Canadian Football League 2008

[ErickMontreal]

Alouettes have sprayed Winnipeg tonight : 39-11.

[Nicko999]

First in the East
Offense was once again awesome!!!
Defense was better. Hope they'll continue playing 60 min.

[Rico Rommheim]

YEEEAAAH!

[ErickMontreal]

CFL wants to discuss future in Moncton
Mayor plans to call league to discuss expansion options

Published Saturday August 9th, 2008
A13
Canadaeast news service

The commissioner of the Canadian Football League says the climate is right for expansion, and he looks forward to a call from Moncton's mayor to discuss it.

It's just a matter of finding a city with a stadium and a strong local financial backer to intrigue the league to Atlantic Canada, says Mark Cohon.

According to Moncton North MLA Mike Murphy, the Hub City has a stadium coming, it knows the financial resources are there, and the time is now right for the city to again push for a team.

The mayor of Moncton says he has plans to give Cohon a call.

"I think there is an argument to be made that a CFL team can be successful here," said George LeBlanc. "I will be taking the opportunity sometime down the road to talk to these folks and see if there is an opportunity for that here in Moncton."

Cohon says the league is in a position to look at expansion with last year's average stadium attendance reaching its highest since 1983. Television ratings are up 19 per cent so far this season.

"We are now going to start really thinking about what are the new opportunities for the league and expansion is definitely on our agenda and is something we need to explore," said Cohon. "I am looking forward to the mayor calling me."

The CFL last tested the waters for possible expansion into the Maritimes in 2005 with an exhibition game held in Halifax.

At that time, former commissioner Tom Wright was looking at the feasibility of adding a 10th CFL franchise by 2008, but only if a 25,000-seat stadium was in place and the league was convinced private financial backers were in place.

The dream died when financial instability hit other teams in the league in 2006 which culminated in the indefinite suspension of the Ottawa Renegades.

In March of this year the CFL granted an expansion team back to the nation's capital which will see a team return either in 2010 or 2011.

Cohon says the addition of a 10th team is again a possibility but only to a city with a stadium and the right local ownership.

"Those are the two key components that we have to find and if the mayor is interested in talking to me about those fronts I would be happy to talk to him," he said. "We are starting to think about what are the parameters of whether it's Moncton, whether it's Halifax or Quebec City, what would have to go into it."

An advocate for a team in 2005, Murphy believes Moncton is the only Atlantic Canada city where a team could be feasible noting its geographical location in the centre of the Maritime provinces.

He also said the reasons why a bid fell apart in 2005 is no longer a problem.

"When we had talks in 2005 there was no stadium, now there is going to be a stadium and we have proven as a city we can attract crowds," said Murphy. "It's all there now, there's just no reason not to do it."

April's announcement to expand the plans for an outdoor arena set to welcome the World Junior Championships in track and field in 2010 will bring a stadium with a capacity of up to 20,000 spectators to the Université de Moncton.

Cohon said that stadium comes close to the 25,000 attendance needed for a CFL franchise to succeed.

It now has Murphy calling for the city to take charge to find financial backers and create the business plan to entice a league which is visible everywhere else in the country except Atlantic Canada.

"Who can step up to the plate and tell me it can't be done?" said Murphy. "It's not massive money. This is not the NFL."

The CFL began enforcing a salary cap of $4.05 million per team in 2007, a year after expanding active rosters to 42 players. The league minimum salary is $39,000.

Murphy said the economic viability is there, as he was approached by business with interest in sponsorship in 2005.

[hexrae]

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Bring it on Winnipeg!!!

We didn't bring it

[Greco Roman]

Originally Posted by ErickMontreal

CFL wants to discuss future in Moncton
Mayor plans to call league to discuss expansion options

Published Saturday August 9th, 2008
A13
Canadaeast news service

The commissioner of the Canadian Football League says the climate is right for expansion, and he looks forward to a call from Moncton's mayor to discuss it.

It's just a matter of finding a city with a stadium and a strong local financial backer to intrigue the league to Atlantic Canada, says Mark Cohon.

