The CFL yesterday announced that CBC Sports Exec Dir of Sports & GM Jeffrey Orridge will succeed Mark Cohon as Commissioner, and his first priority "will be connecting with CFL fans, something that made the approachable Cohon popular among the league’s supporters," according to Dan Ralph of the CP. Terms of the deal "weren't released," and Orridge "assumes his new post April 29." As part of his role at CBC, Orridge "oversaw rights acquisitions, including the Olympics and the upcoming Pan Am Games." He also "structured the multi-year sub-licensing agreement" with Rogers for "Hockey Night in Canada." Prior to CBC, Orridge was COO of Toronto-based non-profit Right To Play, and has "also worked at Mattel Inc., Reebok and USA Basketball." He is "the first black commissioner among North America’s top five pro sports organizations" -- the CFL, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. He "remembers his father praising the CFL for allowing" Pro Football HOFer Warren Moon to play QB "when no NFL team would." Orridge and his family "have lived in Canada" since '07, and he is "about to become a Canadian citizen" (CP, 3/17). TSN.ca's Glen Suitor notes Orridge "was a unanimous choice" by the CFL BOG. Orridge's first press conference as incoming commissioner "was impressive," and his opening remarks "will help to defuse concerns some might have" about the CFL hiring an American-born commissioner. His short term to-do list includes "simply strengthening the brand, and filling stadiums," as well as "finding new and innovative ways to engage the fans through social media." But Orridge's "first order of business will be resolving the issues" with the Argonauts' stadium situation (TSN.ca, 3/18).
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: The GLOBE & MAIL's Brady & Bradshaw note former colleagues describe Orridge as "well liked at CBC, and he has deep contacts with sports leagues and broadcasters." Rogers President of Sportsnet and NHL Properties Scott Moore said, "I think he’s one of the most trustworthy and ethical guys I’ve ever worked with." Orridge said that his first action will be to "meet with team officials and sponsors in all nine CFL cities within in his nine weeks on the job." Orridge: "I think because of my background in sports business, marketing, brand-building, merchandising, licensing, and contract negotiations -- because of all those things I bring to the table -- I think we’re poised for some very exciting things." Brady & Bradshaw note the CFL "kept its search relatively secretive" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/18). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes, "It feels like the CFL went looking for someone who could find them a future, someone who understood apps and cellphones and marketing and connectivity, someone who could use the acronym FOMO (fear of missing out) and seem to mean it" (TORONTO STAR, 3/18). Meanwhile, in Toronto, Frank Zicarelli writes under the header, "CFL's New Commissioner Must Find A Way To Get David Braley Out As Argos Owner" (TORONTO SUN, 3/18).
