NFL in Toronto

[Karim]

This topic never dies and has once again hit the media up here. According to the fifth estate, it's a "no brainer" because there is no other city outside of Los Angeles other than Toronto that could handle a NFL team.

One potential owner is Larry Tanenbaum (CEO of Kilmer Capital Partners which formed Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Maple Leafs, Raptors and the Air Canada Centre). The other person could be Ted Rogers (CEO of Rogers Communications), owner of the Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre (SkyDome). The media has already proclaimed that either would have no problem owning a NFL team.

So is this once again a Toronto-media pipedream or a realistic possibility?

[Draft Dodger]

it sounds like the NFL, if (ok, when) they expand, doesn't want to infringe on the CFL. I don't think you'll see them expand to Canada any time soon.

[bulletsponge]

there are dozens of american cities that want and can easily handle a ( or another) NFL team

[Cap Ologist]

After seeing how well the Canadians have supported MLB and NBA, why would the NFL even consider this?

[Maple Leafs]

After seeing how well the Canadians have supported MLB and NBA, why would the NFL even consider this?
The NBA hasn't been great but the Blue Jays set an MLB attendance record at one point. Until it became clear that the Blue Jays were expected to sit quietly by while everyone focused on the Red Sox and Yankees, the support was excellent.

it sounds like the NFL, if (ok, when) they expand, doesn't want to infringe on the CFL. I don't think you'll see them expand to Canada any time soon.
That sounds nice when the numbers don't add up. If and when the NFL decides it can make money in Toronto, they'll have no problems squashing the CFL like a bug.

[PackerFanatic]

I like the scheduling the way it is now, another team will just fuck it up. Why add another team? Things are just fine, LA should have thought of that the countless other times...

[Oilers9911]

After seeing how well the Canadians have supported MLB and NBA, why would the NFL even consider this?

The Raptors had higher attendance this year than the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers all supposed basketball hotbeds. They were 17th in attendance with over 17000 per game. The Blue Jays are 19th out of 30 in MLB attendance wise and were the first team EVER to total 4 million fans so I would do some research before saying Toronto doesn't support MLB and NBA.

[stevew]

I like the scheduling the way it is now, another team will just fuck it up. Why add another team? Things are just fine, LA should have thought of that the countless other times...

Ideally you wouldn't want to add another team at this point, as the scheduling is perfect. But I can see potentially moving a couple of the troubled teams eventually.

[wade moore]

After seeing how well the Canadians have supported MLB and NBA, why would the NFL even consider this?

The Raptors had higher attendance this year than the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers all supposed basketball hotbeds. They were 17th in attendance with over 17000 per game. The Blue Jays are 19th out of 30 in MLB attendance wise and were the first team EVER to total 4 million fans so I would do some research before saying Toronto doesn't support MLB and NBA.

http://www.fof-ihof.com/images/logo01_xl.gif

[Galaxy]

Toronto is an incredible city. The city seems very willing to help finance a new stadium (they tried to get in on the last expansion round). Going international is at least in the top two or three of the NFL's goals (the Pats and Seahawks will be in China for a pre-season game). A chance to get a full TV deal, expand merchadising sales, and tap into a new market is appealing. The only concern I have would be a) Would players want to go Canada? B) With higher taxes and ect. (the exchange rate shouldn't be too big of a concern), would a team be a disadvantage?
C) Would the Bills (my hometown team) and a Toronto team co-exist?

As for the CFL vs. NFL, I don't see the conflict. Very different models and somewhat seasons.

[Galaxy]

Also,

A college football bowl game will be in Toronto this year.

[Galaxy]

Ideally you wouldn't want to add another team at this point, as the scheduling is perfect. But I can see potentially moving a couple of the troubled teams eventually.

Personally, I love to see a 36-team, 6-division (6 teams each), 18 game regular season setup.

[bbor]

This has been banged around sooo many times that i won't believe any of it until i see the first snap.

As far as i am concerned i think it is a pipe dream.

[Hoya1]

Buffalo would suffer, big time. This is why I don't think the NFL is interested at this time. Canadian Tire(a canadian hardware store) routinely purchases tickets to insure that the games are not blacked out in Southwestern Ontario.

As a Canadian, I'd love to have a team here. I bet the team would draw over 80,000 every game, no questions asked.

[RendeR]

Never, gonna, happen.


Buffalo is too nearby and while the canadian fanbase might hold a team, they'd get nothing from the US side due to the rabid fanatics that follow the Bills

[Vinatieri for Prez]

As usual, Torontonians believe they are at the center of the Canadian universe, as well as continuing their quest as wannabee Americans.

I'll believe it when I see it.

[watravaler]

Never, gonna, happen.


