CFL Current/Future Franchises

[JayM]

source: www.blueandgold.ca

[JayM]

McGill Stadium nearing completion


May 19, 2010

MontrealAlouettes.com Staff

MONTREAL -- The expansion project of McGill Stadium, home of the Montreal Alouettes, is in full progress and is in its final stages with just a few weeks to go before the start of the 2010 season. The project includes the addition of 5,000 new seats, knocking capacity up to 25,000 and giving more fans than ever before the chance to see their champions at home.

Season tickets are still available in every category, some for as low as $19.90 a game, tax included. For $37.50 a game, fans can get a season ticket in the Bronze category in the new north-east corner, featuring a spectacular view of the field as well as downtown Montreal. Nineteen new luxury boxes have also been added to the stadium, providing the opportunity to watch a game in the utmost comfort, but still right there as part of the action.

Even with all the improvements to McGill Stadium this year, ticket prices have not gone up a cent since 2009, when the Alouettes won the Grey Cup.

“The construction is going quickly and we are pleased with how’s it’s gone. We will be offering our fans an amazing experience in an amazing stadium, at affordable prices,” said Alouettes President and CEO Larry Smith. “We are excited to play our pre-season game in exactly a month from today at McGill this coming June 19. We’re even more excited to play our season opener there on July 22, when the stadium renovations will be completely done.”

The stadium will feature a new upper deck on the south side and a new upper concourse with a full array of concessions and facilities. The improved McGill Stadium will also feature a new ticket office, built into the mountain with a natural “green roof.” It will be located a few feet away from the new History Corner as well as the Builder’s Club, where fans’ personalized bricks will be found.

The stadium will also have two new spacious sections for physically challenged fans in the north-east and the south-west ends.

[JayM]

Le nouveau/the new Stade McGill Stadium
May 19th





source: facebook.com/mtlalouettes

[SteelTown]

EXCLUSIVE: CFL and players reach tentative deal on new collective bargaining agreement

May 26, 2010
By Drew Edwards
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/776279

The CFL and its players’ association have reached a tentative deal that will see players give up a guaranteed share of league revenue in exchange for pre-set increases in the salary cap and the minimum salary over the duration of the four-year contract, the Spectator has learned.

The deal still needs to be ratified by the players and the league’s board of governors.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity say the number of Canadians on CFL rosters, 20, and the number of non-import starters, seven, will remain the same. There had been some suggestion the league was looking to reduce the number of Canadian players.

The agreement also contains provisions for a random drug-testing program, the details of which are still being hammered out.

The 4 1/2-hour work day, another issue teams were looking for concessions on, remains the same. But some players — likely quarterbacks and receivers — will be subject to a three-day voluntary off-season workout program.

Under the terms of the old deal, players received a minimum of 56 per cent of the league gate and TV revenues. Now, players will receive the amount mandated under the salary cap — currently set at $4.2 million. The league will keep any additional revenue.

This could potentially help franchises such as Toronto and Hamilton, who have struggled to make money in recent years.

The ratification vote will take place prior to the start of the 2010 season on July 1. The current deal expires at the end of the month and there had been concern a lockout or a strike could delay the start of the regular season.

The deal was announced yesterday afternoon but neither the CFL or the CFLPA was willing to comment.

“By agreement of the parties, there will be no further comment on any of the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement until the ratification process is complete,” the statement said.

[JayM]

Lansdowne Live has met council's conditions, Greenberg says
By Joanne Chianello and David Reevely, The Ottawa Citizen May 27, 2010 10:02 AM

OTTAWA — The proposal to redevelop Lansdowne Park has met all the conditions city council set when it gave a tentative go-ahead last fall, says the project's front man, and there's no reasonable way for the city to bail out now.

Roger Greenberg, the head of the Minto group of development and property-management companies, kicked off a day of salesmanship for the project with a speech to a group of tech executives at Scotiabank Place Thursday morning. In the afternoon, at 1 p.m. at Carleton University, he's to reveal his group's designs for a stadium and a large retail complex to be built on the west side of the Glebe site, which is now home to a little-used stadium, mouldering heritage buildings, and acres upon acres of asphalt parking lot.

Concerns about the design, traffic impacts, and the effects on the existing economy of the Glebe have been addressed in good faith, Greenberg said.

The design of the stadium and retail elements are likely key to gaining or losing public and political support for the plan, which will require hundreds of millions of dollars of public money, in addition to an investment from Greenberg and his partners.

"I don't want to lose money on this project," Greenberg told a breakfast meeting organized by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation. "It's not charity, but we will not be making a killing."

No reasonable investor would take Lansdowne Live on as a moneymaker, he said. As it stands, he and his partners stand to make "a modest return."

An expert jury, sponsored by the city, is meanwhile considering plans for a park and more public uses on the east side of the property. City council is to take a final vote in June.

If council approves the plan and it doesn't get halted by appeals to courts or the Ontario Municipal Board, Greenberg said, shovels could be in the ground by the end of 2010.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/La...#ixzz0p9bbnhcT

[AuxTown]

A few renderings of our proposed stadium and surrounding mixed-use area from www.ottawacitizen.com

[SHOFEAR]

Grey Cup ticket sales go ballistic
On the first day ducats are available to the general public, Eskimos sell more than 13,000 of them

By TERRY JONES, Edmonton Sun

Last Updated: June 1, 2010 8:27pm


“Flabbergasted,” said the Edmonton Eskimos' CEO.

