Please tell me this isn’t happening.
The CFL, the object of far too much national derision and disinterest, has developed an expansion draft protocol for Ottawa, hoping that the next franchise in the Nations Capital will meet the necessary conditions to enter the league in 2013.
Come on.
Once upon a time, Ottawa was a viable and important market in the Canadian Football League.
The Eastern Riders had good teams, certainly better than the Argos for much of the 60’s and 70’s when they won the Grey Cup 5 times.
Plus based on their foundation in the late 1800’s, they were the perfect compliment to an historical league with a positive tradition and legacy.
Then came the mid 80’s and everything connected with the Ottawa team deteriorated, disappeared, reappeared and then staggered along, enduring one fiasco after the next.
But the CFL, and Ottawa, refuse to concede that the CFL is dead in that market.
The CFL plan does have a major requirement; a suitable stadium.
Have you seen Frank Clair Stadium these days ?
Are the various levels of government going to build a new state of the art venue for a CFL team as the major tenant, a tenant that might have the shelf life of a political promise ?
The CFL plan calls for an expansion draft in December 2012, Ottawa would be able to select a total of eight imports and 16 non-imports, including two quarterbacks, from existing teams.
Good luck. The Oddsmakers should have a field day establishing an ” over-under ” for the venture to collapse. Again.
I’m Fred Wallace