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Hambone
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Murdoch wrote:
Sat Aug 29, 2020 6:12 pm
DanoT wrote:
Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:26 pm
I agree 100%. I would have paid good money to Elemimian and others and got some other less expensive QB.
Someone like Travis Lulay ?
Speaking of Travis I was just thinking about those Oregon fires and hoping all is OK for him and his family. They and the family business are based in Stayton, OR. Neighbouring Lyons which is only 9 miles away as the crow flies to the east was hammered hard as were other communities farther east . A saving grace for Stayton might be that they are for the most part surrounded by farm land.
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Murdoch
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Heavy funeral type karma across the land. Always awkward and usually best to leave the family on their own in my experience.

For the record it was a low of -2 in Winnipeg last night. Reportedly felt like -7 earlier when they would have been playing assuming a Friday night game. Indian summer yet to come though but point being Winnipeg was a poor choice given October weather and a dome option. CFL needs to pull their head out of their butt.

Very easy money for Ambrosie this year even at his reduced salary of $500,000 or maybe I'm just not seeing it.
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Sir Purrcival
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Oh, I'm not sure it was easy money. Imagine trying to figure out what you were going to do for several months, approaching Government for help, getting turned down and being ridiculed to boot. Dealing with all the second guessers who like to comment on such things without ever having had to deal with these unusual circumstances, having to ultimately be the one who pulled the plug on the season and wondering if there is going to be a season or even a league next year. I bet there were a lot of sleepless nights this year for Ambrosie. He earned every bit of his reduced salary not that 500 G's is roughing it mind you.
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Hambone
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Dome vs Winnipeg? If Dome means BC Place then LeLacheur pretty much shot that down as not being viable back in May. Biggest difference is that the Lions are mere tenants in BCP renting it out for several hours 10 or 11 times a year. The Bombers on the other hand not only play out of IGF Field they also manage the facility giving them far more pull in what goes on there.

The one observation LeLacheur offered was that it would not be possible to guarantee BCP being available exclusively to the CFL for the length of any bubble season. I'd shudder to think what it would cost to lease BCP 24 x 7 for 3 or 4 months.

Whatever that might cost might be meaningless. The Lions aren't the only group that has existing leases with Pavco. If things took a turn for the better Pavco would be obligated to make the building available for Whitecap games and any other contracts in place for events that hadn't been cancelled. Who knows what it would cost to have Pavco break those contracts to make way for a CFL bubble.
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David
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As a complete side note, does anyone else besides me think that it is bloody strange that virtually every other sports stadium/arena in North America has naming rights but not BC Place? It's a crown corp yes, but it's not exactly making money hand over fist from what I hear. They can use all the revenue they can get. Would say, $10M for a 10-year naming rights deal not help the bottom line?


DH :cool:
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David
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Sir Purrcival wrote:
Fri Oct 02, 2020 3:13 pm
Oh, I'm not sure it was easy money. Imagine trying to figure out what you were going to do for several months, approaching Government for help, getting turned down and being ridiculed to boot. Dealing with all the second guessers who like to comment on such things without ever having had to deal with these unusual circumstances, having to ultimately be the one who pulled the plug on the season and wondering if there is going to be a season or even a league next year. I bet there were a lot of sleepless nights this year for Ambrosie. He earned every bit of his reduced salary not that 500 G's is roughing it mind you.
Unfortunately, I have never held Randy in high regard. I think he wants to do well but he's always struck me as a guy who likes the sound of his own voice (and loves the sound of his own ideas). A big talker.

Big thinker? Maybe. But if what Arash Madani is reporting is anywhere close to true, I am terrified for the future of the league under his guidance.




DH :cool:
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Murdoch
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For what it is worth, Rod Pederson has done as much as anyone to keep the CFL in the news. I was always skeptical with his Rider background but he has been good imo.

The global growth plan is a disaster. Cheaper players won't improve the game or sell tickets. Most fans from other countries will never attend a game. It's a do nothing move and we are back to square one again next spring.
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Hambone wrote:
Fri Oct 02, 2020 4:49 pm
Dome vs Winnipeg? If Dome means BC Place then LeLacheur pretty much shot that down as not being viable back in May. Biggest difference is that the Lions are mere tenants in BCP renting it out for several hours 10 or 11 times a year. The Bombers on the other hand not only play out of IGF Field they also manage the facility giving them far more pull in what goes on there.

The one observation LeLacheur offered was that it would not be possible to guarantee BCP being available exclusively to the CFL for the length of any bubble season. I'd shudder to think what it would cost to lease BCP 24 x 7 for 3 or 4 months.

