to always go back to the same thing. You never have somethine new. And your constant name dropping is kind of weak, do you usually cower behind names when you try to be right all the time? Like do you do that in the grocery store when the lady says you have 13 items in the 10 item line? The only reason I'm even responding to you is I'm high, and I've got my back up, you're pointless and nothing but a drain on not just the city, but the province with your backwards ideas, and illogical fears. How would the turtle get to the ocean if it never stuck its head out of the shell? Go back to your little world where everybody is afraid of change. Oh and the real story behind the CB golf resort is the privet investors were approached by the gov't, when it heard they were originally thinking of going to Ontario. Learn the whole story before you use something for your twisted logic. Sorry to everybody else, you folks don't deserve to have to go through this.


Well said!:)

Reddog, we gotta smoke up sometime:lol:

Anyway.. back to topic

I'm in chickenwing! lol You're right. I forgot what we were talking about, and I'm too lazy to scroll up right now, so the idea that the CWGF is taking a turn to picking more exotic places for it's hosts has some merit to it. But look at the pattern recently, it pretty much goes Atlantic - Pacific, although, all the bid cities are on the Atlantic... forget that thought. I'm just basically excited that it's 2007, and it's only 5 months away till we get to finally get to see the whole bid! And it'll be my birthday! What a present, a detailed explaination of how I'm going to be tax over the next 20 years : P. I'm no fool, I know in the end that the tax payer is going to pay for it, and I'm the Generation that's going to pay the brunt, I'm okay with that, a) I don't think it's going to be another Montreal 76 Olypics. I seriously believe Fred MacGilvary will do this responsibly, so will Scott Logan, because they know they are only going to have so much to work with, Does anybody think they'll swindle us? I mean really that's the core question. and b) It can only be a good thing taking a bunch of money, and putting it towards infrastructure. Jim you're arguing against putting money into our kids future? Think beyond CFL, think of the possibilty for the Universities, Halifax could do what it does for basketball. Or the High Schools, our kids won't have to go away to use proper facilities for training. So Jim what you're doing is sending our kids to Alberta, and BC, and Ontario for sports, so that everybody else can move outside the city, and weaken the butter for the governments tax bread. I don't get you Jim, why do you hate Nova Scotia? Let's just make sure we don't get swindled! Responsiblity! Think about the side stuff too, I'm going to sell commonwealth Games foam hats, if we get the games and make a killing! I bet I'd get on the CBC, anybody with me? lol.... god I love the internet....

You probably don't want some foreigner imposing his ideas on your debate here, but for what its worth I've been on holiday to Halifax and Nova Scotia a couple of times and I really love the place, and I am hoping you get awarded these games because I think you'll do it proud. Plus, speaking as a person who has lived in a city when its hosted the Commonwealth Games (Brisbane, 1982 (admittedly I was pretty young)) and the Olympics (Sydney, 2000) I could not recommend hosting these type of events more highly.

The thing is, hosting these events is about a lot more than just economics and adding up a column of figures to see if the thing will make a profit. In Brisbane, for example, hosting the Commonwealth Games gave the city the confidence to throw off its provincial small town image and show that it could host an important world event. From there its gone from strength to strength, hosting world expo in 88 and a whole range of events since then - but it all started with the Commonwealth Games and the boost it provided.

The Sydney Olympics were worth it too. The city was long overdue for a brush up and the money spent of civic improvement was something that would otherwise have been put indefinitely. And don't forget, these events are as great an experience for the people of the host city as they are for the athletes. Sydney was a two week party like no other and I have so many great memories. And although it sounds a little lame, the citizens of the city held their heads a little higher when they finished hosting such a big event and they knew they had done it well. Its a feeling that you can't put a price on - and I'm sure Halifax will do it just as well.

I know both these events didn't make a profit, but in the end it didn't really matter - its not as if those Australian cities that have not recently hosted major events (Adelaide, Perth and Hobart) are now installing gold plated schools and diamond encrusted hospitals with all the money they've saved on not hosting sporting events. All the cities are still pretty much the same, and they don't have the important sporting infrastructure that these events provide.

So, citizens of Halifax, I say go for it. You'll have a blast and get the chance to show the world what a great city you have there.

I'd want more outside involvement in this discussion if we could, because it's going to be you folks that will be coming here to party! I love meeting new people, plus after you've finished enjoying the events, and go home, you'll tell everybody what a crazy time Halifax is, and they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and so on, and so on. Sorry Waynes World is on TV.

Debbie Hum

Games could garner $6m athletics complex
Initial plans envision the multi-sport complex located at Mainland Common


STÉPHANE MASSINON
The Daily News

CLAYTON PARK - Halifax could get a $6 million multi-sport athletics complex if it successfully lands the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

It is all part of the games budget, which projects the cost of the games at over $35 million.

Initial plans place the field house in the Mainland Common.

It is meant as the legacy building of the games and could also be used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games if Halifax is successful in landing both.

Presented today

An information report to be presented to city council today outlines the costs of the games between now and 2012.

The largest cost is $11.3 million in capital construction, with roughly half of that going to the field house. The rest will be earmarked for renovating other facilities.

"A field house is a general, open multi-purpose facility that can accommodate a number of different sporting events," said Marion Currie, capital district project co-ordinator.

"For the purposes of the Canada Games bid, it will be used for table tennis and badminton," said Currie.

The games will cost $4.6 million in staffing costs and $3.4 million to put up the athletes in downtown Halifax hotels.

Rockingham-Wentworth Coun. Debbie Hum, says the games are money well spent.

"Not only does it provide opportunities for legacies to be left to the host community - one being the field house - but also a sport fund legacy to promote sports and enhance sport organizations within our province," said Hum.

The games will also promote the city, employ people in construction and help boost tourism, said Hum.

The $35.9 million games are expected to generate $10.3 million in sponsorship, ticketing and merchandise net revenue.

The bulk of the difference will be made up in government funding from all three levels.

The federal and provincial governments will contribute $8.75 million each while HRM pays $6.85 million for the games.

Set the groundwork

Hosting the games could help set up the groundwork for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"In and of itself, it's an incredible experience.Certainly the emphasis is on the games experience and the athletes' experience but it will be a good testing ground for (the 2014) Commonwealth (Games) so that we can show our capacity to host this type of event," said Currie.

Sport Nova Scotia CEO Jamie Ferguson said his organization will work with whichever Nova Scotia region wins the bid. Also competing are Antigonish and Truro.

A bid evaluation committee will visit Halifax on Friday and the winner will be announced Feb. 16, 2007.

Council will debate whether to adopt the Canada Games Hosting Standards today.

So by when would they have a stadium design?

They have a stadium design already, I ran into a buddy I graduated with, in Scotia Square, and he just so happens to work for Freddy MacGilly (I know that's not how you spell his name but let's be silly huh?). He's seen the models, and the designs. When I asked him if he could drop a few hints, or possibly take me up, he kinda laughed, and said he'd buy me beer... I'm not sure I understood but was that a no?

Commonwealth Games bid committee emphasizes benefits

By BILL POWER Staff Reporter
ADVERTISEMENT



Skeptics of the 2014 Halifax Commonwealth Games bid were urged to be patient Thursday.

"This city, this province, this country . . . will continue to benefit from the Games long into the future," said Scott Logan, CEO of Halifax 2014, referring to Canada’s bid for the event.

He told a gathering of Games supporters a successful bid involves more than the 12-day event that may be held in Halifax. He said a successful bid would provide facilities that will be used for years.

"This isn’t just a major sporting event," he said. ". . . It is about the 40 and 50 years afterwards. It is an investment in the future."

He said benefits of hosting the 1969 Canada Games are still enjoyed regularly by people who use Centennial Arena in Fairview, Beazley Field in Dartmouth, facilities on the Halifax Commons and the Lake Banook canoe course in Dartmouth.

Facilities from the 2014 Commonwealth Games would similarly be used by Nova Scotians and visitors to the province for many generations to come, he said.

"The long-term social benefits are absolutely huge."

There has been mounting criticism about secrecy surrounding the bid and the projected $785-million cost of hosting the Games.

Ottawa announced in December 2006 a contribution of up to $400 million to match other public funding to a maximum of 35 per cent of the total cost of the event.

This gave rise to widespread speculation the potential final bill was climbing into the $1-billion range.

The bid committee has not responded to cost speculation on grounds this might spark a bidding war among competitors for the Games.

Mr. Logan said in an interview details of the bid, including various construction costs associated with the Games, will be reviewed by all three levels of government prior to the May 9 deadline for final submissions.

He said the bid committee will eventually begin to share more information with the public.

"When we do go public, we will have information that is well-developed," he said. Some details could be released as early as February, he added.

There was no shortage of enthusiasm for the Games on Thursday as the bid committee accepted a $175,000 cheque from the Nova Scotia Gaming Corp. to support the estimated $14-million effort to bring the Games to Halifax.

The cheque presentation was held at the Halifax Alta Gymnastics Club on Bayers Road, a centre for gymnastics in the region.

Marie Mullally, the gaming corporation’s CEO, said the $175,000 comes from corporation profits on sales of Support 4 Sport lottery products in Nova Scotia. She said sales of these tickets throughout Atlantic Canada will raise $500,000 in total for the Games bid.

The Support 4 Sport program is expected to raise about $2 million in 2007-08 for amateur sport, with the money to be divided equally between the Halifax Commonwealth Games and Sport Nova Scotia’s amateur sport fund.

