CALGARY

ARENA
SURVEY

mainstreetresearch.ca @mainstresearch mainstresearch

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS

ABOUT MAINSTREET 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5
METHODOLOGY 8
DETAILED FINDINGS 9
FULL METHODOLOGY 36
CONCLUSION 41
MARGINS OF ERROR 42
SCRIPT 43
ABOUTMAINSTREET

Mainstreet Research is a national polling rm. With 20 years of political

experience at all three levels of government, President and CEO Quito
Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian public aairs.

Dierentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet Research has provided

accurate snapshots of public opinion, having predicted a majority NDP
government in Alberta, a majority Liberal government in British Columbia
and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Mainstreet has been the
most accurate polling rm in several by elections and the most recent
Toronto mayoral election. Most recently, Mainstreet Research was the only
polling rm to correctly predict a Liberal majority government in the 2015
Canadian federal election.

4
EXECUTIVESUMMARY

The contentious debate about a new arena and event centre has caused
some polarized opinions among Calgary residents. While the City has a
long and proud Hockey history including several Stanley Cup
appearances, there does not appear to be consensus amongst Calgarians
about public investments in a new facility.

As we had previously noted in our work for Postmedia when new arenas
and stadiums were built in both Edmonton and Winnipeg in 2016, there
were some indications that Calgary residents had a desire for a similar
new facility, but not overwhelmingly so. This research is attempting to
determine Calgary residents expectations about the future of a new NHL
hockey arenda and event centre in Calgary and how the City of Calgary
could support eorts to replace the Saddledome arena with a new facility.

Some stakeholders in this debate have taken positions that may have as
many negative impacts on public opinion as positive impacts. Due to
those eects, the script design was carefully constructed to avoid terms
that could impact those opinions, the terms that were avoided were
Calgary Flames, CalgaryNEXT and Calgary Flames Organization.
Our measure of awareness was also a key component of the survey
design to better understand the informed opinions and note any
signicant dierences among residents of Calgary who have been
following the arena issue closely.

As we have noted in numerous polls in numerous jurisdictions across

North America, the economic climate does impact the mood of public
opinion. We have noted declining optimism and increasing pessimism
about the economy across Alberta and specically in Calgary since we
began tracking that measure, although most recent tracking shows a
positive trend. The implications of that on this research are hard to
quantify but we must note it as all public research conducted in Alberta
and Calgary by Mainstreet Research over the past three years has shown
signicant declines in public opinion of all public policy and public
opinion leaders and institutions.

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 5

 KEY FINDINGS

Half of Calgary residents say the City needs a new arena (50%) with
approximately a third (32%) saying Calgary does not, just 17% are
undecided on this. Less than 1 in 5 Calgarians (19%) believe the
Saddledome meets the needs of Calgary, 4 in 10 believe it meets some of
the needs of the City (40%) and 3 out of 10 (30%) believe it doesnt meet
the needs of Calgary at all. Fully 90% of Calgary residents have a rm
opinion on the Saddledome.

If there is a single conclusive nding it is that a large majority (60%) of

Calgary resident would support the City of Calgary if it decided to
support construction of a new arena by providing land or using savings
that would not impact their taxes. The remaining 40% of residents are
evenly divided with 20% saying they are opposed to the City oering any
assistance and 19% undecided.

While this single measure points to clear support for that form of nancial
assistance, opinions on other measures are less clear and the idea of
oering some generic undened assistance would face signicant
opposition.

A loan being oered to support the construction of a new arena has the
support of a majority of Calgarians (51%) for example, a signicantly
lower number than using land or savings with a 5% increase in those who
are opposed.
A grant being oered with a revenue sharing component again has the
support of a majority of Calgarians (54%), higher than a loan, but still
signicantly lower than an the land or savings option. Opposition to a
grant is marginally lower than a loan (24%) with the remainder undecided.
(22%)

6
When asked about supporting the construction of a new arena with an
undened measure that could include loans or grants, opinions become
far less clear with just 41% approval vs 33% disapproval and just over 1 in
4 undecided. (27%)

The level of uncertainty in these opinions is consistent with our past work.
The uncertainty of public opinions regardless of mode, methodology,
script design and frame design is part of the gap we consistently note
between public and expert opinion. The caution should be that part of the
uncertain opinion (Not Sure/Undecided) may be a hidden opposition to
the question being asked or the respondent simply does not want to
share their opinion. That risk should be noted by the City when
considering any proposal that does not have majority support.

