Group makes ‘very credible’ pitch for Halifax CFL franchise

[jerrym]

Yes, I read it. The league will be blamed if it continues to allow speculation to get ahead of actuality. That may not be fair but that's life.

[rdavies]

Proposed 'Explosions' name for CFL team touches off fiery debate online
On Twitter, CFL in Halifax pitched the idea of calling the football team the Halifax Explosions
Canadian Press January 29/2018



HALIFAX — A group supporting a proposed CFL team in Halifax touched off a fiery debate online when it proposed naming the team after one of the country's greatest Maritime disasters.

On Twitter, CFL in Halifax pitched the idea of calling the football team the Halifax Explosions — a reference to the devastating explosion in the Halifax harbour in 1917 that killed about 2,000 people.

A similar name, the Halifax Xplosion, is used by the city's team in the Maritime Women's Football League.

CFL in Halifax is a creative group that makes fan art to generate discussion, and clarified Monday afternoon that "We are NOT the same people who are bidding for an official Halifax CFL team. That is a different group of business people."

CFL in Halifax enthusiastically promoted the Explosion moniker, saying that 100 years ago "a force was unleashed that made this city stronger, bigger, and more united than ever before. Now we channel that force onto the football field as we flatten all that stands in our way."

It didn't take long for people to register their rebukes.

"You want to profit off the deaths of 2,000 people? It's in really poor taste," said one person, while another tweeted, "I grew up in Dartmouth and this is an absolutely asinine idea."

Others were more creative with their disapproval.

"The Hiroshima Atoms, the Nagasaki Fallout, The California Embers, the Port-au-Prince Quakes," wrote thenormalperson. "I hear the CFL is expanding to the U.S. with the New York 9-11s."

For its part, CFL in Halifax — which is also unaffiliated with the league itself — said it was merely trying to promote a forceful name. It included pictures of a helmet with orange and yellow flames and a logo that looked like an explosive cloud with a skull in the centre.

"The Halifax Explosions team concept is the manifestation of our history and our powerful culture," it tweeted. "A sign to ur opponents that danger is on its way. And history will be made."

Halifax was devastated on Dec. 6, 1917, when two ships collided in the city's harbour and set off an explosion that levelled the city's north end. It's estimated that 2,000 people were killed, while another 9,000 were maimed or blinded.

The group has suggested several other names for the proposed team, including the Atlantic Fog, East Coast Kraken, the Halifax Privateers, and the Atlantic Schooners.

The league confirmed in November it has been in talks with a "professional, enthusiastic and impressive" group of prospective owners rallying for a Halifax franchise.

There are still questions over whether the East Coast has the fan base to support a Canadian Football League franchise, if the business community would be interested in sponsoring a team and who would foot the bill for a new Halifax stadium.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage has said a potential CFL team would be "an exciting opportunity," but that the municipality would not lead the charge, so as to not put taxpayers at risk over the cost of building a stadium.

The league has said there have been discussions with a group interested in securing a franchise for Halifax, but the talks are preliminary.

The CFL awarded a conditional franchise to Halifax in 1982 — it was named the Atlantic Schooners — but financing for a stadium never came about. The league played regular-season games in Moncton, N.B., in 2010, 2011 and '13.

[rdavies]

Prospect of CFL Team in Atlantic Canada Excites Residents of Halifax
Insights West February 1st, 2018
Half of the city’s residents are in favour of using public funds to build a multi-purpose stadium for the new franchise.

Halifax, NS – Many residents of Halifax are looking forward to the Canadian Football League (CFL) establishing a team in the city, a new Insights West poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of Halifax residents, 45% say they are “very excited” or “somewhat excited” about the possibility of having a CFL team in Halifax—including 49% of men and 52% of residents aged 18-to-34.

Having a CFL team in Halifax would require the construction of a new multi-purpose stadium. Half of Halifax residents (50%) support using public funds to build this facility, while 44% are opposed.

Women (53%) and residents aged 18-to-34 (56%) are more supportive of financing the stadium’s construction with public funds, while those aged 55 and over are more likely to oppose the idea (51%).



If a CFL team is indeed established in Halifax, half of residents (50%) say they are “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to attend at least one game a year, and over a third (36%) would buy merchandise with the team’s logo.

In addition, two-in-five Halifax residents (40%) are likely to watch the team’s games at home, 23% are likely to watch the team’s games at a bar or pub and 17% are likely to purchase season tickets.

