Nenshi was grandstanding before the Flames ever proposed Calgary Next, don't kid yourself dude, it's been both sides acting like petulant children
Nooooooo, that's not how the sequence of events went. CSEC made cryptic remarks about a "grand vision", and it was DOA when they presented it in 2015.
Later it came out that Nenshi's team suspected all along that they'd suggest building on the Canada Creosote lands, which they rightly predicted would not stand up to an actual sound financial analysis. The City (not the mayor and his staff) did the analysis, and told them in no uncertain terms that CalgaryNEXT was DOA and never happening.
Nenshi didn't start grandstanding until he presented his own analysis that building in Victoria Park was far and away the best solution, as long as who paid for what was sorted out, at the start of his re-election campaign.
Anyway, whatever you and I happen to believe, someone asked Nenshi about this idea that an agreement has to be negotiated in secret:
Nenshi finds Ken King’s public letter urging private arena negotiations 'fascinating'
“I did find it interesting that my colleague released a letter publicly that said, ‘we want no public disclosure on this,’ ” Nenshi told reporters during an unrelated announcement marking the five-year flood anniversary.
“The whole thing is kind of fascinating. But as I’ve said to members of that council committee — and I do sit on that committee but I’m not going to take a leadership role on it — fill your boots.
“If there is an opportunity to start a new discussion and have a new conversation, great. Let’s do it.”
[...]
Nenshi also said Wednesday that he believes Calgarians agree with him that any future arena deal involving public dollars “must have public benefit.”
The mayor added that he doesn’t want the city to entertain a return to the Flames’ CalgaryNEXT proposal at a site in the West Village — a plan the city suggested could cost double the Flames’ original estimate.
“It’s going to take a lot to convince me that there’s a location better than the location in Victoria Park. I’m happy to have the discussion, I’m not happy to re-litigate (the) $1.8-billion project in West Village.
“I’m happy to look at other ideas but, for me, that analysis has been done and Victoria Park is the best.”
LOL, I love it. Ken King wants to know why CSEC ought to come back to the table, but likewise Calgarians want to know why they ought to come back to that same table if CSEC isn't willing to compromise.