Report: Argos, CFL looking into NFL team

Habsfan84 · October 12th, 2007, 02:05 PM

Two CFL governors have dismissed the notion of Toronto Argonauts owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski purchasing an existing NFL franchise and moving it to Toronto in partnership with the other CFL owners.
On Thursday, The Globe and Mail reported Cynamon and Sokolowski have started looking into the idea and spoken to current CFL governors and commissioner Mark Cohon about it.
Cynamon and Sokolowski reportedly want to head off an NFL bid by another Toronto-based group that includes communications mogul Ted Rogers and Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
But two CFL governors, speaking on the condition of anonymity, downplayed the report.
"It was thrown around as a crazy concept, just a loose, crazy concept," said one.

"The Argos owners are very paranoid about it, and probably with good reason. But it's all very, very premature . . . I think everyone is getting way ahead of themselves."
Added the other governor: "Let me tell you, this is very, very, very premature."
Attempts to reach Cynamon, Sokolowski and Cohon were unsuccessful Thursday.
The governors spoke to The Canadian Press after the CFL told its member clubs not to comment publicly about the report. That included Bob Ackles, the B.C. Lions president and longtime NFL executive who last week said the NFL's arrival into Toronto would kill the CFL.
But Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey, the pointman for the Rogers-Tanenbaum group who has been chasing an NFL franchise for Toronto for decades, was more than willing to talk about a possible about-face in the CFL's lognstanding opposition to the arrival of an NFL team.
While he was skeptical about the report, he pointed out that any attempt to bring the NFL to Toronto would have come through his group.
"They don't quote anybody at all so my first impression is I don't know if it's a trial balloon or speculative story," Godfrey said. "But if you use the assumption that the CFL has embraced the idea of an NFL team in Toronto, I would sure love to sit down and speak to them on behalf of the Rogers-Tanenbaum group because I think our interests are totally in parallel.
"We all believe, and I'm speaking on everybody's behalf, that the Toronto NFL team and the Toronto CFL team could co-exist. I would go further and say a Toronto NFL team would do everything in its power to ensure that the CFL is stronger and healthier in every aspect than they have been.
"I would like to speak to them to show them that there are ways and means we can work closely together with the CFL to make it all happen."
And that would include ensuring a place for a Toronto-based NFL team to play because Rogers Communications Inc., also happens to own the Rogers Centre, which could serve as a short-term home for an NFL franchise.
"It sounds to me that if that's what they want, they want to play here, we should all be talking together," Godfrey said. "Obviously, they're going to have to speak to us at some point so why don't they speak to us now . . . if the substance of the story is true, we have the same goals."
In an e-mail, Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice-president of communications, said: "We do not have any expansion plans and no teams have filed the necessary paperwork for relocation."
However, speculation has swirled for months about the future of the Buffalo Bills since 89-year-old owner Ralph Wilson said he wouldn't sell the club while he's alive and that the Bills will go to the highest bidder upon his death.
This marks the second time the Argos owners have explored options for their club. Last month, one report said they had started looking into moving to BMO Field, the home of the Toronto FC soccer team, despite having a lease agreement at Rogers Centre.

detroitfan · October 14th, 2007, 01:17 PM

I hope Toronto gets a NFL even though i am a huge Detroit Lions fan. Thjere is lots of NFL fanms in Canada that would sell out the Rogers Centre every game if the Toronto NFL team would play there. This would be one of the smartest moves the NFL could make. Hopefully Toronto doesn't get the Buffalo Bills but gets their own team through expansion. Keep the Bills where they are and expand to Toronto.
GO Detroit Lions.

Habsfan84 · October 14th, 2007, 02:56 PM

As much as I want it to happen i dont see the NFL going to Canada anytime soon.

Joe Strummer · August 8th, 2008, 04:02 PM

If that happens the CFL well fold, MY WORST NIGHTMARE
BLUE BOMBER FOR LIFE!!!
Plus there would need to be a new stadium (a 55,000 seat Rogers Centre wouldn't make the cut) and where's this owner? it won't happen.

Joe Strummer · October 30th, 2008, 02:54 PM

Before Toronto the NFL needs to consider other cities...

Los Angeles (1 team or even 2, wont happen but one in Anaheim and one in LA)

San Antonio (Why not?)

2nd Chicago team (It would be interesting, Chicago had 3 NFL level teams way back in the day between the NFL, AFL and the AAFC)

Mexico City (Instead of Canada aka: Toronto, go to Mexico they at least have a stadium)

lorentrook · October 30th, 2008, 08:33 PM

OK dumb question time. Is the CFL a going growing concern? No offense meant, but would one NFL team really doom the CFL ?

Joe Strummer · November 1st, 2008, 01:48 PM

Haha ya!!!

Okay, I lived in Toronto so I have a basic idea and also the rest of Canada has the same idea to.

Toronto is a very American city. If they had a choice between the NFL and CFL they would take the NFL, believe it or not other Canadian cities would stick with CFL. Also half of Toronto's population likes NFL more and the other half likes CFL more. So, If the NFL was to come to Toronto the Bills or what ever would get more attention by the people.
Also all the CFL broadcasters would then broadcast all the Toronto games and not the CFL, the Argo's would fold from lack of support and then it would be a league of BC, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Montreal and Ottawa. No Toronto and Toronto is the biggest city in Canada. A big chunk of people no longer supporting CFL. Also many people in Hamilton would start going to the NFL games, so Hamilton even could cease operations.

Basically... every thing that helps the CFL stay afloat would drift off to the NFL team and the CFL would last a few seasons and die.

