Big cities have atleast one professional sports franchise.  Calgary will not attract an NBA team, an NFL team or a major league baseball team.  Yes we have a CFL team, great by Canadian standards, but not so much North American.  Professional team get you a bit of attention outside of your city in other big cities.  You might not be huge in their radar, but chances are they have heard if you.  Loss of a major franchise kills your cities identity.  Your city shrinks, becomes less known, is seen as smaller and could become harder to market.  Calgary has the problem of Edmonton.  They will reap the rewards of that arena and having the Oilers.  They go to pitch Amazon and people in the room might just know who they are because they have heard of them...it soon becomes. Calgary who?  Isn't Edmonton the big city up there.  Perception becomes reality!  Then you have all the big concerts up North. Its over, thesr clowns in council are blowing it.