City
City's Outdoor Ice Rinks Bailed out by Credit Card
There I was, reading David Cayley's thought-provoking commentary on the plight of Toronto's outdoor artificial ice rinks, when a little bird landed on my balcony and broke the news that MasterCard had just offered the city a cool $160,000 to open all outdoor rinks as scheduled in December. The mayor quickly accepted the offer, but cautiously stated that "You can't fund basic public services through charitable donations."
Before anyone blows a gasket, MasterCard's offer is a 'no strings attached' deal--no advertising or branding involved. The composite image above is a nightmare that will never come to fruition (at least not this year).
Alas, the cash infusion is a band-aid solution that only fixes a symptom this fiscal year. The city has to stop foolin' with our rinks as a way to evoke sympathy for its tax agenda, because it's downright punishing to withhold one of our few winter pleasures. Our 49 artificial outdoor rinks are a veritable treasure that makes the winter bearable (even enjoyable). On bitterly cold nights, I've been out there on the Nathan Phillips Square rink with hundreds of people. Where else in the world can you join a game of shinny at midnight on a -20C night among skyscrapers? Kudos to the MC thinking of all the depressed skaters out there... here, I'll even write your next commercial:
Pair of Skates - $200
Hot Chocolate - $2
Budget Shortfall - $500 million
Proposed New City Taxes - $250 million
A one-time no-strings-attached donation - $160,000
49 Public Outdoor Ice Rinks Open as Scheduled - Priceless
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Also see:
Hitting the Ice for the Holidays
Mayor Miller Wants One Cent Now
Sheppard Subway Staying Open for Now
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Well, MasterCard is already getting some advertisement for their donation (e.g. this post). And it's well deserved good press. I'll not be screaming about how horrible corporate donations are, but the fact that the city takes handouts like this is truly pathetic. What's next: municipal panhandlers, begging passers-by for spare change to keep the libraries open and the streetcars running?...
IMHO, the fact that it's rinks that the city has to accept handouts for is especially symbolic. Keeping the rinks closed in a country whose 5-dollar bill has a quotation that it does is truly disgusting.
I'm shocked that MC only had to shell out $160,000 for all this good PR. I'm sure if Visa had known this was possible they would have shelled out $200K and if they ever auctioned off the naming rights to all the city's rinks they would get millions.
I for one wouldn't care if I had to tell my friends I'll meet you at MasterCard Rink instead of Nathan Phillips Square.
I would. I still haven't called SkyDome the Roger's Centre, not once. But if the choice is between meeting them at the MasterCard rink and not going skating at, I'd choose the former.
Despite that, the arts get shat on in terms of salaries, and almost always have taken a back seat to not only academics but especially the glamour of sports.
If in current times it sports who take the shaft, then at least the arts can enjoy some time up front.