I support *some* public funds into an arena...or any other big project. But yes, Melynk has to be out of the picture, and whoever owns the arena has to provide some means of letting the city get a cut of revenues. How they can do that is up to both parties, whether it's a number of dates in the year where the city can host an event (say, a concert, or convention or in Ottawa's case, some diplomatic or commercial event) and get the revenue from it, or a percentage of concessions/parking fees or whatever. Plus a handful of days per year devoted to public/non-profit use (high school/university championship games, perhaps a summer camp or two, several public skates, etc).
I do not support any owner getting an arena for free, or nearly free, or paying next to nothing in property taxes. Yes, big projects to require public money...but not funding the biggest chunk of the project. Not for billionaire owners and businesses. This isn't a tiny mom & pop operation where a gratis section for parking is beyond the means of a typical shopkeep owner.