The CFL's Grey Cup at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton
drew 60,431 as the Toronto Argonauts, behind Doug Flutie,
beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 47-23, in front of the
third-largest crowd in Grey Cup history (Gerry Prince,
EDMONTON SUN, 11/17). The game was broadcast on CBC in
Canada and ESPN2 in the U.S. In Toronto, Ken McKee reported
that advertisers bought all of CBC's inventory "at the
highest rates charged for any sports event -- possibly any
program, period -- in Canada." CBC's 30-second spots for
the telecast, "about 72 of them," sold at an average of
C$43,000 each. In comparison, CBC noted that prime-time
spots for the Nagano Olympics "would bring in about"
C$40,000 and C$32,000 for the '98 Stanley Cup Finals. For
the year, sources say the CFL receives between C$5-6M from
the CBC, TSN and ESPN/ESPN2 (TORONTO STAR, 11/15).
TAGLIABUE VISITS: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue was
in Edmonton to discuss the NFL/CFL partnership. Tagliabue
said that the NFL is interested in the CFL "serving as a
development ground" for players who leave college early, or
don't qualify academically for the NCAA. He also discussed
a possible World Classic Bowl between CFL and World League
teams: "There are a number of subjects still to be addressed
-- who will play in it, where and at what time, but it's an
exciting prospect for us" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 11/15).
