Halifax CFL Team - Page 5

MonctonRad · #81 Posted **Feb 5, 2018, 10:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Thanks!

My way of thinking is similar in that I will occasionally go to Moncton to attend music events, as your Casino tends to attract some acts that don't make it to Halifax, plus the Moncton Casino's venue is better than Halifax's. I am somewhat limited as to which ones I can go to, as it will require a hotel stay at least, and a day (or morning and afternoon) or two off work if it happens through the week. I suspect that the same limitations will apply to football no matter where it is played.

Hopefully, if Halifax gets a team, you will be able to make it "down here" more than once per year, though!

It could be more than once a year, especially if its good weather on game day and tickets are available and, if the team is doing well, but there is no question that distance is a disincentive.

To be quite honest, I can get most of my football fix by going to Mount Allison Mounties games. The atmosphere at AUS games can be pretty good.

OldDartmouthMark · #82 Posted **Feb 5, 2018, 11:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It could be more than once a year, especially if its good weather on game day and tickets are available and, if the team is doing well, but there is no question that distance is a disincentive.

To be quite honest, I can get most of my football fix by going to Mount Allison Mounties games. The atmosphere at AUS games can be pretty good.

I get where you're coming from. The university games can be quite entertaining for sure.

Regarding a Halifax CFL team, it'll be interesting to see where it all goes from here. At this point I'm remaining optimistic, but as I said if it ended up somewhere else in the Atlantic provinces I'd still be happy as it would be a boost for the region in general.

q12 · #83 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 1:36 PM**

The Rick Howe Show on News 95.7 is reporting the CFL has a news conference scheduled next week to announce the CFL franchise is a go (2020-2021), stadium will be in Dartmouth Crossing, the province will build a connector between highway 102 and highway 118, team naming contest to come.

Grey cup will be played in Halifax sometime in the franchises' first three years.

OldDartmouthMark · #84 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by q12

The Rick Howe Show on News 95.7 is reporting the CFL has a news conference scheduled next week to announce the CFL franchise is a go (2020-2021), stadium will be in Dartmouth Crossing, the province will build a connector between highway 102 and highway 118, team naming contest to come.

Grey cup will be played in Halifax sometime in the franchises' first three years.

Well that's good news!

Wonder what they are thinking re: the connector between hwy 102 and 118? The Burnside connector? I suspect that should only take about another 25 years to put in place...

https://novascotia.ca/tran/highways/...lle_June91.pdf

q12 · #85 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 3:41 PM**

https://twitter.com/natnewswatch/sta...22372220014592

More information from the 12pm hour on The Rick Howe Show:

-They are confident in the multiple sources.
-News conference in Halifax at 12:30pm Friday February 23rd and will have the Grey Cup there.
-Stadium will be privately financed, and construction will start in September in Dartmouth Crossing.
-Halifax Mayor was caught off guard by the story during phone interview (he had just landed at the Halifax airport from Ottawa).

We will find out in a week if this is all true.

q12 · #86 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 5:21 PM**

https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-ne...r-visit-841457

Quote:

CFL speculation ramps up ahead of commissioner visit

Two sources have told Rick Howe, that when Canadian Football League commissioner comes to Halifax next week, it will be to announce that an East Coast franchise is a go

by: Meghan Groff

Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie is in the midst of a cross-country tour.

In late January, the league issued a news release saying Ambrosie would be meeting "with fans in every CFL market in a series of town halls."

His 10-stop tour will visit all 9 cities with an existing CFL team, then wrap up in Halifax on Friday, February 23.

Two sources have told Rick Howe, a talk show host at NEWS 95.7, that when Ambrosie comes here next week, it will be to announce that an East Coast franchise is a go.

In mid-November the league confirmed talks were underway with a group looking to secure a Halifax expansion.

Howe explained to HalifaxToday.ca what information he has been told by sources who wish to remain anonymous.

"That construction will start on a stadium in Dartmouth Crossing in September, that the league has promised a Grey Cup game here within 3 years [of the team's inaugural season], that the province has agreed to build a connector between the 102 and the 118, and that the league will hold a contest to determine the team's name."

In an interview with NEWS 95.7's The Rick Howe Show, Mayor Mike Savage said there could be some truth there, but he doesn't believe the process is far enough along to have worked out all of those details.

"I don't think the commissioner is going to announce that there's a CFL team," he said. "He may announce that he has reached an agreement with an ownership group for a CFL team, but it's all obviously contingent on a stadium being built."

As for Howe's sources stating a stadium will be built at Dartmouth Crossing, the mayor said, if that's the case, it's news to him.

"Before anything happens in terms of a stadium, they would have to come to council and put forward a plan," explained Savage. "Council would have to look at that and give that careful consideration."

Howe wouldn't say who his sources are, just that they are "people who have a connection to football in HRM."

