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Major League Rugby Expands To Toronto With New Arrows Franchise

The Toronto Arrows are the newest team in Major League Rugby, and team co-Founder & President Bill Webb said that he and the rest of the eight-person ownership group paid an expansion fee of a "few million dollars" to join, according to Morgan Campbell of the TORONTO STAR. Webb said that the club "likely won't break even for a few years." Season tickets "don’t go on sale until next week." But the club said that it has "already received more than 200 deposits." Webb: "We’re not modelled to make money in the first year, but we’ll try really hard. Coming from an investment background, I’m a free-cash-flow guy. We know what the economics look like." Campbell notes the team plans to "travel to several home fields in year one." Webb said that there has been "early support" from sponsors and "solid attendance" at a recent exhibition. Webb: "With minimal advertising and not being a professional team, we were attracting 1,500 to 2,000 people. With a little bit of advertising and a pro team, we’re very hopeful.” Campbell notes while MLR has a broadcast deal with CBS in the U.S., the Arrows will "announce a Canadian broadcast partner later this month" (TORONTO STAR, 12/12).

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