It’s official. Vic Toews has lost his mind.
I have to say, I admired Vic for sticking to his guns throughout the last year and refusing to bow to David Asper’s pleas for stadium funding. My confidence in him took a major hit when he kicked in $1.5 million for the ridiculous Upper Fort Garry park plan, and today it’s gone completely.
How he could oppose a new stadium project at Polo Park — which is without question the best location for something like this — but support it if it goes downtown or in Point Douglas is beyond my comprehension.
Yeah, that’s just what downtown needs, a giant stadium that sits empty 95% of the time. Brilliant planning there. The only way this could become worse is if they decide to put a roof on the thing and combine it with the Convention Centre’s ludicrous expansion plan. Some $300 million of wasteful expenditures later, my head might actually explode.
On the other hand, I’m nearly certain that Rob Galston’s head will explode if they try to put a flippin’ football stadium in Point Douglas. I eagerly await his response to this news on The Rise and Sprawl. [UPDATE: here it is.]
Of course there’s still one other location that could be on the table: Leo Ledohowski’s field of dreams in St. Boniface. While Leo and Asper were touting competing proposals for new stadia, we know that Leo is tight with Vic. Could the lure of big federal bucks have everyone singing in peace and harmony?
At any rate, my slight pessimism regarding this project is rapidly evolving into full-blown opposition. God only knows what will come in the next confounding episode of As The Football Spirals.
P.S. — I was happy to see the team win last night, even if it was just an exhibition. Dinwiddie seems to be coming along nicely, and we haven’t had a good quarterback controversy in a few years, so let me be the first to say, “let the kid play!”
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: asper stadium
“This proposal is *substantially different* than the original proposal”. Hmmmm. Are we just talkin’ location here, or is Asper ponying up more cash? It pisses me off when these guys talk in riddles, but I guess they can’t say anything while negotiations are still going on.
… that is, unless they want PUBLIC INPUT into the deal.
But why should the public have a say when they are only paying for 67% of it?
P.S. it’s a damn shame that Dinwiddie didn’t get more reps last year before being called into action. I would like to see him get at least one start this year.
Vic needs a kick
Besides being a really dumb idea
In terms of traffic – I have a tough enough time going down Higgins and turning on to Main as it is most days or worse going either way on the intersection just off the Louise bridge.
In terms of complexity, I am sure Al Dueck at Duxton Windows, just like other property owners in the area who now know better, will have enough lawyers to guarantee an expropriation of his factory leaves him rich enough to stop running it
But in terms of pure engineering insanity, one of the buildings the proposed stadium will replace, (the large one you see on the right when going east on the just before the curve) has already been condemned for falling into the river