Whatever that might cost might be meaningless. The Lions aren't the only group that has existing leases with Pavco. If things took a turn for the better Pavco would be obligated to make the building available for Whitecap games and any other contracts in place for events that hadn't been cancelled. Who knows what it would cost to have Pavco break those contracts to make way for a CFL bubble.
purrfect example of inequity in the league where the Lions have limited access to their facility and pay when they do and the Bombers set up permanent camp with unrestricted access to top level training and practice facilities with catered meals. Province has already written off the cost of IGF and the Bombers pay what they can at the end of the year in the 3 - 5 million range usually and often close to the announced profit. I've said it before that the true MOP of the Bombers is their accountant.

Wade Miller was counting on the bubble revenue to provide smoke and mirrors for the true picture of how much money they are spending. They will clean up the books for year end but true numbers are not going to be pretty.
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B.C.FAN
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Murdoch wrote:
Sat Oct 03, 2020 6:51 am
For what it is worth, Rod Pederson has done as much as anyone to keep the CFL in the news. I was always skeptical with his Rider background but he has been good imo.

The global growth plan is a disaster. Cheaper players won't improve the game or sell tickets. Most fans from other countries will never attend a game. It's a do nothing move and we are back to square one again next spring.
I watch Pedersen’s show on Facebook Live most days and appreciate his coverage but I disagree with his opposition to the global growth plan and his support for merging with the XFL or becoming NFL Canada. Canadian rules are the CFL’s best asset, and selling the Canadian game to players and fans around the world can help raise the CFL’s profile among younger Canadian fans who have gravitated to the bright lights of the NFL.

Also, I don’t take anything Arash Madani says about the CFL at face value. He always seems to have an axe to grind and seems to take glee in mocking the league.
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Hambone
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David wrote:
Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:47 pm
As a complete side note, does anyone else besides me think that it is bloody strange that virtually every other sports stadium/arena in North America has naming rights but not BC Place? It's a crown corp yes, but it's not exactly making money hand over fist from what I hear. They can use all the revenue they can get. Would say, $10M for a 10-year naming rights deal not help the bottom line?


DH :cool:
Great question David. From reading this article they do now have the go ahead to do that but might only have received that approval or renewed approval from the government early last year. At this point maybe it's a case of not having been able to negotiate the right deal. They may have been close to something early this year until Covid blew up any chance of finalizing something.

https://www.bcplace.com/news/2019-02-20 ... ce-stadium

However if one goes back to 2012 Pavco did have a naming rights agreement in place with Telus but the Liberal government back then kiboshed it.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- ... -1.1271933
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B.C.FAN wrote:
Sat Oct 03, 2020 6:59 pm
I watch Pedersen’s show on Facebook Live most days and appreciate his coverage but I disagree with his opposition to the global growth plan and his support for merging with the XFL or becoming NFL Canada. Canadian rules are the CFL’s best asset, and selling the Canadian game to players and fans around the world can help raise the CFL’s profile among younger Canadian fans who have gravitated to the bright lights of the NFL.

Also, I don’t take anything Arash Madani says about the CFL at face value. He always seems to have an axe to grind and seems to take glee in mocking the league.
I won't disagree that they need to attract a younger audience but just think it is a long shot to use the Global idea as the tool to do it. Was unaware of Rod Pederson's position on the matter.

CFL is missing plenty right here in Canada and finding a couple of ex players to run football clinics and help build interest in younger people would be a faster track to revenue imo. Kito Poblah and Carl Volny are trying to do that with Finish First and the Hard work beats Talent program.

I liken the whole pro sports world to a product life cycle concept. Introduction, Growth, and Maturity have already happened and we are now in the decline phase searching for new markets and innovation that translates to revenue. My generation doesn't quite get it because we've been along for the whole ride. The time invested alone would total years of sitting in the stands. Disappointing to think of it as frivolous. Pro sports have done well to capture what they have.

Could it be the decline of the Roman Empire all over again? Even the blood and gore of the Bull ring wasn't enough to save it.

Good news for the CFL that the XFL is targeting 2022. Should make it a buyers market for players that need to play.

Enjoy the day. Good luck with the rest.
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SammyGreene
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Hambone wrote:
Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:48 pm
David wrote:
Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:47 pm
As a complete side note, does anyone else besides me think that it is bloody strange that virtually every other sports stadium/arena in North America has naming rights but not BC Place? It's a crown corp yes, but it's not exactly making money hand over fist from what I hear. They can use all the revenue they can get. Would say, $10M for a 10-year naming rights deal not help the bottom line?


