In a rather refreshing approach to business, the CFL instead of wringing its hands about its markets is showing a quiet bit of confidence that they can hold their own, should the NHL arrive in a few of their locales.
The topic came up at Commissioner Mark Cohon's debut state of the league discussion prior to the 2007 season. Cohon suggested that the current pursuit of an NHL franchise for Hamilton by Jim Balsillie wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for Canadian football in the steel city. It's a sentiment that is shared by Ti-Cats owner Bob Young.
In fact, Cohon seems aware of the climate for sports in 2007 and suspects that the NHL may relocate a few of its struggling franchises into Canada, most likely with Winnipeg as a prime candidate for attention. A situation that Cohon feels the CFL could weather quite nicely and maybe even develop some joint ventures with local ownership.
The Toronto Star's Mary Ormsby examined the issue on the Star website Tuesday.
CFL boss isn't scared of NHL
League needs to work hard, but Ticats can still thrive if Predators move to Hamilton: Cohon
June 26, 2007
MARY ORMSBY
SPORTS REPORTER
The NHL in Hamilton means the CFL has work to do.
CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said the potential relocation of the Nashville Predators into the same neighbourhood as the Hamilton Ticats won't financially harm the football franchise if interest in the game increases in southern Ontario. And "growing the game" by attracting more young athletes to play three-down football was one of Cohon's initiatives announced yesterday.
"I think (the NHL) is a little more the corporate community (in ticket buying) and we're more grass-roots in terms of the Ticats and their fans over the years," Cohon said after giving his webcast state-of-the league address at Rogers Centre yesterday.
"Bob (Young, the Ticat owner) is a smart guy. But it's my job to work with Bob and make sure that football is strong is southern Ontario and we have to start building up, having more kids playing the game here."
The Ticats have a strong season subscription base of about 15,000 and come close to selling out every home game at Ivor Wynne Stadium. At their last pre-season game on Friday, 20,000 were in the stands to see the home side edge the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 24-20.
However, 12,000 eager NHL fans recently forked over (refundable) deposits in pledging to purchase season tickets should Blackberry boss Jim Balsillie finally buy – then pry – the floundering hockey team from Tennessee and move it to Hamilton.
Far from fearing competition for ticket and sponsorship dollars from hockey teams, Cohon said his "gut" tells him that more NHL franchises will move north of the border and the CFL must be prepared to hold its fan base.
"I think you'll see more NHL franchises eventually coming to Canada so it's incumbent upon us to do the best job of making sure the CFL is successful. If that happens, then you've got a sport in the winter and you've got a sport in the summer – and we're the Canadian sport in the summer."
In a wide-ranging news conference, Cohon – who has been on the job just two months – also discussed:
CFL expansion predicated on stadium development funded by municipal, provincial and federal governments.
A player drug-testing plan, for which Cohon first approached Canadian World Anti-Doping Agency boss Dick Pound. There's no deadline so far for implementing the plan.
A marketing campaign focused on 16 players from across the league called CFL PROs. The two Argos involved are linebacker Michael Fletcher and defensive back Byron Parker.
His new commissioner's corporate council, which includes former Blue Jay and Major League Baseball executive Paul Beeston. Cohon also wants a commissioner's youth council, with young players and fans giving feedback and ideas to the league.
So far, so good with the salary management system (aka salary cap). An audit of each team is underway with results to be announced next April, after which offenders – if any – will be sanctioned.
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