According to Moncton North MLA Mike Murphy, the Hub City has a stadium coming, it knows the financial resources are there, and the time is now right for the city to again push for a team.

The mayor of Moncton says he has plans to give Cohon a call.

"I think there is an argument to be made that a CFL team can be successful here," said George LeBlanc. "I will be taking the opportunity sometime down the road to talk to these folks and see if there is an opportunity for that here in Moncton."

Cohon says the league is in a position to look at expansion with last year's average stadium attendance reaching its highest since 1983. Television ratings are up 19 per cent so far this season.

"We are now going to start really thinking about what are the new opportunities for the league and expansion is definitely on our agenda and is something we need to explore," said Cohon. "I am looking forward to the mayor calling me."

The CFL last tested the waters for possible expansion into the Maritimes in 2005 with an exhibition game held in Halifax.

At that time, former commissioner Tom Wright was looking at the feasibility of adding a 10th CFL franchise by 2008, but only if a 25,000-seat stadium was in place and the league was convinced private financial backers were in place.

The dream died when financial instability hit other teams in the league in 2006 which culminated in the indefinite suspension of the Ottawa Renegades.

In March of this year the CFL granted an expansion team back to the nation's capital which will see a team return either in 2010 or 2011.

Cohon says the addition of a 10th team is again a possibility but only to a city with a stadium and the right local ownership.

"Those are the two key components that we have to find and if the mayor is interested in talking to me about those fronts I would be happy to talk to him," he said. "We are starting to think about what are the parameters of whether it's Moncton, whether it's Halifax or Quebec City, what would have to go into it."

An advocate for a team in 2005, Murphy believes Moncton is the only Atlantic Canada city where a team could be feasible noting its geographical location in the centre of the Maritime provinces.

He also said the reasons why a bid fell apart in 2005 is no longer a problem.

"When we had talks in 2005 there was no stadium, now there is going to be a stadium and we have proven as a city we can attract crowds," said Murphy. "It's all there now, there's just no reason not to do it."

April's announcement to expand the plans for an outdoor arena set to welcome the World Junior Championships in track and field in 2010 will bring a stadium with a capacity of up to 20,000 spectators to the Université de Moncton.

Cohon said that stadium comes close to the 25,000 attendance needed for a CFL franchise to succeed.

It now has Murphy calling for the city to take charge to find financial backers and create the business plan to entice a league which is visible everywhere else in the country except Atlantic Canada.

"Who can step up to the plate and tell me it can't be done?" said Murphy. "It's not massive money. This is not the NFL."

The CFL began enforcing a salary cap of $4.05 million per team in 2007, a year after expanding active rosters to 42 players. The league minimum salary is $39,000.

Murphy said the economic viability is there, as he was approached by business with interest in sponsorship in 2005.

I still believe that in order to have a CFL team in Atlantic Canada, of which I fully support, you should place it in Halifax with a large enough population base. Just my opinion though.

[Rico Rommheim]

^ I agree. Moncton is simply too small. Halifax should get it, no questions asked. Quebec city should also get one, football is HUGE is over there, HUGE!

Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Winnipeg
x- (Victoria? Inner BC? 2nd team in Saskatchewan?)

Toronto
Hamilton
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Halifax


....idealy.

[Ayreonaut]

Kelowna for the West.

[SteelTown]

Let Moncton go ahead, this might start a CFL race in Atlantic Canada like the space race and get Halifax to do something for a stadium.

[Boreal]

Quebec City, and then Ottawa should be long and away the priority in my opinion. This is not to slight anyone else, but it gets a 2nd team in the incredibly football strong province of Quebec. It also puts it into a major market of 700,000+, as well as creating a instantly HOT rivalry with Montreal. Ottawa is a strange beast, but it is a large centre. I understand they have a stadium and apparently ready investors, but I still prefer Quebec City, but money talks and a stadium is obviously necessary, so I understand the CFL's direction.

