Flames ownership is spectacularly unsophisticated to attempt this crude blackmail. City council should call the bluff. There is no city anywhere in North America where the Flames could generate the revenue stream that is now being generated in Calgary, let alone whatever income would be generated by a new arena.

No politician could survive in Calgary by rolling over for the Flames. Murray Edwards burned up his goodwill when he decamped to England as a tax refugee. Even a Conservative would be committing political suicide by giving in to the Flames' demands. The sad fact is...Calgary's economy is still flat on its back, much worse than Edmonton's.

Bringing in Gary Bettman as a heavy handed hitman was particularly maladroit. Having an arrogant New York corporate lawyer lecture Calgary's elected city council is just plain counter-productive, giving Mayor Nenshi a gold-plated campaign foil for next month's civic election.

Nenshi is smooth and well respected; he will win in a landslide.