McMaster
02-06-2005, 03:48 PM
Tagliabue revives idea of bringing NFL to Toronto
City `a candidate' for expansion team
League may play game here next season
DAVE PERKINS
SPORTS COLUMNIST
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—Paul Tagliabue said there might be a chance for an NFL team in Toronto in our lifetimes, which still leaves a large question mark.
"It depends how long you expect to live,'' Tagliabue responded to a questioner at his annual Super Bowl press conference, sounding at least mildly disposed to considering expansion outside the United States. He hasn't spoken this way in a few years, usually cold-watering any talk of expansion to Canada.
"I think it could be very likely that the next franchises in the NFL, beyond (the current) 32, are outside the U.S. Toronto would certainly be a candidate,'' the NFL commissioner and sport's most powerful individual said yesterday.
"I'm expecting to live a good many years, so hopefully I can be there to kick it off in Toronto. But it's impossible right now to have a timeline. I've said that before, too.''
There is no mention made of price, obviously, because there is no expansion planned. Latest NFL franchise valuations range up to $800 million (U.S.), approximately $1 billion in Canadian dollars.
Tagliabue stressed that his main priority is to return a team to Los Angeles, whether a relocated team or an expansion club, as quickly as possible. L.A. now is entering its eighth season without an NFL team.
He added that the NFL would like to play a regular-season game outside the country, possibly in Toronto or Mexico City, as soon as next year and wants to hold one or two pre-season games in China before the Beijing Olympics of 2008.
"We're considering right now whether we can, in the next year or two, play a regular-season game outside the U.S. to continue to develop the interest and be responsive to the fans,'' Tagliabue said. "I'm going to China in early May to have first-hand discussion with their government about playing two pre-season games over there leading to the 2008 Olympics.
"This is music to my ears,'' said Paul Godfrey, at his desk running the Blue Jays yesterday in the SkyDome, but always interested in hearing what Tagliabue had to say. "I'm always very encouraged to hear this. I will make sure I offer him the SkyDome, with our new FieldTurf and JumboTron, for whatever use the NFL needs. In fact, I'll be making a beeline.''
But CFL commissioner Tom Wright, who was at Tagliabue's press conference, was adamant that there would be no NFL game in Canada next season.
"I can tell you there's not going to be a regular-season game in Canada next year," he said. "We have a strong and open relationship with the NFL and I would have full visibility if that were to occur."
Wright said he has had no dialogue with Tagliabue regarding games in Canada.
Godfrey has long been chasing an NFL franchise for Toronto. In his role as Blue Jays president for Ted Rogers, he orchestrated the purchase of the SkyDome — this week renamed the Rogers Centre — eight weeks ago. Owning the SkyDome satisfies one requirement, of many, the NFL insists on for its franchise owners: the ability to control luxury-box revenues.
When the building belonged to Sportsco, the company received the box revenues. The SkyDome has been the site of previous NFL exhibition games, called American Bowls, although the NFL pulled out of yet another American Bowl at the SkyDome a couple of years ago because of the shabby condition of the artificial turf.
"We've been saying it for years, that the NFL was the only one of the four major pro sports leagues that hadn't gone international,'' Godfrey said. "Major league baseball, obviously the NHL, the NBA, they'd all gone outside the U.S. It should only be a matter of time until the NFL does and when it does, logically you look at a city that has a proven success for pro franchises and that's Toronto.''
Godfrey didn't care to speculate on the price of an NFL franchise, but did say, "Whatever the cost of the franchise, they don't ever seem to go down in value.''
NOTES: The two head coaches faced the media for the final pre-game sessions and, for Andy Reid, the tanks were dry. His session lasted barely seven minutes. Nobody could think of anything that hadn't been asked. Reid's update on the Terrell Owens situation was that Owens remains a game-time decision and how he feels will dictate the amount he plays, if he plays. ... The Patriots filled an open roster spot by signing guard Billy Yates off the practice squad. ... NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue assured Jacksonville Jaguars fans yesterday that the franchise's future is safe, despite sagging attendance. Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver decided in December to cover 9,700 seats at Alltel Stadium in hopes of alleviating local television blackouts, which have become common the last two seasons in one of the NFL's smallest markets
City `a candidate' for expansion team
League may play game here next season
DAVE PERKINS
SPORTS COLUMNIST
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—Paul Tagliabue said there might be a chance for an NFL team in Toronto in our lifetimes, which still leaves a large question mark.
