Originally Posted by
Downtownfan
A few other things:
1. What is missing from this latest discussion is Mr. Braley's role in all this. The man has some pretty big cojones: He is basically triggering this deal by forcing the issue through his pursuit of a stadium, one that MLSE could not ignore (or disbelieve) for fear of losing their sports/entertainment monopoly and potentially creating a regional competitor in the suburbs. Braley has already made two stadium projects already happen (BC and THF), has more money than most people realize (he has given away about $60 million in the last 10 years that we know of, and the figure is probably a lot more-- can you imagine how much money he must have?), and has the sheer stubborness to do this (he answers to no one, unlike Tannenbaum, who has a board to deal with). Then, he turns around and dead-eyes MLSE, probably getting a pretty good deal for himself, and if other rumours posted on this board are correct, protecting the Argos and league by ensuring buy-back rights. Wow. Just wow.
2. The big loser is Rogers, and really the Jays. They totally screwed the pooch on the NFL (who screws up the NFL?), are about to have major egg on their face when the Bills likely pull out of the Toronto series, and lose whatever leverage they had for controlling football in Toronto. Moreover, when the Argos go out of the dome, they have no excuse not to put grass in-- which they claim the want to do, but probably realize is either unrealistic or massively expensive. But their fans are clamoring for it as a panacea for the franchise's problems. The Jays, with the biggest payroll in Canada and a last place finish to show for it, also just lost another 10% with the decline of the dollar. This team must lose immense amounts of money. Though they won the hockey rights, they probably overpaid. Bell/TSN now has money for football and other stuff, and won't lose the regional rights for the Leafs (which is where much of the value in hockey is). It also means less money for the Jays, who are quickly looking like the old maid in the baseall FA season, and won't have much of a compelling story line come the spring to get fans back in the seats.
Ironically, Rogers ends up owing the team they wanted to kill-- which is why they are being so stubborn at the MLSE board. But they will have to give in eventually, as Bell/Tannenbaum will make their own deal to buy the Argos, which would be an even worse outcome for them. Will see how the Argos schedule is after the announcement that MLSE and/or Tannenbaum owns the team.
3. There will be a few stages of media/public reaction to this deal. First, there will be disbelief-- how could they, why would they? Second, there will be false rationalization-- it's only for the NFL, its charity, its because the government made them do it, etc. There will also be outright hatred from quite a few TFC types and other anti-CFLers (which is already percolating if you bother to check out Red Patch Boys). But after a year or two, as the construction stuff gets worked out, there will be a whole new level of awareness of the Argos. It will be things like MLSE signage (even if they don't buy the team and Tannenbaum does, they will be tenants in BMO), apparel at Real Sports, cross-promotion, media, etc. MLSE will have two summer teams and three winter teams, and get close to 150 event days in the city. The Argos will benefit immensely from this association, and the new stadium experience will get "rave reviews" especially since the only comparison is the mausoleum at Rogers Centre (and this comes from someone who has been going to Argos games since 1978). Talk about a positive development.
4. Peddie was just on TSN radio, and while he is an asshat with the same schtick of "Argos don't make money, we didn't buy them" (ignoring changing realities of a new TV deal a revitalized franchise, and the draw of a 30,000 seat outdoor stadium), he did say that Tannenbaum "likes the Argos" and would have bought them in the past. Perhaps, with Tannenbaum as the new face of the franchise, this marks a new day of awareness etc. Maybe, just maybe, Tannenbaum will end up being a really good owner, along with MLSE.
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