The City of Vancouver is proposing a $1 a seat tax for fans of pro-wrestling, boxing and MMA. Really, this should pan out to a 30 cent a seat tax after presentations to Council from interested parties (including me) on Thursday.
But here is the what is interesting – no not just that the Vancouver Athletic Commission regulates a non-sport (pro-wrestling) but does not regulate a sport like hockey which is, well, a sport – but apparently with the Canucks in the post season the policing bill will increase by $1 million.
In fact the 1994 riot after a Canucks game cost the city $1 million.
Here is a little video footage of that brouhaha.
I am not down on hockey, but logic dictates that if an event is creating a strain on the coffers of City Hall then the promoters of that event should pay – not just the taxpayers.
Here is how the City can recoup these expenses via the Vancouver Athletic Commission:
30 cents per seat x 20k fans x 40 home games= $240k
1 fight per game x $20k fine for unsanctioned fight x 40 games = $800k
TOTAL = $1.04mil.
Therefore policing costs fixed, unsanctioned fights reduced and of course this does not include pre or post season games which will generate more revenue.
And think about it – if there is even just one bench clearing brawl during the season at GM Place this would mean – in the words of those great Canadian philosophers Hedley – cha-ching.
No comments yet.