Halifax kills Commonwealth Games bid, national organizer furious at decision

[Calvin W]

Originally Posted by Jonestowncultinpicto

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?

[HaliGuy]

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

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by Calvin W

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

[Calvin W]

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.

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by Calvin W

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

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by Calvin W

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

[Calvin W]

Originally Posted by Jonestowncultinpicto

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.

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by Calvin W

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.

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

[Calvin W]

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

[mr.x]

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.

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by mr.x

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

[Reddog794]

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
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.

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by Reddog794

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
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

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Reddog794

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
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.

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by mr.x

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

[skyscraper_1]

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

[HaliGuy]

Originally Posted by skyscraper_1

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.

[HaliGuy]

Originally Posted by Jonestowncultinpicto

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.

[Jonestowncultinpicto]

Originally Posted by HaliGuy

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