We’re Pouring A Half-Billion Dollars Into Lansdowne?

07/14/2023

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There are so few fans at this Edmonton Elks game that Ottawa’s light-rail could handle the post-game crowd.

When you thought of strong franchises in the Canadian Football League, generally you had few financial concerns in Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton and Calgary.

In fact, Edmonton was the “City of Champions” what with the former Eskimos and the powerful Oilers.

Well this was the scene at Commonwealth Stadium on Thursday evening. One of the flagship franchises in the CFL couldn’t draw flies.

This does not bode well for the CFL, the Ottawa Redblacks, the City of Ottawa or Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.

LANSDOWNE: So Much Bull. So Little Time

Perhaps worth mentioning in this list are taxpayers. Ottawans are pouring around $500 million into Lansdowne for a league that is not even a blip on the radar in Canada’s largest market, Toronto. interest in that city is dominated by the Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays and Toronto FC.

Then there are the other weak franchises in Vancouver and Montreal. Please note that the three weak franchises are in the three largest markets in Canada.

One of the reasons is a weak product. In the past, the CFL was an exciting brand of football, much more interesting than the rigidly ruled NFL. That football game Thursday where the picture above was taken was a mad scramble. The CFL has few, if any, stars, It’s like the players were taken off the generic shelf at the Real Canadian Superstore. No Doug Fluties there.

So why is the city shovelling money into Lansdowne? Because it’s a real estate deal, not a sports enterprise.

And the private people in the so-called partnership are among the richest, most influential and powerful in this community. Politicians would rather curry favour from them (very expensive favour) than look out for taxpayers.

That’s the reality behind Lansdowne. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Lansdowne 2.0 Gets 10x The Cash Of Seniors

And if we really want to make use of the stadium at Lansdowne, let’s go get a franchise in the growing Major League Soccer operation. You know, the one that the late Senators owner Eugene Melnyk had in his back pocket when the city chose football over soccer. Or rather the most influential people in the city over the shunned Melnyk.

Short-sighted and wrong decision.

Ken Gray

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