"A 100 per cent of the profits in Nova Scotia from these tickets go to this very important program," said Ms. Mullally

The only problem with beazley is it's starting to look it's age, there's no investment capital, and well... I went to school at Caledonia, so I know what goes on around there.
These games could be what the entire sporting Atlantic region really needs. I don't understand why people have such a fear of investment... jj...

They have a stadium design already, I ran into a buddy I graduated with, in Scotia Square, and he just so happens to work for Freddy MacGilly (I know that's not how you spell his name but let's be silly huh?). He's seen the models, and the designs. When I asked him if he could drop a few hints, or possibly take me up, he kinda laughed, and said he'd buy me beer... I'm not sure I understood but was that a no?

Is it something like that stadium design for winnipeg with the partial roof over 30,000 seats that has gone from 120 million canadain dollars to 276 million canadian dollars?

The thing is with the winnipeg estimate they dont have to answer to the wishes of international sport bodies like the commonwealth games federation , the IAAF or other european based bodies that are just out to screw us over silly.

Yeah Fred Mac Gillivray has a great stadium plan WILL it is looks like what is coming out of your hash pipe and he is blowing it up your ASS. LOL.


jim jones

The only problem with beazley is it's starting to look it's age, there's no investment capital, and well... I went to school at Caledonia, so I know what goes on around there.
These games could be what the entire sporting Atlantic region really needs. I don't understand why people have such a fear of investment... jj...

Geee no capital investment . kind of like the brains behind the HRM since the Canada games in 1969 . No defined plan for a stadium that if they had of actually had plan like every single NCAA college had an Athletics field would have been your 30000 seat stadium by now.

That how bad things are in halifax no planning and thus no capitalizing and building on what you have. The Metro Centre is a perfect example of that.
Then this field house proposal in the north mainland commons. While you people are their could you finish the baseball field for the halifax senoir baseball team . They have been on probation with the league since 2002 when the new diamond was opened by the city. No press box , no score board and no washrooms. Yeah that word no comes up a great deal with
halifax now about NO BRAINS in the plannng department or city hall LOL. There is no investment just further debt for both capital expense , maintainence and paying a teams budget with Fast Freddie intends on with the earmarked 19 million a year for 30 years. So we get the bills for 120 years and freddie gets his fantasy team in the CFL which will go bust anyways

jim jones

Is it something like that stadium design for winnipeg with the partial roof over 30,000 seats that has gone from 120 million canadain dollars to 276 million canadian dollars?

The thing is with the winnipeg estimate they dont have to answer to the wishes of international sport bodies like the commonwealth games federation , the IAAF or other european based bodies that are just out to screw us over silly.

Yeah Fred Mac Gillivray has a great stadium plan WILL it is looks like what is coming out of your hash pipe and he is blowing it up your ASS. LOL.


jim jones

Jim, I've made it clear in posts before, but like always you miss details, I smoke pot, not hash, now a days the only good hash you can get is from old folks like my dads generation, and they don't want to sell it. Everything else sucks, except when I make it myself, and that's just too expensive right now. Please, if you're going to be witty, at least TRY to be clever. A stretch I know. And no Jim, from what he did devulge to me, it isn't. It is realistic, quite unlike having a sensable conversation with you. :nuts: It's whole plan is to be broken down to a 25000 seat stadium with a capability to expand as needed. What I don't understand with your silly banter Jim is why are you against a 25000 seat venue in the regional population, and financial centre? Even if it doesn't lead to a CFL team, it can be used for so much more, all it needs is organization, and a public that's involved. Do I like the idea of having to wait until May? no. Do I have the feeling of being at the dentists, just before they tell me I have a cavity? sorta ya. But I've been brushing my teeth, and waiting patiently until I find out what I can do to help, and make sure things don't go tits up on us.

Paper sponsors Games bid


RICHARD DOOLEY
The Daily News

COMMONWEALTH GAMES – When Halifax 2014 bid committee CEO Scott Logan meets with members of all three levels of government today to discuss the budget for the Commonwealth Games, he’ll have three more bargaining chips on his side.

The Halifax 2014 bid has three new corporate sponsors backing the city’s bid to win the rights to host the Commonwealth Games.

The Daily News and parent company Transcontinental Media are the second “Founding Partner” supporting Halifax’s bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Transcontinental’s support is valued at $500,000.

In November, Keith’s Brewery became the first “Founding Partner” of the Games bid when it pledged to donate to the bid $1 from every case of beer sold in the province up to $500,000.

Law firm McInnis Cooper and RCR Hospitality Group each pledged $50,000 to the Games bid.

Fred MacGillivray, president and chairman of the Halifax 2014 bid committee, said winning corporate support for the Games is a key element of the bid.

‘Great messages’

“It sends great messages to our three levels of government partners — the corporate community is also very interested in this, as well as the general public,” he said.

Winning over the latest corporate sponsors could pave the way for more interest from the business community.

The bid to win the Games will cost $14.3 million, more than 30 per cent paid for by business sponsors.

“When we have support like this, it’s a huge asset,” said MacGillivray.

The international Commonwealth Games Federation has no rules about the level of corporate support in the bidding process.

Daily News publisher Jamie Thomson said the Games represent great things for HRM.

“Winning the rights to the Games could be one of the most exciting opportunities we’ve ever had,” he said.

RCR vice-president Elizabeth ****** said winning the right to host the Games will put Halifax in a new world arena.

“The legacy of these Games will be forever,” she said.

The Games have been projected to cost $785 million to build sports facilities and housing. But Games officials warned last week that figure could change as more detail is worked into the final bid.

The bid committee wants to construct facilities, including an athletes’ village, on land in the former military-housing area called Shannon Park in Dartmouth.

Halifax is competing against Abuja, Nigeria, and Glasgow, Scotland, for the rights to host the 2014 Games.

The decision will be made in Sri Lanka on Nov. 9.

rdooley@hfxnews.ca


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Corporate support is key part of strategy to win 2014 event

Having unprecedented levels of corporate support for the 2014 Commonwealth Games bid is a key part of Halifax’s strategy to win the Games.

In recent years, the international Commonwealth Games Federation has placed greater emphasis on the support of businesses in bidding countries as a barometer of the level of public support for the Games.

“It reflects on the community in a broader context,” said Halifax 2014 CEO Scott Logan.“This showing of support breeds confidence in the whole bid that gets picked up internationally.”

Winning corporate partners to the bidding process is the long-term goal of the Halifax 2014 bid committee.

The federal and provincial governments will each contribute $3.5 million, on top of the city's $3 million of the overall $14.3-million international bid budget. Another $580,000 will come from merchandise sales and lottery revenue. Corporate sponsorship will make up the largest entity contributing to the bid process.

Logan said winning corporate sponsors to the Commonwealth Games “brand,” in the same way businesses embrace the Olympic Games, is the direction the international Commonwealth Games Federation wants to take.

Corporate deals help finance international games and national sports federations and help ease the financial burden on

governments to finance the Games. - Richard Dooley

gathering for a great defeat.

^ elaborate?

gathering for a great defeat.

I seen this guy on other forums. He just makes these one remark comments
dissing Halifax and never backs them up. He seems to have a pick on Halifax for some reason.

I seen this guy on other forums. He just makes these one remark comments
dissing Halifax and never backs them up. He seems to have a pick on Halifax for some reason.

It's because foreigners seem to be uncomfortable with the idea of a city they've never heard of hosting the games. But lets be honest, who here had ever heard of Abuja before this whole CWG thing? Cuz I certainly hadnt....

It may be just me, but I have a feeling people are seriously underestimating our capability.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Halifax 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid Update Postponed Amid Rumours
Posted 11:19 am ET (GamesBids.com)

A March 6 meeting to update Halifax regional council on costs associated with Halifax’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games has been pushed back two weeks to March 20, reports the CBC.

Councillor Andrew Younger said, “I’m just as frustrated as members of the public. I want to see a public debate on this”.

The CBC reports rumours have been circulating that the cost of hosting the event would top $1 billion, up from the $785 million originally planned. Because of this several councillors have threatened to withdraw their support.

The March 20 meeting to update regional council will be held being doors but there is a motion ready which could turn the private session into a public one.

Meanwhile there are reports that Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly and Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald are lobbying the federal government to come up with more than the $400 million it committed in November.





Canada's 2014 bid in disarray
MARTIN HANNAN

GLASGOW'S bid to win the Commonwealth Games in 2014 has been handed a massive boost by its main rival, whose campaign is on the brink of imploding.

Organisational faults and political squabbles have surfaced in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with city councillors saying they will not support a final bid if the cost rises well above the original $785million budget, as is expected. With the other contender, Abuja in Nigeria, conceding that Glasgow is ahead in the race, Scotland's biggest city now appears to be warm favourite to win the 2014 Games.

The public rows over Halifax's bid caused the Premier of Nova Scotia province, Rodney MacDonald, to warn the warring factions to keep quiet or risk damaging the bid.

"These types of discussions are better behind closed doors," said MacDonald. "We have to make sure through this whole process, that we don't hurt the bid process by being out there with too much talking about it, talking about numbers that may or may not be accurate."

MacDonald was speaking after councillors openly speculated that the Halifax bidding process - itself costed at $14.3m - would be cancelled if the final projected cost of the Games rises to more than $1.3 billion, as has been widely reported in Canada.

