from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,

Calgary will get a new downtown arena.

The question is whether city hall will ask taxpayers to pay for a reasonable part of it now, or pay much more for it once the Calgary Flames leave.

That is the bottom line on what is at stake here.

World-class cities need a world-class venue to host hundreds of events annually, be it major sporting events, concerts, We Day or even monster truck jams.

Nobody likes threats, but the reality is if the Flames owners eventually feel a deal simply can’t be made with the city to replace the aging Saddledome, they will sell to an ownership group in either Seattle or Quebec City.

The Flames now-dormant offer of $275 million, unveiled Thursday via newspaper ads, would obviously disappear with the team.

What would remain is the need for a new arena and a ravenous desire to try luring an NHL franchise back immediately.

Want proof?

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