CFL Back To Ottawa?

[RedHot25]

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/news_story/?ID=173923&hubname=

Apparently, three groups are expressing interest in doing as such.

At least three groups are expected to file their intention to seek a Canadian Football League franchise for the city of Ottawa by the Friday deadline.
According to several published reports, Golden Gate Capital Corporation of Toronto, brewery entrepreneur Frank D'Angelo and a U.S. investment group which includes former CFL'er Bill Palmer, whose son is NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer.

I think it would be great to see the CFL have a team in the nation's capital; however, I'm not sure whether or not the fan support is there. Mind you, they have had extremely crappy ownership for the most part (the Glierbman's, anybody? Horn Chen? )

Also this interesting tidbit:

At least one of the groups has reportedly worked out a deal with former CFL owner Horn Chen to secure the rights and revive the Rough Riders name and logo for the new team.

[Flickered Flame]

It would be great if a team could actually thrive in Ottawa, I just hate the fact that there could be 2 Roughrider teams. Once they get Ottawa figured out they can turn their attention to Halifax or somewhere in the maritimes.

[RedHot25]

Not so sure about Halifax, to be honest with you. Being out here, an immediate problem is no stadium for them to play in; however, there is the potential if they get the Commonwealth games to put a team in there (they are supposedly to build a new stadium). But I'm also not sure of the appetite for a CFL team here either; and as well, this isn't always the most economically prosperus area at times, which means (in broad general terms) less $$ to throw around.

[troutman]

According to an Ottawa reporter on Rob Kerr's show Thursday, the best group is the one with Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt. He is considered a marketing genius, and has mucho good will in Ottawa.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

It would be great if a team could actually thrive in Ottawa, I just hate the fact that there could be 2 Roughrider teams. Once they get Ottawa figured out they can turn their attention to Halifax or somewhere in the maritimes.

Quebec City, London or Windsor might be better markets to look at than Halifax.

Halifax might work. People drive for hours from all over Sask to go to Rider games.

[Eddie Bronze]

I saw a story on the Hunt fellow a few years back and how he's done so well with the 67 team. He would probably be the best option. From what I saw, the 67's are sold out every game, although they play in the tiny Civic Centre.

If Bill Palmer's group wins, I guess we at least know who their QB will be.

I also hope the rumor about the name Rough Riders coming back is true. The entire Renegades thing seemed so amateur. There's something uniquely Canadian about our league and having two teams with the same name is part of it. Laugh at that if you will.

Halifax will not support a CFL team. If they are set on expanding, Quebec City would be a much better option. I'm from down east and as much as I'd love to see a team down there and one that was successful on and off the field, they wouldn't get the support necessary over the long haul to make a move like that worth it.

[Flickered Flame]

Yeah I had heard about a year or more ago that Quebec City would probably be a good fit since they are football crazy in that province right now. Either way, it would be nice to have a 10 team league.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by troutman

Quebec City, London or Windsor might be better markets to look at than Halifax.

Even somewhere in the barren wastelands of Northern Ontario would be a better option than Halifax. Hockey is the only sport that means anything to anyone in Nova Scotia that could be successful and that has even proven tough in the past with AHL teams because of economic and general population issues.

[troutman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...reas_in_Canada

List of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in Canada:

1Toronto CMA (Mississauga), Ontario 5,304,600
2Montréal CMA (Laval), Québec 3,635,842
3Vancouver CMA (Surrey), British Columbia 2,208,300
4Ottawa–Gatineau CMA, Ontario–Québec 1,148,800
5Calgary CMA, Alberta1,060,300
6Edmonton CMA, Alberta1,016,000
7Québec CMA (Lévis), Québec717,600
8Winnipeg CMA, Manitoba706,900
9Hamilton CMA (Burlington), Ontario 714,900
10London CMA, Ontario 445,000
11Kitchener CMA (Cambridge,Waterloo), Ontario 435,000
12St. Catharines–Niagara CMA (Niagara Falls, Welland), Ontario 385,000
13Halifax CMA, Nova Scotia375,000
14Victoria CMA (Saanich), British Columbia 334,700
15Windsor CMA, Ontario 332,300

[flambers]

Interesting item that was also discussed on Fan960 yesterday is if Ottawa goes back into the league next year all of the former players will go back to Ottawa. This would include Joseph which would create a big hole for Sask. I guess the Stamps gambled when they chose the players from Ottawa that they would be here for 1 year only.