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 7

METHODOLOGY

Calgary City Councillors commissioned a Calgary Arena Survey from

Mainstreet Research. Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 5,061
Calgarians from April 24-26, 2017 through Chimera IVR. Respondents
were screened to conrm residency. Landline and Cell lines were
included. Responses were statistically weighted using demographic
information to targets based on the 2016 Census. Quotas were set for
specic wards. Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

The margin of error for survey results is 1.38 percentage points, 19

times out of 20 for the entire sample.

Ward Margins of error can be found on page 42.

Wards cited are the current City of Calgary wards.

Caution: Wards 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 11 have small sample sizes and larger

margins of error compared to other wards.

8
DETAILEDRESULTS

Q: Recently, there have been discussions about building a new hockey

arena in Calgary. How closely have you been following this story?

Overall, more then two thirds (67%) of Calgarians are following the news
regarding the new stadium project very or somewhat closely, and only
about 1 in 10 (9%) are not aware of it at all.

The story is followed most intensely in wards 14 (73%, 41% closely) 12

(85% - 38%), and 5 (76% - 37%).

Even in the wards that display the least interest in the story, the
overwhelming majority of people are following it to some extent (>80%),
and in every Ward except 3 and 13 more then 60% of people say they are
following news regarding the arena somewhat or very closely.

The lowest amounts of interest in the story exist in:

Wards 3 and 13, the only wards where less then 3 in 5 people (56%) are
following the story at least somewhat closely. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) residents
of Ward 3 are not aware of the story at all

Wards 2 and 7, where more then a third (35%) of respondents are not
closely following the story.

Wards 8 and 10, where 14%-15% of respondents did not know of the
story at all

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 9

 FOLLOWING ARENA DISCUSSIONS

10
Q: The current hockey arena is the Saddledome. What best describes
your opinion of the Saddledome?

Calgarians have a generally negative opinion of the Saddledome. Only

about 1 in 5 Calgarians believe the Saddledome is adequate (19%). The
largest group (41%) feels that it meets only some of Calgarys needs,
and 30% believe the Saddledome is completely insucient. 10% have no
opinion at all.

Young people (under 35) are more likely then other age groups to feel the
current arena is insucient. Those who have not been closely following
the news regarding the proposed arena are less likely to feel the
saddledome is insucient where more likely to be undecided.

Wards
Wards 7, 10 and 11 are signicantly more satised with the Saddledome
than Calgarians in general (26-28%).

Wards 1, 2, 4 and 8 have higher percentages of respondents who feel the

current arena is inadequate (35-39%).

Residents of Ward 14 are less likely to be undecided or take a middle

position then in other wards. Ward 14 has the second highest number of
residents who believe the Saddledome is inadequate (38%), but also a
slightly higher then average number who are satised (23%).

1 in 5 (20%) residents of Ward 6 are undecided, compared to 1 in 10

across all of Calgary. Additionally, those in Ward 6 who did express an
opinion on the Saddledome where more likely then in other wards to take
a middle position.

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 11

 OPINIONS OF SADDLEDOME BY DEMOGRAPHIC

12
Q: In your opinion, does Calgary need a new arena or not?

Half of Calgarians feel that the City needs a new stadium. About a third
(32%) feel it does not, and the remainder (18%) are unsure. Those who
believe the Saddledome meets some of Calgarys needs are still
equally likely to believe a new stadium is necessary. However, they are
more likely to be undecided and less likely to see a new stadium as
entirely unnecessary. Similarly, men and women believe equally that a
new arena is necessary, although women are 10% more likely then men
to be undecided.

Wards
Desire for a new arena is extremely high in Ward 12, at 70%. It is also
well above average in Ward 5, at 64%.

