December 8 2006

December 8 2006

IN DECEMBER THE FINAL GROUP BIDDING FOR A CFL FRANCHISE IN OTTAWA PULLED OUT WHEN THEY HEARD THAT THE COST OF AN EXPANSION TEAM WOULD BE 5 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S 5 MILLION DOLLARS IN A CITY THAT HAS ALREADY FAILED TWICE.

THE GROUP THAT JESSE PALMER'S FATHER PUT TOGETHER APPARENTLY WAS READY TO GO TO 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS BUT NO FURTHER. WHY THEY WOULD GO TO 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS IS BEYOND ME....BUT THEN AGAIN IT'S NOT MY MONEY. IF THE CFL IS SERIOUS ABOUT EXPANDING I THINK THEY SHOULD ABANDON THE "GREED FACTOR" A TEAM BELONGS IN OTTAWA. THE LEAGUE SHOULD HAVE A TEAM IN HALIFAX AND PERHAPS QUEBEC CITY. BUT WHERE DO THESE CITIES COME UP WITH 3 TO 5 MILLION DOLLARS IN START-UP MONEY?

RATHER THAN HAMMER THE INVESTORS WITH A HEAVY ENTRANCE FEE...IF EXPANSION IS SOMETHING THAT THE LEAGUE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERS...TRY A REVENUE SHARING DEAL THROUGH THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF THEIR EXISTANCE. IN OTTAWA, HALIFAX AND QUEBEC CITY...STARTING OUT 5 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT IS A THE FAST TRACK TO BANKRUPTCY. GIVE THEM A CHANCE IF FOR ONLY ONE REASON. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING THE WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS IN THIS CITY