Both Stadiums are a little small and might be too close to the Lions(don’t need to Steal Fans)
From Looking around it seems the only non-currnet CFL markets that have Stadiums of enough size(without adding seats) are:
Ottawa - (Frank Claire)
Quebec - (Peps) 18K
Other Stadiums:
BC:
Centenial(Victoria) - 5K
Percy Perry(coquitlam) - 4K
Apple Bowl(Okanagan) - 5.7K (soccer)
Swangard (Burnaby) - 6.9K (soccer)
Royal Athletic Park(Victoria) - 9.2K
Saskatchewan:
Griffiths Stadium(saskatoon) (5K)
Ontario:
Windsor Stadium(Windsor) - 3K
TD Waterhouse(London) - 8K
University(Waterloo) - 5.5K
Birchmount (Scarborough) - 6K
Centenial Park (Etobicoke) - 3.5K
Chapples Park(Thunder bay) - 3.5K
Nova Scotia:
Huskies (Halifax) - 9K
Raymond Field(Wolfville) - 3K
Quebec:
Municipal(Sherbrooke) - 4K
Alberta/Manitoba/New Brunswick/PEI/Newfoundland/ Territories:
No Stadiums(outside CFL cities)
It will cost under 15M to build a Stadium able to support a team in this League.
That’s 13.5K+ Seats + 12 Luxury suits (going by Saputo Stadium in Montreal)
Since that Stadium has many extra fields it is possible that a 14K Seat + 14 Luxury Suit Stadium could be built for 15M$
** I am missing a few Stadiums that are likely under 3K(St.Francis in NS for one)
If the CFL could team up with the CIS in Some Cities(London, Waterloo, Windsor, Guelph, Sherbrooke) to build those Stadiums(yes the CFL does not have the current funding for this saddly but it would cost alot) and use the Quebec City Laval rouge et L’or Stadium.
The CFL could start a 6 team development league in Quebec/Southern Ontario(Ottawa and Halifax would be options should they not get CFL teams)
With the Luxury boxes in their Stadiums the CFL could actually make money.
14 Luxury boxes gaining 15K per(year) that’s 210K
remaining 13K paying 25$ ticket average for 6(home) games is 1.95M
2.16M Total Revenue Generated.
6 home games = 12 game(10 Regular 2 pre-season) Season. more Games = more Revenue. 14 game season should be the limit.(could be the best number)
if Teams are located Closely it would Limit their Travel Expenses, a TV deal(with Sportnet or the score) would hopefully generate atleast 500K per team(that’s 3M per year)
Local Sponsors + Stadium Naming Rights would hopefully add another 500K
3.16M Total per Team. That would mean no Team could Spend more then 1.5M on Player Salaries, teams could look at Providing housing(1 - 25 (2 Bedroom) appartment Complex per team in each city)
that provides Residence for 50 Team players/Staff/Coaches.
Cost(lost money) would be 75K$(5 Months rent) however Players would be able to Stay for the Off-season at say 250$ Sharing a room with a teammate(thus Teams would make up the Difference, possibly losing Money overal but it’s a good incentive to players)
The CFL could do a good bit of this by themselves(the 8 teams coming together to Start up the Project) and with Gov Help could complete this(5 Stadiums) 75M project.
Other Options:
-Put some(2) CFL2 Teams in the Northern States(like North Dakota)(problem would be Field Size)
the whole Ratio Issue does not apply in this Situation as a Development League would be subject to whoever CFL teams wish to Develop.
-League would Start after the CFL season, CFL2 Training camp Starts after first round of CFL cuts.
-Call-ups mid-CFL2 season would be limited.
-no CFL Development Roster During the CFL2 season.
-CFL2 40 man Rosters remain during the Off-season(good way to keep extra Talent north of the Border) Come Febuary 28th a CFL team must decide if they are Bringing a player to their CFL camp, if not another CFL team can elect to give the player a CFL shot.
CFL2 Salaries will be between 25K-55K(due to housing)
Team caps of 1.5M. Most CFL2 players will receive a Standard 33K + housing Deal(clause in CFL contracts) However some Stars will likely emerge. (Like in the AHL)
CFL2 teams will hold a Draft(on may 27th) of all players currently on CFL rosters that do not currently have their rights held by a CFL2 team(and would then maintain their rights)
*there are some problems with the plan but it should work.
The CFL will add a 3rd pre-season game to their season(Pre-season now Starts first week of June) Allowing Pre-season games to be played in these new Stadiums perfect for a pre-season CFL game.
-This League is the best shot for Developping QB’s for the CFL and Canadians Talent(Canadian QB’s too).
CFL Rosters would change to:
41(Dressed)
2 QB’s
20 Canadians
19 americans(4 DI’s)
4 Man Reserve(active, not Dressed) Roster.
CFL2:
38 (at 34K per that’s 1.3M)
2 QB’s
1 Canadian QB
18 Americans(4 DI’s)
17 Canadians
*limit of 5 americans that are Veterans of more than 3 CFL seasons
Salaries are Starting low, However this is a Development League Salary basicly Doubles upon Breaking into the CFL(34K to 68K) and would be able to Rise higher there after, if CFL2 Cities get better Attendance Player compensation would also increase.
This League would help to Give Former CIS players or Canadians Jr’s a year or two to get to CFL playing Level.
There are Likely Canadian Business people who would be ready to get Involved in this sort of Business Venture(Frank D-angelo and Jim Ballsillie)