DH :cool:
Great question David. From reading this article they do now have the go ahead to do that but might only have received that approval or renewed approval from the government early last year. At this point maybe it's a case of not having been able to negotiate the right deal. They may have been close to something early this year until Covid blew up any chance of finalizing something.

https://www.bcplace.com/news/2019-02-20 ... ce-stadium

However if one goes back to 2012 Pavco did have a naming rights agreement in place with Telus but the Liberal government back then kiboshed it.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- ... -1.1271933
Almost certain it had to do with BC Place's other main tenant happening to have Bell as its major sponsor. And if anything the Whitecaps have more pull than the Lions given the more dates they need the stadium for.
Bell extended its deal with the Whitecaps in 2018 for the 2nd time since its expansion but it's not normal for a title sponsor deal to last that long at all levels of pro soccer. To a lesser extent Telus has stuck by the Lions side for a number of years.

And not surprised to hear the idea of the CFL becoming NFL Canada or whatever gaining momentum even with longtime members of the media like Rod Pederson. The NFL game has evolved considerably in the last decade where it takes pass oriented offensive schemes and mostly athletic QBs to succeed. The old argument the CFL's 3 down version is a more wide open game just doesn't hold water anymore.
There used to be a premium to sign elite RBs. Not anymore and they are actually far down the salary cap priority list.

ESPN actually did a story last week on how NFL games are being officiated to lead to these high scoring games with apparently holding calls down significantly.

Almost pains me to say this but the Seahawks season has been lights out entertaining so far with Wilson almost becoming must watch TV every Sunday. And remember this is a guy who came up to Vancouver 2 or 3 times earlier in his career to host QB camps.
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Cut and paste from CFL.ca. Nice to see and maybe there is hope. We'll see what comes out of it.

TORONTO — Canadian leaders in football announced that they will come together for a two-part Canadian Football Summit Meeting Series. The first of two-discussion series will be held remotely throughout the month of October. Stakeholders have identified five key areas of focus for the initial series of discussions. Within each area of focus, the group will review the current state of the game and collaboratively identify and explore key opportunities to further grow and develop the sport.

Leadership from Football Canada, Canadian Football League (CFL), Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), U SPORTS and leadership from the Canada West, OUA, RSEQ and AUS have confirmed their participation for the first of two-round meeting series.

“We have the opportunity to do something which is long overdue and that’s to bring this game together as a unified force,” said Football Canada President, Jim Mullin. “I get the sense from the isolation of phone and Zoom calls we are all sharing, that the desire to work cooperatively is at an all-time high. We have a unique opportunity for the sport to emerge with a renewed energy, organization and purpose. I want to ensure football is ready for Canadians when we fully step back into our communities and the game.”

The second set of discussions will seek further detailed discussion and alignment on female tackle football, high school football, flag football, specific diversity issues and regional relationships. The second round will follow a similar format and will run over two weeks early this winter.

“We are thrilled to participate in these discussions surrounding the sport of football in Canada,” said CFL Commissioner, Randy Ambrosie. “This aligns with the CFL’s try football strategy and we look forward to working with the football organizations from around the country to build a better game for everyone.”

Key topics that will be on the agenda this month include:

1. Programming and New Engagement

Focus on enhancing, supporting, and promoting the existing grass roots youth football programming being delivered across the country. While also exploring ways to further introduce the game of football (contact and non-contact) to new populations of youth. The group will also discuss paths to coaching, officiating and diversity.

2. Competitions and Events

The group will review the current calendar of Canadian Football events and discuss opportunities to align operations that will build stronger revenue streams, increase media attention & broaden audiences.

3. International

Discussions will focus on how the Canadian Football ecosystem can further align to solidify Canada’s position as global leader in the sport while also supporting the globalization of the game.

4. Information and Visibility

Stakeholders will address opportunities to enhance the promotion and recognition of Canadian Football endeavours.

5. Alignment

Leaders will assess the possibility of streamlining and standardizing various processes to create resources that are beneficial to multiple parties.

This marks the first Football Summit Series since 2006. At the conclusion of the meetings, Jim Mullin, President, Football Canada will be made available to the media.
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B.C.FAN
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Kudos to Jim Mullin (a member of this board) for his leadership with Football Canada.
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Wish them luck. Good to know there are good people involved.

It's the first mention of the CFL "try football" strategy that I have heard.
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