"We'll see what happens on Friday when Randy Ambrosie comes to town," said Howe.

Listen to Rick Howe's conversation with Mayor Mike Savage:

http://pmd.news957.com/podcasts/atla...vage%20CFL.mp3

FrankieFlowerpot · #87 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 6:06 PM**

About that

Quote:

@TSNDaveNaylor

As for rumours of CFL announcing franchise and stadium plans next Fri, Feb. 23rd in Halifax ... league will be holding a townhall with Commissioner Ambrosie in Halifax but does not anticipate a major announcement. #CFL #Halifax

q12 · #88 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 6:09 PM**

Of course they are going to say that if the story got leaked. None of this is new information anyways. The timeline for a CFL franchise start in Halifax has been stated to be 2020-2021. Something official will have to be announced with the league and owners very soon if this stadium is going to get constructed on time.

terrynorthend · #89 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 8:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Well that's good news!

Wonder what they are thinking re: the connector between hwy 102 and 118? The Burnside connector? I suspect that should only take about another 25 years to put in place...

https://novascotia.ca/tran/highways/...lle_June91.pdf

Don't the 118 and 102 already connect? In Fall River? Also, is that a rendering from the franchise group? Because that's an awesome looking stadium!

ns_kid · #90 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 8:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

Don't the 118 and 102 already connect? In Fall River? Also, is that a rendering from the franchise group? Because that's an awesome looking stadium!

The two highways only connect north and east. That is to say, from Dartmouth you can proceed north to the airport. To go south toward Halifax, the 101 or 103, you have to exit to highway 2 at Fall River then turn left off the 2 to enter the 102 southbound. You also can't access the 118 heading north from Halifax without exiting at Fall River. In short, it would be a lousy bottleneck. It already is.

While the story is intriguing, I can't say Rick Howe is my trusted news source. If Mayor Savage says it's premature I tend to believe him. He's pretty transparent as a rule.

OldDartmouthMark · #91 Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

Don't the 118 and 102 already connect? In Fall River? Also, is that a rendering from the franchise group? Because that's an awesome looking stadium!

What ns_kid said above, and I'm assuming that they are looking at increasing capacity from Northwest Halifax, south shore, valley, Bedford, and Sackville without plugging up Fall River, the Magazine Hill, or the bridges too much.

Thus, something like the 107 bypass or something similar would probably fit the bill, but progress hasn't been lightning fast on it (you'll note the document I posted above was dated 1991), and the NS government has been promising to build it 'in the near future' ever since... so it's hard to take that claim seriously.

ns_kid · #92 Posted **Feb 17, 2018, 2:32 AM**

Bill Spurr in the Herald is dismissing the alleged Rick Howe scoop. He cites Anthony Leblanc as saying there will be no announcement next Friday. He also said they have made no decision on a stadium location and have not secured any land. A TIR spokesthingy also confirmed there have been no discussions about highway improvements. And the CFL commissioner says it would be impossible to promise a Grey Cup game three years hence. It appears Rick needs more credible sources.

q12 · #93 Posted **Feb 24, 2018, 12:53 PM**

Quote:

Touchdown: CFL commissioner announces plans for Halifax franchise

Randy Ambrosie told overjoyed Halifax crowd a concrete plan is expected within a few months.

By: Lauren Hicks For Metro Halifax Published on Fri Feb 23 2018

Randy Ambrosie finished his cross-country CFL road trip in Halifax on Friday where he announced they’re planning a football franchise for the city.

No site location has yet been chosen, and Ambrosie said they’ll have a more concrete plan within the next few months.

He also said there is no timeline or pressure for when the team will be formed, and it’ll be "a couple of years" before a stadium is built.

"We will be thorough and thoughtful. You measure twice and cut once," he told a crowd gathered for the announcement in Halifax on Friday.

"It is about doing it right and making a franchise that will benefit this region for decades to come."

Partners of Maritime Football Limited (MFL) began thinking about the possibility of a local franchise about a year ago.

Founding partners of the MFL, Anthony LeBlanc and Bruce Bowser, joined Ambrosie on stage while making the announcement.

“The project is all about development around the game and the team. We need to keep the momentum going and get the ball down the field,” said LeBlanc.

Although no details about a site for the stadium were provided, Bowser hinted that it would likely not be in or around downtown Halifax.

Bowser also told the crowd that the stadium will likely cost between $150 to $250 million – seating approximately 24,000 fans.

“One thing I heard from the mayor and premier is that this project has to be private sector funded,” said LeBlanc.

“They are not saying they will not be involved, just that we have to lead the project.”

CFL stadiums across the country have relied on public funding and government assistance in their construction.

LeBlanc reassured the audience they “are not looking to take money out of tax payers pockets” amidst a few questions from audience members regarding the finances of the project.

