Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

The Canadian Football League announced Tuesday it has reached an agreement with a group of Ottawa businessmen to bring a franchise back to the nation’s capital, possibly by the 2010 season.

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon made the announcement at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, alongside Jeff Hunt, the head of the ownership group and owner of the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67′s, and Ottawa mayor Larry O’Brien.

The deal is contingent on the new ownership securing a deal with the city to redevelop Frank Clair Stadium, the former home of the CFL’s Ottawa Rough Riders and Renegades, and proposed home of the new club.

The other members of Hunt’s group, Roger Greenberg, chief executive of the Minto Group, John Ruddy, president of the Trinity Development Group, and William Shenkman, chairman of Shenkman Corporation, were also present at the announcement.

Hunt’s group decided to secure the conditional rights to the franchise before participating in any development talks with the city.

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TSN.ca:

The Canadian Football League is heading back to Ottawa.

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon awarded a conditional expansion franchise Tuesday to an Ottawa-based group headed up by Jeff Hunt, the owner of the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67′s.

“This is an exciting time for the CFL and the city of Ottawa,” Cohon said. “I am guardedly optimistic and excited at the same time.”

This will mark the CFL’s third stint in Ottawa. The franchise could begin play as early as 2010.

Hunt’s group, which will pay a $7-million expansion fee, must still secure a lease agreement for Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park, which has been earmarked for development after the southside stands were condemned last fall.

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Courtesy TSN.ca:

A league source said Monday the CFL will award the Canadian capital a conditional expansion franchise during a news conference at Lansdowne Park on Tuesday.

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon will be in attendance to make the formal announcement. Although there is no specific timeline in place for the franchise to begin operation, it could be up and running as early as 2010.

Cohon was unavailable for comment Monday as the CFL office was closed. However, the league issued an advisory Monday afternoon stating Cohon and members of the Ottawa ownership group would be present for a league announcement Tuesday regarding the Ottawa franchise.

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Courtesy Winnipeg Free Press:

Two sources said Wednesday that the CFL continues to negotiate with an Ottawa group headed up by Jeff Hunt, the owner of the OHL’s Ottawa 67s. Neither source would confirm a report in Wednesday’s Globe and Mail that a deal to award Hunt’s group a conditional expansion franchise for 2010 was close, but each agreed that talks have progressed since Hunt confirmed in September he was heading up a group of local investors that was interested in a CFL expansion franchise.

CFL spokesman Jamie Dykstra said the league had no comment on the negotiations with the Ottawa group.

One hurdle remaining is a stadium. Last year, the city of Ottawa recommended the lower tier of the south-side stands at Frank Clair Stadium be demolished due to structural concerns.

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