How amazingly stupid can the BC government be? The evidence is in once again, as they screw up what is an obvious no-brainer - $40 million from Telus to rename BC Place as Telus Park.
 |
| BC Place - lights on but nobody in BC government at home! |
And let's face it - it may be the only way to get a bit of "tax" revenue out of major corporations. The reality is that corporate naming of stadiums is here to stay around the world, like it or not, so take the money and spend it wisely on public services.
But no - the Christy Clark crowd managed to not only lose the $40 million but needlessly piss off one of BC's biggest private sector employers - just as Telus announces it will invest a massive $3 billion in BC in capital projects and create 1,300 new jobs!
Stunning incompetence. Stunning incompetents.
In fact, let's rename it "Field of Incompetents" - an appropriate title given this monumental mistake by the cabinet.
It's no wonder neither Christy Clark nor any cabinet minister was on hand for Telus' big investment announcement last week - and that NDP leader Adrian Dix was.
Telus CEO Darren Entwhistle already knew the BC Place deal was going sour despite years of negotiation and Telus spending millions on giant outdoor signs and other costs for the renaming, as Global TV's Jas Johal exclusively reported Wednesday night. The letters for the sign are each 17 feet high!
The deal appears to have died when the geniuses in the BC government let arch-rival Bell buy the right to call the playing field during Vancouver Whitecaps games "Bell Pitch" - and never thought that would be a problem for either company! Bell is a major Whitecaps sponsor.
And lastly - BC Liberal cheerleaders - get off the field!
"BC Place" is not an iconic name that people here are permanently attached to - it's as memorable as "generic beer".
The appropriately named cabinet minister Pat Bell - no relation to the company - was sent out to sell that piece of nonsense.
Now if you really want to rename it and honour our province, call it Terry Fox Place - that I will support in a heartbeat - but I seriously doubt this government will do that.
UPDATE - The deal was for $35 million in naming rights plus Telus would invest another $5 million in BC Place infrastructure.
The Globe and Mail reports that the Air Canada Centre in Toronto earns $1.5 million a year for naming rights and Montreal's Bell Centre- home of the Canadiens - gets $800,000.
BC had a good deal with Telus.
.
.
33 comments:
Guess that the under the table pay envelope didn't show up??
Bill I'm not surprised they managed to mangle this deal. Look at all the deals they've mangled since taking office in 2001. BC Rail, BC Ferries, IPP's, secret tolls, bridges we don't need, Run of River, support for Enbridge, and the list goes on and on. What a bunch of incopetents!
"...$563 million to put a retractable roof on BC Place..."
That number is more than a little optimistic; the real number is much higher.
"$40 million from Telus to rename BC Place as Telus Park"
This deal was allegedly for 20 years.
How long is the "Bell Pitch" for? And for how long?
Just another example of how this party in power has screwed the economy over the past 10years.
"best able to handle the economy" Ha.
Does anyone know how much the Province received for "Rogers Arena" ? Your information is appreciated.
Guy in Victoria
Sorry, I meant only to say... how much did Rogers pay for naming rights... It is owned by the Canucks and I knew that. Must be that I'm so PO'd with the government that I can't help to blame the Liberals for everything.
Guy in Victoria
Maybe they are going to name it" His Majesty in waiting, Gordo the great" Or Christy PR Queen. Heck 40 million to the BC Liberal big spenders is chump change, as they arn't paying for it, we are.
Well not so fast. $40 million over 20 years ($ 2 million per year) can easily be surpassed in other advertsing deals.
It's also laughable that the Corporate hating NDP is now lining up in defence of Telus, a monopolistic company that sells off phone services for profit to whomever you use for your Crackberry or Hemorroid.
The same NDP that wants to raise taxes on Corporate B.C. (which includes Telus).
Rogers Arena is not owned by the provincial government, it's owned by Orca Bay Sports a privately run sports company which also owns the Canucks. Rogers Area (ex: GM Place) was never part of PavCo.
It was a project originally started by the Griffiths family.
I suspect that Gordon Campbell made a promise to Bell, the Whitecaps and the NASL that was in conflict with the deal being negotiated with Telus and when that conflict came to light the losers became Telus and us as taxpayers. El Gordo strikes again!
Never forget that the Libs are really an alliance framework with former socreds. Kevin Falcon admits support for Harper's right wingers. All the talk about "green" politics falls on most Lib goofs. Lib MLAs are mostly former low level managers with heavy pull. None are self-made. They conmpensate for their lack of administrative skills, by executing peacock "authority" displays. Stop thinking of Christy as a noble opponent. She's a slug among slugs.
Boessenkool and Christy are selling the rest of BC's buildings and Real Estate off. The BCR was thieved and sold. Our rivers thieved and sold. Campbell's stupid billion dollars, stupid smart meters, we did not need, nor want. BC hydro ruined. Our BC mills shipped to China, along with our raw logs. China owns BC mines. China is bringing their own miners, for cheap labor costs.
The Campbell/Clark BC Liberals and Boessenkool, are leaving the next party, nothing to work with. They are even timing the HST payback, just in time for the next party as well. They will not leave the $40 million, for the next party either. Who knows how many billions of dollars, we are in debt for?