Wards 1, 2, 9, 11, 13 and 14 had around the average number of

respondents who wish for a new arena (46-54%)

Wards 2, 3 and 11 had the most residents who do not believe Calgary
needs a new arena (38-39%)

Wards 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 all had high numbers of undecided responses

(24-28%)

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 13

 NEW ARENA SUPPORT BY WARD

14
Q: Would you support or oppose the city of Calgary oering a loan for
a new arena, if the loan had to be paid back with interest?

Half of Calgarians (50%) would support a loan to construct a new arena.

The other half is split almost equally between opposing such a plan (26%)
, and being undecided (24%). Men (56%) are more likely then women
(45%) to support a loan. Women who do not support this proposal are
most often undecided (32%), while men are more likely to be actively
opposed to it (28%).

Wards
This proposal is supported by more respondents then oppose it in all
wards, although in Wards 3, 4, 7, 9 and 14 a higher number of undecided
respondents drops support for the proposal below 50%.

Support for this arrangement is highest in Ward 12 at 67%. It is also

extremely high in Ward 1 (64%) and Ward 2 (60%).

Support is lowest in Ward 7 which is the most evenly split between

support (38%), opposition (32%) and undecided (30%). This is the only
ward where opposition to a loan draws close to the level of support.

Support is almost as low in Wards 5 and 10 (40% in both), although the

number of respondents actively opposed to a loan in these wards is only
slightly higher then average. Instead of greater opposition to a loan, these
wards have the highest numbers of undecided (31-33%).

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 15

 OPPOSITION TO LOAN BY WARD

16
Q: Would you support or oppose the city of Calgary oering a grant
for a new arena, if it meant the city would share revenue from the new
arena?
The level of support amongst Calgarians for a grant is very similar to the
previous question regarding a potential loan, although a small number of
undecided shift to supporting the proposal. 53% would support a grant,
compared to 24% opposing and 23% unsure.

Support for this proposal is about even between men and women.
However, similar to previous questions, men who dont support the
proposal are more likely to be opposed while women who dont express
support are most often undecided.

Wards
Again, support for this proposal is higher then opposition in all wards.

The only wards where support for a grant drops signicantly below 50%
are Wards 7 and 10. Once again, this is caused primarily by a surge in the
undecided.

Ward 7 is almost evenly split between support and undecided at

35-36%. Opposition in this ward is the highest of any region at 29%, but
still signicantly lower than support.

Ward 10 has the lowest level of support for a grant, at only 34%. It is the
only ward where the most frequent response was undecided (39%), but
opposition to a grant (28%) is once again still lower then support.

Support for a grant resulting in a share of the revenue is highest in

Wards 1, 2, 4 and 14, at 65-66%.

The results for Wards 3, 5, 6, 9 and 13 are all similar to the general trend
across Calgary. Wards 11 has marginally higher opposition (27%), but
overall it also remains average.

Ward 12 has a slight increase in both support (57%) and opposition

(26%), coinciding with a decrease in those undecided.

Ward 8 has high levels of opposition at 29%, but almost half of

respondents are still in support (48%)
CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 17
 WARD BREAKDOWN

18
Q: If the city of Calgary could support the new arena by providing
land, using savings or some other mechanism that doesnt lead to an
increase in your property taxes, would you be in favour of the City
oering support?
Support for this proposal is the highest of the three. 60% of Calgarians,
or 3 in 5, would support backing a new arena through means that dont
lead to an increase in taxes. The remaining 40% are split about evenly
between oppose (20%) and undecided (19%)

This is the only proposal that nds higher levels of support among
women (65%) then men (56%). It is also the only proposal where the
number of undecided is approximately the same between genders.

Wards
Support for this proposal is strong across almost all wards. Every ward
has signicantly more then 50% support for using a mechanism that
doesnt involve raising property taxes, except Wards 7 and 10 (two
wards that were also less enthusiastic about other proposals).

Ward 7 is again the most evenly divided between all three responses,
but support (45%) is still signicantly stronger then opposition (33%) or
undecided (22%). Ward 7 has the highest level of opposition to this
proposal of any ward.

