Oh goodie, now maybe they can put some other hockey games on the big screen while the cougars are having another losing season under mis-management. Good plan to distract the crowd from the crap on the ice.

All cynicism about Cougars management aside, this is a good thing.

I'm not sure how many people will pay to come to watch other events at the Multiplex when they could just as easily watch them at home, but maybe I'm wrong.

Isn't it funny we're buying a big screen to display replays, but CN Centre isn't wired for TV?

The upgrades for that project were not mentioned, nor the cost of the cameras, nor the cost of labour for running the cameras and the control room.

Also, how is it council voted down this expense in April, but with Kinsley's urging that it's a low interest loan, that it is a good deal. How is $520,000 PLUS INTEREST a better deal than $520,000? The logic escapes me. ($520,000 is the city's portion).

Also, what is the business case for this purchase? I'm not convinced we need it. Nor am I convinced it will add a lot of value. Tom Madden's arguement is lame. There's no reason we couldn't rent huge projection screens for special events like the Olypics at a miniscule fraction of the cost. We could even purchase that equipment, which is portable, and use it in other civic facilities such as the Civic Centre. It could be rented out to corporate clients (for conventions, etc.) to help in cost recovery.

Is the big screen supposed to sell more Cougars tickets? I suggest a winning team will do that (look at the early years) better than any replay device.

A much better use of this civic and legacy money would be to build an indoor soccer and sports centre (which can run at full cost recovery) or a downpayment on a much needed performing arts centre downtown.

I suspect the true value of the big screen is political. Perhaps it's part of sweetening the deal to ensure the Cougars sign a lease and stay in Prince George.

That at least makes sense; the other justifications don't.

Shawn Petriw

The "business case" as the previous poster mentioned is simple,there was no way in hell CN was signing the sponsorship deal unless there was a big screen.The sad part is that it took lil Colin and the rest of the councilors 10 years to figure it all out.As far as the cougars are concerned,it will take a little more than a big screen T.V. to make their on ice product worth watching,but hey what do we expect we are only in our 11th rebuilding year.
ROCK

Good comment, Rock.

Whatever the REAL reason for the expenditure, I wish they'd come out and say it and stand by it rather than feed us B.S.

Perhaps council and administration feel they are saving money by applying for $330,000 in grants. But buying something you don't need "on sale" is not saving money!

You can now add another 1.2% to next year's tax bill thanks to this poor plan.

Shawn Petriw