Recent OT Jottings

  • TSN Touches Down with CFL Broadcast Rights

    December 20, 2006 6:55 PM

    Official coverage from TSN, the CFL and the odd-man out, the CBC.

    The CBC reports they did not have an opportunity to bid. Rightfully so, for when you have provided the broadcast teams they have for the last few years, it shows your disinterest in the property. The deal value was not announced but is still rumoured to be worth $16 million per year.

  • D’Angelo and Partner Serious About Penguins

    December 18, 2006 5:43 PM
    If D’Angelo-Sherman could build a hockey arena in Pittsburgh at just under $300 million USD, the CFL should have signed them up to build a football stadium in Halifax and gave them the 10th CFL franchise. I would expect they would not be involved in any more talks with the CFL with the Penguins a priority now. Another opportunity lost for the CFL.

  • Expect CFL TV Deal Before Christmas

    December 14, 2006 8:40 PM
    It will be interesting to see how this plays out with games either being sold off or kept. If I was the CFL, I would be looking for a contract whose value increased as more teams were added to reduce the dillution owners are worried about. Not an increase by another team’s share, but another $1 million a year perhaps. Expanding anywhere in the country would certainly increase viewership, so some benefit should come to the CFL before the next negotiation. Otherwise I can see the CFL stagnating on eight teams over franchise fees and reduced shares before they realize to grow the business they need to get into other regions of the country.

  • Rumour: CFL TV Deal Close

    December 13, 2006 8:34 PM
    The long-rumoured exclusive CFL TSN/CTV deal is close if the “no comment” replies mean anything. Not much new information – $15 million a year for all TV, Internet and mobile rights. While this is a raise from the last deal, new media rights were never bundled in previous deals. Can $1.875 million per team (in an 8-team league, $1.67 million per team in a 9-team league or $1.5 million per team in a 10-team league) really bring the profits the private owners want? The money does not start to flow until 2008.

  • Saskatoon Lands NHL Exhibition Game

    December 13, 2006 5:51 PM
    After years of avoiding any small market neutral sites in hockey’s heartland, the Calgary Flames will play a game in September 2007 in Saskatoon. Funny how the league cannot bring teams through every city during the regular season, but will have the Florida Panthers travel to Saskatoon for an exhibition game.

  • Ottawa Media Sour on Expansion, CFL, Palmer

    December 9, 2006 2:59 PM

    In correcting a story from Friday stating the Palmer group had dropped out of negotiations for an Ottawa CFL franchise, the Ottawa Sun slams the expansion process and the CFL for being too secretive, and Bill Palmer as too arrogant to work with the league according to their unnamed inside source.

    It still is a business and if the negotiations of expansion fees were public and the names of bidders made known you could be sure there would only be one bidder, Frank D’Angelo.

  • CFL and Palmer Group Still Negotiating

    December 9, 2006 2:32 PM
    While no meetings are scheduled, Palmer’s group is still in touch with the CFL and is positive about a deal getting done. January is not the latest an agreement could happen, but after that it starts cutting into the prep time to build interest for a 2008 start.

  • Rumours of Dead CFL Franchise Deal Disputed

    December 8, 2006 4:41 PM
    News that the last Ottawa CFL franchise bidders have withdrawn from negotiations over the $5 million franchise fee are being disputed by the CFL. Fan reaction can be found on the TSN report.

  • Part of Godfrey’s Plan for the Argos Materializes

    December 7, 2006 10:03 PM
    Granted, Paul Godfrey is not involved in this stadium decision, but when one of his financiers for bringing an NFL team to Toronto is, you have to wonder if the plan for the Argos is to move them to London or something.

  • NFL Provides $300 million Loan for New Stadium at the Meadowlands

    December 7, 2006 6:58 PM
    Toronto dreamers bidders will be smacking their lips looking to get some of that action. If the richest teams in the NFL cannot build there own shared stadium, and want to avoid personal seat licenses, how can a Toronto franchise build one totally on their own under a $1 billion franchise debt?

  • Kent Austin Named Roughrider Head Coach

    December 6, 2006 7:03 PM
    A lot of talk around a synergy with Austin’s hiring, like the ’89 Grey Cup and the homecoming. All of that is superstition though. What is most important is Austin is a born leader. If he has players that follow him, the team should go far. More can be found on Slam Sports, the Leader-Post scoop, Rob Vanstone editorial, and the CBC.

  • Hull’s Ego Peeks Through in Number Retirement Ceremony

    December 6, 2006 6:51 PM
    Just the jersey would have been plenty for Hull, who thanked his enforcers for taking good care of him, admitted to his old coaches that he knew he could be a handful, and even thanked the media while bragging that his exploits certainly made their job easier.

  • Popp to Coach Alouettes

    December 2, 2006 11:08 AM
    The trend is to reduce multiple responsibilities of operations staff in the CFL. Popp now holds the titles of Vice President, General Manager, Director of Football Operations, Director of Player Personnel, and Head Coach.

  • Godfrey Has Plan to Land NFL, Save Argos

    December 1, 2006 6:19 PM
    I have a plan, but I can’t tell you what it is. You will have to trust me. And please buy a seat license so I don’t have to ask the government for money and can build a stadium.

  • The Sports Economist

    December 1, 2006 11:39 AM
    A site I first stumbled upon a few weeks ago with commentary on the money being spent on sports, from stadiums to sponsorships, from amateur to professional and many things in between.

  • Upon Further Review: Another Toronto False Start

    December 1, 2006 10:53 AM
    First it is a certainty. Then it is another false start. Keeping the interest stoked in Toronto over an NFL franchise is a full time job it appears. It takes the media a day to sort through the spin.

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