Halifax residents are currently more likely to describe themselves as fans of the National Hockey League (NHL) (56%), Major League Baseball (MLB) (40%) and the National Football League (NFL) (32%) than the CFL (27%). Fewer residents consider themselves fans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) (23%) and Major League Soccer (MLS) (17%).

“At this stage, Halifax residents are not following the CFL at the same level as other North American sports leagues,” says Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs, at Insights West. “The presence of a CFL team in the city would change the situation dramatically, both in terms of event attendance and merchandise sales.”

About this Release:

Results are based on an online study conducted by Insights West from January 26 to January 30, 2018, among 402 residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age and gender in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.9 percentage points for the entire sample, nineteen times out of twenty. View the detailed data tabulations.

[Flutie]

These polls don't mean a lot, especially since it's an "on-line" poll of 400 residents. 27% say they follow the CFL? that's pretty low, the people that say they would attend a game probably don't know the price of an average ticket either.

The big obstacle is the stadium, there is very little chance that the Region would put up the $200 million or so for a stadium.
Even if the investors came up with half the money, $100 Million or so is not going to happen.
The Region would also want a commitment for season ticket sales before they funded it.
I think the size of Halifax would be suitable for a NASL soccer or Canadian soccer franchise with attendance of 6k to 9k.
Too bad but I don't think the CFL will ever happen in Halifax.

[jerrym]

These polls don't mean a lot, especially since it's an "on-line" poll of 400 residents. 27% say they follow the CFL? that's pretty low, the people that say they would attend a game probably don't know the price of an average ticket either.

The big obstacle is the stadium, there is very little chance that the Region would put up the $200 million or so for a stadium.
Even if the investors came up with half the money, $100 Million or so is not going to happen.
The Region would also want a commitment for season ticket sales before they funded it.
I think the size of Halifax would be suitable for a NASL soccer or Canadian soccer franchise with attendance of 6k to 9k.
Too bad but I don't think the CFL will ever happen in Halifax.

I don't know if it will ever happen but getting a franchise will be an uphill climb. Even Ottawa, with its long football history, encountered strong opposition, especially from the residents in the immediate vicinity of the proposed new stadium. It took a lot of work, a well laid out plan that included many facilities beyond the stadium, experience in running franchises in other sports, and working past several delays to get the franchise and stadium up and running.
I agree the poll does not mean a lot, especially when many people have just heard about the issue as opinions can be more easily swayed then. However, there are some warnings in the data. Support is weakest among those 55+. Why is that important? Because they vote at 80%+ levels, while the strongest supporters are 18-34, of whom more than one third rarely vote. Politicians know this and act accordingly. Furthermore, Halifax has a high proportion of elderly, the least favourable group, as the young tend to leave for jobs and better pay elsewhere. Even with the support of some political leader(s), other(s) may see an opportunity to build their political career by opposing the stadium on cost and neighbourhood effects. The elderly, many of whom live on fixed incomes, usually like to keep taxes low, and if municipal taxes are used to pay for the stadium, they are the ones most likely to balk as they are more likely to pay property taxes, since they are most likely to own homes. They also have long memories that recall the many cost overruns associated with stadiums, such as the 1976 Olympic Stadium in Montreal that wasn't paid off until the early 2000's.
Getting the franchise is possible but the owners' group will need the skills and determination that led to football coming back to Ottawa and some luck in terms of how effective their opponents are.

[R.J]

An online poll of 400 residents IMO is nowhere near a good enough barometer. While I do think the Maritimes would like to see some pro sports, I think it'll be a struggle to get support for Government funding. It'll be interesting to see what happens in 10-20 years in regards to facilities, and how much Governments are willing to put into them.

[rdavies]

These polls don't mean a lot, especially since it's an "on-line" poll of 400 residents. 27% say they follow the CFL? that's pretty low, the people that say they would attend a game probably don't know the price of an average ticket either.

The big obstacle is the stadium, there is very little chance that the Region would put up the $200 million or so for a stadium.
Even if the investors came up with half the money, $100 Million or so is not going to happen.
The Region would also want a commitment for season ticket sales before they funded it.
I think the size of Halifax would be suitable for a NASL soccer or Canadian soccer franchise with attendance of 6k to 9k.
Too bad but I don't think the CFL will ever happen in Halifax.

Why do I get that distinct feeling that you are one of our special CFL "friends" that post here from time to time? Soccer will always succeed but CFL hasn't got a chance.

