Hey mods how about merging this thread with the Atlantic Schooners thread to keep the history together
Commish wants Atlantic Canada to feel part of the CFL family
Tim Baines Postmedia February 20, 2020
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie says making sure Atlantic Canadians feel welcome is a big focus of the league, whether or not a franchise ends up on the East Coast.
Schooners Sports and Entertainment is laying the groundwork to try to land a franchise, but there’s still plenty of work to do.
“There’s an effort being made to really look at the stadium model,” said Ambrosie. “There are two sites I’m familiar with that are being looked at. The stadium site issue is what Halifax regional council referenced in their announcement — they will provide financial support for the stadium, but not for where it was originally proposed.
Yes, it’s quiet right now, but that’s because lots of work is being done.”
Ambrosie is in the middle of Randy’s Road Trip. In a tour across the country (the final date is March 11 in Toronto) speaking to CFL audiences, Ambrosie made his third stop Thursday in Hamilton. Halifax is up next on Sunday.
Ambrosie said there is no drop-dead date on Atlantic Canada’s efforts to land a CFL team.
“We’ve extended our hand of friendship to Atlantic Canada,” he said. “One way or another, Atlantic Canada needs to be part of our community, it needs to be part of the CFL’s future. There are 2.2, 2.3 million Canadians living in Atlantic Canada. At the minimum, I want to be the person who gave 1,000 per cent to try and get this thing done. And if we don’t, we need to find a way to embrace Atlantic Canadians and make them part of the CFL. Last year, our TV ratings were up 50 per cent in Atlantic Canada — we went and played a game there.
“I want to be that guy, I want to be the person who made sure Atlantic Canadians know they are part of our family. Getting the team, of course, is a huge priority, but it has to start with the belief that Atlantic Canada has to be part of the CFL’s future.”