Then, we have Harper permitting China, to buy out the tar sands. They are bringing their own people, to work their vast tar sands projects, for the crap wages they pay their own people.
I remember Fadden, of CSIS warning of China's inroads into Canada. Seems our worst nightmares have come true. They own all the resources and have taken our jobs too.
Then, we have Harper permitting China, to buy out the tar sands. They are bringing their own people, to work their vast tar sands projects, for the crap wages they pay their own people.
I remember Fadden, of CSIS warning of China's inroads into Canada. Seems our worst nightmares have come true. They own all the resources and have taken our jobs too.
So this relates to the topic, how?
Its OK folks, no need to eat your hats over this.
Christy has it covered.
The $35 million was covered this week when the BC Liberals introduced the odious and illegal Bill 22 and forced the teachers to strike.
Each day of the strike saved the provincial treasury $11 million, and there is one more day of picket action expected next week for a total of $44 million saved.
At this rate Clark will have the books balanced by the end of the term and the mainstream press will have forgotten about the cost overruns on the BC Place roof renovation.
Vaughn Palmer has a highlights package.
Last spring, the Liberals had assured the legislature that even $20 million for the naming rights “would be a substantial amount of money.” Now, $35 million “did not provide the best value for taxpayers.”
Compared to what? one has to ask. But perfectly in keeping with their government’s stumbling, bumbling record on this file.
From all appearances, the cancellation of the agreement to rename BC Place as Telus Park is a costly blunder by Clark's government. - Editorial, The Vancouver Sun
---
B.C. Pavilion Corp. said Friday it will take legal action against the Vancouver Whitecaps and their sponsor Bell if they do not stop using the term “Bell Pitch” to refer to the soccer field at BC Place Stadium.
PavCo chairman David Podmore told The Vancouver Sun the Crown corporation never conferred any naming rights to either the Whitecaps or Bell when it agreed to a 15-year lease with the soccer club.
He said PavCo began been sending the club and its sponsor notices to “cease and desist” using the term Bell Pitch from the time the Whitecaps moved into BC Place Stadium last spring. - Jeff Lee, The Vancouver Sun
"The $35 million was covered this week when the BC Liberals introduced the odious and illegal Bill 22 and forced the teachers to strike."
Since when did Bill 22 "force" the teachers to strike? They struck on the basis of 55% of the entire membership (not a 100% turnout). Also why would the teachers receive a 15% wage increase when other public sector unions have not?
Bill if passed would set a mediation to end the strikes.
What would the NDP do? They legislated the teachers back to work.
I’d rename my kids for $2-million a year
As it stands, the refurbished BC Place Stadium with its new roof is in danger of becoming the Liberals’ Fast Ferries – a symbol of government ineptitude and incompetence.
For some people it’s already there.
For opponents of this government, the new roof has become the go-to answer in any discussion about how wisely the province spends our tax dollars.
Ask any teacher how, in these times of restraint, the province could come up with the money to increase wages or limit class sizes and the answer is invariably, “Well, they can afford a half-billion-dollar roof for a sports stadium.”
Stephen Quinn, Globe and Mail
$563 million and counting plus $40 million they fiscally prudently managed to kiss goodbye, = $603 million. And didn't think to ask if Vancouver City if the Casino would be passed, where was Kevin Krueger when we needed him most.?
Gerry Jones built the Dallas cowboys a new stadium for $1.3 billion.
I'm sure the outrage from the BC business concil, fraser institue, icba, B.C. chamber of commerce et. al. will be coming when the final accounting has been done.
563 million and counting plus $40 million they fiscally prudently managed to kiss goodbye, = $603 million. And didn't think to ask if Vancouver City if the Casino would be passed, where was Kevin Krueger when we needed him most.?
Yeah right. "we" don't like Liberals, do we??
"Gerry Jones built the Dallas cowboys a new stadium for $1.3 billion. "
Well good for him. Cowboys did not win the Super Bowl. People spend more time looking at the Cowboys Cheerleader's asses than the game itself. So $1.3 billion to watch
jiggle and wiggle.
"I'm sure the outrage from the BC business concil, fraser institue, icba, B.C. chamber of commerce et. al. will be coming when the final accounting has been done."
Sure. As if left wingers ever supported the Fraser Institute and the BC Chamber of Commerce.
I’m told the government tried to rescue the deal by suggesting the stadium could carry the Telus label, but only if they agreed to keep “B.C. Place” in the name.
But there was no way the corporation would go along with a name like “Telus B.C. Place.”
Why? Because Telus got burned once before on a similar deal.
In 2004, Telus paid $9 million in a naming-rights agreement with Science World, and the famous False Creek geodesic dome was officially renamed “Telus World of Science.”
Then guess what happened? Everybody kept calling the tourist attraction “Science World” anyway.
I’m told Telus insisted the words “B.C. Place” had to be completely erased in any stadium naming deal, otherwise people would keep calling it that.
Michael Smyth, The Province
Can't believe the Liberals rejected Telus's bid to buy the naming rights to B.C. Place.
