Team logos not wanted on arena walls

Editor:

I was dismayed when told that West Kelowna council has approved the painting of West Kelowna Warrior logos all over the outside of the Jim Lind arena.

My Àrst reaction was anger that this council would favour what might be a here today, gone tomorrow franchise business, while virtually erasing the name of Jim Lind to which the arena was originally dedicated to honour true community spirit and public commitment by a Westside family that continues to this day.

Council’s decision shows callousness towards past honours already made. Our municipal word should mean something more then convenience.

Why would council make special Ànancial consideration for one type of local business model and not help another local business model — particularly one local business model which continues to require some sort of muni-cipal subsidy to Ànancially survive?

To be fair to everyone, let’s be perfectly clear; the economic injection this franchise provides to our community is wishful thinking.

To get anywhere near to the $4 million economic input claimed by our mayor, possibly the Warriors’ biggest fan, every attending ticket holder and three family members would have to spend $750 each in West Kelowna everyday there’s a game played. This deÀes common sense.

It was obvious to observers in the Àrst place that being right next door to a higher level of hockey being provided by the Kelowna Rockets would suck much of the wind from the original Westside business model and always handicap it Ànancially.

Council has turned over an already dedicated municipal asset to become a free billboard that will be covered in garish metallic colours and the stylized grafÀti logo design of the team that last year was up for sale and ready to abandon West Kelowna for greener pastures. Council has a very short memory.

My question to mayor and council: when the team is next time Ànally sold to new owners and the team has to move; will the leaving franchise be required to pay for the removal of their garish logos and restoration of the Jim Lind Arena back to its original state?

Council may have forgotten its original intent to be: a public sports facility paid for and used by the whole community, we did not pay to build a public facility for the sole beneÀt of a private business franchise. Jon Peter Christoff, West Kelowna