Edmonton council wavering on arena deal

Edmonton city councillors are questioning moving ahead with the downtown arena after seeing the latest financial details of the deal.

City administration is recommending the deal be approved next Wednesday even though $69 million is still not in place.

The overall package comes in at $604.5 million when includingextras such as the winter garden, walking bridge and LRT link.

Coun. Kim Krushell supports the arena but worries the deal is in trouble.

"We may see this whole project blow up and I think that would be really unfortunate," she said.

Krushell is joining other councillors in saying Oilers owner and billionaire Daryl Katz should put in more money to save the deal.

However Coun. Amarjeet Sohi said it may betime to let the project go.

"I really don't know how we can move forward on this," he said. "I personally cannot support putting more city money into the project so I really don't know whats going to happen on Wednesday, but things, in my mind, are not looking positive at all."

Losing the project after so much planning would be a blow to downtown development, Krushell said.