The New Democrats, sure. They'd shun the money, then rebrand the stadium as the National Heroes of Labour Pleasure Centre No. 5, or something like that.
But the Liberals? Give them $300, they would let Red Hot Video slap its half-burned-out neon sign over the front doors of the legislature. Them spurning Telus is like Charlie Sheen saying "No, thanks, I'm driving." [...]
Maybe Telus, whose total B.C. Place sponsorship package would have hit $40 million, should bid to rename the Liberal party instead.
Jack Knox, The Victoria Times Colonist
Lib MLAs are mostly former low level managers with heavy pull.
None are self-made.
Bull and shit. Many are self-made.
and just how many NDPers are self-made? Shane Simpson? Gary Coons?
Harry Lali?
They conmpensate for their lack of administrative skills, by executing peacock "authority" displays.
amd where does that leave people like Raj Chouhan? Mable Elmore?
Spencer Herbert?
Stop thinking of Christy as a noble opponent. She's a slug among slugs.
We the citizens already know that. Why point out the obvious?
Let us know who the stars are within the NDP.
Talk about hypocrisy from blog contributors!
Many cried, moaned and wailed about the evil MSM, and their bias and yet here is someone posting something from the Globe and Mail which jokingly referred to itself as "Canada's National Newspaper".
Ever consider that the $2 milion in advertising can come from other sources, genius?
the support for Telus - a large Corporation of the kind the NDP wants to tax - is on the floor laughable from these blog contributors.
"Stop thinking of Christy as a noble opponent. She's a slug among slugs.
We the citizens already know that. Why point out the obvious?"
are you paying attention Christy - you are on your way out.
are you paying attention Christy - you are on your way out.
are you paying attention?
Blog contributors dislike the MSM alot but go ahead and reference them anyway.
Hypocrisy.
So what happens when the NDP does something you don't like?
Would you say "Adrian you are on your way out"? Not likely.
The NDP (and yes I am a member) supports Telus?
Lovely. The same company that tried to bust its union back in 2005 and shipped thousands of jobs overseas?
That Telus?
I understand it's political but frankly I am sickened by the cynicism of the issue. And the slap in the face to those Telus workers that lost their jobs.
"The NDP (and yes I am a member) supports Telus?"
Apparently they are on side with Telus on this issue (and don't figure the $2 million a year can be obtained from other advertisers). And don't forget Spencer did support the BC Place label.
"Lovely. The same company that tried to bust its union back in 2005 and shipped thousands of jobs overseas?That Telus?"
Yep, 'fraid so. And don't forget
the many non union jobs that Telus cleaned out. There were many. I know of 6 or 8 people alone who lost out on Telus.
"I understand it's political but frankly I am sickened by the cynicism of the issue. And the slap in the face to those Telus workers that lost their jobs."
Cynicism and hypocrisy are rampant in both the NDP and in Bill's blog.
Can't wait for the NDP to blame the Liberals for a mess they create themselves when they are in government with Adrian Dix as Premier.
Of course Bill's advertising agency would not be a part of any govermment advertising scheme either, since he's written much on the government tapayer paid for advertising antics of the BC Liberals.
Good to see some pro-Liberal spin here - nice to know they're still in this game!
But on the NDP and Telus - the NDP has made it clear how stupidly the government has been in dealing with BC's biggest private sector employer and one of Canada's leading companies.
They have not allied themselves with Telus or absolved its management of responsibility for past union grievances.
But Telus and the TWU have a negotiated contract and presumably the union and its members - along with BC voters - would like to see any company dealt with fairly by government - not screwed around.
The NDP have rightly pointed out that the BC Liberals have given away $40 million that taxpayers will have to pick up - and alienated a major corporation for no apparent good reason.
One would like to think any opposition would do the same.
Which friends and insiders of the Christy BC Clark Liberals, if any, are going to get the agency work for "branding" or "rebranding"? Pavco worked hard at this to get an upper spectrum compensation pakage and then had the "rug pulled out" at the highest political levels, which is most unbusinesslike and undercuts the government's faith in the management of Pavco.
"The NDP have rightly pointed out that the BC Liberals have given away $40 million that taxpayers will have to pick up - and alienated a major corporation for no apparent good reason."
Wasn't "given away", they figured rightly or wrongly, an alternative is out there.
"One would like to think any opposition would do the same."
Well sort of.
Interesting though.
Support Telus now through this, and later when the NDP becomes government, see them as one of those hated Corporations and tax the crap out of them as per the overall direction that many NDP suppporters want the government to do.
TWU or not.
We don't take money from our "rich" friends... we tax the "minions" for that, how else can we stay in power...hmmm.
Sickening...isn't it...
We don't take money from our "rich" friends... we tax the "minions" for that, how else can we stay in power...hmmm.
Sickening...isn't it...
Sure is, especially when the NDP hates Big Business such as Telus, wants to send Corporate taxes into the stratosphere and at the same time, gladly takes money from Big Labour such as the BC Fed of which the TWU is a member.
Indeed how else could the NDP return to power?
PDF: The full report on Telus as name sponsor for B.C. Place - August 4, 2010
Post a Comment