But Premier MacDonald himself sparked a row when he was reported as saying: "I'm not willing to break the bank to host [the Games]," and both he and Halifax's Mayor Peter Kelly called on the Canadian federal government to increase their promised contribution of $400m.

That prompted Canada's federal secretary of state for sport, Helena Guergis, to issue a stinging reply: "To be all of a sudden asked to be increasing that amount when the province and the city haven't put their financial contribution on the table is rather strange."

Glasgow, Halifax and Abuja must file their final bid documents with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) by May 9, with the final decision being taken by the CGF in November. Last month, a senior official in the Abuja bid said Glasgow was ahead after the Nigerian city experienced serious problems - including an outbreak of illness - at the recent All-African games in the city.

By CGF rules, neither Glasgow or Abuja can comment on Halifax's problems, but Glasgow's organisers are quietly jubilant at the highly-public political rows in Canada - unanimity of political backing is now seen as a pre-requisite for any major events bid.

The Halifax bid, meanwhile, has also hit a major organisational snag. It was recently discovered that there is not enough suitable land for the stadium and athletes' village planned for Shannon Park in the Dartmouth area of the city, and Halifax Regional Municipality is carrying out a frantic search for more land in the vicinity.

The municipality and the federal and regional governments also ordered independent consultants to review the costs of the bid after a proposed budget was passed to them in secret early last month. As a result, a meeting of Halifax councillors to decide on their support for the final bid has been put back to March 20.

Public support for the bid has declined from 79% to 72% according to a recent opinion poll, while the Halifax Bid Committee's failure to finalise costs has lost it the unanimous political support it previously enjoyed in the city.

"More than likely, barring unforeseen circumstances, the bid is dead," Councillor Andrew Younger told the Halifax Daily News, itself ironically one of the founding partners of the bid.

"What I'm hearing is there are a lot of people on council that are fed up with the bid committee and their attitude towards the council."

Halifax's main problem has always been the lack of a suitable outdoor stadium. Sources in Canada say a lot of the problems have arisen because of "politicking" over the facilities, with the city and provincial leaders trying to get the federal government to pay more for these developments.

Premier MacDonald said the Canadian Government had invested in larger cities such as Vancouver and Calgary, and Halifax should be "treated on an equal footing". But, according to one source in Nova Scotia, the fear is that the city, province and country will end up with "a Montreal-type situation", a reference to the 1976 Olympic Games which lost $2b - the final payment on the city's Olympic debt was only paid last year.

Deborah Hashey, director of communications for Halifax 2014, said the various negative comments "in no way" reflected the commitment of the three levels of government, but were part of "a negotiating process" between the three funding partners.

"It could have been done earlier, but we came to the whole process later than Glasgow and Abuja because of the competition between Canadian cities to make the bid," said Hashey.

Glasgow's bid, meanwhile, will be the centrepiece of the first-ever National Events Conference which will take place in the city's Royal Concert Hall on Tuesday. In a keynote speech, Glasgow's bid director Derek Casey will tell 300 delegates of the progress made to date.

EventScotland chief executive David Williams, who leaves his post on March 30 to return home to Australia for family reasons, praised the Glasgow bid team yesterday.

"I am very optimistic that we will win it," said Williams. "Glasgow is already doing a fantastic job in regenerating the city, and the developments at Kelvingrove Art Galleries and the SECC area are world class. Put the games on top of this and the city will have the confidence to do what Brisbane did in 1982, when the Commonwealth Games were the catalyst for it becoming the fastest-growing city in the country."

according to the last article Glasgow is the cat's meow and Halifax is falling apart. lol

Boy let me tell ya, if Halifax somehow comes from behind and wins the rights for 2014, all hell is gonna break loose. It would probably be the most controversial desicion in CWG history.

It all comes down to money. Unless the feds are going to pay the lion's share (far more than $400 M) of a budget that will have to be more than a billion dollars the way the organizers are thinking, there is no way our nearly bankrupt province can afford this.

Hopefully May 7 will come soon and all this speculation will go away.. one can only hope

It all comes down to money. Unless the feds are going to pay the lion's share (far more than $400 M) of a budget that will have to be more than a billion dollars the way the organizers are thinking, there is no way our nearly bankrupt province can afford this.

Were not a nearly bankrupt province..there is a large debt doesn't mean were nearly bankrupt.:ohno:

Were not a nearly bankrupt province..there is a large debt doesn't mean were nearly bankrupt.:ohno:We certainly do not need more debt though. Assuming we do win the bid, we still have time to raise more money. I have heard of come interesting ways to do it.

We certainly do not need more debt though. Assuming we do win the bid, we still have time to raise more money. I have heard of come interesting ways to do it.


I agree we with that. I do think we can pull these games off though. I think it is to much of an opportunity to let it pass us by.

Were not a nearly bankrupt province..there is a large debt doesn't mean were nearly bankrupt.:ohno:

We have no ability to raise taxes beyond where they are as we are already pretty much the highest in that regard in the country. Our ability to borrow that much money is in question. And the services those taxes and borrowings are supposed to support are crumbling due to lack of funding. Yes, we are nearly bankrupt.

We have no ability to raise taxes beyond where they are as we are already pretty much the highest in that regard in the country. Our ability to borrow that much money is in question. And the services those taxes and borrowings are supposed to support are crumbling due to lack of funding. Yes, we are nearly bankrupt.

Nova Scotia's debt to GDP ration has inproved greatly in last five meanig are abiltly to service the debt has greatly inproved. The provinces credit rating has consistenly gone up in last five years to I believe an A- or A+ I'm not sure which, as well and we have continuely have had balanced budgets for the last five years. Yes we have a 12 bllion debt the third highest per captia debt in the country but we are ceratianly atre not close the bankruptcy I mean come on. You have to look at you're ability to service it. I mean when you look at per captia debt, Ontario has higher per captia debt than PEI but PEI is sure not richer than Ontario it is actully about the poorest province in Canada.

It's because foreigners seem to be uncomfortable with the idea of a city they've never heard of hosting the games. But lets be honest, who here had ever heard of Abuja before this whole CWG thing? Cuz I certainly hadnt....

It may be just me, but I have a feeling people are seriously underestimating our capability.

hahah..im pretty comfortable with all the knowledge and research i have done regarding this bid, so i know what im talking about, unfortunately halifax is not a serious threat to abuja/glasgow its best hope is producing a credible plan and bid, and it has yet to achieve either.

hahah..im pretty comfortable with all the knowledge and research i have done regarding this bid, so i know what im talking about, unfortunately halifax is not a serious threat to abuja/glasgow its best hope is producing a credible plan and bid, and it has yet to achieve either.

ha ha who cares what you think Mo Rush... you're drive by smears are getting old.

hahah..im pretty comfortable with all the knowledge and research i have done regarding this bid, so i know what im talking about, unfortunately halifax is not a serious threat to abuja/glasgow its best hope is producing a credible plan and bid, and it has yet to achieve either.What crawled up your ass? What do you have against Halifax anyway?

ha ha who cares what you think Mo Rush... you're drive by smears are getting old.

i have absolutely nothing against halifax, my views are totally unbiased, that is my honest opinion, i wish halifax the best of luck but certainly it would be wishful thinking to believe that halifax will trump abuja or glasgow.

Broaden view on Games, bid CEO urges media

The head of the team trying to bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Halifax says bad publicity at home is making it tough to sell the bid overseas.

"I'm of the view that the local media — in some cases, not all — could look at a broader perspective of the real story here," Scott Logan told CBC News Monday.

A recent report in the Scotsman, a newspaper in Scotland, a country competing against Halifax for the sporting event, said the Halifax bid is "on the brink of imploding."

Several Halifax municipal councillors have threatened to pull their support for the Games as rumours circulate the event could cost more than $1 billion, up from the $785 million first presented to council.

Logan said too much of the public discussion has been based on speculation and rumour. He said the final tally will be revealed no later than May 9, but it could be released earlier if all the funding partners agree on a budget.

"Done the right way in an affordable context, the Games could change the city," he said.

Logan, who was on a recent tour of 11 countries, said Halifax bid officials are getting an excellent reception overseas.

Halifax needs 36 of 71 votes to beat out Glasgow and Abuja, Nigeria, to win the event. The final bid has to be submitted to the international committee in May and the winner will be announced in November.


source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2007/03/05/scotland-logan.html

hate to say it, but i agree with Mo.

Well I said this in the Gamesbids forums and I'll say it here.

If Halifax loses this bid, I can only hope that it acts as a learning experience, and they work on upgrading and building facilities to make bids for future events easier. Because the time and money and debate put into this subject, I would hate to see it all be a complete waste.

hate to say it, but i agree with Mo.

well its just my opinion, halifax should not underestimate the imapct the exposure has on the city,just a commonwealth/olympic bid can do wonders for a city even if its an unsuccesful bid, by producing a credible and well marketed bid halifax certainly stands to gain, i really do feel the venue plan needs some more thinking and some creative thinking at that.

Pollster’s opinion: Premier, mayor fumbling Games opportunity

By JEFFREY SIMPSON Staff Reporter
ADVERTISEMENT



Poor political leadership at the municipal and provincial levels is risking the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, a Halifax Chamber of Commerce luncheon heard Wednesday.

Don Mills, president of the Halifax polling firm Corporate Research Associates, delivered stinging criticism of Premier Rodney MacDonald, Mayor Peter Kelly and regional council, accusing them of neglecting a prime economic opportunity.