I'm not trying to devalue Atlantic Canada, but at this point in time it appears as though there are larger, and perhaps more football ready markets available. Ideally though, I do agree, 12 teams would be the way to go with Atlantic Canada without question playing home to one. At this point in time, I don't think they Canadian talent exists in football to adequately fill the needed number of NI roster spots on 12 teams. 10 is perhaps even a stretch, but a good long term goal.

[craner]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

^ I agree. Moncton is simply too small. Halifax should get it, no questions asked. Quebec city should also get one, football is HUGE is over there, HUGE!

Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Winnipeg
x- (Victoria? Inner BC? 2nd team in Saskatchewan?)

Toronto
Hamilton
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Halifax


....idealy.

EXACTLY

I wouldn't be against Moncton getting a team though if that's what it takes to get the CFL to Atlantic Canada.

[Nicko999]

Quebec City and Halifax should be considered before Moncton

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Quebec City and Halifax should be considered before Moncton

I would agree if both places were willing to build CFL sized stadiums. Halifax could have had one (for the commonwealth games), but they backed out. Moncton is building one, and it is being expanded to 20,000 now apparently (if the rumours are true), and thats only 5,000 off the 25,000 needed for CFL.

Quebec City sort of has a stadium, but it would need improvements/expansion (Laval's stadium... Peps Stadium?), or a new one built. That being said, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax are definitely the most logical choices... but if the latter two aren't willing to build a stadium to house a team, there is a bit of a stalemate.

[DC83]

So it's NFL Day in Toronto... anyone going to this game?

I heard they were only able to sell about 30,000 tix and the rest were given away?

If this is true (and I pray it is), I suppose this means Money-Bag Rogers' new cash-scham was a big waste of time/hype/and money!

Edit: I guess it's kinda true?

Despite the anticipated protest, Toronto's NFL experiment will begin with a whimper rather than a much-anticipated bang.

High ticket prices - an average of $183 per game and a $575 top price - prevented what many had expected to be a quick sellout of the Bills' games in Toronto. The $183 figure is double the highest-priced average ticket in the NFL last year (which was sold in New England).

So while there will be a capacity crowd of 54,000 at Rogers Centre, it won't officially be a sellout. Earlier this week, Bills officials announced tickets for the contest had been "distributed."

Canadian Press
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jODss2veYvKSVnumOcmqJH0qGEng

[Ayreonaut]

No West games this weekend right?

[Nicko999]

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

No West games this weekend right?

The West is next week.

[IntotheWest]

Originally Posted by DC83

So it's NFL Day in Toronto... anyone going to this game?

I heard they were only able to sell about 30,000 tix and the rest were given away?

If this is true (and I pray it is), I suppose this means Money-Bag Rogers' new cash-scham was a big waste of time/hype/and money!

Edit: I guess it's kinda true?

Well...double the price of the highest average priced ticket??? I wouldn't go either. What did they expect? Go into TO and jack up the prices that much? Stupid, really.


About the Moncton/Halifax thing. I don't know the Maritimes that well, but isn't Halifax about 300,000 people, and Moncton less than half of that?

Also, travel would be far more difficult from Moncton then Halifax. Halifax has direct flights to at least a few more of the existing CFL teams.

Rico, I agree with your list - but would also add London, Ont (or, somewhere else in southern Ont):

Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Winnipeg
Victoria/Van Island - definitely
Okanagan/Kelowna - definitely
SASKATOON!!!!!

Toronto
Hamilton
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Halifax
London

[Nicko999]

Originally Posted by IntotheWest

Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Winnipeg
Victoria/Van Island - definitely
Okanagan/Kelowna - definitely
SASKATOON!!!!!

Toronto
Hamilton
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Halifax
London

Two teams in Vancouver and Saskatchewan? No way this is going to happen! Also Kelowna is way too small.

[Ayreonaut]

Kelowna's not much smaller than Regina, and the surrounding area is more populated, with Vernon (60k) 30 minutes North, and Penticton (30k?) to the South. The Okanagan Valley is quite heavily populated.

Victoria's not in Vancouver.

Saskatchewan could support another team.

[Nicko999]

Winnipeg won.
Tommorow is the battle for the first place in the East between Montreal and Toronto (a game with Toronto is always a special)