Twelve men on the Field: CFL in Ottawa development of Lansdowne Park

Friday, October 12, 2012

Rivalries set to return for the Nation's Capital

The CFL gave it's official blessing to the prospect of a return to the Nation's Capital this week, CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon advising that it's full speed ahead for a return of CFL football to Ottawa for the 2014 season.

The Commissioner's declaration came after Ottawa City Council had its final session on the contentious issue of redevelopment of Lansdowne Park, moving the long anticipated, much delayed reconstruction project forward, a hopeful timetable of an opening in time for the CFL's 2014 season.

With that, an ancient rivalry will be set to return for Ottawa, no not battles with the Als, Argos and TiCats, though those will be long dormant feuds that will once again play out on a field in Ottawa, but instead that familial feud known as the Southsiders versus the Northerners.

For those unfamiliar with the old Lansdowne Park, the stadium was divided into two very diverse camps, the North Siders, for the most part protected by the large roof that covered that stand, were looked upon as somewhat lesser football fans, given to the creature comfort for the most part of remaining dry.

The South Siders on the other hand, besides being directly behind the home side's bench, were a more boisterous band of brothers and sisters, exposed for the most part to the wild elements at times, they were steadfast in attendance, their badge of honour being holed up in the more ancient ambiance of the south side, part of the great rivalry that stoked the Ottawa football scene.

Conversations on bus trips to and from the suburbs to the stadium on game night could evolve into the kind of family argument that was akin to who Mom and Dad loved best, the Southsiders of course of the opinion that by their dedication to the Riders (and Renegades of their day) and close proximity to their bench, they were the chosen favourites.

A notion pooh poohed with regular frequency by the Northerners, who looked upon their southern kin as kind of a little bit off at the best of times, none more so than when the rains or the snows descended upon Lansdowne.

Still, one thing we imagine they both will concur on is that the return of the CFL is long overdue, with all the bickering over a stadium finally out of the way (though we imagine there won't be any true believers until there are shovels in the ground and foundations going up) the real task of building a football team will get underway.

We're not sure how the new stadium design will impact on all that history, the new digs will make everyone equal as far as amenities go, but rivalries are hard to put away, we imagine as we write this that Southsiders are already making their reservations for their seating arrangements, try and move them to the North at your peril is our advice.

Some of the background on the announcement this week and the progress of the new Lansdowne Park can be found below.

CFL.ca-- Ottawa On Track for 2014 (video)
CFL.ca-- CFL in Ottawa on track for the 2014 season
CFL.ca-- Cohon on Ottawa Expansion Draft (video)
CFL.ca-- On the Hunt for a General Manager (video)
CFL.ca-- The Best of Ottawa Football
CFL.ca-- Ottawa Stadium Concept

Ottawa Citizen-- Squabbling ends, work begins
Ottawa Citizen-- Council gives final go ahead to Lansdowne Project
Ottawa Citizen-- Ottawa votes in favour of Lansdowne redevelopment, clears the way for CFL
Ottawa Citizen-- The Plan for Lansdowne
Ottawa Sun-- Lansdowne Park vision, dream one step closer
Ottawa Sun-- Lansdowne project a Go!
Ottawa Sun-- Celebrating the CFL's return to Ottawa
Ottawa Sun-- What would you name Ottawa's new football team?
Ottawa Sun-- Lansdowne yes vote a big win for Ottawa
Ottawa Sun-- Soccer rep breathe a sigh of relief with Lansdowne decision
Ottawa Sun-- Rick Sowieta pumped for CFL's return to Ottawa
Ottawa Sun-- Search on for Ottawa CFL GM
Ottawa Sun-- Ottawa's CFL ownership history
Ottawa Sun-- CFL team won't be called Rough Riders

Globe and Mail-- Despite past fumbles, Ottawa belongs in the CFL
Globe and Mail-- CFL announces return to Ottawa in 2014
National Post-- CFL returning to Ottawa after city approves stadium plan
Toronto Star-- Stale CFL needs new franchise in Ottawa
Montreal Gazette-- Ottawa soap opera continues
Calgary Herald-- Stampeders with Ottawa ties excited that the Nation's capital is getting the CFL again
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos QB Kerry Joseph recalls days as an Ottawa Renegade
CBC-- Ottawa 'on track' to rejoin CFL by 2014
TSN-- Optimistic about Ottawa
TSN-- Fond Memories
TSN-- Closer to a Return
TSN-- A Touchdown for Ottawa
Sportsnet-- Lefko on CFL in Ottawa: Third Time's a Charm
Sportsnet-- CFL on Course to return to Ottawa in 2014

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

CFL return to Ottawa more of a slow march, rather than a two minute drill

The prospect of the CFL's return to the nation's capital took a slight detour this week, with word that the ownership of the proposed franchise has decided to put on the back burner their quest for a General Manger for the team.