"Where’s our premier on this?" Mr. Mills said as he addressed the corporate set. "He’s waffling. How’s this helping us?"

Mr. Mills, who’s also chairman of Bring on the Games, a coalition of local businesses and community groups formed to rally public support for the event, said Halifax regional councillors aren’t helping matters by debating publicly whether the city can afford the Games.

"The mayor has a history of equivocating on any issue until it’s 100 per cent certain and then he picks a side," Mr. Mills told reporters after his speech. "He doesn’t understand the issue of leadership.

"With Rodney MacDonald, I think it’s a question of understanding that his position as leader of the province makes it incumbent upon him to take a stronger stand on a big opportunity for the province."

Mr. Mills said Nova Scotia needs more aggressive political leadership to look out for its interests, much in the same manner as Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams in taking on oil companies and Ottawa.

"He’s out fighting; he’s got his chin out," Mr. Mills said. "He’s taking a stand on behalf of their province.

"Nobody is standing up of our elected officials and getting behind these Games in a way that you would expect."

Mr. Mills said it would be disastrous to pull out of the bid process, squandering the opportunity to advance Halifax.

Such a move would also ruin the city’s chances of hosting any future world-class events, he said.

Mr. Mills said hosting the Games would bring much-needed large-scale sports venues to the city with the help of federal funding. The Atlantic region is at a disadvantage because it lags behind other areas of Canada in such venues, he said.

"People are concerned about white elephants and how are we going to pay for the facilities after the fact," he said. "Part of the cost that is being built into the bid is to make sure that long-term funding is in place to deal with the facilities."

He believes Ottawa will provide more than the $400 million it has pledged so far.

"But that number’s going to have to be negotiated," he said. "And it’s going to have to be negotiated not in the public but behind closed doors."

Mr. Mills, who denied he’s in a conflict of interest by conducting polls with outcomes that support his position, said his firm has found through surveys that public support for hosting the Games is high, despite what he views as overwhelmingly negative media coverage.

Still, he acknowledged the bid committee might have worked harder at getting information to the public.

"They could have done a better job," he said. "But give them an opportunity to get that information out."

Later Wednesday, Mr. Kelly disputed Mr. Mills’ assessment of his support for the Commonwealth Games bid and of his political leadership in general.

"With all due respect to Mr. Mills, Mr. Mills is not paying the bill" for the 2014 Games, the mayor said Wednesday evening. "We have to, at the end of the day, justify our approach to the taxpayer."

Mr. Kelly, an honorary co-chairman of Canada’s bid for the sports spectacle, said he backs metro’s proposal for the Games but not at any cost. He said council "has been supportive from the outset, with a caveat that (the Games) are right-sized and affordable for HRM."

Last year, Mr. Kelly co-wrote a commentary in The Chronicle Herald that said the 2014 Commonwealth Games, if awarded to Canada, "would provide a lasting, valuable legacy" for the region and lead to opportunities for the private sector.

On Wednesday, he said: "Yes, we’re supportive, but there is a limit to the affordability."

With respect to his leadership, Mr. Kelly said he has been active in lobbying the federal government and is not a fence-sitter on issues affecting Halifax Regional Municipality.

While addressing the chamber, Mr. Mills didn’t limit his criticism of the mayor and premier to their work on the Commonwealth Games.

Nova Scotia doesn’t have a premier standing up for it in any aspect, he said.

"That’s a problem for us," Mr. Mills said. "The government is not getting off to a very good start."

Mr. Mills, who referred to the premier several times simply as "Rodney," said people are left scratching their heads when asked what the Tory leader’s greatest accomplishment is.

"People are hard-pressed to find an answer," Mr. Mills said. "He needs to stand for something."

Mr. Mills also called on council to provide better services for tax dollars and to stop referring to itself as HRM.

"We live in Halifax," he said. "Let’s not do this bullshit HRM stuff."

Mr. MacDonald couldn’t be reached to comment for this story

Halifax drops out of Commonwealth Games race.

Halifax's Commonwealth Games dream has come to an abrupt end, with municipal and provincial politicians announcing Thursday the event is too pricey.

In a joint statement, the city and the province said the bid budget is close to $1.7 billion, and the risks associated with pursuing the Games were too high.

The team vying for the 2014 international sporting event has already spent several years and thousands of dollars.


guess the greatness is over? What leadership.......

Another step ahead for NS, ruined by possibly the worst government in Canada

The Nova Scotia and HRM government must be the must incompetent governments in North America.:ohno: Just once I wish they could think about the big picture. But no. Like a bunch of hillbillies shooting their guns into the air, :hammer: hey everyone look at us, we can host them games. When we new they didn’t have the backbone to follow through with it.

Now Canada doesn’t get the opportunity to host the games at all. It should have gone to Ontario. At least they’d follow through.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/streaks_skunk/CWGcopy.jpg

i am quite dissapointed.....i hate to say it but it was a huge mistake for Canada to let Halifax bid for 2014. It should've gone to Hamilton, and I am quite sure they are extremely pissed.

i am quite dissapointed.....i hate to say it but it was a huge mistake for Canada to let Halifax bid for 2014. It should've gone to Hamilton, and I am quite sure they are extremely pissed.

If you've been watching the news at all, Hamilton practically tipped their hats to us for going this far. They said they would have pulled their bid at 1 billion. I've also heard rumors that their projected budget was only ~$800 million, There was some leeway there if they had to, but their cutoff was 1 billion. I think Halifax did just as good of a job for candidate city while we were running than anyone else could have. Besides, its...Hamilton, been there done that. Doesnt seem like a place were the 2014 CWG could have called home.

If you've been watching the news at all, Hamilton practically tipped their hats to us for going this far. They said they would have pulled their bid at 1 billion. I've also heard rumors that their projected budget was only ~$800 million, There was some leeway there if they had to, but their cutoff was 1 billion. I think Halifax did just as good of a job for candidate city while we were running than anyone else could have. Besides, its...Hamilton, been there done that. Doesnt seem like a place were the 2014 CWG could have called home.

Of course Hamilton can be called the home of the 2014 Games....it was the host of the first ever Games, way back in 1930 when they were the British Empire Games. Would be a great idea if Hamilton could host the 2030 centennial.

The big difference with Hamilton was even if there was a cost increase, it would have been easier to get more funding from governments. In Halifax, both the province and the city seemed to have their thumbs stuck up their asses.....just sitting there and watching the opportunity float away across the Atlantic.

The bid, much thanks to the NIMBY's, has really tarnished the image of the East Coast of Canada. This is like the 1976 Winter Olympics, which were awarded to Denver originally, but then with just four years to go they gave it all up in 1972.....Denver since has never hosted a major event. If Halifax were to ever go for another event, the host city choosers will really take a close look at Halifax after the whole 2014 mess.

Halifax kills Commonwealth Games bid, national organizer furious at decision

Published: Thursday, March 8, 2007 | 6:30 PM ET
Canadian Press: ALISON AULD

HALIFAX (CP) - The head of Canada's Commonwealth Games committee couldn't hide his bitter disappointment Thursday as Halifax abandoned the country's bid for the 2014 international sports event after deciding the $1.7-billion price tag was too rich.

For Andrew Pipe, the decision to kill Canada's bid was premature because if they had been given more time, he said organizers could have trimmed the cost.

"This was a precipitate judgment," said Pipe, president of Commonwealth Games Canada, barely containing his anger at a news conference held moments after the city and the Nova Scotia government pulled out of the race to host the Games.

"To say that I am disappointed, to say that I am astonished would be to bring understatement to a new level. . . . Halifax was the right choice to host these Games and I am deeply saddened by the shortsightedness which, in my view, have surrounded the decision."

Pipe charged that the city and the Nova Scotia governments withdrew without giving the bid committee the chance to further revise the numbers and come up with a more suitable cost.

Pipe said the committee presented the $1.7-billion budget to the funding partners weeks ago and was told to trim it. It came back with a cost of $1.3 billion, a figure Pipe insisted could be brought in line with what the governments could afford.

Canada last hosted the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 1994 and Pipe described Halifax's decision to drop out as a lost opportunity for the country in 2014.

"Those Games were eminently winnable," he said.

Officials from the city and the Nova Scotia governments said they had to pull the plug after the cost more than doubled from its original estimate of $785 million.

Premier Rodney MacDonald said he has a responsibility to protect the province's finances.

"Obviously we're very disappointed in the decision that had to be made today, but it's for the right reasons and that's fiscal responsibility," he said in Port Hawkesbury, N.S.

"We said from Day 1 that we wanted the right size Games, that was the right size for Halifax and the right size for Nova Scotia and for the country, and at the end of the day, after doing due diligence, the numbers just aren't there. And we cannot move forward on such a bid knowing that those numbers are so large."

Halifax, a city of about 360,000, beat Hamilton, Ottawa and suburban Toronto's York Region in December 2005 to become Canada's candidate to host the Games.

With Halifax out, the remaining international contenders are Glasgow, Scotland, and Abuja, Nigeria. A winner will be announced in November.

Halifax's stunning announcement came as opposition to the Games continued to mount over the escalating costs, and critics assailed the committee and governments for failing to release details on the true cost of the event.

Frustrated municipal councillors said last month that they would withdraw their support if the final estimated price tag exceeded $785 million, while claiming they were being kept in the dark about the ultimate cost.

Many were further inflamed Thursday morning when they were called to an emergency council session to vote on the budget and then saw messages pop up on their BlackBerries that the province had already sent out a news release stating the bid was dead.

