Isn’t this an interesting turn of events:
In 2021, Halifax @MikeSavageHFX told @HuddleToday it was “very unlikely” Halifax would see a franchise any time soon. However, this week he said plans to bring a CFL team to the city are real and ongoing – even if it means doing it without an expensive stadium. #CFL
In 2021, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage told Huddle it was “very unlikely” Halifax would see a franchise any time soon. However, this week he said plans to bring a CFL team to the city are real and ongoing – even if it means doing it without an expensive stadium.
“I don’t think there’s any likelihood of a big stadium outside of the core of the city – I just don’t see that in the cards. It’s been talked about for a long time but it doesn’t seem like the money is there,” Savage said in an interview with Acadia Broadcasting’s Blake Priddle.
However, the mayor said there “may be other options” in the city’s core for a multi-use stadium that could accommodate a CFL team.
One is to hold CFL games at St. Mary’s University. However, the most promising, according to Savage, is the venue for the city’s professional soccer team: the Wanderers Grounds.
“We’re not there yet, but I know that there are people who are looking at whether we could turn the Wanderers Grounds into a place that we could hold 15,000 people,” Savage said.
Does the Wanderers ground have the footprint to hold what a CFL team needs. Never mind could it host Grey Cups?
Bigger question to me is how would it work with Wanderers FC as I understand they don't want to share a venue with a CFL team.
Unless the city is saying to both groups they need to share to have any chance of public dollars towards the project.
I don't mind it myself but it's a vast change from what the CFL has said in the past.
Well in the near past it seemed to be the CFL vs the mayor. Now it seems the mayor and the cfl are in the same bed. As far as a new stadium goes I wonder if six five sports and their modular stadiums (like the one being put together in Langley for VancouverFC) could be adapted to the CFL. They can hold up to 20,000 which is 5,000 more then what the mayor suggested in other tweets.
I think it could be adapted but not sure that is what is going to happen in Halifax. Unfortunately their plan could change a large amount of times in a short span so we'll have to wait and see.
That was during the Pandemic. The CFL was not even playing. 2020....not 2021....An error in the article.
Article from 2020:
Halifax Schooners?
Could be?
@Jon Are we allowed to mention Chicago in this one? /s
Sorry had to throw this in there after the year long zombie rock fight that was the Chicago thread.
At this point how about Halifax “anything”? This is the first positive news I’ve heard in years.
Would be much more acceptable by Council, in my opinion.
Let’s leave Halifax alone
Thanks CFL for trying and making a business plan for a group of city council liberals
Let it die with handshakes
I was just having a bit of fun. Schooners I think is an ideal name. I’m just happily surprised after all this time their is some positive news.
Wanderers FC is living off the graces of the taxpayers of Halifax. It's that or go play on the turf pitch across the street at Citadel High School.
Having said that. I have no idea how they are going to shoehorn a stadium in there. 15k to 18k max and that is cutting the bylaws through the shredder. But its an amazing location and would serve CFL. CSL and the College teams which are just down the road. Don't be surprised if it is a Community owned team like they do out West.
I live out in the west so I don’t know the lay of the land. They also suggested St Mary’s. In your opinion what’s the better location? I’ve heard in the past the residents around there don’t even want the CPL Wanderers what would a CFL franchise be thought of?
The more CFLers can help with grassroots growth in Nova Scotia, the better:
MacKellar represented Canada at the International Bowl in Texas where he helped both the under-18 and under-19 teams defeat the United States in 2015. Additionally, he represented Nova Scotia at the Football Canada Cup in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2014 and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec in 2015. MacKellar also represented the province as part of the under-17 squad at the Wilson Cup Challenge in Quebec in 2012 and 2013.
MacKellar will be focusing on promoting football across the province through regional try-clinics and school visits. In addition, he will be help with the organization and administration of official and provincial team programs.
Not to be negative, but how does it make sense to put a stadium on a site that is too small to allow for expansion.
The majority of teams in the league are drawing above 15k fans per game. Unless the business continues to shrink, a 15k stadium will not allow for a viable franchise on a permanent basis. It also certainly would mean no opportunity to host a Grey Cup.
I think a starter stadium is a great idea to get a franchise going, but it has to be done in a way that allows for future expansion. There would be no public money for a totally new stadium after governments had invested in a starter stadium.
Agreed. A 15,000-seat stadium would be too small for any expansion team to be profitable . . . unless significant new revenue streams come into play.
Perhaps that number will jump to 20,000+ after funding for the smaller plan gets approval.