CFL franchise in Moncton a real possibility

Moncton is a frontrunner for a Canadian Football League franchise in Atlantic Canada, according to the commissioner.

A decision to expand the league won’t happen quickly, Mark Cohon said.
But the success of a Sept. 26 game in Moncton — the CFL’s first regular season game in Atlantic Canada — will play a role, he said.
Tickets for the game, dubbed Touchdown Atlantic, are scheduled to go on sale Wednesday.
‘I think over time if there really is the community backing, you know, there’s the potential, but again it will take some time.’— Mark Cohon, CFL commissioner
“We obviously want to ensure that this is a success first,” Cohon said.
“And then if we can expand [the Moncton Stadium] and make it a little bit bigger and then look for local ownership . … And through this process, you know, I want to get out and meet the business leaders in the region to see if there is any interest.
“I think over time if there really is the community backing, you know, there’s the potential, but again it will take some time.”
The expansion fee for a franchise in Atlantic Canada would be more than $7 million, Cohon said.
Touchdown Atlantic
The Moncton game will be held at the new Moncton Stadium, which is still under construction at the University of Moncton.
“It regularly holds close to 10,000 people we’re going to add another 10,000 seats,” Cohon said. “But also we’ve looked at Moncton and it really is becoming the entertainment capital of the region.”
New Brunswick’s government has committed $700,000 to Touchdown Atlantic, mostly in infrastructure funding.

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon says the success of a game in Moncton this fall could eventually lead to a franchise for the city. (Jimmy Jeong/Canadian Press)

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/03/23/nb-moncton-cfl-franchise.html#ixzz0j2asvVQ3

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

Leave a Reply