Moncton, NB Building New Stadium

Hamilton Tiger-Cats
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The dream of a CFL team on the East coast has taken a step forward. The following is from the National Post.

An Argo-Cat fan

Moncton stadium spurs hopes of CFL franchise
Dave Crase, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, April 22, 2008

MONCTON, N.B. -- A sod-turning ceremony in Moncton to mark the spot of a new track and field stadium carried with it hopes the city could one day land a Canadian Football League franchise.

Some $3-million in additional funding came Moncton's way Tuesday for a 28,000-seat stadium at Universite de Moncton. It's officially designed for the upcoming 2010 world junior track and field championships, but most people, including many officials, have professional football on their minds.

"The possibility will always be there in the future (for) professional franchise teams to be located in this region, we have a facility that can be competitive for bids," Premier Shawn Graham said of the $27-million facility.

The city is rife with speculation despite the fact construction is not expected to begin until early next year.

"If there is any interest on the CFL, Moncton is always open and ready for discussion - that's a chapter for another day," said Ian Fowler, of the City of Moncton.

There's been no official word yet from the city if and when it will pursue the CFL for a franchise, but sources say that work could begin as early as next month following the municipal elections.

The two men running for mayor of Moncton say that - if elected - there is no question they'll be going after the CFL.

"It could be a natural for Moncton, after all we are the hub of the Maritimes," said George Leblanc, a mayoralty candidate. "With this new stadium it gives us an edge and a natural venue for that."

"Sure - absolutely - I would be interested in looking at that (the CFL)," he added.

A stadium would be viable, agreed Pierre Michaud, who is also running for mayor.

"We can easily attract people from Halifax, Fredericton, Saint John (N.B.) and so on," he said. "This is very important, Moncton has the ability to attract things like that."

Four years ago Moncton and Halifax both tried to land a CFL franchise - but nothing developed.

In the battle for regional bragging rights, this time around Graham says New Brunswick will have the edge - especially over Halifax - adding a major stadium could mean not only a CFL team but also major summer concerts.

"These events will have an economic impact through the community, so where Halifax couldn't land Paul McCartney, we now have the facility for him now in Moncton," Graham said.

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The following is NOT Hyperbole :

That HAS to be, without a doubt, the SINGLE GREATEST piece of CFL news I have EVER heard throughout my ENTIRE time spent on this planet !!

Never before have I heard such PROACTIVE, OPTIMISTIC talk concerning Maritime expansion !!

Just the ability to hang on to this tiny Thread of Hope sends JOYOUS FEELINGS coarsing through every fibre of my being !!!

Let it Be !!!!

Peace.

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I am sure this team will draw from all over the mairtimes. theres a good million and half there in total, so they shouldn't be short on fanbase. now my Newfie cousins can finally see what a CFL game is like (if this happens).

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If there was a “send in $10.00” campaign towards the new stadium there to get it to a CFL level, I’d write a cheque in a second and send it in, heck, maybe even $25.00 (see, I’m not that cheap, I don’t think anyways. :wink:) Seriously though, I would.

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Right on!

Forget the train to Montreal, let's organize a flight to Moncton every year.

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I was at the game in Halifax three years ago. The fans out on the east coast deserve a team, I think it would be great for the league and the maritimes. However I don't think the franchise would be best in Moncton, I think it works better in Halifax.

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why?

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A couple reasons... The Halifax has a larger football base. None of NB universities even have college football programs, besides Mount Allison and that is not much of a football program. Halifax has a population that is double Moncton's. Halifax always gets better support for there events. Just look at the Mooseheads hockey team compared to the Wildcats. Or any of the concerts that have taken place.
I know they have to go to whatever city has the stadium, however I will always believe it would work better in Halifax

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Agreed. I believe Halifax is the better city. Why don't they build a stadium to match Moncton?

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Halifax would have had there stadium if they had not withdrawn from the Commonwealth games bid. I never fully understood why they did but I would support having a CFL team in the Maritimes. I was also at the Touchdown Atlantic Game in 2005. Great atmosphere.

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But it looks like Halifax is deadsville now, Moncton has it, seems that way to me.

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Living near Moncton makes it hard to be opened minded about the Halifax/Moncton debate but actually both would be good choices.

Halifax is bigger. Moncton is more central. (less than 1.5 hours from Saint John, Fredericton, Miramichi, Charlottetown, Truro) One other advantage I see in Moncton is that there's less competition for entertainment dollars than in Halifax. The CFL would be the biggest show in town in Moncton. (Halifax has an IMAX, Moncton can take the CFL, good deal eh)

Moncton does seem to have leadership that is very sports minded these days.

Now for my Monctonian poke at Halifax, (Moncton concerts Eagles, Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson... Halifax Celine Dion, oops she cancelled, Paul McCartny, oops he cancelled) :lol: all in good fun, they do a Casino!

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I can see two teams in the Maritimes if oil starts pumping out of the sea.

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A team in Moncton would work fine for me. The "CFL beggars can't be choosy". I really don't care where a CFL venu is built for the Eastern Conference; I would accept an appropriately appointed stadium anywhere, and that includes Moncton.

I'm also of the thinking that I would be happy to make a financial contribution towards the cause.

Way to go, Moncton!

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Maybe we should pass the hat for renovations to our beloved IWS before helping another city build a new stadium.

Just a thought.

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re meanstreak-The following is NOT Hyperbole :

"That HAS to be, without a doubt, the SINGLE GREATEST piece of CFL news I have EVER heard throughout my ENTIRE time spent on this planet !!

Never before have I heard such PROACTIVE, OPTIMISTIC talk concerning Maritime expansion !!

Just the ability to hang on to this tiny Thread of Hope sends JOYOUS FEELINGS coarsing through every fibre of my being !!!

Let it Be !!!!

Peace. "
WOW Mean_one time to Change your nickname to Brother love :stuck_out_tongue:

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Moncton N.B only has a population around the size of Regina, So a team located in Moncton would need to draw from all the Maritimes ,like Regina draws from the rest of Saskatchewan. Actually this may be the best Formula for a team in the far east, Halifax isn't Quite big enough to support a team all alone?

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Good point.

Maybe the best formula is for the team to be named, "Maritimes ________" or "Atlantic _________"and market to the entire region rather than make it a local/city entity.

But please, although I like my t-shirt, anything but SCHOONERS.

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That’s the idea. At least from I’ve been reading for a while now.

Moncton, given a certain radius, includes more people than Halifax does, as has already been mentioned.

And I’d love for the team to be called Atlantic Schooners!

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The dream of a CFL team on the East coast has taken a step forward. The following is from the National Post.
Trust me nobody wants to see a CFL team on the east coast more than me but I think it's still all a dream. On the article below they clearly say that the stadium in Moncton only as 10,000 permanent seating. [url=http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/275978]http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/o ... cle/275978[/url]