Sep
Cohon sees expansion in CFL future
Courtesy Vancouver Province:
Mark Cohon isn’t only looking forward to the second half of the Canadian Football League season.
The CFL commissioner also is looking to the future in the hopes of seeing his league return to Ottawa, plant the seeds of a move into Atlantic Canada, and regain the financial footing it enjoyed as recently as 2008.
The first of those issues comes up Wednesday. City planners in Ottawa are to present to city council the plan they’ve negotiated with the ownership group of a new CFL team regarding the potential redevelopment of Frank Clair Stadium.
“That plan then goes to 45 days of public deliberation,” Cohon said during a conversation at the unofficial mid-point of the season. “After that, if there are any modifications or changes, then we get to hopefully by November a vote by city council to move forward on the Lansdowne project and the rebuilding of Frank Clair Stadium.
“We’re at a critical time period right now.”
The CFL hasn’t had a presence in Ottawa since 2005, when the Renegades played the final campaign of their four-season existence. The league has had eight teams since 2006.
Cohon noted two major reasons why the CFL needs to return to Ottawa.
“No. 1, we are Canada’s league, so it’s important to be in the nation’s capital,” he said. “No. 2, we have good strong local owners there, and I think in the past they haven’t had that. So I think with a redeveloped Frank Clair Stadium and with good local owners, we could have a very successful franchise.
“It’s part of the tradition of this league. This league isn’t complete until you get back into Ottawa with the right people.”
While things appear to be progressing in Ottawa, the CFL also is eyeing Atlantic Canada.
Cohon said the league is hoping to stage a 2010 regular-season game in Moncton, N.B., which would involve buying out a home date of one of the eight teams. To help with the expense, the CFL is looking to involve the local, provincial and federal governments.
Cohon believes a physical presence in the Maritimes is necessary.
“Our TV numbers show that there is a strong interest out there and, through Football Canada, we know the numbers are growing in terms of kids playing the game,” he said.
“When you go to Grey Cup every year, you see the Atlantic Schooners, just like the Lions Band and Tiger Town. They’re there, so we think there is an appetite for CFL football out there. This is a way of testing that marketplace.”
Meanwhile, the global marketplace has posed some problems for the CFL.
Cohon said attendance is on par with last season and the league’s TV ratings are strong, but the economic recession has affected corporate sponsorships and advertising.
“We have to add some new sponsors and re-sign some of the key sponsors like Rona and Scotia — and we’re already in discussions with them, so that’s why I think we’re feeling a little bit more optimistic,” Cohon said. “It’s also conservative because we think landing new sponsors in this environment just takes a lot more time.”