"I would call that a case of premature evacuation," Coun. Sheila Fougere said in fury as she stormed out of the two-hour meeting. "We've been left out of the equation and that's unacceptable."

MacDonald said the province was committed to contributing $300 million to the Games, with Ottawa pledging $400 million if Halifax won. The city was to kick in $200 million, leaving a shortfall of about $600 million.

Fred MacGillivray, president of the 2014 Halifax bid committee, insisted he was never told how much the various governments were willing to contribute and said he asked for more time to finesse the numbers.

"We recognized if we changed some locations or if we changed some of the processes, we might be able to change that number further," he said. "We asked them to give us that opportunity. We were never provided that."

Two of the cities that lost the domestic bid to host the Games said there were no hard feelings when they heard Halifax had dropped out.

"With Halifax being shortlisted and withdrawing that is a disappointment, certainly from Canada's standpoint," said Patrick Casey, communications director for the Regional Municipality of York.

Mike Patton, a spokesman for Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien, said the city has moved on and doesn't hold any resentment toward Halifax.

"The mayor's heart goes out to the organizing people in Halifax; they put an awful lot of hard work into this and it can't be a particularly satisfying day for them," said Patton.

"There's no bitterness that they're pulling out."

After hearing the news, Stewart Maxwell, a spokesman with the Scottish National Party, insisted his country's bid was always out front.

"We believe that Glasgow would have beaten both the other cities who were bidding," he told the BBC. "However, it's now a two-horse race and Glasgow is the firm favourite."

The cost of preparing the Halifax bid has been pegged at $14.3 million, with the province and Ottawa each contributing $3.5 million, the city $3 million and the rest coming from corporate sponsorships and merchandising deals. About $6 million has already been spent.

Bruce DeVenne, the Halifax man who led public opposition to the bid, said the decision was good news because the city will not be saddled with a huge debt.

"When you look at the reality of what these Games cost . . . this is a good thing for Halifax homeowners," he said in an interview.

DeVenne said the escalating cost of the event mirrored a pattern set in other cities that have bid for the Games.

An independent analysis on the Halifax bid revealed a number of "significant risks" for the provincial and municipal governments.

It concluded there were questionable revenue projections, a higher than anticipated requirement for public funding, and insufficient contingency funding, which would have left the province vulnerable to cost overruns.

Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said the concerns raised by the report were too big to ignore.

"We were hopeful we would be in a position to support the Games but . . . we cannot support going forward," Kelly said. "We will not jeopardize our fiscal position."
© The Canadian Press, 2007

The thing that pisses me off about the whole thing is the severe lack of interests from the rest of the country except for you MR.X of course. Right form the start it was like it was Nova Scotia's bid and Ottawa will help out a bit instead of being Canada's bid. When you look at the other bid cities it was Nigeria's bid or Scotland's bid. The whole country really seems behind their bids.

The thing that pisses me off about the whole thing is the severe lack of interests from the rest of the country except for you MR.X of course. Right form the start it was like it was Nova Scotia's bid and Ottawa will help out a bit instead of being Canada's bid. When you look at the other bid cities it was Nigeria's bid or Scotland's bid. The whole country really seems behind their bids.

Well, there were a few factors that contributed to Canada's lack of interest. For one thing, the Commonwealth Games are not as popular as they were before here in Canada. Even the CBC refused to broadcast last year's Commonwealth's in Melbourne. One thing I hoped to see from hosting the Commonwealths was a renewed interest by the Canadian public in these Games......and of course, Halifax needs it.

Secondly, Halifax 2014 did a terrible job in promoting their bid....but it's hard to blame them since support at home in Nova Scotia was already flailing. The Vancouver 2010 bid committee did an excellent job in promoting the bid around the nation (from articles i've read, much much better than the promoters of the Quebec City 2002 Olympic bid).....and these being the Olympic Games, widely popular, was another advantage. Here in Vancouver, the bid committee had a budget of over $35 million with half of that coming from businesses and corporations. The federal and provincial gov'ts, city of Vancouver, and many suburbs that weren't even going to host Olympic events contributed financially to the bid.

It was unfortunate of Halifax, and I really hope this decision won't hurt their reputation as much as what I've stated in previous posts. I really think they could've shaved off even more from their budget - worst case scenario.

Hamilton, during an emergency meeting on whether or not to bid for 2014 in light of Halifax's drop out, has decided it would like to bid for 2014 - however, Commonwealth Canada will not allow it. But, Hamilton has already decided it will bid for 2018.



Bailout a black eye for Canada
Bidding process called everything from ‘deeply flawed’ to ‘mysterious’

Hamilton established the global sporting legacy known as the Commonwealth Games in 1930. Halifax just trashed it.

“There’s a bad aroma around this,” was the way businessman Ron Foxcroft described Halifax’s finances, the factor which spawned that city’s surprise exit from the international bidding for the 2014 Commonwealth Games yesterday.

“It was mysterious and suspicious,” he said of the process which awarded Halifax the right to compete globally over Hamilton, Ottawa and York Region.

Foxcroft and McMaster University president Dr. Peter George, a fellow Hamilton 2014 executive, simply couldn’t get the Halifax numbers to add up.

Halifax was touting a $500-million Games early in 2005, but the budget ballooned to $1.6 billion by this year.

And the logic of the bid committee appointed by Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) seemed skewed.

“I delivered our presentation on international winnability,” noted Foxcroft.

“And even though they judged Hamilton had the most winnable bid, they chose Halifax.”

George said the core of Hamilton’s bid was southern Ontario’s economic gusto, while Halifax didn’t enjoy nearly the same size or vibrancy.

Those concerns were confirmed when an independent analysis revealed a number of “significant risks” for the Nova Scotia and Halifax governments.

They included questionable revenue projections, a higher-than-anticipated requirement for public funding (estimated at 92 per cent) and insufficient contingency funding, which would have left the province vulnerable to cost overruns.

Red flags were raised about the way CGC was conducting the bidding process back in 2005.

Paul Henderson, a long-time Canadian delegate to the International Olympic Committee, said it was deeply flawed.

“It was way too detailed for a Games the size of the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Henderson, who was with the York Region bid group, said it was odd to see questions about snow-removal budgets in bid documents for a summer event. He arranged a conference call with the leaders of the four bids and appealed to them to demand a revamped bid process. But there was no consensus and the process carried on.

A disillusioned Henderson left the York group.

Politicians are calling yesterday’s developments a black eye for Canada that demands investigation.

Hamilton East–Stoney Creek MP Wayne Marston, the NDP critic for sport, said it won’t look good for Canada not to have a domestic bid.

“It’s going to be an embarrassment because ... had this (decision) been made four or five months ago when they realized things were getting out of hand then you would’ve had an opportunity perhaps for Hamilton to get back into the process here. And that’s very disappointing.”

David Christopherson, NDP MP for Hamilton Centre, wants to know how a bid could go this far, just to fall apart weeks before the deadline. He said the CGC, as the national body overseeing bids, must find the flaws in the system.

Congratulations Glasgow on hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. I was a supporter from the start for Canada's bid whether Halifax, Hamilton, or whoever. I think this will force changes for future bidding cities. Maybe a finacial penalty if something like this happens again.

To all the nay sayers and told you soes I guess you were right.

The bid, much thanks to the NIMBY's, has really tarnished the image of the East Coast of Canada.

It wasn't the NIMBYs that killed it. It was the incompetence of the organizers who could not generate a budget that didn't exceed $1 billion, and the CWG organization, who seemingly demand Olympic-type venues and treatment for a second-class event. It is simply not affordable for cities of this size at that price.

The NIMBYs would have had a field day, though, if we had won the process and then actually had to start building things. That is what I always thought would be the real problem with this location: you can't even widen a street around here, much less put up a building, without years and years of delay. I could never see how anything would get done here.

"Gathering for a great disappointment" -- people called me crazy

Im surprised Hamilton is planning to bid since their own mayor announced to Halifax's mayor that they wouldnt be able to afford them by a longshot. The only way they would be able to is if they got way way more federal funding, and that just wouldnt be right if they did.

I think the CG were too much of a leap for Halifax, maybe the PanAms would've been more appropriate.

I think the CG were too much of a leap for Halifax, maybe the PanAms would've been more appropriate.

Multi-sports festivals are a leap to far with a city without a stadium, aquatics centre or the volenteer labour force for an event this size.

Single sport events are the way to go .

The Pan AM games would have made more sense because the sports in those games are actually fairly popular.

Rowing , Padeling and Kayaking are included in the Pan AM Games.

The problem now with a Pan AM games bid is that Rio 2007 is raising the bar
for that sports festival just like Kuala Lumpar did for the CWG's in 1998.

If you dont have a part of the bid package for venues on the ground in this day and age it really is a wasted effort.

JIM JONES WIN !!!!!!!!!!!

Another step ahead for NS, ruined by possibly the worst government in Canada

Yeah the worst government in canada should really think about rationalising the universities and colleges in the province which you are a part of the problem with our provinces finances. Sorry mister art student but you have to grow up sometime and stop the weekend partying on the credit card. LOL.

JIM JONES WINS !!!!!!!!

I would say educated students are a significant strategic advantage for the province of Nova Scotia. The problem lies with provincial politicians using public money to buy votes, especially in rural areas, this was especially an acute problem under the Buchanan regime(1978-1990).

