[esquire]

Good for Calgary. The cold hard truth is that it doesn't need to dump millions into a private real estate development dressed up as an arena and downtown revitalization initiative. Only an idiot would cave in to the NHL's demands when it's clear that Calgary doesn't actually have to.

That said, it's pretty likely that this will be Nenshi's last term. So really, the Flames just have to ride out the next 4 years and they will have a much better chance next time out of manipulating the process to install a stooge more favourable toward dispensing huge dollops of unnecessary corporate welfare promoting a pro-arena candidate.