A new downtown arena for the Edmonton Oilers hit the ditch Wednesday as city councillors rejected a bid by the NHL team for more money from taxpayers.
Mayor Stephen Mandel would not say how much was asked for, or what is was for, but said the ball is now in the court of the team's owner, pharmacy billionaire Daryl Katz.
Reporters asked Mandel if he was still optimistic the rink would proceed as planned.
"Optimistic might not be the best word," Mandel said. "Frustrated might be a better word. But I'm optimistic in the sense [we can] get back together and see how we can make this work."
Construction on the $450-million arena is slated to begin early next year.
Mandel said the request from the Katz Group did not come with an ultimatum, although Katz has said the Oilers won't play indefinitely at their current home of Rexall Place in in the northeast.
The Katz Group, responding to council's decision through a prepared statement, said it has become clear during the design and engineering process that the $450-million cap won't be enough to build the "iconic" structure that both the city and the Oilers want.
John Karvellas, executive vice-president of the Katz Group, didn't say what the revised cost would be, but said the Oilers would pay their fair share for any costs over the $450 million.
Karvellas said they have already gone above and beyond expectations by spending $70 million.
"We have made these investments of time and money in good faith and continue to believe this project can and must succeed," he said in the statement.
