‘Stars seemed to have aligned’ for new Halifax CFL bid: commissioner

CFL fans in Halifax have been told the league is serious about establishing a coast- to- coast footprint, although there is no announcement imminent on a franchise for the East Coast’s largest city.

Commissioner Randy Ambrosie and Halifax bid proponents Bruce Bowser and Anthony Leblanc told a packed hotel ballroom Friday they are maintaining a methodical approach to ultimately landing a team.

Ambrosie assured the largely enthusiastic audience at his commissioner’s “town hall” that the league is excited about the prospect after a previous attempt in the 1980s was scuttled because of the failure to land a stadium.

“I feel like it is different this time,” said Ambrosie. “I just think the stars seemed to have aligned well for us to take a crack at getting this in.”

Leblanc said steady work is continuing on what he described as a “thoughtful approach.”

“My hope and expectation is sometime within the next couple of months we will have something substantive to talk to you about,” said Leblanc.

Although welcoming a potential CFL team as an “exciting opportunity,” Halifax Mayor Mike Savage has previously said the municipality wouldn’t be pushing the issue, so as not to put taxpayers at risk over the cost of building a stadium.

Premier Stephen Mcneil has also confirmed there have been meetings between provincial officials and the bid group, but offered few other details.