Clock Proves Time is Money

Monday, January 29, 2007 04:01 AM

Time is money.

That old saying is proving to be very true when it comes to the new multi featured centre ice clock that has yet to be installed in the CN Centre.

The total project cost has risen from $850,000 to $1,000,000.

It has been funded by $330,000 2010 Live-sites grant, $520,000 in an interest free repayable loan from Northern Development Initiatives Trust, and $150,000 approved by Prince George City Council (Dec. 18/06) from the capital expenditure reserve.

There is a possibility the new score clock with slow motion, instant replay and special televised features ( including commercial messages) could be in place in CN Centre by the end of the month.

Leisure Services Manager Tom Madden says there isn’t a very big window of opportunity to get it installed as the work has to be done between events and hockey games. Right now it looks as if it might be possible to have it put in place during the block of February 11^th to 23^rd.

That means it is possible it could be in place in time for the extra period hockey game on the 27^th making that night extra special.

But don’t hold your breath.

“We are still waiting for a couple of key pieces of equipment to arrive” says Madden.

It will take some time to remove the existing score-clock, and although the City is trying to work out an operations agreement with the local television station, Madden would like to have some time to train City staff on how to operate the equipment. He says it could take about a year before all the operational details “unfold” but says he could see where, eventually, there will be program formats to follow, “For hockey games, there will be a pattern to the program, but for other events like the rodeo, it will be different.”

The new “clock / slow-motion/ instant replay/ messaging board” will be a real plus for attracting other events “Consider it an added value to holding an event or concert at CN Centre” says the head of Leisure Services.

What about the old score clock? Madden says it may be used in some other facility, or it may be sold to some other community.

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Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Gofaster on January 29 2007 5:49 AM

Slow motion and instant replay..

oh goodie.... slow motion, instant repays on all the fights..... they get to go on forever now!

Maybe the city will get smart, though I doubt it, and cancel the clock.... you can buy a stop watch for about $15.... and a quartz clock at JYSK for &7.99

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 29 2007 9:08 AM

Piss more money away....

Posted by: lunarguy on January 29 2007 9:44 AM

Is this another example of poor planning at city hall ? The price has gone beyond any benefits of the new clock system ! All so we can watch some Olympic events at the CN Centre. Why on earth would anyone do that when you can watch them at home in a lot more comfort and a better screen.

Posted by: bohemian on January 29 2007 9:55 AM

"There is a possibility the new score clock with slow motion, instant replay and special televised features"

The cost of installing the necessary wiring and production facilities to accomplish this has not been raised, nor has the ongoing opperational cost of camera persons, directors etc. More money will be needed, just wait.

It's time to cancel this useless project and use the money more productively. How about towards the aquisition of land and design fees for a downtown performing arts centre?

Or fix the roads, or lower taxes. But don't throw it away.

Once again, when you spend $1,000,000 on something you don't need to receive $330,000 off the price, you are not saving money. How come government bureaucrats and elected officials don't understand basic household finance?

Posted by: owl on January 29 2007 11:34 AM

Right on bohemina ....

there is a 30% off sale at the corner big box store ... let's go save some money on electronic junk we don't need and make the Asians happier for selling us idiotic electronic.

Guess what, if you want to watch TV, watch at home or at the local pub. If you want to watch live hockey, then watch live hockey and participate with the crowd. Take your choice .... or raise the ticket price for the added "entertainment" and loose a few more customers.

Me too!! Me too!!! Me too!!!

It is the me generation after all.

On another bit of a side note, it seems we have found some of the money to lower that 4% budget request for roads. Capital in the first year (which was likely going to be borrowed, knowing City Hall and their borrowing ways which are starting to become clearer and clearer to me) plus the addtional operating costs that bohemina was talking about on an ongoing basis.

Posted by: owl on January 29 2007 11:36 AM

well ... sometimes a transposed letter through quick typing does not really matter that much these days ... but "bohemina" is kind of cute ...

;-)

Posted by: kimbo on January 29 2007 11:36 AM

I'll say they don't understand basic finance. One million bucks is 41% of the 4% levy that they are talking about.

Cheers

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 29 2007 11:43 AM

We said no to the levy, so they are instead installing a $1M TV screen that everyone can see from the balcony of their home. That way we don't have to drive the busted roads to watch the Cougars game. See, it all makes sense now ???

Posted by: owl on January 29 2007 11:44 AM

"The total project cost has risen from $850,000 to $1,000,000."

I guess the purchasing department has not heard of a fixed price tender. What happened. Why was there none? If there was, who caused the delay to result in an increase price from the installing/supplying contractor? In other words, tell us why the price went up, not only that it went up, and how you are going to prevent such a thing from happening again.

Pretend it is your money, not ours.

Posted by: Free Enterprise on January 29 2007 1:02 PM

Forget non income producing ventures by our city! Our city councel approved to contribute $150,000? We have roads to think of.

Posted by: Harbinger on January 29 2007 1:54 PM

I can only hope if the city buys that stupid centre ice clock, they drive the truck holding it down Abhu street and it falls off the back of the truck. Then they might take note of other priorities. Unaccountable ninnies!!! All of them!

Posted by: owl on January 29 2007 4:30 PM

$330,000 bribe from the province which comes from our provincial tax dollars

$520,000 in an interst free loan form the NDI which has to be repaid and cannot be used by a bone fide money making enterprise until it is paid back

$150,000 from local tax payers

So, a total of $1million, all from taxpayers.

Questions:
1. where is the money coming form to pay back the $520,000 from NDI. I hope they are not planning or counitng on that becoming a forgivable loan.

2. Do we at least have a business plan somewhere which shows how the money from the taxpayers is going to be repaid by increased takes at the gate - you know, take a page from the airport, charge a Mulitplex Improvement Fee of 10% on each ticket sold at hockey games and other venues.

3. Is there a move afoot to bribe Canfor or some other organization with some $ to call it the Canfor clock in the CN Place? Or how about the Safe-on-Foods clock? After all, they did name the new Memorial Arena in Victoria after the store.

Posted by: owl on January 29 2007 4:45 PM

I just noticed that the SOFMC was developed and is operated by RG Properties Ltd. They seem to have some enterprise in PG according to the City of Victoria web site. Does anyone know what that is?

I would think someone would be looking into the possibility of someone like RG becoming involved in the Multiplex since they are developed and manage places in other cities in BC.

http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_multipurpose_archives_rgproperties.shtml