The commissioner said that along with the exciting possibility of an Atlantic franchise, the organization is working hard to ensure the league is inclusive to all and that stadium seats are filled.

“This is more than a team. This is about more events and concerts coming to the area and hopefully helping the local economy,” said LeBlanc.

Bowser and LeBlanc also spoke to the importance of this being a regional team they hope will draw crowds from all over the Maritimes.

“If IKEA can pull as many people from all over the region like it does, we think a football team will too,” said LeBlanc.

For this reason, the team will not be called “The Halifax____” but rather “The Atlantic____,” explained Bowser.

The Canadian Football League Commissioner’s ten-stop tour concluded with an appearance in front of an excited crowd at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel in downtown Halifax.

Halifax was the only non-franchise city on Ambrosie’s national tour.

“We have the opportunity to be the most inclusive sports league in the country. Football belongs to all of Canada," he said.

“The stars have aligned and we do not have a completed CFL until we have a team in Atlantic Canada. I believe in my heart this franchise will happen.”

Read the story here: http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax...form=hootsuite

q12 · #94 Posted **Apr 9, 2018, 5:38 PM**

Update:

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/04/06/randys...nting-kickoff/

Quote:

Almost all of you expressed support for expansion to Halifax. Things may seem quiet on that front but that is because the bid group there is working very hard behind the scenes to put the necessary pieces – including a stadium – in place. We have a long way to go but I want you to know the fact this work is being done is very encouraging.

c-way-dude · #95 Posted **Aug 19, 2018, 7:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

True to a point, but conversely, people in Halifax tend to overinflate the importance of their city in people's consciousness's elsewhere in the region.

In general, the influence of a city tapers off with distance. Influence is highest within about a 90 minute driving distance. Once you get to about a three hour drive, then influence drops off considerably. For this reason, Halifax just isn't that important in the daily lives of most NBers or PEIslanders. When you throw in CB, more than half the regional population lives more than three hours from Halifax. The only other city within three hours of Halifax is Moncton, and that's just barely. For most other Maritimers, Halifax is just a place you visit once or twice a year for a break. NB and PEI are pretty self sufficient most of the time (even for such things as higher end medical services. The only exception being advanced pediatric care at the IWK).

Most of the time Halifax just isn't that relevant to most Maritimers in NB or PEI.

I'm not going to get drawn into the debate over where the team should have gone. That ship has sailed.

This is why I believe that they are making a mistake with the Atlantic name.
Obviously a franchise should market itself regionally by doing things like sending players out to schools and to events, as well as perhaps holding training camp in Moncton or Saint John. People have no trouble cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Blue Jays, etc..
Sports franchises are named for the city or state/province where they play. There are only 2 franchises in the big 4 North American leagues that are not (New England Patriots and Golden State Warriors). In the Patriots case, they were the Boston Patriots for the first 11 years of their existence. In the late '60's, they started trying to get a stadium built in Boston (which ultimately failed). They ended up moving to Foxboro, which is something like halfway between downtown Boston and the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border. That is why they changed their name.
People compare Atlantic to Saskatchewan, but it's not the same. The actual equivalent would be calling their team the Prairie Roughriders.
Doing a little research, the only other New England that I found is a subdivision of the state of New South Wales in Australia. Atlantic is too vague, unless they call the team the Atlantic Canadians. IMO, it is a timid way to present yourself as a professional football franchise, and is a bit disrespectful because they are ultimately going to have to use Nova Scotia taxpayer dollars to get a stadium built.

stephan.richard · #96 Posted **Sep 4, 2018, 4:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by c-way-dude

This is why I believe that they are making a mistake with the Atlantic name.
Obviously a franchise should market itself regionally by doing things like sending players out to schools and to events, as well as perhaps holding training camp in Moncton or Saint John. People have no trouble cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Blue Jays, etc..
Sports franchises are named for the city or state/province where they play. There are only 2 franchises in the big 4 North American leagues that are not (New England Patriots and Golden State Warriors). In the Patriots case, they were the Boston Patriots for the first 11 years of their existence. In the late '60's, they started trying to get a stadium built in Boston (which ultimately failed). They ended up moving to Foxboro, which is something like halfway between downtown Boston and the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border. That is why they changed their name.
People compare Atlantic to Saskatchewan, but it's not the same. The actual equivalent would be calling their team the Prairie Roughriders.
Doing a little research, the only other New England that I found is a subdivision of the state of New South Wales in Australia. Atlantic is too vague, unless they call the team the Atlantic Canadians. IMO, it is a timid way to present yourself as a professional football franchise, and is a bit disrespectful because they are ultimately going to have to use Nova Scotia taxpayer dollars to get a stadium built.