October 12th, 2007, 02:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Habsfan84 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,598	Report: Argos, CFL looking into NFL team Two CFL governors have dismissed the notion of Toronto Argonauts owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski purchasing an existing NFL franchise and moving it to Toronto in partnership with the other CFL owners. On Thursday, The Globe and Mail reported Cynamon and Sokolowski have started looking into the idea and spoken to current CFL governors and commissioner Mark Cohon about it. Cynamon and Sokolowski reportedly want to head off an NFL bid by another Toronto-based group that includes communications mogul Ted Rogers and Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. But two CFL governors, speaking on the condition of anonymity, downplayed the report. "It was thrown around as a crazy concept, just a loose, crazy concept," said one. "The Argos owners are very paranoid about it, and probably with good reason. But it's all very, very premature . . . I think everyone is getting way ahead of themselves." Added the other governor: "Let me tell you, this is very, very, very premature." Attempts to reach Cynamon, Sokolowski and Cohon were unsuccessful Thursday. The governors spoke to The Canadian Press after the CFL told its member clubs not to comment publicly about the report. That included Bob Ackles, the B.C. Lions president and longtime NFL executive who last week said the NFL's arrival into Toronto would kill the CFL. But Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey, the pointman for the Rogers-Tanenbaum group who has been chasing an NFL franchise for Toronto for decades, was more than willing to talk about a possible about-face in the CFL's lognstanding opposition to the arrival of an NFL team. While he was skeptical about the report, he pointed out that any attempt to bring the NFL to Toronto would have come through his group. "They don't quote anybody at all so my first impression is I don't know if it's a trial balloon or speculative story," Godfrey said. "But if you use the assumption that the CFL has embraced the idea of an NFL team in Toronto, I would sure love to sit down and speak to them on behalf of the Rogers-Tanenbaum group because I think our interests are totally in parallel. "We all believe, and I'm speaking on everybody's behalf, that the Toronto NFL team and the Toronto CFL team could co-exist. I would go further and say a Toronto NFL team would do everything in its power to ensure that the CFL is stronger and healthier in every aspect than they have been. "I would like to speak to them to show them that there are ways and means we can work closely together with the CFL to make it all happen." And that would include ensuring a place for a Toronto-based NFL team to play because Rogers Communications Inc., also happens to own the Rogers Centre, which could serve as a short-term home for an NFL franchise. "It sounds to me that if that's what they want, they want to play here, we should all be talking together," Godfrey said. "Obviously, they're going to have to speak to us at some point so why don't they speak to us now . . . if the substance of the story is true, we have the same goals." In an e-mail, Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice-president of communications, said: "We do not have any expansion plans and no teams have filed the necessary paperwork for relocation." However, speculation has swirled for months about the future of the Buffalo Bills since 89-year-old owner Ralph Wilson said he wouldn't sell the club while he's alive and that the Bills will go to the highest bidder upon his death. This marks the second time the Argos owners have explored options for their club. Last month, one report said they had started looking into moving to BMO Field, the home of the Toronto FC soccer team, despite having a lease agreement at Rogers Centre. __________________ FanHome Members Remember to Keep Posting on FanHome [where fans connect]. Guests Please RegisterFor Access to a Great Forum

October 14th, 2007, 01:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
detroitfan Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 129	I hope Toronto gets a NFL even though i am a huge Detroit Lions fan. Thjere is lots of NFL fanms in Canada that would sell out the Rogers Centre every game if the Toronto NFL team would play there. This would be one of the smartest moves the NFL could make. Hopefully Toronto doesn't get the Buffalo Bills but gets their own team through expansion. Keep the Bills where they are and expand to Toronto. GO Detroit Lions. __________________ Detroitfan

October 14th, 2007, 02:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Habsfan84 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,598	As much as I want it to happen i dont see the NFL going to Canada anytime soon. __________________ FanHome Members Remember to Keep Posting on FanHome [where fans connect]. Guests Please RegisterFor Access to a Great Forum

October 30th, 2008, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
lorentrook Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sophia,NC Posts: 719	OK dumb question time. Is the CFL a going growing concern? No offense meant, but would one NFL team really doom the CFL ? __________________ "Never argue with an idiot. I'll drag you down to my level, then I'll beat you with experience." "Those who think they know everything, are very annoying to those of us who do." -Mark Twain http://www.panthercoalition.com/index.php

August 8th, 2008, 04:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joe Strummer Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 79	If that happens the CFL well fold, MY WORST NIGHTMARE BLUE BOMBER FOR LIFE!!! Plus there would need to be a new stadium (a 55,000 seat Rogers Centre wouldn't make the cut) and where's this owner? it won't happen.

October 30th, 2008, 02:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Joe Strummer Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 79	Before Toronto the NFL needs to consider other cities... Los Angeles (1 team or even 2, wont happen but one in Anaheim and one in LA) San Antonio (Why not?) 2nd Chicago team (It would be interesting, Chicago had 3 NFL level teams way back in the day between the NFL, AFL and the AAFC) Mexico City (Instead of Canada aka: Toronto, go to Mexico they at least have a stadium)

November 1st, 2008, 01:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Joe Strummer Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 79	Haha ya!!! Okay, I lived in Toronto so I have a basic idea and also the rest of Canada has the same idea to. Toronto is a very American city. If they had a choice between the NFL and CFL they would take the NFL, believe it or not other Canadian cities would stick with CFL. Also half of Toronto's population likes NFL more and the other half likes CFL more. So, If the NFL was to come to Toronto the Bills or what ever would get more attention by the people. Also all the CFL broadcasters would then broadcast all the Toronto games and not the CFL, the Argo's would fold from lack of support and then it would be a league of BC, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Montreal and Ottawa. No Toronto and Toronto is the biggest city in Canada. A big chunk of people no longer supporting CFL. Also many people in Hamilton would start going to the NFL games, so Hamilton even could cease operations. Basically... every thing that helps the CFL stay afloat would drift off to the NFL team and the CFL would last a few seasons and die.