[rdavies]

An online poll of 400 residents IMO is nowhere near a good enough barometer. While I do think the Maritimes would like to see some pro sports, I think it'll be a struggle to get support for Government funding.

Not if SMU and Dal are involved, even in Canada for a city of that size (that isn't really a suburb) to not have a large stadium is not that common.

[rdavies]

I don't know if it will ever happen but getting a franchise will be an uphill climb. Even Ottawa, with its long football history, encountered strong opposition, especially from the residents in the immediate vicinity of the proposed new stadium. It took a lot of work, a well laid out plan that included many facilities beyond the stadium, experience in running franchises in other sports, and working past several delays to get the franchise and stadium up and running.

Getting the franchise is possible but the owners' group will need the skills and determination that led to football coming back to Ottawa and some luck in terms of how effective their opponents are.

Unlike Ottawa, there has been very little opposition to this project, in fact, none, that has been organized AFAIK. Unlike Calgary, everyone is getting on and just slowly moving along. The mayor is cautiously optimistic and supportive without commitment, the way he should be.

The fact that the city does not have a decent sized venue may also come into play and also there is no decent venue for either SMU (seats 1100) or Dal football, field hockey, lacrosse, rugby and soccer teams

[rdavies]

Here we go, stadium render was shown during interview (1:45)

How will the CFL come to Halifax?

[rdavies]

Noticed during the interview, LeBlanc commented, "they'll be called the Atlantic something"

[R.J]

Announcement next week ?
https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-ne...r-visit-841457

[paulwoods13]

I wouldn't waste an announcement of a new franchise in the middle of the Winter Olympics. Little chance it makes a big splash with that happening. I will be surprised if he says more than "things are moving in the right direction."

[R.J]

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

— David William Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) February 16, 2018

[jerrym]

Anthony Leblanc has denied that the league will be awarding the team a franchise and the Ministry of Transport denies it has been involved in discussion of road infrastructure for a new stadium.

The leader of a group that hopes to bring the CFL to Halifax was succinct on Friday when asked if it’s true the league will award a franchise next Friday.
“No.”
Based on “anonymous sources,” a Halifax radio station reported on Friday a stadium would be located at Dartmouth Crossing, with construction to begin in September. It also said Halifax would be home to a Grey Cup within three years of the still-hypothetical team beginning play, and that the province had agreed to build a connector road between Highway 102 and Highway 118.
Anthony LeBlanc, leader of the Maritime Football Ltd. ownership group, had just two minutes to speak between meetings on Friday afternoon, and needed less time than that to throw cold water on the rumour.
LeBlanc confirmed he and CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie will be in Halifax next week, but cautioned not to read too much into that.
“We plan to listen to his vision, and he wants to hear what people have to say in the region, but we don’t anticipate any form of announcement at that event,” LeBlanc said.
“It is fair to say, and we’ve been pretty public, that we are in ongoing discussions with the league and with a number of landowners in the region. At this time we certainly have not collected a site, we have not negotiated final terms with the league.”
LeBlanc, a longtime executive with Research in Motion and the former president and chief executive of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, was even more dismissive of the notion that a new highway has been promised to his group.
“I don’t even know what that is referring to,” he said. “We are looking at a number of locations right now, so to say it’s one particular one would simply not be accurate.”
Marla MacInnis, a spokeswoman with Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, said the department “has not been engaged in any discussions with regard to road infrastructure to support any potential new stadium project.”
And, as for conjecture about a potential Grey Cup for Halifax, LeBlanc said that is a matter for the CFL’s board of governors.

http://m.thechronicleherald.ca/novas...?from=slidebox

[Flutie]

I wouldn't waste an announcement of a new franchise in the middle of the Winter Olympics. Little chance it makes a big splash with that happening. I will be surprised if he says more than "things are moving in the right direction."

No announcement at all because it turned out to be "fake news"

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...uncement-nixed

Ambrosie will do his town hall like he has done in other cities and talk about the same things.
A CFL franchise there comes down to a stadium and it's up to Halifax and the investors to come up with funding for a stadium. It doesn't look like the city or region or province will put money towards a $200 MILLION stadium.
I would imagine that the city would want guarantees before it put money towards a stadium. The first would be "show me how many ticket deposits you have" in Ottawa they had thousands put down money before OSEG and the city was involved.