Having recently moved from the province of New Brunswick to work here in Regina Saskatchewan let me tell you a few things the Roughriders do in their marketing here, The team is a provincial team like the BC Lions that are based out of Vancouver. And i don't find that it would be a mistake to name the team the Atlantic "Schooners" for an example. The Roughriders have a very very loyal fan base with over 25000 season tickets sold and Mosaic Stadium is a cool venue with over 33K seats. One more success story the Riders has its anyone can become a shareholder of the team the Riders sell these shares off at 250$ a pop. Then they hold their annual training camp in Saskatoon and travel their players across the province to promote the team. The team has an army of volunteers who does numerous duties during the game (Like myself who volunteers as an usher). The team has season ticket holders that live five to six hours away to support the team. That said here are a few points that will make an Atlantic team successfull.

Promote the team as a Atlantic/Maritime team to focus on all Atlantic provinces
Host the first two or three seasons in Moncton while the stadium gets built on Halifax
Once the Halifax Stadium is built host all pre season games or training camp in Moncton or have the pre-season games in Moncton and hold training camp in Charlottetown
Have an army of Volunteers do the games
Potentially sell shares in the team
Partner with local transit authorities and airlines to offer discounts or free rides for ticket holders to get to Halifax from the major cities in Atlantic Canada.
For folks who live in the HRM have free bus service that will take ticket holders to and from the stadium from 5 or 6 pick up points in town
And make tickets affordable

Hopefully down the road there will be a maritime team and there is a lot of buzz around the league about it. Also the I hope the new Halifax stadium plans will be announced soon and it will be as nice as to what we have here in Regina with our Mosaic Stadium.

Jstaleness · #97 Posted **Sep 4, 2018, 1:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan.richard

Also the I hope the new Halifax stadium plans will be announced soon and it will be as nice as to what we have here in Regina with our Mosaic Stadium.

I understand that Halifax city members have until the end of September to name the location of the Stadium. This is what was discussed by the TSN Panel on the Hamilton - Toronto Labour Day Classic game last night.

isaidso · #98 Posted **Sep 5, 2018, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan.richard

Also the I hope the new Halifax stadium plans will be announced soon and it will be as nice as to what we have here in Regina with our Mosaic Stadium.

Mosaic is the best football stadium in the country. I'd be pleasantly surprised if Halifax builds something even remotely on the same level as Mosaic. Something like what exists in Hamilton is more likely.

isaidso · #99 Posted **Sep 5, 2018, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by c-way-dude

This is why I believe that they are making a mistake with the Atlantic name.
Obviously a franchise should market itself regionally by doing things like sending players out to schools and to events, as well as perhaps holding training camp in Moncton or Saint John. People have no trouble cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Blue Jays, etc..
Sports franchises are named for the city or state/province where they play. There are only 2 franchises in the big 4 North American leagues that are not (New England Patriots and Golden State Warriors). In the Patriots case, they were the Boston Patriots for the first 11 years of their existence. In the late '60's, they started trying to get a stadium built in Boston (which ultimately failed). They ended up moving to Foxboro, which is something like halfway between downtown Boston and the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border. That is why they changed their name.
People compare Atlantic to Saskatchewan, but it's not the same. The actual equivalent would be calling their team the Prairie Roughriders.
Doing a little research, the only other New England that I found is a subdivision of the state of New South Wales in Australia. Atlantic is too vague, unless they call the team the Atlantic Canadians. IMO, it is a timid way to present yourself as a professional football franchise, and is a bit disrespectful because they are ultimately going to have to use Nova Scotia taxpayer dollars to get a stadium built.

I'm not in favour of a regional name either. Whether people in PEI and NB support the team, attend when visiting Halifax, or buy merchandise will depend on how much marketing, presence, and outreach the team does throughout the Maritimes.

If it's called Halifax 'something' or Nova Scotia 'something' that is fine/preferable. Like you said, people support the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Canadiens in the Maritimes. Many also support the Toronto Blue Jays.

someone123 · #**100** Posted **Sep 5, 2018, 8:20 PM**

I think it's weird how much airtime in debates about a CFL team in Halifax is devoted to what people in New Brunswick and PEI will think about it. It's also weird that we have a bunch of non-Halifax residents who regularly post about Halifax stuff and how it isn't relevant to their lives.

If it's true that Halifax is irrelevant to the lives of people in these other provinces, why will they care if a sports team there is named for the city, province, or region? If you argue that it is important, you are arguing that something that may be set up in Halifax will in fact have a regional impact.

I don't really buy the 90 minute thing. Whether people like it or not Toronto has an impact on the lives of all Canadians and most of them live more than 90 minutes away. A lot of them will cheer for Toronto's sports teams too even though they're named after Toronto. It is wrong to say that the day to day lives of all Canadians revolve around Toronto but even so it is a city of national importance. Halifax is the same thing at the Atlantic or Maritime level.

Timid is a good way to describe this.