The abnormally low level of support for this proposal in Ward 10 (49%)
is again due to a very large number of undecided (28%). Support is still
signicantly higher than opposition (23%).

Similar to Ward 10, Wards 1 and 3 have a noticeably higher number of

undecided (25% and 29%, respectively). Unlike Ward 10, however, these
increases coincide with a decrease in opposition, and the level of
support remains close to the 60% seen across Calgary (58%).

Support for a non tax-raising mechanism is highest in Ward 5 (71%),

Ward 9 (65%), Ward 12 (68%) and Ward 13 (67%).

The results for Wards 2, 4, 6, 8, and 14 are all fairly close to the overall
results for all of Calgary. Ward 11 reports slightly higher opposition (26%)
and the expense of support (56%). CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 19
 WARD BREAKDOWN

20
Q: Would you approve or disapprove of the city oering any kind of
nancial assistance to a new arena, even if it was a loan or investment?

2 in 5 (40%) Calgarians would support some kind of nancial assistance,

while a third (33%) disapprove and 27% are undecided. Men are slightly
more likely to support nancial assistance (43%) then women (38%),
while women are signicantly more likely to be undecided (33%)

Those who are following the news regarding the arena decision closely
are more likely to support nancial assistance (46%), while others who
are less aware of the issue are split equally between support and oppose
(36% each). Those who havent been following this issue at all are
generally against nancial assistance if they express an opinion (26%),
but for the most part their lack of information leaves them undecided
(61%).

Wards
The only ward where a majority of people support nancial assistance is
Ward 2 (51%). It has a standard level of opposition (32%), but a lower level
of those undecided (17%).

Ward 11 also has a low level of undecided responses (20%), but the
balance between support and opposition shifts only slightly in favor of
support.

Wards 1 and 13 also have higher levels of support (45-46%). In Ward 1

this is accompanied by a signicant decrease in opposition (25%), while
Ward 13 has slightly fewer undecided respondents (23%).

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 21

 The highest numbers of undecided respondents are in Wards 5, 7, and 8.
In each of these wards, unsure is the most frequent response.

Ward 5 has average support for nancial assistance, but those not in
support are much more likely to be undecided (41%) then opposed
(20%).

Wards 7 and 8 are about equally split between supporters (32%),

opposition (33-34%) and undecided (34-35%).

Ward 12 is also sharply divided, with even levels of approval and

disapproval (35%)

Wards 4 and 10 are the only wards where the largest group of
respondents are in opposition to nancial assistance.

Ward 10 has the largest amount of opposition to nancial assistance of

any ward, with almost half of respondents against it (49%). It also has the
lowest amount of supporters (28%).

Ward 4 has above average parody between groups, with 38% against,
33% in favor, and 29% undecided.

Wards 3 and 9 are reasonably close to mirroring the results across all of
Calgary.

Ward 6 has a slightly higher amount of undecided respondents, but the

distance between those who approve or disapprove of nancial
assistance remains almost the same.

Ward 14 has fewer undecided (22%), and approval for nancial

assistance rises slightly in this ward (44%).

22
 APPROVAL BY WARD

DISAPPROVAL BY WARD

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 23

 Split Q:What is the most important reason why you support nancial
assistance? [Approve of Financial Assistance Only]

The most common reason given for supporting nancial assistance is that
Calgarians feel it is an investment that will eventually deliver long-term
economic benets to the city. 9% of supporters felt that an investment in
a new arena was likely to increase revenue for the city in the long term. A
further 7% felt that a new arena would produce indirect economic
benets for Calgary, such as an increase in jobs or surge in customers for
local businesses.

Many also expressed the belief that Calgary is not being well served by
the Saddledome. 7% said the main reason they support building a new
arena was the inadequacy of the current facility, and a further 7% believe
that there are events Calgary could be hosting that it is unable to for lack
of a suitable venue. 3% said that the only reason they support nancial
assistance is because they dont believe an arena will be built without it,
and they view a new facility as a necessity for the city.

