http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/mayor-of-halifax-says-decision-on-stadium-coming-this-year-1.1668879

 

It seems as though they're getting serious about it this time. The Commish has made it clear that Halifax is where the league would like to go. Mayor Savage has essentially stated that if a Halifax/Dartmouth stadium doesn't happen under his watch, it'll probably never happen............. at least not for the foreseeable future. I'm really hoping something finally gets done, the Ottawa model seems to be the way to go and it looks as though that model is plan A for the League and Mayor Savage.

I sure hope this happens in the next 5 - 7 years. I can't stand having an unbalanced schedule.

 

Would be great to have more exposure in the Maritimes as it would provide higher TV ratings for the league overall.

I guess all of those empty seats in Moncton took them right out of the running.  Is this year's TA back in Halifax?

I guess all of those empty seats in Moncton took them right out of the running.  Is this year's TA back in Halifax?

 

I don't think Halifax has ever had it... I don't think they have a capable stadium.

is there someone willing to own a team there? That's as important, probably more so than a stadium.

is there someone willing to own a team there? That's as important, probably more so than a stadium.

Exactly. No one has ever even expressed mild interest in owning a CFL team. The Maritimes are a wasteland of failed AHL teams... No other pro sports have ever been there. 

can you imagine the flight from Vancouver to Halifax? They might as well fly a little further & play  the game at Wembley Stadium. 

Would rather see another team in Quebec before the maritimes. I think that's a more viable location than Halifax .. *shrug*

is there someone willing to own a team there? That's as important, probably more so than a stadium.

Exactly. No one has ever even expressed mild interest in owning a CFL team. The Maritimes are a wasteland of failed AHL teams... No other pro sports have ever been there.

That's not entirely true. The Ice Caps are extremely successful in St Johns. But will probably move simply due to logistics of travel. But it's a very successful profitable team.

is there someone willing to own a team there? That's as important, probably more so than a stadium.

Exactly. No one has ever even expressed mild interest in owning a CFL team. The Maritimes are a wasteland of failed AHL teams... No other pro sports have ever been there.

That's not entirely true. The Ice Caps are extremely successful in St Johns. But will probably move simply due to logistics of travel. But it's a very successful profitable team.

Not to split hairs but NL is not considered a Maritime province ... #TheMoreYouKnow

is there someone willing to own a team there? That's as important, probably more so than a stadium.

 

Exactly. No one has ever even expressed mild interest in owning a CFL team. The Maritimes are a wasteland of failed AHL teams... No other pro sports have ever been there. 

Supposedly the McCain's were heavily involved with the TDF Atlantic in Moncton and essentially waiting to see if there was some interest, I'm not sure about a potential owner for Halifax though. There is some big money in Atlantic Canada, but I don't see the Irving's getting involved, Sobey's who knows ? and the McCains are based out New Brunswick, but reportedly will be involved with Cohon's discussions with business leaders in the Maritimes. 

 

I don't think Halifax has ever had it... I don't think they have a capable stadium.

Halifax technically had the first Touchdown Atlantic game, which was a pre season game in 2005 between the Argos and Ticats at Huskies stadium. You're right though, they don't have a stadium capable of holding another game. Huskies stadium is falling apart and couldn't expand to more than 11,000-ish.

 

I guess all of those empty seats in Moncton took them right out of the running.  Is this year's TA back in Halifax?

No word yet on TD Atlantic, but it seems as though it will be put on hold for awhile. Moncton's essentially out now, not selling last year's game hurt the event.

http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/933594/we-can-do-this-now-cfl-commissioner-coming-to-halifax-to-discuss-league-new-stadium/

Thinking a team in Moncton would work is a joke. It's barely bigger than Brandon. And this thing about a half million people within 3 hours driving time? How many people from Halifax would hop in the car & drive 3 hours to a game in Moncton. 

I am rooting for another team to go to the East, I don't particularly care which market (Quebec vs Halifax) but I hate 9 teams in the league.  Either 8 or 10, gotta be balanced.  

It was 9 teams for decades & we got by just fine... I'd like to see it go back to a 16 game schedule... Too much pounding on players.

I would like the season to start earlier

Nah, early enough now.

I'd also like an earlier start to the season. Would mean more warm weather games and fewer cold games.

 

We just have to wait for the Buffalo Bills to move to Los Angeles, then we could have a team in Buffalo.  

 

In the meantime, Quebec City is probably the next best location.  If we are looking at smaller cities, why hasn't Saskatoon ever been considered?

 

 

We just have to wait for the Buffalo Bills to move to Los Angeles, then we could have a team in Buffalo.  

 

In the meantime, Quebec City is probably the next best location.  If we are looking at smaller cities, why hasn't Saskatoon ever been considered?

 

Because the Roughriders would never allow it. For whatever reason their provincial pride is tied to the roughriders so people in Saskatoon are fans of the riders, would they all of a sudden start supporting the Saskatoon Berries? I doubt it. 

We just have to wait for the Buffalo Bills to move to Los Angeles, then we could have a team in Buffalo.  

 

In the meantime, Quebec City is probably the next best location.  If we are looking at smaller cities, why hasn't Saskatoon ever been considered?

Because the Roughriders would never allow it. For whatever reason their provincial pride is tied to the roughriders so people in Saskatoon are fans of the riders, would they all of a sudden start supporting the Saskatoon Berries? I doubt it.

LOL the berries. I could just see the jokes fly between Willy and the Berries.

Team in Saskatoon?

Mass confusion would reign supreme in Sask. between the Riders and their 'kissing cousins'.

Family agin family , gopher agin gopher, hashtag agin hashtag.

Could get ugly.

 

Hmmm..might be worth it after all.

Love to see a team in Saskatoon someday as it is now one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. The only thing holding them back is a proper facility. There are plans to expand the U of S stadium to 10,000 at some point. But that's not enough for a CFL stadium. There's no talk of a 25-30,000 seat facility being built somewhere else in the city as of now. Maybe in 10-15 years but eventually I believe it will happen.

I don't pretend to know or understand QC. While Laval draws the crowds to their games, I don't sense a will by anyone there to buy a CFL team & bring it to QC.. They'd need a new stadium or to upgrade where Laval plays now. So, who knows? I just think QC is hockey mad & to bring a CFL team there now with the strong possibility that the Nordiques may coming back & lurking on the horizon may be ill timed. 

As far as Halifax building a new 25,000 seat stadium? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? A new stadium or a CFL team?? Stay tuned. 

The one city that no one ever talks about is London, Ontario. With a population of over 400,000 that would be a city I'd try to get a team into if possible. They support their junior hockey team as well as their CIS team. Having 4 teams in Ontario would be interesting. 

 

 

 

We just have to wait for the Buffalo Bills to move to Los Angeles, then we could have a team in Buffalo.  

 

In the meantime, Quebec City is probably the next best location.  If we are looking at smaller cities, why hasn't Saskatoon ever been considered?

 

Because the Roughriders would never allow it. For whatever reason their provincial pride is tied to the roughriders so people in Saskatoon are fans of the riders, would they all of a sudden start supporting the Saskatoon Berries? I doubt it. 

 

 

I was thinking the Saskatoon Rough Riders...  The Berries wouldn't work unless Doug Berry was the coach.

Would rather have Saskatoon, London or Quebec City before Halifax.

Real skeptical about Halifax. The people there seem so bleh about the CFL from what I've read. The whole Maritimes thing scares me that the team no matter where they put it would just fail. Please no Moncton, though.