I have the exact opposite view on CSEC and MLSE as owners. I think the fact the league is failing with owners like that is a terrible sign and that if we are saying that two of the biggest sports owners in the country for two of the most successful teams in the league under their ownership can't make it work then the league is screwed.
If we were back in the days of the Gleibermans, Feterik, Ryckman etc. where there were questions if they could cover the payroll, guys were getting jobs because they were the sons of owners, fans are encouraged to take their tops off by owners etc. those are all problems easy to fix.
MLSE and CESC ensure that the clubs have zero financial concern, are run by professionals and will have decisions made based on best practices not by crazy people with stupid agendas.
Calgary is in trouble not because of CESC, but because the league is not appealing to fans, putting money into the decaying stadium makes no sense because people don't want to come to the game great stadium or not. The owners have provided the Stamps with every chance to succeed by continuing to keep the best coach and GM in the league.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't BC artifically inflating their attendance numbers by having concerts before or after the games, something impossible to do in Calgary? New owners doesn't change that. Maybe we can hope that giving more free tickets to kids might help but that seems like a pretty long shot to fix what is wrong with the league.
The main problem this league has is a lack of talent. Talent is what will bring in fans to the games, talent will make the league exciting. if the top of the league QBs include names like Adams, Harris, Kelly you are in trouble, they aren't close to good enough to keep the few fans you have let alone attract new fans.
Until the talent issue is fixed I think all the other changes, like improving game day experience will have very little effect.
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