Halifax expansion in the mix, Ottawa owner announces
‘A lot of pieces are in place’ in what OSEG chief Jeff Hunt calls ‘evolving’ situation
The Canadian Football League could be ready to go coast-tocoast.
While it’s a long way from becoming reality because a 20-to25,000-seat stadium has to be built, the CFL’s board of governors were given an update from commissioner Randy Ambrosie on possible expansion to Halifax during their meeting Saturday in Ottawa and there’s optimism it may become reality.
A group led by former Arizona Coyotes owners Anthony Leblanc, an Ottawa resident, and Gary Drummond, have held several discussions with CFL officials and Halifax mayor Mike Savage about expansion for the 2020 campaign. But all parties involved have to come to agreement on building a stadium.
Yes, we’ve heard this before but this time the possibility of Atlantic Schooners seems real.
“This idea didn’t just come out of nowhere. It’s been evolving,” Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) president Jeff Hunt told Postmedia on Sunday. “A lot of the pieces are in place for this Halifax bid to succeed.
“They’ve got a very credible ownership group, I think you’ve got government there that wants to see this happen, so I think the pieces are there to finally see a team in Halifax and finally see a 10th team in the CFL — which would be outstanding.”
Hunt said Savage visited Ottawa two years ago to look at what OSEG did at Lansdowne Park. The franchise has become a model for what other teams might want to do if they’re building a new stadium.
Of course, OSEG got its idea from Los Angeles and the L.A. Live development near the Staples Center which has become a destination every night of the week and not just when there’s an event. That atmosphere also exists in Ottawa.
OSEG partner John Ruddy has spent this weekend with Leblanc and Drummond to give them some insight on what it would take to be successful.
“When the mayor of Halifax came up to Ottawa, I hosted him, and they were looking at Ottawa as the inspiration for what could be in Halifax,” said Hunt. “The owners that are looking to bring a team to Halifax are all here (this weekend) at the Grey Cup.
“I know John Ruddy has been extremely involved with the Halifax group in going down, visiting with them and trying to share with them what we’ve done. There’s no doubt that this whole Lansdowne development model is something everybody is looking at as far as a model. It’s such a unique experience for fans on a day-to-day basis. There’s such a buzz here.”