“Absolutely astonished.

“Blown away. Totally dumbfounded.

“It's just amazing. Overwhelming.

“I don't know if there's ever been a day like this in Grey Cup history. I really don't.”

In less than half a day Tuesday, on the first day of open sales to the general public here at home and from coast to coast, the Eskimos sold 13,500 Grey Cup tickets.

No franchise in league history ever sold 13,500 Grey Cup tickets in a half a day before.

In a single afternoon, Grey Cup ticket numbers went from a healthy 35,000 after season ticket sales to a ballistic 48,500.

Try it another way.

From 2 p.m. through to 6 p.m. the Eskimos sold about $2 million dollars in tickets. On June 1, they reached the $8 million mark in ticket sales.


continued...
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/co.../14221646.html

[SteelTown]

There's a good possibly that Bob Young, owner of the Ti Cats, could agree to a community ownership of the Ti Cats within a few days. We'll find out by July 8th.

[isaidso]

The Lansdowne plans look great, but those new south stands look really disjointed with the rest of the stadium.

Originally Posted by JayM

Le nouveau/the new Stade McGill Stadium
May 19th

Wonderful. Thanks for the update. Side note: it's Molson Stadium, not McGill Stadium!

[Nicko999]

Alouettes awarded Grey Cup rings

MONTREAL- Alouettes players and management will receive their Grey Cup rings Friday during a ceremony at Chalet du Mont-Royal, not far from Molson Stadium, where the team plays its home games.

Montreal captured its first Canadian Football League championship since 2002 last November, with a come-from-behind 28-27 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary's McMahon Stadium. The Riders squandered a 27-11 fourth-quarter lead and had too many men on the field when Damon Duval missed a final-play 43-yard field goal.

He connected on his second attempt, from 33 yards out.

The ceremony comes one day before veteran players report for physicals at the Montreal General Hospital. Later Saturday, the players will make their way to training camp, held this year at Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Que. The players practice for the first time Sunday morning.

The last time the Als won the Cup, the ceremony took place at Montreal's Old Port and the players went on a short cruise during which they were wined and dined.

The organization decided to hold this ceremony earlier to allow all players to attend. For example, cornerback Davis Sanchez and Keron Williams, both signed last winter by British Columbia as free agents, were expected to attend, as was kick-returner Larry Taylor, who's trying to crack the New York Jets' roster.

Also, former Als quarterback Tracy Ham, running-back Mike Pringle and rush-end Elfrid Payton were also scheduled to participate in the festivities. Both Ham and Payton are going into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame this year.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...798/story.html

Hopefully we'll add another one in November(since the team hasn't change much).

[Darkoshvilli]

We lost Sanchez and Taylor though. They were huge pieces for us.

[JayM]

Originally Posted by isaidso

The Lansdowne plans look great, but those new south stands look really disjointed with the rest of the stadium.



Wonderful. Thanks for the update. Side note: it's Molson Stadium, not McGill Stadium!

Ha well noted, just copied and pasted that day.

[AuxTown]

Ottawa council just voted 15:9 in favour of the OSEG proposal which includes the refurbished stadium and a CFL franchise. Get ready for a new team Eastern Conference!

You can find details of the proposal here: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/publi.../index_en.html

[MrOilers]

I REALLY hope it works in Ottawa this time.

[Urban_Genius]

Great to see Ottawa back in the fold. Next up, the Maritimes (can't wait for touchdown atlantic).

CFL season just a couple days away. Can't wait!!

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

Ottawa council just voted 15:9 in favour of the OSEG proposal which includes the refurbished stadium and a CFL franchise. Get ready for a new team Eastern Conference!

Fabulous news. Will Ottawa be back in for 2012, the 100th CFL season? It would be a shame if Ottawa weren't there.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Fabulous news. Will Ottawa be back in for 2012, the 100th CFL season? It would be a shame if Ottawa weren't there.

The project which completely renovates Lansdowne Park and Frank Clair Stadium was passed by Ottawa City Council last night. Several details still need to be worked out including rezoning but last night's vote is a major indicator that the project will be going forward. As it stands, the ownership group is expecting construction to begin next summer and will take 2 years. Therefore, the Ottawa franchise will start playing in 2013.

Given the nature of the overall project and the fact that the ownership group is local and they are placing their reputations of themselves and their businesses on the line (they are major real estate developers), there is considerable optimism that the chances of success of the new franchise are high.

[JayM]

As a added discussion anyone here think the new Ottawa CFL Franchise will use the previous Rough Riders or Renegades name? Or will they introduce a new name?

[HomeInMyShoes]

^I'd be fine with Rough Riders. I thought it was pure entertainment having two teams with such similar names in the league. The name Renegades should be buried along with the pathetic ownership they had last time around. I'd be up for a new name as well.

[MonctonRad]

I have to agree, I hate the "Renegades" name. Rough Riders however is endearing and historic. I always found it quirky that two teams in a nine team league had the same name ............let's do it again!!

Although not entirely about football, below is a photo from the Moncton Times & Transcript today showing action at the Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships and World Championships Trials held at the Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium on the weekend. You can see the east grandstand clearly in the distance. The IAAF World Junior Championships will be held at the stadium in only 17 days!



Looking forward to Touchdown Atlantic at the Moncton Stadium in September. It's already a sellout with 20,200 paid tickets.........four of those tickets are mine!!

Go Argos! (well, I have to cheer for someone)