I would say educated students are a significant strategic advantage for the province of Nova Scotia. The problem lies with provincial politicians using public money to buy votes, especially in rural areas, this was especially an acute problem under the Buchanan regime(1978-1990).

and how many rural votes would be bought by a commonwealth games bid ????
not a single vote. I live in "rural" nova scotia and the talk now is of how the NDP will win the next election because Rodney mac donald has lost his mind even entertaining Metro idiotic commonwealth games bid.

Rodney Mac Donald is from rural nova scotia and 21 of the 23 seats he has are in rural nova scotia. the NDP own metro. with 20 seats. The conservatives only have two seat in the hrm. The liberals are in the same shape with 2 seats in the HRM.

This was about trying to buy votes in the HRM and rural nova scotia does not like that at all. THE juenville brat named HRM is made up of government departments and the department of national defence. For all purposes you dont have multi generational empire coming out of metro. there are no Empire INC (sobeys) no Braggs, no Jodreys , No ron joyces, no purdy crawfords, No RB camerons coming out of halifax.

We produce the physical paper that metro bureaucrats shuffle in 3 paper mills in rural nova scotia.

There is a point when Halifax has to actually grow up and actually start producing some goods for export or acquiring some type of wealth.
The core of the entrepreneur class in the HRM is Non HRM born persons.

EVen the leader of the NDP is from the south shore.The last time any politican born in halifax was premier was 1931.

Halifax does not work for anything . it believes it is the centre of the universe and should be spoon fed.

JIM JONES WINS !!!!!!!!

I would say educated students are a significant strategic advantage for the province of Nova Scotia. The problem lies with provincial politicians using public money to buy votes, especially in rural areas, this was especially an acute problem under the Buchanan regime(1978-1990).

OH and by the way the best university according to mac leans is st fx in antigonish not anything in halifax. That being said there is one and one only university program Halifax should be enrolling their kids in if they really want economic growth.
It is the Frank Sobey School of business on the univeristy campus of ST marys.

The bid should have been put to that body for debate because it is clear that sue uteck didnt step foot in the frank sobey school of business while larry uteck was alive. That school of business recently had a donation of 3.5 million dollars from a very rural nova scotian David Sobey.

jim jones wins !!!!!!!!!

and how many rural votes would be bought by a commonwealth games bid ????
not a single vote. I live in "rural" nova scotia and the talk now is of how the NDP will win the next election because Rodney mac donald has lost his mind even entertaining Metro idiotic commonwealth games bid.

Rodney Mac Donald is from rural nova scotia and 21 of the 23 seats he has are in rural nova scotia. the NDP own metro. with 20 seats. The conservatives only have two seat in the hrm. The liberals are in the same shape with 2 seats in the HRM.

This was about trying to buy votes in the HRM and rural nova scotia does not like that at all. THE juenville brat named HRM is made up of government departments and the department of national defence. For all purposes you dont have multi generational empire coming out of metro. there are no Empire INC (sobeys) no Braggs, no Jodreys , No ron joyces, no purdy crawfords, No RB camerons coming out of halifax.

We produce the physical paper that metro bureaucrats shuffle in 3 paper mills in rural nova scotia.

There is a point when Halifax has to actually grow up and actually start producing some goods for export or acquiring some type of wealth.
The core of the entrepreneur class in the HRM is Non HRM born persons.

EVen the leader of the NDP is from the south shore.The last time any politican born in halifax was premier was 1931.

Halifax does not work for anything . it believes it is the centre of the universe and should be spoon fed.

JIM JONES WINS !!!!!!!! wow, Jim you need to calm down before you lose it *pictures JJ in a straight jacket muttering f*ck Halifax...f*ck Halifax*

Jim you need to realize that I am not from Halifax. I grew up in a rural area. I have only lived in HRM for a few years now. It is true that many rural people come here to Halifax to start business, but i don't see how that is a bad thing on the part of Halifax...it means Hfx is a great place for doing business.

You are right. Premiers of this province come from rural areas and then cater to rural areas, its well known. What about the 1 billion sunk into Sydney steel?(not rural per say, but certainly not hfx). In terms of votes, a rural vote is often worth 2-3X more then a urban vote.

"Halifax does not work for anything . it believes it is the center of the universe and should be spoon fed" Funny, that sounds like the attitudes of most of the people I knew in the valley.

and btw - Hfx's unemployment rate is 4.3%, what is up in Pictou or whatever? HRM not working.....yea right.

That's horrible. To have gone so far, and have it stumble to the finish line stinks. Another city could've gone through.

That's horrible. To have gone so far, and have it stumble to the finish line stinks. Another city could've gone through.

it is classic for this part of the world. The politicians are very badly advised and listen too much to special interest groups. A few years ago the thing was nova scotia needing a movie sound stage. So it got Five. Three went out of business,
one occasionally has movie shots and the largest one was bought from the local promoters by a company from ontario and operated sometimes. Movies came to NS because it is location shots. Then instant soundstages were being set up in old car dealerships and hardware warehouses.

THe government subsides were another reason for movies coming to nova scotia. Now that business is pretty much gone with a strong canadain dollar

We have to actually start producing everyday wealth before you can look at things like entertainment and sports which are not needed to exist.

jim jones

Jim, don't forget about Royal Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia - both founded in Halifax.

Yeah the worst government in canada should really think about rationalising the universities and colleges in the province which you are a part of the problem with our provinces finances. Sorry mister art student but you have to grow up sometime and stop the weekend partying on the credit card. LOL.

JIM JONES WINS !!!!!!!!


Weekend partying on the credit card?


Wait, can you retype that whole post into something an art student could understand?

Anyways, Nova Scotia has a great opportunity with the university students that come here from all over Canada. If the government would promote more business' setting up here other than call centers ( done in part by improving Halifax's visibility on the national and international scene by having things like the Commonwealth games here), then perhaps not everyone under the age of 25 would leave to go out west.

It is people like me (young student) that could make this province better if we had jobs to go to when we graduated.

Weekend partying on the credit card?


Wait, can you retype that whole post into something an art student could understand?

Anyways, Nova Scotia has a great opportunity with the university students that come here from all over Canada. If the government would promote more business' setting up here other than call centers ( done in part by improving Halifax's visibility on the national and international scene by having things like the Commonwealth games here), then perhaps not everyone under the age of 25 would leave to go out west.

It is people like me (young student) that could make this province better if we had jobs to go to when we graduated.

All I can say is GO WEST YOUNG MAN GO WEST. and dont let the door hit you in the arse while you leave LOL.

Until you have to start paying taxes or actually paying the full shot for your hobby ER i mean education . We have enough basket weavers in the province thank you very much

JIM JONES WINS!!!!!!

Jim, don't forget about Royal Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia - both founded in Halifax. and so was the CIBC which was founded by one of the greatest business men to come out of nova scotia and Halifax Samuel Cunard. The unfortuate thing is Halifax has lost the zeal to build a entrepreneur class and no wonder. Why would anyone start a business to grow beyond halifax when we all know it is the center of the universe LOL. Then there is the abundance of government jobs. Why would anyone take a risk in halifax when it is handed to you or you believe it should be handed to you from ottawa LOL.

The other day . port hawkesbury transplanted businessman Russ Brannon sold his music store empire to long and macquade of Toronto. Russes musicstop did very well expanding across the region. It seems businesses stop after 30 years not being handed over to local control. The exspection I know of in halifax to that rule is cleves and that is the only exception . Sobeys they are into the fourth generation and they continue to grow.

jim jones wins !!!!!!!!

Jim, what happened to your other user account?

Jim you got wanted you wanted no CWG's so go the f*** away will yeah nobody wants to here your BS because thats all it is..

All I can say is GO WEST YOUNG MAN GO WEST. and dont let the door hit you in the arse while you leave LOL.

Until you have to start paying taxes or actually paying the full shot for your hobby ER i mean education . We have enough basket weavers in the province thank you very much

JIM JONES WINS!!!!!!

I am in design, so I will be working in art direction or advertising when I am finished. I would love to stay here and work, but there just aren't as many opportunities here in NS.

What makes you think I don't pay taxes? I work while I go to school and full time during the 4 months of summer I am not in school. I pay my own rent and bills for my appartment as well as for my car.

I pay as much as I can for tuition, but because of the very high cost of tuition in this great province, I have to resort to a line of credit from my bank to pay the rest.

So yes, I waste everyones money and time, going to school for no reason. Also, I contribute nothing to the province.

If I may ask, where were you educated that is such an example of a perfect way of starting your career?

I am in design, so I will be working in art direction or advertising when I am finished. I would love to stay here and work, but there just aren't as many opportunities here in NS.

What makes you think I don't pay taxes? I work while I go to school and full time during the 4 months of summer I am not in school. I pay my own rent and bills for my appartment as well as for my car.

I pay as much as I can for tuition, but because of the very high cost of tuition in this great province, I have to resort to a line of credit from my bank to pay the rest.

So yes, I waste everyones money and time, going to school for no reason. Also, I contribute nothing to the province.

If I may ask, where were you educated that is such an example of a perfect way of starting your career?

I doubt he has much of an education by what I have seen in his posts.

and so was the CIBC which was founded by one of the greatest business men to come out of nova scotia and Halifax Samuel Cunard. The unfortuate thing is Halifax has lost the zeal to build a entrepreneur class and no wonder. Why would anyone start a business to grow beyond halifax when we all know it is the center of the universe LOL. Then there is the abundance of government jobs. Why would anyone take a risk in halifax when it is handed to you or you believe it should be handed to you from ottawa LOL.