With the approval stage of the team's hoped for home at Lansdowne Park still in the midst of legal dispute, the owners are now targeting 2014 as the launch date for the city's return to the CFL, that of course probably contingent on whether the City of Ottawa and it's warring factions in opposition to the Lansdowne project ever get their act together.

The latest stumbling block to a rebuilding of the Lansdowne site is the fate of the Horticulture building, purported by some seemingly to be an architectural gem that must be left in its historic state, not to be moved as was the original plan of development.

OMB supports Lansdowne project; remaining challenge to be heard in court next week
Internal Document: City's Lansdowne Media Strategy
Friends of Lansdown post legal case to scrap redevelopment plan
Mayor and councillors unfazed by recommendation against moving Horticulture Building
Watson calls proposal to move Ottawa Art Gallery to Lansdowne "political"

Now, this is an interesting twist of the tale of Lansdowne, the Rideau canal side lands that have been the home for both football, hockey and exhibitions in its long and regaled history.

I grew up not far from the place, spent more than a few summers wandering the midway of the Central Canada Exhibition and then it's spawn the SuperEx, and while we remember the Cattle Castle to this day, (some memories and aromas are forever ingrained) we can't say we had any particular attachment to the other various pavilions of the Lansdowne area, most of which seemed to be just blocks of cinder hosting trade show like items of some interest.

Having long ago left the city, we are not quite up to speed on all the uses of the various buildings at Lansdowne now, nor are we aware of all the issues of the day in the region when it comes to large scale land developments.

But this approval process for an entertainment complex, which seems to be along the same lines as the myriad of developments across North America these days with its mixed land use prospects, seems to have taken on glacial proportions when it comes to moving forward.

If anything, in a city that through Parliament Hill has long been regarded across the nation as a place where change is done at a snails pace, this land debate over the Lansdowne site makes the folks on the Hill look like fast moving and efficient administrators.

The concept of a stadium on the banks of the Rideau has been part of Ottawa history through the decades of the last century, so the idea of a football stadium/hockey rink there is not exactly something just dropped onto the populace.

The fact that the proposed project seems to be designed to make the site much more beneficial to the Metropolitan Ottawa region beyond the football, hockey or exhibition dates, should be celebrated, bringing back life to a part of the city that perhaps has been forgotten owing to the city's massive sprawl over the last few decades.

The latest approach of those that are against the development, using a building that really has little resonance to the population at large as its stop sign, is an indication that the greater good of the community can be held hostage by those who wish to stop any form of forward movement in the city.

The ownership group that has been assembled for the CFL's return appears to be a first class group, with the public face of Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt in the fore front, the prospects for a successful return to the league, with an engaged local ownership has never been better.

The only thing seemingly in the way of a rebirth of a valuable part of Ottawa's past (both with football and with Lansdowne) seems to be a small, but loud group of opponents, seemingly well organized though we wonder if their complaints resonate with the larger pool of residents that call Ottawa home.

Hopefully the rest of the city's residents will begin to weigh in on this and send some indication as to what they want for the Lansdowne site.

Far too often in Ottawa's history the chance to develop something of a grand scale has slipped by (especially when it comes to the ages old debate over the future of Lansdowne Park), once again it seems that the same old scenario is rising up.

Hopefully some common sense will prevail and what appears to be a positive development for the city's south side will finally get a go ahead and with it the ownership group of the city's CFL team can get back to work on putting together a management team to bring a successful CFL team back to the field in the nations capital.

For those with a bit of time on their hands, the Ottawa Citizen is providing coverage of the OMB hearings this week, providing a glimpse into the political machinations involved in the development.

Some of their findings can be reviewed below.

June 30-- Lansdowne critic's idea used by city, judge told

June 29-- City followed Lansdowne's critic's advice in studying redevelopment ....

June 28-- Don't subsidize CFL, city was warned

June 27-- Outside consultant warned City of Ottawa not to subsidize CFL team at Lansdowne...

June 27-- Lansdowne court hearing resumes today

June 26-- Lansdowne court hearing rsumes Monday

June 23-- Judge questions his expertise to deal with Lansdowne case

June 23-- Judge questions lack of expert evidence on alleged Lansdowne subsidies

June 23-- Judge skeptical of bad-faith allegations