The sale of the CFL Toronto Argonauts to Bell Canada and MLSE Chair Larry Tanenbaum was made official yesterday, providing the CFL the "strong ownership group behind the storied Toronto
franchise" that it needed, according to Curtis Rush of the TORONTO STAR. CFL Commissioner Jeffrey Orridge "called the deal a 'seminal' event in
the history of the league and suggested this 'halo effect and material
effect' with having a strong Argo ownership team will ripple throughout
the league." Rush writes Toronto is "seen as key to the financial health of the
league because this is the media and commercial centre of the country."
Tanenbaum's role with the Argonauts "will be similar to his role" with
Toronto FC and the Maple Leafs. The sale of the CFL team also "triggers
Phase II" of BMO Field’s C$120M renovation. No financial details of Owner David Braley's sale were disclosed at a news conference yesterday at BMO Field, which "will be the CFL team's new home" in '16. Rogers Communications, which owns the Blue Jays and is a "fierce competitor of Bell as part-owners of MLSE, did not want any part of the Argo deal and backed out of the negotiations in the final stages." The deal "won’t close until the end of the year, which means the Argos are still Braley’s team" for the '15 season. The CFL BOG will "meet in the next two weeks to vote" on having BMO Field host the '16 Grey Cup game and "all signs point in Toronto’s direction" (TORONTO STAR, 5/21). Orridge said of the Argos' sale and impending move, "It’s critical ... a new era for the CFL. Toronto is the biggest media market. It’s the biggest commercial market. So it’s critical from a fan base but also from a (CFL) partner base for advertising and sponsorship to have a vibrant team here" (TORONTO SUN, 5/21).
PASSING THE TORCH: In Toronto, Frank Zicarelli writes Braley has "taken his share of criticism, most of it warranted, but he should now be praised for doing the right thing, for exercising incredible patience and for ultimately handing over the team" to Bell and Tanenbaum. Braley is "a man of incredible wealth and influence, a man who kept alive the Argos hoping to one day sell the team by having the team play its home games in a suitable stadium." Whatever money "was involved in Braley’s sale of the team and whatever percentage of revenues he may receive from future Grey Cup games to be played at BMO, likely by as early as next year as a formal announcement is expected in a few weeks, it’s of no significance to long-suffering fans" (TORONTO SUN, 5/21).
PITCH IMPERFECT? In Toronto, Morgan Campbell writes Toronto FC fans are "already worried the Argos would damage the stadium’s playing surface," and yesterday's CFL-centric news conference "didn’t calm concerns the club had become an afterthought in a stadium originally built for soccer." The anti-Argos sentiment "dovetails" with MLS' "stated preference that teams play in soccer-specific stadiums." Only four of the league's 20 teams "play in football stadiums retrofitted for soccer," while NYC FC plays in Yankee Stadium. While "acknowledging the league’s desires, outgoing MLSE president Tim Leiweke stressed that stadiums can host multiple events without losing soccer-specificity." Leiweke: "Every stadium that I’ve been a part of, they’re a multi-venue facility." He added that the ongoing renovation of BMO Field "would include changes to accommodate the Argos." He said MLSE, which "manages the city-owned stadium," would spend about $3M "planting a sturdier hybrid grass." Seating at the north and south ends of the stadium "will become retractable, coming out during soccer games and rolling back to make room for a CFL field that, including end zones, is 35 yards longer than TFC’s pitch" (TORONTO STAR, 5/21). Leiweke: "Without knowing who is replacing me, I would say people underestimate Larry Tanenbaum’s passion for soccer and Toronto FC. I don't think that's going anywhere." He added, "The management team here are rabid TFC fans. I don’t see anyone losing interest in TFC in this organization" (TORONTO SUN, 5/21).