The other day . port hawkesbury transplanted businessman Russ Brannon sold his music store empire to long and macquade of Toronto. Russes musicstop did very well expanding across the region. It seems businesses stop after 30 years not being handed over to local control. The exspection I know of in halifax to that rule is cleves and that is the only exception . Sobeys they are into the fourth generation and they continue to grow.

jim jones wins !!!!!!!!What has come out of rural Nova Scotia recently?

once again the East Coast Government shows why the West coast is growing .

Halifax won the right to be Canada's bid city under questionable circumstances, so it only seems appropriate that they abandoned it in a similar fashion. Hopefully, this experience won't tarnish CWG's overall opinion on Canada and adversely affect future bid cities.

once again the East Coast Government shows why the West coast is growing .By showing fiscal responsibility?

Halifax won the right to be Canada's bid city under questionable circumstances, so it only seems appropriate that they abandoned it in a similar fashion. Hopefully, this experience won't tarnish CWG's overall opinion on Canada and adversely affect future bid cities.Could Hamilton afford the 1.3 billion price tag(1.7 including inflation)? I doubt it.

Could Hamilton afford the 1.3 billion price tag(1.7 including inflation)? I doubt it.

They certainly can. Hamilton for one thing is a more populated and wealthier city than Halifax. It also has the backbone of a strong, wealth, and powerful Ontario provincial government, a province of over 13 million. And it has more federal influence than Halifax.

^Hamilton's mayor admitted that they could not afford the games at the price of 1.7 billion. Who knows how much Hamilton total cost would work out to be(they have more infrastructure to work with). More populated, surely. Wealthy, debatable, more provincial money to draw on, probably, federal influence - certainly(it is vote rich Ontario after all)

edit: I really like Hamilton and I think they should certainly try for the 2018 or even better 2030 games.

^Hamilton's mayor admitted that they could not afford the games at the price of 1.7 billion. Who knows how much Hamilton total cost would work out to be(they have more infrastructure to work with). More populated, surely. Wealthy, debatable, more provincial money to draw on, probably, federal influence - certainly(it is vote rich Ontario after all)

edit: I really like Hamilton and I think they should certainly try for the 2018 or even better 2030 games.

I'm not sure Hamilton could afford 1.7 billion dollars eitheir...it really is a down and out city. They would have more federal influence and that may be the big advantage because in the end it was Ottawa who killed the Halifax bid which really makes me mad.

Under Hamilton's 2010 bid it was requesting $250 from the feds and $250 from the province, entire budget $750 million. Under Hamilton 2014 bid it was requesting $290 million from the feds and $290 from the province, entire budget $850 million.

The difference between Hamilton and Halifax is that Hamilton does have infrastructure, example Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton Place, 18,000 arena, etc. Hamilton went into the 2010 bid with $750 million not $1.7 billion. That's because of these venues it helps Hamilton to keep the cost down. According to the news $500 million would be needed just to upgrade Halifax's infrastructure.

Wish I had pictures of construction of a new small stadium and sports complex that's currently taking place in Hamilton. Hamilton continues to grow it's infrastructure.

This is the reason why Hamilton beat Halifax in the 2010 domestic bid. Halifax beat Hamilton in the 2014 domestic bid under questionable situation and now the Commonwealth officials realize the problem. But the problem is they realized the problem too late to allow another Canadian city to pick up for the 2014 Games.

Under Hamilton's 2010 bid it was requesting $250 from the feds and $250 from the province, entire budget $750 million. Under Hamilton 2014 bid it was requesting $290 million from the feds and $290 from the province, entire budget $850 million.

The difference between Hamilton and Halifax is that Hamilton does have infrastructure, example Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton Place, 18,000 arena, etc. Hamilton went into the 2010 bid with $750 million not $1.7 billion. That's because of these venues it helps Hamilton to keep the cost down. According to the news $500 million would be needed just to upgrade Halifax's infrastructure.

Wish I had pictures of construction of a new small stadium and sports complex that's currently taking place in Hamilton. Hamilton continues to grow it's infrastructure.

This is the reason why Hamilton beat Halifax in the 2010 domestic bid. Halifax beat Hamilton in the 2014 domestic bid under questionable situation and now the Commonwealth officials realize the problem. But the problem is they realized the problem too late to allow another Canadian city to pick up for the 2014 Games.

It may have been 750 million back then but can almost bet it would be over a billion today material and labour costs have are going up dramatically.

I really don't believe Halifax won under questionable circumstances. Halifax has built up a reputation as a very successful events city and Hamilton had their chance last time. When it comes it infra structure you say we shouldn't get because we don't have the infra structure but how do you get the infra structure without hosting a games like this...I find that so annoying.

It may have been 750 million back then but can almost bet it would be over a billion today material and labour costs have are going up dramatically.

Yea that's why under Hamilton's 2014 bid it increased to $100 million based on inflation compared to it's 2010 bid. Hamilton needs to build a stadium and an aqautic centre, the rest needs to be upgraded.

If you want to build up Halifax's infrastructure do what every other city in North America did....spend money. You think a sporting event paid for Hamilton's Copps Coliseum or Hamilton Convention? Toronto didn't build Skydome for an Olympic, BC Place wasn't built for a winter Olympic, roads and highways weren't built for cycling championships, harbours weren't made for rowing events.

Eric Savard, the bid director for the 2014 domestic bid helped draft a 2003 report recommending a world class event be given to the Maritimes in the next decade to "achieve a better regional balance of sport infrastructure and legacy."

Another member of the working group that made the recommendation was Fred MacGillivray, a Halifax businessman who chaired Halifax bid.

I find it highly questionable to have a person drafting a report to encourage sporting events to be held in the Maritimes to be the bid director for the 2014 domestic bid.

Yea that's why under Hamilton's 2014 bid it increased to $100 million based on inflation compared to it's 2010 bid. Hamilton needs to build a stadium and an aqautic centre, the rest needs to be upgraded.

If you want to build up Halifax's infrastructure do what every other city in North America did....spend money. You think a sporting event paid for Hamilton's Copps Coliseum or Hamilton Convention? Toronto didn't build Skydome for an Olympic, BC Place wasn't built for a winter Olympic, roads and highways weren't built for cycling championships, harbours weren't made for rowing events.

Eric Savard, the bid director for the 2014 domestic bid helped draft a 2003 report recommending a world class event be given to the Maritimes in the next decade to "achieve a better regional balance of sport infrastructure and legacy."

Another member of the working group that made the recommendation was Fred MacGillivray, a Halifax businessman who chaired Halifax bid.

I find it highly questionable to have a person drafting a report to encourage sporting events to be held in the Maritimes to be the bid director for the 2014 domestic bid.

You mention Copps Coliseum or Hamilton Convention well we have the Metro Centre and the World Trade and covention centre...what we need is a stadium and that won't get built without a reason. They won't just build a stadium just to have a stadium.

You mention Copps Coliseum or Hamilton Convention well we have the Metro Centre and the World Trade and covention centre...what we need is a stadium and that won't get built without a reason. They won't just build a stadium just to have a stadium.

Also and extra 100 million would be seriously under budgeting I would think. I would almost sure it would be at least 1 billion when it was all said and done.

So essentially you’re telling me it cost $1.7 billion to build a stadium and an aquatic centre?

So essentially you’re telling me it cost $1.7 billion to build a stadium and an aquatic centre?


Well were not building an arena and a convention centre for the Commonwealth games. There's more than a stadium and an aquatic centre to build..there's also an athletes village..Velodrome plus a lot of other things such as improvements transportation improvements renovation of existing facilities etc.

Eric Savard, the bid director for the 2014 domestic bid helped draft a 2003 report recommending a world class event be given to the Maritimes in the next decade to "achieve a better regional balance of sport infrastructure and legacy."

Another member of the working group that made the recommendation was Fred MacGillivray, a Halifax businessman who chaired Halifax bid.

I find it highly questionable to have a person drafting a report to encourage sporting events to be held in the Maritimes to be the bid director for the 2014 domestic bid.

First of all, Fred isn't a "businessman". He runs the Metro Center and WTCC, losing $2 million every year in the process. He has been beating the drum for a new Metro Center for years. It is an ego thing for him as much as anything. And you're right, it is a highly questionable thing, a conflict of interest really. But Fred gets away with murder here.

operation expenses were over 600 million dollars for 10 days . the metro centre was 12.5 million to build in 1978. So you are looking at 4 metro centres a day for ten days of operation expenses.

Yes that is a great way to get a stadium .

jim jones wins!!!!!

no , by not taking a chance on something that could be great . Just like almost anything big that is proposed to be built there , the majority of people shit on it .

no , by not taking a chance on something that could be great . Just like almost anything big that is proposed to be built there , the majority of people shit on it .

Look the shortfall between tv revenue and cost was 16 million , the operating expenses were 60 million a day. Nice to say HEY Take a chance on something that is clearly with out merit financial.

WHo cares about amatuer athletic development in nova scotia . Anyone worth anything in this county for summer sports goes to the united states to train that that is a cold hard fact. If you are good enough get the best training and the best education in an NCAA university. Perhaps after you finish you bring the knowledge back to nova scotia and clean up this path of Kenyensian economics that has been a huge failure for the province of nova scotia and its people.