Another group of 8% expressed that, aside from economic

considerations, they believe that it is in the public interest for Calgary to
have a better arena. A further 2% believe that Calgary needs a new arena
in order to maintain a place on the world stage in comparison to similar
sized cities.

Finally, 6% of supporters are concerned about the status of the Calgary

Flames, and are worried that the team might leave the city.

Other reasons given included competing with the new stadium built in
Edmonton, and potentially increasing tourism (1% each).

Many respondents qualied that their support was dependent on the city
being able to earn back the money as an investment, or to be paid back
later in full (3%). Some claried that they would not support any proposal
which raised taxes (1%).

24
VERBATIMS BY WARD

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 25

 Trends between Wards

Ward 2 was especially likely to express that the current stadium was not
adequate, and that a new stadium would increase revenue in the long run.

Supporters from Ward 3 frequently believed that a new stadium would

bring indirect economic benets to Calgary.

Wards 6 and 7 were primarily concerned that the city make its money
back in the long term.

Wards 8, 10 and 13 expressed frequently that it was in the public interest

to build a new arena. Wards 8 and 10 also mentioned the indirect
economic benets of such a facility and the necessity of keeping the
Calgary ames more then was average.

More then 1 in 4 supporters from Ward 12 expressed the belief that a

new stadium would increase revenue for the city in the long term.

26
Split Q: What is the most important reason you oppose nancial
assistance? [Oppose Financial Assistance Only]

By far the most common reasons given for opposing nancial assistance
involved opposition to giving public money to a protable company. 17%
of those opposed to nancial assistance said that they believe on
principle that public money should not go to private businesses, while
15% said that they opposed nancial assistance because they believe that
the owners and businesses the money would be going to could aord to
construct the arena themselves.

Other respondents expressed doubts about the public utility of the

project. 8% of those who disapprove of oering nancial assistance said
that the city could nd better uses for the money, such as investing in
education or healthcare. Similarly, 6% expressed the view that building a
new arena did not provide any public benet to the city of Calgary. Many
among this group called attention to the fact that NHL tickets are priced
such as to be beyond the means of lower income families.

Many of those opposed to oering nancial assistance were of the

opinion that Calgary was not currently in a good nancial or economic
position to make such an investment. 7% believed that Calgary cannot
aord to make such an investment right now due to downturns in the
economy. A further 9% believe Calgarys tax rate is too high and the city
could not sustain or would not accept an increase in taxes to support an
arena project.

Only 2% of respondents who opposed nancial assistance did so

primarily because they felt the current Saddledome was adequate.

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 27

 VERBATIMS BY WARD

28
Trends between wards

Ward 3 was the most likely to be pessimistic about Calgarys economy

and the citys ability to aord the project.

Residents of Ward 4 believe much more strongly then other Wards that
public money should never go to private businesses.

The view that Calgary could spend the money on a more worthy cause
was expressed most frequently in Ward 5.

Opponents of nancial assistance living in Ward 8 were more then twice

as likely as the general population to express the view that the owners of
the businesses using the arena could aord to pay for it themselves. They
felt very strongly that building an arena would not provide a signicant
public benet.

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 29

 Q: Recently a new arena for the Edmonton Oilers opened named
Rogers Place. In your opinion is the new arena having a positive or
negative impact on the City of Edmonton?

Those respondents who expressed an opinion on the impact of the

Rogers Place in Edmonton overwhelmingly believed the stadium has had
a positive eect on the city. About half (51%) of Calgarians feel Edmonton
has beneted from the new arena., similar to the number who feel Calgary
should replace the Saddledome. While few feel that Rogers Place has had
a negative eect on Edmonton 6%), a large number are unsure one way
or the other (43%). Men are slightly more likely then women to believe the
Edmonton stadium has had a positive impact on the city (54%/48%).

Those who believe the Rogers Center has had a positive impact on
Edmonton are much more likely to approve of nancial assistance for a
new arena in Calgary (60%) and those who believe it has had a negative
impact are more likely to oppose the idea (69%).

Opinions on the Rogers Place are fairly similar across all wards, except in
Wards 10 and 12. Ward 10 has the lowest number of people who believe
the Rodgers place has been positive for Edmonton (21%), and the highest
number of those undecided (55%).

