Global game more likely a year away

Ambrosie says Maritimes taking top priority in league’s growth plan

COLLINGWOOD, ONT.— Commissioner Randy Ambrosie can see the CFL going global in 2021.

Ambrosie said Tuesday during the league’s winter meetings he anticipates the CFL playing its first international regular-season game next year. The league’s 2020 schedule includes a neutral-site game July 25 between the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders, a contest many speculated would be staged in Mexico City.

But Ambrosie said that game, with the Argos as the home team, will likely be played in either Moncton, N.B., or Halifax. Last year, the Montreal Alouettes defeated Toronto 2822 at Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium in Moncton. The CFL is hoping to add the Atlantic Schooners as their 10th franchise within a few years.

“If I was being completely transparent, I’d say I really believe we should have a global regular-season game in 2021,” Ambrosie said. “When we do that, I believe it will redefine us.

“But I think that game this year will be a domestic game. We’d like to play it out East because we want Atlantic Canadians to feel they’re part of our family … and we’d like to bring a football game to Atlantic Canada, so that’s what we’re going to attempt to do this year.”

That’s not to say Ambrosie is slowing down CFL 2.0, his initiative to grow football globally. After solidifying partnerships with 11 international football associations, Ambrosie is speaking with organizations in Spain, Brazil and Australia. Mexico was the first country to come on board.

This year, the CFL will be holding global combines in Europe, Mexico and Japan.

“My vision is we’re the biggest global football league in the world,” Ambrosie said. “And from here to infinity is the opportunity that’s in front of us.

“We’re open for business and we want the entire world to feel welcome in the CFL much as

Canadians make people from across the world welcome day in and day out. Our goal is to keep having these conversations and keep adding these federations and countries as we can.”

Another 2020 priority for Ambrosie is providing Schooners Sports and Entertainment, the group looking to bring a CFL expansion franchise to Halifax, with a helping hand. Last month, Halifax regional council voted in favour of $20-million contribution toward construction of a stadium in the city.

“We’re going to put together a steering committee to really help Schooners Sports and Entertainment build a business plan and strategy so that everyone is working on the same plan,” Ambrosie said.

The CFL no longer has to concern itself about the future of the Montreal Alouettes. After operating the franchise through the 2019 season, the league sold the club to Toronto businessmen Sid Spiegel and Gary Stern on Monday.

Meanwhile, Ambrosie said B.C. Lions owner David Braley continues to talk to perspective groups about the sale of his franchise.

“David doesn’t need to do it fast, he wants to do it right and I’m happy to be part of that process,” Ambrosie said. “He wants to put the B.C. Lions into a great set of hands much as we put the Montreal Alouettes into a great set of hands.”