[rdavies]

Wouldn't be a problem at all if it was soccer, right "Flutie"

The "fake news" didn't come from the owners, you can see the interview they gave. The haterz can troll this all they want, this will happen sooner or later. Maybe there are those who are jumping the gun but I'd rather see that than the total non cooperation and communication they have about someday getting a new building in Calgary.

And just to save someone the problem of posting it, there is an issue about the stadium render. Someone is doing something fishy whether it's the designer or the prospective owners whose story has been all along that they had a design done in California and showed it to city council. Maybe the designers gave them a generic render, who knows, but if it is the owners up to shenanigans that were so obvious, I'll be the first to condemn it and as someone who wants to see the project go ahead and not one of the usual suspect trolls who wants the CFL to die because they are under the mistaken belief that suddenly Canada will turn into a nation of soccer lovers..

[R.J]

Wouldn't be a problem at all if it was soccer, right "Flutie"

I've noticed this as well.

[rdavies]

Randy Ambrosie’s Atlantic Town Hall (Full video)

Bruce Bowser: "We've got a great ownership group that's well funded that doesn't just include myself and Anthony up here on the stage there's some great local business people and individuals in the region that are part of the ownership group"

Bowser also used the figure of 200 million when discussing the stadium

[rdavies]

Regina’s Gary Drummond On The CFL In Halifax
620 CKRM Regina Rod Pedersen February 27, 2018

Regina/Phoenix businessman Gary Drummond is one of the driving forces behind landing a CFL expansion franchise for Halifax and getting a stadium built in the Maritime city.

Drummond was the majority owner of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, buying the franchise in 2013 with IceArizona, until selling the team to Andrew Barroway last June.

Drummond joined 620 CKRM’s SportsCage on Tuesday to discuss the CFL project, and his partners Anthony Leblanc and Bruce Bowser.

“As you know Anthony Leblanc and I were partners with the Arizona Coyotes for four years and became quite good colleagues and friends,” Drummond Tuesday said from his home in Phoenix. “This was really his initiative and the third guy in our partnership, Bruce Bowser, had been organizing his own group. Anthony took it upon himself and approached Bruce, and we joined forces. When I was asked to be involved, it didn’t take me long to get excited about the project and working on it.”

If the group’s intention was to create a buzz, they certainly did that as the Halifax franchise is the #1 topic in the CFL at this point in the off-season. However Drummond said there’s still plenty of work ahead.

“There’s a logical order or progression and the first thing we need to do is secure a conditional franchise from the CFL, which would be conditional upon us being the catalyst for a new stadium in the Atlantic region,” Drummond advised. “We actually expect to have a proposal from the league in the next week or two. From our side, we’re hopeful that what the league comes up with is something we can accept and move onto the bigger challenge of putting a proposal to the three levels of government, the Province, the City and the Federal Government regarding the financing of a new stadium.”

From media reports tracking the situation, Anthony Leblanc has been doing most of the legwork by meeting with local politicians to gauge interest in financing a stadium.

“It’s gone very positively and it’s a very good climate at the City, the Province and I think at the Federal level as well,” Drummond continued. “The timing is very good but still, in all cases they want the private sector to be the driving force and we understand that. So far it’s been very positive but there’s lots of wood to chop yet.”

Drummond said despite selling the Coyotes, he’s attended all but two of their games this season and he’s eager to get back into pro sports at the ownership level.

“I had a great experience with the NHL and would’ve liked to stayed longer because the team is just starting to show the way the organization has developed the past couple of years,” Drummond explained. “I think the future of the team on the ice is pretty bright. That did whet my appetite for building an organization and the excitement that follows. I really enjoyed working with the hockey operations people and the corporate sponsors. I enjoyed it all. The CFL is different than the NHL but there are a lot of similarities too.”

So while it seems the Halifax franchise is moving forward at a snail’s pace, Drummond made it clear that there’s been lots of work going on behind the scenes. So far, it’s been an enjoyable ride.

“I’m having lots of fun with it!” Drummond laughed. “I want to mention too that the Riders’ Wayne Morsky has been very helpful and supportive and Ottawa’s John Ruddy has been very helpful as well. Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, I can’t say enough good things about him. Even if we weren’t successful in getting the CFL franchise, I’d have nothing but positive things to say about the CFL. Likewise with the City of Halifax, from the Mayor on down and the Premier too, they’ve had open arms for us.

“If we do our job I think there’s a good possibility that we can get this thing going.”