Ward 12 overwhelmingly believes that the Edmonton stadium has been

positive for the city (69%). Not coincidentally, Ward 12 also has the
strongest desire for a new Calgary stadium (70%)

30
CROSSTABS: SUPPORT VS IMPRESSIONS OF ROGERS PLACE; OILERS ASSISTANCE & FLAMES

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 31

 Q: Was it a good idea for the City of Edmonton to oer the Edmonton
Oilers nancial assistance, or not?

Despite Calgarians generally believing that the Edmonton arena has been
positive for the city, opinion is very divided on whether the city was wise
to oer the Oilers nancial assistance. The most common response to this
question was uncertainty (38%), and those who did express an opinion
where almost equally divided between believing it was a good idea (32%)
or not (30%).

Once again, men where about twice as likely as women to have an opinion
on the issue, with more then half of women undecided (51%).

Perhaps predictably, those who believe that Edmonton was wise to oer
the Oilers nancial assistance overwhelmingly support doing the same in
Calgary (79%) and those who think Edmonton made the wrong decision
are opposed to Calgary following in their footsteps (72%).

The belief that Edmonton made the right decision in oering nancial
assistance raises support for all proposals (a loan, grant, or non
tax-raising mechanism) by 21-26%, but the general trends in support
remain the same. Calgarians are still most supportive of proposals that do
not raise taxes, even if they believe Edmonton directing taxes towards a
stadium in their city was a good idea

32
CITY-WIDE

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 33

 Q: Given everything you have seen, heard or read, would you say you
have a favorable or unfavorable view of the Calgary Flames
organization?

The overwhelming majority of Calgarians (68%) have a very (34%) or

somewhat (34%) favorable view of the Calgary Flames as an
organization. About 1 in 5 (21%) have a somewhat (16%) or very (5%)
unfavorable opinion of the organization. 1 in 10 Calgarians are undecided
about their view of the Flames organization.

A generally positive or negative opinion of the Calgary Flames is

accompanied by an 11% increase in the likelihood that someone supports
nancial assistance for a new arena. Conversely, those who have a
negative view of the organization are almost twice as likely to oppose the
city oering them nancial assistance.

A respondents opinion on the Flames as an organization does appear to

impact their view on whether the city should oer nancial assistance for
a new arena. This is not nearly as inuential, however, as respondents
view on whether the City of Edmonton beneted from oering nancial
assistance for their arena. Opinions on the success or failure of
Edmontons arena has a much greater eect on attitudes towards
proposals for Calgary then the popularity of the Flames organization
does.

34
CITY-WIDE

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 35

FULL METHODOLOGY

Special Note about Weighting: At the time the weighting was done
(April 28 2017) to reect the adult population of the City of Calgary by
age and gender, the latest available census targets were from the 2011
Census. The 2016 Census data for Age and gender was released on May
3 2017 and results have been updated to reect that.

Weighted tables provided will include both that were produced but
weighted results in the report are based on weights using the 2016
census targets for age and gender.

The disclosures requirements for public opinion surveys are as follows:

1) The names of the organization which conducted the poll and its
sponsor, the organization(s) or person(s) who paid for the poll. If
internal campaign polls are made public, it must be indicated that the
data originally were collected for a political entity.
The poll was commissioned by a group of 8 City of Calgary Councillors,
they will be releasing the information for public review and identify
themselves at the time of release.

2) The dates of eldwork.

The eld dates of the poll were April 24 to 26th 2017

3) The sampling method used. For quota samples and other

non-probability samples, provide the characteristics by which the
sample was selected. For probability samples, the response rate must be
provided on request.

Mainstreet Research used its own proprietary IVR technology call

ChimeraIVR for this poll. ChimeraIVR was chosen to allow for open
ended responses.

36
4) The universe eectively represented (i.e. who was interviewed),
whether the poll sample included all adults or only eligible or likely
voters, the geographic range of the poll (province, electoral district, city)
and whether certain groups were excluded from the design (those
without landline telephones or internet access, for example). If possible,
the estimated size of non-covered segments will be provided. If a size
estimate cannot be provided, this will be explained.