[troutman]

The CFL is also looking for $3 million as a franchise fee for a suspended franchise. I don't think any group will pay that.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by flambers

Interesting item that was also discussed on Fan960 yesterday is if Ottawa goes back into the league next year all of the former players will go back to Ottawa. This would include Joseph which would create a big hole for Sask. I guess the Stamps gambled when they chose the players from Ottawa that they would be here for 1 year only.

To me that is just wrong. Current CFL teams that are profitable should not be punnished for participating in the dispersal. Never mind the players who have settled into a new city, perhaps bought a house and have tried to make a home. This isn't the NFL where players are being paid a million dollars; this is guys making as much (or many times less) than what I make.

[worth]

Yeah, that really should just have an expansion draft.

Anyway, it would be pretty funny to see Sask lose Joseph. For me anyway.

[JiriHrdina]

More clownery from the CFL.

Suspend the franchise
Hold a dispersal draft
Try to bring it back and charge an expansion fee for it
Send players from disepersal draft back to Ottawa

What kind of league does this junk?

[Bench Warmer]

Originally Posted by flambers

Interesting item that was also discussed on Fan960 yesterday is if Ottawa goes back into the league next year all of the former players will go back to Ottawa. This would include Joseph which would create a big hole for Sask. I guess the Stamps gambled when they chose the players from Ottawa that they would be here for 1 year only.

Random rumour creation on the Fan960s part. As part of the dispersal draft this year, it was stated by the CFL that if a new Ottawa franchise was awarded for next year, there would be an expansion draft. Although, the folks running the CFL have done stranger things...

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

Random rumour creation on the Fan960s part. As part of the dispersal draft this year, it was stated by the CFL that if a new Ottawa franchise was awarded for next year, there would be an expansion draft. Although, the folks running the CFL have done stranger things...

Not a rumour I heard other people say the same thing on the Radio (i.e. Jim Barker).

[Mr.Coffee]

What about Quebec City?

[calf]

Originally Posted by troutman

The CFL is also looking for $3 million as a franchise fee for a suspended franchise. I don't think any group will pay that.

they were originally asking for $6million...while I don't think it's unfair for the league to ask for a fee to bring back a team (I'm assuming they bought out the Gliebs), the focus should be on making sure they will be stable and well managed...something Ottawa hasn't had in decades (and the attendance showed).

What about Quebec City?

where will they play? I want a (9th/10th) team as much as anyone, but the costs of building a stadium to support a CFL team will inhibit many cities from putting forward a realistic bid anytime soon

[troutman]

Any city with over 500,000 should build at least one outdoor stadium that can seat 20,000. Such a stadium would have many uses besides CFL games.

Quebec has an old baseball stadium that seats 4,500.

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/quebec/quebec.htm

How big is the stadium for U of Laval?

http://www.magma.ca/~jhayman/ciau/22laval.htm

Stadium: Stade de PEPS
Stadium Address: n/a
Location: Ste. Foy, Quebec
Capacity: 3500

Maybe it can be expanded for CFL?

Stadiums in Canada:

http://www.partyguideonline.com/attr.../stadiums.html

[Red Mile Style]

Originally Posted by worth

Yeah, that really should just have an expansion draft.

Anyway, it would be pretty funny to see Sask lose Joseph. For me anyway.

Worth, your opinion is worthless!

It won't matter, the riders will prevail!