This is the third and final installment of Margin’s thoughts on the convention centre.
That should be the opening premise here: a convention center in Niagara will never make enough money itself to warrant a $100 million investment based on sound economic planning. Yet it is being sold to the public as a business proposition capable of standing on its own.
So, now that all the pieces are in place to build a huge convention business here, let’s maximize the return to the taxpayers of Niagara.
My question is simply “Why not a little wider sharing of the risk and the rewards?”
The time to build a true partnership between the people and this project is now.
Niagara has a unique opportunity to build a community-based economic development model that will be the envy of Canada – a Community Development Agreement that ensures that the benefits are truly spread throughout the region.
To secure widespread and unequivocal public support for this major development, a binding Community Development Agreement should be made immediately with the private proponents of the convention center.
Other parts in the series:
- Thoughts on the convention centre - Part 1
- Thoughts on the convention centre - Part 2
- Thoughts on the convention centre - Part 3
Related posts
- Thoughts on the convention centre - Part 1...
- Thoughts on the convention centre - Part 2...
- Building a low-risk convention centre...
- Convention centre announced in the shadow of a white elephant...
- Convention centre already chasing clients...
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Graham - how do I reach you?
I’ll email you directly.
It has been mentioned globally about how Convention Centers are not true money makers and are indeed empty shell money pits. I however hold out optimism on two fronts. “One” being that hopefully Niagara Falls name alone can conjure up confident interest in holding some of the higher profile conventions normally reserved for larger American markets. “Two” that the rumor of 10,000 seats being added will help us pull in the mid level concerts and shows that generally by-pass Buffalo NY. If indeed this does become a successful venture, and does generate large revenues, then perhaps percentages of this revenue could be distributed evenly into regional coffers?
Disney, Las Vegas, Macco, Shanghai, Frankfurt, and the new emerging cities of the Third World are competing for the same dollar with names that conjure up mystique and adventure as well. And if I got to choose where the return on my investment went, I would choose the Niagara Parks Commission so they could return the world class gardens and natural spaces to near perfection.
hi guys
can i change the subject for a sec?..i gotta question….i’m taking my 2 year old granddaughter to the falls for a few days on tuesday this week..i wanna take her to see the lights..especially dufferin island…we have tons of bread for the ducks and such in the daytime..but i was wondering if you can actually stop and park in the parking spots during the festival to look at the lights (after dark)..been many times..but never noticed if there were ever nay cars parked…
thanks
Sue,
Have been to the Festival of Lights 24 times and haven’t seen anyone park back there at Dufferin Island after dark. The ducks are there in the middle of the pond where they usually go after dark so that they are away from animal predators that might do them harm.
Sue…
you can park at the Fallsview Casino main parking lot for a fee of either 5 or 10 dollars. Or, you can park for free with a Player’s Advantage Card. It’s right up the hill beside the main lights section. I know the hill can be a pain to walk up…
so here’s something that might help.
1. there are stairs right beside the Starbuck’s and they go up the main hill to the ticket booth for 4D theatre.
2. the escalator beside the skylon tower takes you up to a bridge. flat land from here on to the entrance to Fallview casino.
Quick and easy, and no hill to bother you!
thanks for the great info karen’s mom and chris!!!..it helps alot!
