EDMONTON - Meetings in New York today to discuss Edmonton’s proposed downtown arena with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman ended with Oilers owner Daryl Katz scooting out a side door.
Mayor Stephen Mandel cancelled a planned news a conference in New York.
He said little when he talked to reporters in Edmonton.
“We had very productive meetings today, or productive meetings today. I don’t want to lead anyone along,” he said. He would not provide details until he meet Friday with city council.
“Obviously, my first duty is to the citizens of Edmonton, but at the same time, it’s unfair to my council colleagues not to be able to brief them on it, which we’re planning to do Friday morning,” he said.
“After that, I’d be glad to answer questions with the media. I think that’s the most apropos way to go forward.”
Mandel said Bettman “was a very big help and that all parties were very co-operative today.”
Mandel met with Bettman on Tuesday, and with Katz and Bettman Wednesday. Their meeting started at 10 a.m. and continued until shortly before 4 p.m.
Katz did not comment publicly, but his spokesman later emailed a comment from him.
“It was a productive day and we appreciate the efforts of all involved. We are not going to comment further pending the mayor’s update to city council,” Katz said in the email.
Bettman volunteered to act as a mediator between the Katz Group and the City of Edmonton. The Katz Group’s option on a land purchase for the possible downtown arena is set to expire on Oct. 31. Katz has indicated he would like a deal before then, but there are unresolved issues.
The city still needs a $100-million commitment from the province. The Katz Group has said it wants a non-compete agreement with Northlands before signing a deal.
Council is not expected to vote on the issue Friday because four councillors are not able to attend.
Several incoming Alberta cabinet ministers weighed in on the issue.
Premier Alison Redford has been firm about not injecting new cash into Edmonton’s arena plan, instead finding money through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative fund, which falls under incoming Municipal Affair Minister Doug Griffiths’ new portfolio.
Griffiths said his position on provincial funding for the arena hasn’t changed since he ran for the leadership: “When it comes to the province’s limited resources we need to focus on schools and hospitals.”
Griffiths said the arena issue will nonetheless be a topic of conversation for the caucus and cabinet.
“I’m aware of the deadline and the meetings and that. I’m not briefed on what’s come out of those meetings or the situation, but I’m sure I will be shortly,” Griffiths said.
Incoming Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk said he will also be the province’s “point person” for Edmonton-area issues, including the arena.
“I will want to see what the outcome of the meeting is, and I will want to see how our caucus, particularly the Edmonton caucus, feels about it, based on what they hear from our constituents, from Edmontonians,” he said.
“I will not prejudice the outcome of the meeting in New York, nor the decision of the government. But at the end of the day, yes, it is important to keep (the) Oilers in our city. We’re proud of them. Yes, there is room for a new arena.
“But there are other considerations that need to be taken into account, (like) the viability of Northlands, a great not-for-profit organization that has served us here in Edmonton for over a hundred years, and obviously the most important part being dollars. This government has many priorities, $107 million for education, and others. We will have to see where this particular expenditure fits on the list of priorities for Albertans, hence for this government.”
Asked where the arena fits on his own list of priorities, Lukaszuk said, “I have other priorities now, but it is not one person’s decision. It will be a decision made by Edmontonians. If Edmontonians feel that this is a top priority and they want their taxpayer dollars to be channelled to an arena, then I will make sure that it is done in a responsible fashion.”
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