JIM JONES WINS!!!!!!!!!

why did Halifax even try to put a bid in if they knew the economics from the get go and they new it was to much?

why did Halifax even try to put a bid in if they knew the economics from the get go and they new it was to much?The Bid committee sold it as a $500 million event. Then it was raised to 750 million.

why did Halifax even try to put a bid in if they knew the economics from the get go and they new it was to much?

Why do people make judgements when they clearly aren't aware of the details of what happened?

As already mentioned, the costs skyrocketed after the original budget was established. You can blame whoever you want but the fact is that the bid that was killed was simply not affordable. And even if $1.7B were affordable, the games wouldn't be worth that much.

Putting on a $1.7B event for a stadium is like running out and buying a case of beer so you can have the little coaster thing. It makes no sense.

Unfortunately I think the whole sporting event world is crooked and out to lunch. It's all horribly overvalued, corrupt, and a huge waste of money. The whole industry lives off of clueless governments.

Why do people make judgements when they clearly aren't aware of the details of what happened?

As already mentioned, the costs skyrocketed after the original budget was established. You can blame whoever you want but the fact is that the bid that was killed was simply not affordable. And even if $1.7B were affordable, the games wouldn't be worth that much.

Putting on a $1.7B event for a stadium is like running out and buying a case of beer so you can have the little coaster thing. It makes no sense.

Unfortunately I think the whole sporting event world is crooked and out to lunch. It's all horribly overvalued, corrupt, and a huge waste of money. The whole industry lives off of clueless governments.


And it is Bruce Devenne and I who were keeping the Nova Scotia economy back by opposing the games very vocally. Yes I will not get into the game of I told you so about the statement you have just made. But I will add sports festivals are basically a way that Europeans rape treasuries of governments stupid enough to let it happen . I dont think it was totally as cut and dry as an inflating budget from 500 million to 1.7 billion. These people certainly knew where past games ended up and to put out a 500 million dollar figure in august of 2005 was totally stupid.

It is this attitude that a games made for halifax budget was possible. That is impossible with glasgow and abuja in the mix with the set of venues those cities have. Abuja especially being a city with an olympic standard of facilities representing Africa for this bid.

I would be very pissed if I was an africa president of a olympic committee and Abuja was turned down for a half hearted attempt at hosting the games in Halifax.

JIM JONES WINS !!!!!!!!!

Just a few questions
1. Why did Halifax not opt for using mostly temporary venues, this would have reduced costs immensely.
2. What was the latest venue plan before the bid was axed. Were there any major changes to the Shannon park plans or any other venues?
3. Were the venue costs ever released?

1. It's hard to say, but it would be difficult to build a "temporary 45,000-seat stadium" for example. A lot of the facilities were renovations of existing facilities or things that the city didn't have in the first place

2. This was a bit of a grey area because the bid committee had just announced that not everything would be able to fit within Shannon Park. Likely they would have moved the athletes' village down the road and there were also events planned for Citadel Hill and the Forum

3. No idea, I'd like to see them though. I really hope that we'll still be able to build a stadium without too much delay

1. It's hard to say, but it would be difficult to build a "temporary 45,000-seat stadium" for example. A lot of the facilities were renovations of existing facilities or things that the city didn't have in the first place

2. This was a bit of a grey area because the bid committee had just announced that not everything would be able to fit within Shannon Park. Likely they would have moved the athletes' village down the road and there were also events planned for Citadel Hill and the Forum

3. No idea, I'd like to see them though. I really hope that we'll still be able to build a stadium without too much delay

I definitely think Shannon Park is large enough, had a look at it again on google earth and its more than adequate.

As for the stadium...a 20,000 seat permanent stadium and 25,000 seat temporary addition would have worked fine, its my opinion that halifax cause more good than harm by dropping out, they were never going to win but to produce an excellent venue plan at a good cost is not rocket science, halifax had a lot to gain simply by bidding until the end.

theres plenty of space...

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2a-3.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/31-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/3ab.jpg

Nice Rendering MO , Do you do it for a living????

Jim Jones Wins !!!!!!!

1. It's hard to say, but it would be difficult to build a "temporary 45,000-seat stadium" for example. A lot of the facilities were renovations of existing facilities or things that the city didn't have in the first place

2. This was a bit of a grey area because the bid committee had just announced that not everything would be able to fit within Shannon Park. Likely they would have moved the athletes' village down the road and there were also events planned for Citadel Hill and the Forum

3. No idea, I'd like to see them though. I really hope that we'll still be able to build a stadium without too much delay


The committee was looking at purchasing an existing privately held housing development that was the Wallis Heights district I believe. With 20 percent of the Shannon Park Site being Shale rock you are looking at an unsuitable base to build on without huge expense it engineering can work with that rock.

Between 20 percent of the land being unsuitable and having to purchase privately held land you are probably looking at private home owners holding out for a huge pay back . 200 million between those two factors is not out of reason before you start to build.

They might as well start with greenfield site between the airport and the city.
That is actually what Abuja did for their National Stadium Complex and other places are doing for stadium /sports park development.

Jim Jones Wins !!!!!!!

Nice Rendering MO , Do you do it for a living????

Jim Jones Wins !!!!!!!

haha funny. u know i dont do it for a living, there are professionals out there..i just do them for fun.

I hate to bring up old stuff, but IMO if halifax wanted to stage a reasonably low cost games it was always going to be possible,while there are /were many limitations and constraints, i dont think the problem was with the cost, but with those running the bid who IMO simply did not have the brain capacity to produce something credilbe whether it be a venue plan that would work and world work well, or a financial model predicting the impact on the city.I certainly hope that the halifax bid was not dropped simply because it was run by incompetents or inexperienced leaders/executives.

So you thought it was over . . .
Commonwealth Games boosters trying to resuscitate Halifax bid
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
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A group of local business people wants to breathe life into Halifax’s abandoned bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

But jump-starting the process, which the province and city brought to a halt on March 8 because of costs pegged at $1.7 billion, might prove difficult, says the city’s deputy mayor.

"I think it will be really tough," Sue Uteck (Northwest Arm-South End) said Thursday.

One of the people on the sidelines of the resuscitation attempt said Thursday that even making a comment about the plan could jeopardize their chances.

But the group was buoyed by information divulged at a media briefing Monday as well as the conceptual drawings that featured the makeovers to several local venues, the source said.

The numbers released Monday put the cost of the Games more in the range of $1.1 billion, the source said, so the group contacted politicians to see if any of them would be local cheerleaders.

"They want a group of councillors to come out publicly and say, ‘Hang on a second, we want this,’ " Ms. Uteck explained.

She said Thursday she believes Ottawa’s $400-million contribution to the Games is still on the table, but the feds need the effort to be initiated here in Nova Scotia.

There’s still the issue of a $425-million funding gap between what "we can afford and what we need," Ms. Uteck said.

"But we have until the May 9 deadline," she said, referring to the date when competing cities need to have bid information turned in to the Commonwealth Games’ London office.

She noted there has been considerable information released to the public for the first time this week, from bid CEO Scott Logan’s statement that almost $500 million had been cut from the bid before the province pulled the plug, to testimony before the public accounts committee at Province House on Wednesday.

Councillors also received key information they didn’t have when the decision to abandon the bid was made three weeks ago. A bundle that included a cost-benefit analysis of the Games was distributed Wednesday to every councillor at city hall.

"All of us knew there were risks going in . . . but the biggest risk that we had were the retiring construction workforce," Ms. Uteck said. "It’s stunning to read that."

Given the previous dearth of information, she said she wonders what the deal-breaker was that prompted the province to pull out of the Games process.

"We had one sheet of paper," she said of council’s closed-door session to discuss the pullout.

Premier Rodney MacDonald said this week that the $1.7-billion budget upon which the province and Halifax Regional Municipality based the decision to withdraw from the process took into account inflation over the next seven years.

Mayor Peter Kelly said that cutting the budget in the 11th hour would not produce reliable numbers.

"There is no way possible that you can cram 10 months of hard work and due diligence into a 10-day process," he said in an interview this week.

Even for Coun. Bob Harvey (Lower Sackville), a Games supporter who tried on March 8 to persuade council to give the committee two weeks to get its costs down, the reports are coming in a little too late.

"I said to someone in the office yesterday when the (cost analysis) came in that we should write DOA on it and hang a tag off its toe because there was no point in giving it to me now," he said Thursday.

Coun. Sheila Fougere (Connaught-Quinpool) said when she heard this week that there was support growing to restart the bid process, she wanted more information about how it would come together.

"This is an idea I don’t see having been fleshed out to any great extent and I want some meat on the bones before I give serious thought to that."

Trying to resurrect the bid would be "a huge thing," she said.

"It has international implications and I think that is something to be aware of."

The communications director of Halifax 2014 said the committee is not contemplating another kick at the can.

"We certainly appreciate the passion and the intent because certainly we know that there has been a lot of community support and disappointment over the decision," Deborah Hashey said Thursday.

"But it’s been a real emotional roller-coaster over here for us and we’re very much focused on our task right now, which is the direction we’ve been given by our board of directors, to wind up the society."

Should the board give committee members different direction, they would look at it then, she said.

"But anything else at this point is hypothetical for us and not something that we’re going to speculate on."

A spokesman for Commonwealth Games Canada could not be reached for comment about the group’s interest in reviving the Halifax bid.

It would be great if they could get it off the ground, especially if it is private money/investment.

Given that there was minimal tangible support (i.e. $$$) from the local business community for the original bid I wish them luck. Not a chance that will happen.