The target population was adult residents of the City of Calgary. This
included a random selection of residents in each of the 14 Wards
represented on Calgary City Council. The adult population in Calgary
according to the 2016 census is 1,126,667, among those 549,845 are men
and 576,819 are women.

It is estimated that almost all adults have either a land or cellular phone,
or both in the target population, although some individuals due to
economic or other factors might not have access to a phone either
temporarily or permanently. This would include the homeless population,
and those residing in long term care facilities and correctional facilities.

5) The actual sample size (number of completed interviews included in

the reported ndings)
The sample size of completed responses was 5,061 as reported on Page
8 of the report.

6) The initial sample size

The original sample size was 5,193, samples. 132 samples were not used
for the nal sample due to non completion which Mainstreet denes as
responses that do not complete the demographic questions.

7) The number of individuals who were asked to participate

46,959 Live Answer connections were established during the elding.

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 37

 8) The number (and respective percentage) of people who refused to
participate and who were ineligible to participate

41,755 people refused to participate in the survey when a live answer

was detected (83.6%). Just 11 people indicated they were not a resident
of Calgary and therefore ineligible (<0.1%)

9) The method by which the poll was conducted (in-person, telephone

interview (live interviewer or IVR), Internet access panel, mixed mode,
etc.).
Chimera IVR

10) Details of any strategies used to help gain cooperation (e.g., advance
contact, compensation or incentives, refusal conversion contacts)
Not Applicable, Mainstreet Research uses no incentives.

11) The results presented in data tables, including base numbers and
percentages
Available on Pages 9 to 26 of the report.

12) In data tables, the full question wording must be included.

Full script including CRTC introduction available at the bottom of the
report. Each question verbatim is also quoted in the Detailed Results
starting on Page 9 and are reported in the exact order as asked.

13) Whether weighting/calibration/normalization was used to adjust the

results and the impact of the procedure on the data as measured
through a weighting eciency calculation and disclosure of the range
(i.e., min and max) and variance of weights.
Results were weighed using the latest available census population as
targets for age and gender to be representative of the adult population
of the City of Calgary. See weighted tables accompanying the report for
further details.

38
14) Proprietary algorithms and specic weighting variables (apart from
Census-based adjustments geographic, age and gender) do not need
to be disclosed.

No proprietary algorithms or specic weighting variables other than

those described above were used.

15) The percentages of respondents who give dont know answers

(and in the case of voting-intention studies, of those who say they will
not vote). This information must always be given when it is likely to
aect the interpretation of the ndings signicantly. When comparing
ndings from dierent surveys, any changes (other than minor ones) in
these percentages must be indicated. There are many occasions on
which the interpretation of particular ndings will be quite dierent if
the level of dont know answers is 5% or 50%. In the case of
voting-intention studies, the same consideration also applies to will not
vote answers

Each question in the survey includes the percentage of each dont

know, Not Sure responses.

16) The method used to recalculate data to take into account in the
survey the results of participants who expressed no opinion were
undecided or failed to respond to any or all of the survey questions.
Not applicable

17) The Margin of Error if applicable,

See pages 8 & 42

18) The screener questions asked during the actual survey. These
questions are used to demonstrate that the sample does not include
respondents that may bias the results (e.g. media, individuals who work
in marketing research, etc.). Questions used to draw the initial sample do
not have to be revealed.
See page 45 for qualifying questions

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 39

 19) The questions asked, and the results for each question. The
questions results must be presented in the same order they were asked
in the survey. However, if the survey is asked in the context of an
omnibus, only the questions related to the specic study are required to
be revealed.

Available at the bottom of the report.

20) When the questions are part of a more extensive or omnibus survey,
this must be clearly indicated
Not applicable

21) If an internet panel was used it must be indicated if the recruitment

method to build the panel is based on multiple sources or only one
source
Not Applicable

22) The number of call-backs for telephone interviews, IVR or live

interviewer/CATI.
3 Callbacks is the standard used by Mainstreet Research. Each individual
in the sample frame is attempted at 3 separates times unless a request
for Do Not Call is received from an individual during elding.