Buffalo is too nearby and while the canadian fanbase might hold a team, they'd get nothing from the US side due to the rabid fanatics that follow the Bills

Individuals who reside in Buffalo: 292,648

Individuals who reside in Toronto: 2,500,000 (over 5,000,000 in GTA)

I'm sorry, it's not a question of if, but when.

Toronto is the 49th largest city in the world, and only the big 3 in the USA match-up with it.

There must be some powerful individuals keeping the game away from this city, because quite frankly, an NFL franchise in Toronto would be worth more than the vast majority of current NFL franchises.

[stevew]

I was thinking more along the lines of the Bills moving to Toronto as a possibility.

[watravaler]

I was thinking more along the lines of the Bills moving to Toronto as a possibility.

Second....runs away from rabid Bills fans...

[cuervo72]

There must be some powerful individuals keeping the game away from this city

Yes, there is a vast conspiracy at work here targeted SPECIFICALLY to annoy Torontonians.

[stevew]

Toronto is an incredible city. The city seems very willing to help finance a new stadium (they tried to get in on the last expansion round). Going international is at least in the top two or three of the NFL's goals (the Pats and Seahawks will be in China for a pre-season game). A chance to get a full TV deal, expand merchadising sales, and tap into a new market is appealing. The only concern I have would be a) Would players want to go Canada? B) With higher taxes and ect. (the exchange rate shouldn't be too big of a concern), would a team be a disadvantage?
C) Would the Bills (my hometown team) and a Toronto team co-exist?

As for the CFL vs. NFL, I don't see the conflict. Very different models and somewhat seasons.

They'd most likely allow the canadian teams to offset tax differences, if they are signficant. I believe that's what they do/did in the NBA.

[watravaler]

Yes, there is a vast conspiracy at work here targeted SPECIFICALLY to annoy Torontonians.

I didn't say that, I said individuals who call the shots in the NFL are staying away from a potential cash cow and it doesn't make any sense. I am not from Toronto and I really don't care if they get a team, nevertheless, it's simply a matter of time. Why is it hard to believe there are some influential people, probably related to the Bills/Argonauts franchises, who do not want to see Toronto get a team? If the NFL doesn't want a team in Canada, so be it.

[cuervo72]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE4DA113DF93BA2575AC0A967958260

Eleven applicants have submitted bids for the two teams to be added to the National Football League in 1994, the league said yesterday.

The N.F.L. received applications from groups in Charlotte, N.C.; Honolulu; Baltimore; Jacksonville, Fla.; Memphis; Nashville; Oakland, Calif.; Sacramento, Calif.; the Raleigh and Durham area in North Carolina; St. Louis, and San Antonio.

The bids were due Monday. Potential ownership groups in the cities must submit separate applications by Oct. 1. The N.F.L. Expansion Committee will recommend a list of final candidate cities next March. The league hopes to select the two expansion teams by the fall of 1992, and the new teams would begin play in 1994.

Hmm...I don't seem to see an expansion bid in there from Toronto. Granted, this was 15 years ago. They then added Cleveland (because it was the right thing to do), and then arrived at 32 by adding Houston (I don't remember Toronto being mentioned then either). It's not like the NFL adds teams at the rate of the NBA or the NHL. And it's not like Los Angeles isn't sitting there without a team.

If the NFL really wanted to be in Toronto, I certainly don't think the Argonauts are going to stand in their way. Didn't the CFL almost fold a couple years ago? I'll agree that the Wilson family probably doesn't want a team there. Not sure if that would stop the NFL, though I suppose it could. I've just never heard of a big push in the US media for this. And I'm not saying it couldn't work (but then, there are also plenty of smaller cities where the NFL has worked just fine). I personally think it could be neat. But I don't think it's imperative for the NFL to be there - they're running quite well as it is - and it seems like most of the push for this is from Canadian media. Hence my disagreement with "I'm sorry, it's not a question of if, but when."

[Galaxy]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1157580610660&call_pageid=970599119419

[Maple Leafs]

As usual, Torontonians believe they are at the center of the Canadian universe
If we're talking about cities with any hopes at all of landing an NFL team, they are.

[Johnny93g]

This has been banged around sooo many times that i won't believe any of it until i see the first snap.

As far as i am concerned i think it is a pipe dream.

Agree, this talk has been around for as long as i remember. I have no doubt the team would be a huge success, but i'll believe it when i see it.

[Vince]

http://www.fof-ihof.com/images/logo01_xl.gif

Fantastic!

[Vinatieri for Prez]

If we're talking about cities with any hopes at all of landing an NFL team, they are.

Actually, I think the right answer there is none.

[Galaxy]

Vinatieri,
What's the beef with Toronto?

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Having lived in Western Canada for much of my life, the reasons are too numerous to mention. TSN (which should really be called the "Toronto" Sports Network) is a classic example.