"It depends how long you expect to live,'' Tagliabue responded to a questioner at his annual Super Bowl press conference, sounding at least mildly disposed to considering expansion outside the United States. He hasn't spoken this way in a few years, usually cold-watering any talk of expansion to Canada.
"I think it could be very likely that the next franchises in the NFL, beyond (the current) 32, are outside the U.S. Toronto would certainly be a candidate,'' the NFL commissioner and sport's most powerful individual said yesterday.
"I'm expecting to live a good many years, so hopefully I can be there to kick it off in Toronto. But it's impossible right now to have a timeline. I've said that before, too.''
There is no mention made of price, obviously, because there is no expansion planned. Latest NFL franchise valuations range up to $800 million (U.S.), approximately $1 billion in Canadian dollars.
Tagliabue stressed that his main priority is to return a team to Los Angeles, whether a relocated team or an expansion club, as quickly as possible. L.A. now is entering its eighth season without an NFL team.
He added that the NFL would like to play a regular-season game outside the country, possibly in Toronto or Mexico City, as soon as next year and wants to hold one or two pre-season games in China before the Beijing Olympics of 2008.
"We're considering right now whether we can, in the next year or two, play a regular-season game outside the U.S. to continue to develop the interest and be responsive to the fans,'' Tagliabue said. "I'm going to China in early May to have first-hand discussion with their government about playing two pre-season games over there leading to the 2008 Olympics.
"This is music to my ears,'' said Paul Godfrey, at his desk running the Blue Jays yesterday in the SkyDome, but always interested in hearing what Tagliabue had to say. "I'm always very encouraged to hear this. I will make sure I offer him the SkyDome, with our new FieldTurf and JumboTron, for whatever use the NFL needs. In fact, I'll be making a beeline.''
But CFL commissioner Tom Wright, who was at Tagliabue's press conference, was adamant that there would be no NFL game in Canada next season.
"I can tell you there's not going to be a regular-season game in Canada next year," he said. "We have a strong and open relationship with the NFL and I would have full visibility if that were to occur."
Wright said he has had no dialogue with Tagliabue regarding games in Canada.
Godfrey has long been chasing an NFL franchise for Toronto. In his role as Blue Jays president for Ted Rogers, he orchestrated the purchase of the SkyDome — this week renamed the Rogers Centre — eight weeks ago. Owning the SkyDome satisfies one requirement, of many, the NFL insists on for its franchise owners: the ability to control luxury-box revenues.
When the building belonged to Sportsco, the company received the box revenues. The SkyDome has been the site of previous NFL exhibition games, called American Bowls, although the NFL pulled out of yet another American Bowl at the SkyDome a couple of years ago because of the shabby condition of the artificial turf.
"We've been saying it for years, that the NFL was the only one of the four major pro sports leagues that hadn't gone international,'' Godfrey said. "Major league baseball, obviously the NHL, the NBA, they'd all gone outside the U.S. It should only be a matter of time until the NFL does and when it does, logically you look at a city that has a proven success for pro franchises and that's Toronto.''
Godfrey didn't care to speculate on the price of an NFL franchise, but did say, "Whatever the cost of the franchise, they don't ever seem to go down in value.''
NOTES: The two head coaches faced the media for the final pre-game sessions and, for Andy Reid, the tanks were dry. His session lasted barely seven minutes. Nobody could think of anything that hadn't been asked. Reid's update on the Terrell Owens situation was that Owens remains a game-time decision and how he feels will dictate the amount he plays, if he plays. ... The Patriots filled an open roster spot by signing guard Billy Yates off the practice squad. ... NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue assured Jacksonville Jaguars fans yesterday that the franchise's future is safe, despite sagging attendance. Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver decided in December to cover 9,700 seats at Alltel Stadium in hopes of alleviating local television blackouts, which have become common the last two seasons in one of the NFL's smallest markets