23) Any relevant stimuli, such as visual or sensory exhibits or show

cards that were used. In the case of surveys conducted via
self-administered computer- assisted interviewing, providing the
relevant screen shot(s) is optimal, though not required.
Not Applicable

40
CONCLUSION

The City of Calgary should explore measures to support the

construction of a new arena that do not impact the taxes of Calgary
residents. The most popular measure would be providing land and using
savings to support that eort, it is signicantly higher than a loan, grant
or undened measures.

Any proposal that would be brought forward for consideration would

face the opposition of a minimum of 20% of the population and quite
possibly signicantly more depending on the measure. It is clear that
support for specic measures is higher than loosely dened ones and
that should be noted as a key principle of any future discussion on a
new arena project.

There is an inherent risk to the City of Calgary in any proposal being

considered of backlash from the public. However, that must be balanced
against the inherent risk of doing nothing. As noted earlier in this report,
public opinion is lowest during times of economic uncertainty and
support for these types of projects tends to increase along with the
economic climate. It is also noted above that younger Calgarians (under
35) have the least favourable view of the current arena and as the 2016
census revealed, this is a growing demographic. That, along with the
prospects of a better economic climate means the risk of inaction will
increase with time.

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 41

MARGINS OF ERROR

42
SCRIPT

1. Recently there have been discussion about building a new hockey

Arena in Calgary. How closely have you been following this story?

Very Closely/Somewhat Closely/Not Too Closely/Not At All Closely/Not

Aware of this Story

2. The current hockey arena is the Saddledome. What bests describes

your opinion of the Saddledome?

The Saddledome adequately meets the needs of the City of Calgary

The Saddledome meets some of the needs of the City of Calgary
The Saddledome does not meet the needs of the City of Calgary
Not Sure

3. In your opinion does the City of Calgary need a new arena or not?
Yes, needs a new arena/No, does not need a new arena/Not Sure

Wed like your opinion on some potential proposals

4. Would you support or oppose the City of Calgary oering a loan for a
new arena, if the loan had to be paid back with interest?

Would Support/Would Oppose/Not Sure

5. Would you support or oppose the City of Calgary oering a grant for
a new arena, if it meant the city would share revenue from the new
arena?

Would Support/Would Oppose/Not Sure

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 43

 6. If The City of Calgary could support the new arena by providing land,
using savings or some other mechanism that doesn't lead to an increase
in your property taxes, would you be in favour of the City oering that
support?

Would Support/Would Oppose/Not Sure

7. And would you approve or disapprove of the City of Calgary oering

any kind of nancial assistance to the a new arena, even if it was a loan
or investment?

Approve/Disapprove/Not Sure

Split Question

8.A: And what is the most important reason why you support nancial
assistance? [Approve from Q7 only]
B: And what is the most important reason why you oppose nancial
assistance? [Disapprove from Q7 only]

[Record Verbatim]

9. Recently a new arena for the Edmonton Oilers opened named Rogers
Place. In your opinion is the new arena having a positive or negative
impact on the City of Edmonton?

Positive/Negative/Not Sure

44
10. And in your opinion, was it a good idea for the City of Edmonton to
oer the Edmonton Oilers nancial assistance, or not?

Good Idea/Bad Idea/Not Sure

11. And given everything you have seen, heard or read, would you say
you have a favourable or unfavourable view of the Calgary Flames
Organization?

Very favourable/Somewhat favourable/Somewhat unfavourable/Very

unfavourable/Not Sure

Qualifying Questions

A. Do you reside within the city limits of the City of Calgary?

Yes/No/Not Sure [No/Not Sure - Thank & Dismiss]

B. Do you or a member of your family work for a Market Research,

Advertising, Public Relations or Media company?

Yes/No/Not Sure [Yes/Not Sure - Thank & Dismiss]

C. Do you or a member of your family work in a marketing, advertising

or research department of a company?

Yes/No/Not Sure [Yes/Not Sure - Thank & Dismiss]

CALGARY ARENA SURVEY I 45