Pay Per View, Now Pay Or Sue

Friday, June 24, 2005 03:50 AM

No one at City Hall seems to know if we are on the hook for a million dollars (or more) for cancelling the Hockey Enforcer's fight, but if we ARE on the hook for that kind of cash, why did we go ahead and cancel the event?

Before the public got to listen to the questions from the Councilors at Wednesday's special meeting there was an hour long, “In Camera Affair”. Now the city solicitor was on hand, what did he have to say? Did he say we don’t have to pay the Brandon Guy a single cent? If he did, then we made the right move given the national publicity we were receiving. On the other hand, did he say, folks we could be in for a bundle on this one, because if he did, why in the world would we not let the event go ahead?

One million bucks of the taxpayers money is not going to win back all of the bad publicity that we have received. If you think that main stream media in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are now going to write a piece saying , what nice people we are for dumping the Hockey Enforcers event, think again. We have been tarred and feathered already.

There also remain a few other unanswered questions which will no doubt have to be answered via the freedom of information route.
Who booked this event? Given the fact it had been turned down in many others cities (including Las Vegas), why wasn’t someone forewarned? If they were, who was that person?

The Athletic Commission certainly knew its role. It was seeking assurances that the fighters would be properly decked out in order to, (a) withstand a serious blow to the head, and (b) a fall to the ice. They had asked (and were about to receive) a set of the gloves that the combatants would be wearing. They also wanted proper head gear in case of a fall. The promoter failed to notify those folks hungry for a "hockey" fight about the the safety measures. His web site says "These guys will just drop the gloves and get at it." Well not quite. So the actual event may not meet the expectation, in fact, it doesn't sound very "exciting" at all.

So today we sit and ponder how in the world we ever got into this mess.

I for one say if its looking like the city will drop a million to keep them out of the CN Center, let them go ahead. I don’t want my taxes increased because of someone’s silly mistake.

That, is one man's opinion.
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Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 03:50 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: gypsy on June 24 2005 8:49 AM

Jeez, Ben, right on, time to throw in the towel and let the blood flow!!! This City surely does not need a law suit that hits the pockets of the taxpayers with a wallop!!! The City throws us enough punches with increased costs, so we better let those goons come to town- and just take the fall with as much aplomb as we can muster as we go down for the count.
Not too hard to figure out how we got into this mess, but we better wear our black eyes and turn the other cheek this time. The residents of this city do not deserve the price that could befall them by cancelling this "strange" event. Time to pick up our tents and steal away into the twilight. Time to admit defeat, and give our blessings to the people buying those tickets and getting us "off the hook" at a potential tax hike we all can ill afford. It's a rocky road right now, but gettin' those "pot holes" filled for the right folk should maybe take priority???
Now that the boys at City Hall arranging these events have their own way-who knows what type of notoriety we can expect next round!!! Cheers

Posted by: gypsy on June 24 2005 2:06 PM

Jeez-yep we are making the B C T V news. Squire says he would not pay to go to such an event!!!!! Nor would the newscaster. See, we will get some claim to fame over this stupidity yet!!! I thought I saw $20.00 as a price on tickets held up on T. V. Now that's a pretty reasonable price to see violence in its finest form. Quite a few of your readers are going to be filled with joy at the prospect of attending, as they made it obvious they approve of the sport, if that is a description of it. Might even see somebody gettin' an ear bit off-thrill, thrill!!! Hope they enjoy. Not my cup of tea!!Cheers!!

Posted by: Janked on June 24 2005 5:08 PM

Gypsy..I have been watching your comment for a while now and it is becoming apparent that you are a complete idiot that likes to hear themselves blather on. Two comments in a row....must of come up with a new brain wave to drudge on with. Give it a rest...your cheers is a condesending and lame. Get facts and have a stance...sarcasim only cuts it so far.

Posted by: snappi on June 24 2005 9:39 PM

I'm with you Janked....its getting a bit old.

Posted by: rock on June 27 2005 10:23 AM

Janked and Snappi,
I'm with you guys on this one.Gypsy I'm sorry to say that the "Hockey Gadiator's"will go ahead.Tonight at council they get to vote again and now that there is a threat of a legal problem and that the taxpayers are going to be on the hook for what looks to be a nice chunk of change, we are all going to see who has both backbone and brains.So now all the peace lovers can get together at the art gallery and have some tea and crumpets and a good long cry.Gypsy just so you know,I am not a proponent to this goon show,but I am a proponent to free enterprise and capitalism.As a tax payer we need to be generating as much revenue as we can from this building(CN center)As long as whoever is renting the building is not breaking the law,what should we care?
ROCK keeping it real 24/7