Expansion

[Jesse]

The Maritimes.... I haven't been there, I really do not have any idea about the way things are in Nova Scotia New Brunswick, PEI, Nfld.

It seems quite cut off from the rest of Canada. I just don't hear about the goings on there very much. At least compared to the  other provinces.

Why would they not want a CFL team?  My thinking is the public just isn't interested.

Do maritimers mainly follow NFL and NHL maybe? Maybe more interested in local minor league sports?


There are People there to whom the cost of a stadium would be pocket change.

The public isn't interested in funding a stadium. The politician that goes through with such a project might as well forfeit the next election.

[Tecno]

Why would they not want a CFL team?  My thinking is the public just isn't interested.

There is also no money in the maritimes.  The people don't have a ton left over at the end of the day to buy CFL tickets.  And that's saying a lot coming from a 'Pegger!

[Tecno]

Do you realistically think Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto will ever fill their stadiums again?

I think CGY could if they start winning a lot again.  If any demo is right for CFL, it's CGY.  But I think they need to do the new stadium, as it would renew interest, and get some of the stragglers to come back into the huddle.  That's kind of what happened with me and IGF.

Not sure if I'm correct, but since CGY used to fill the stands pretty regularly, wouldn't have they have had better attendance in, say, 2007-2012 than WPG had in the old barn??  Refresh the product by refreshing the stadium.  People like shiny new things.

[Tecno]

I would prefer to see expansion into Saskatoon, so that the Bombers have another Saskatchewan team to smash.  Just sayin.

It sounds so good, but then you realize it would probably instantly drop the Mosaic STH base by a few thousand.  It's like if you build a Tim Hortons 1km from another Tim Hortons.  You don't actually double the total sales, you actually cannibalize some of the customers.

The question would be if the combined market would be bigger and if Riders would be fine with losing all those fans.

If they do expand there, I hope they name the team the Berries!!   

[Tecno]

the experience from the top row isn't worth the price of admission.

Hey, don't diss the top row!  Us top-row(ish)ers wouldn't want to sit anywhere else!  I've sat everywhere -- there is no better place/view for someone actually wanting to concentrate on the game.

[Tecno]

I pity the people sitting on the sideline, past the end zone. This will happen unless major renovations take place all over the league.

But Aards assured us with Johnston math (TM) that all sightlines improve with the 100Y field.

     

[Sir Blue and Gold]

But Aards assured us with Johnston math (TM) that all sightlines improve with the 100Y field.

     

Maybe let's wait and see what the Bombers actually do and how they'll utilize/format the additional space before pretending that you're so much better at understanding what will happen that it's something you can scoff at?

I'm sure the Bombers will turn it into an advantage somehow. They're pretty good at the game day experience and to everyone's credit they'll have had two years to scenario plan.

[Jesse]

Maybe let's wait and see what the Bombers actually do and how they'll utilize/format the additional space before pretending that you're so much better at understanding what will happen that it's something you can scoff at?

I'm sure the Bombers will turn it into an advantage somehow. They're pretty good at the game day experience and to everyone's credit they'll have had two years to scenario plan.

It doesn't matter how they use the additional space. The stadium was build for the current sized field and the change in field size will mean some seats are further away.

No way around that.

[Waffler]

The Maritimes.... I haven't been there, I really do not have any idea about the way things are in Nova Scotia New Brunswick, PEI, Nfld.

It seems quite cut off from the rest of Canada.

My understanding is that the population is spread out, no major city that would be the obvious choice.  And it's not like Regina where a medium/longish drive is possible. They have islands. Travel between them is not convenient. Attendance will be a problem just due to the geography.

[blue_gold_84]

My understanding is that the population is spread out, no major city that would be the obvious choice.  And it's not like Regina where a medium/longish drive is possible. They have islands. Travel between them is not convenient. Attendance will be a problem just due to the geography.

I'm not sure where you found that information, but getting around the Maritime provinces is hardly inconvenient. Like any other part of Canada, it does require the privilege of a car to get around as easily as possible.

Highways connect the urban areas like any other region in Canada. Smaller cities like Truro and New Glasgow are within 90 mins. by car to Halifax, similar to going from Brandon to Winnipeg. Sydney is closer to Halifax than Regina is to Winnipeg. Even outside of NS, cities like Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, and Charlottetown are within 5 hours by car. The two islands are accessible by car: PEI is connected to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge and Cape Breton is connected to Nova Scotia by the Canso Causeway.

The Halifax Regional Municipality has a population over 500K, making it the most logical choice for CFL expansion into the Maritimes. And it's an incredible city with a rich history and tons to see and do.

If you've never been, I'd highly, highly recommend it. It's a uniquely beautiful part of this vast country. And the people there are wonderful. And while I doubt it happens any time soon, I'd love one day to go see the Bombers play the Schooners in Halifax.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm not sure where you found that information, but getting around the Maritime provinces is hardly inconvenient. Like any other part of Canada, it does require the privilege of a car to get around as easily as possible.

Highways connect the urban areas like any other region in Canada. Smaller cities like Truro and New Glasgow are within 90 mins. by car to Halifax, similar to going from Brandon to Winnipeg. Sydney is closer to Halifax than Regina is to Winnipeg. Even outside of NS, cities like Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, and Charlottetown are within 5 hours by car. The two islands are accessible by car: PEI is connected to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge and Cape Breton is connected to Nova Scotia by the Canso Causeway.

The Halifax Regional Municipality has a population over 500K, making it the most logical choice for CFL expansion into the Maritimes. And it's an incredible city with a rich history and tons to see and do.

If you've never been, I'd highly, highly recommend it. It's a uniquely beautiful part of this vast country. And the people there are wonderful. And while I doubt it happens any time soon, I'd love one day to go see the Bombers play the Schooners in Halifax.

Sounds nice but I think 85% of attendance has to come from the local area, not many people are going to drive 90 minutes to attend games on a bi-weekly basis, never mind coming from 4-5 hours away.  How many Bomber fans drive in from Brandon or further? People from that far may attend 1 or 2 games a year but unlikely to ever buy season tickets. 

The drive between Saskatoon and Regina is 3 hours, I think the Riders have a hard time drawing from that city now as driving 6 hours in one day and getting home late can mess with the entire work week if not retired.

[blue_gold_84]

Sounds nice but I think 85% of attendance has to come from the local area...

What is your rationale for 85%? What would be the stadium capacity in this scenario?

To address the rest of your reply, I was simply trying to point out that getting around the Maritimes isn't difficult when compared to the rest of Canada, either in terms of its geography or population distribution.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

What is your rationale for 85%? What would be the stadium capacity in this scenario?

It would be great if they could sustain a team in a cozy 15-18k seat stadium, the rest of the income coming from other sources.  Public ownership over private would be preferable but that would probably be voted down by the private owners on the BOG.

Interesting interview with Lion's owner Amar Doman discussing the CFL's current situation and future prospects.

[bomb squad]

Do you realistically think Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto will ever fill their stadiums again?  If a new stadium is built with public money within the next decade, sustainability should be put before unrealistic expectations of growth.

No. But realistically they could fill one with a size closer to that of ours. Not one half the size, like you floated. That's not even worth considering. At all.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

No. But realistically they could fill one with a size closer to that of ours. Not one half the size, like you floated. That's not even worth considering. At all.

I was referring to a new stadium if built in the Maritimes, but of those 3 other locations only Edmonton has a bigger stadium than Wpg.