Around the CFL: Ambrosie likes Hamilton model for Atlantic Canada expansion

As the CFL returns to Atlantic Canada for a neutral-site game this weekend, commissioner Randy Ambrosie is pointing to Hamilton as a reason why a stadium -- and therefore an expansion team -- can work in the region.

“We are not looking for a stadium for the CFL. We believe the story is a stadium for the region. The example we use is Tim Hortons (Field) in Hamilton,” Ambrosie said in a telephone interview from Nova Scotia this week, where he is gearing up for Saturday’s Touchdown Atlantic game between the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.

“You look at all the things that have happened in Hamilton since Tim Hortons has gone up. They’ve had an NHL outdoor game, huge success, they’ve hosted a World Cup qualifying game, huge success. They’ve hosted more concerts and events than you can shake a stick at. They’ve hosted a Grey Cup, huge success. You look at how many amateur athletes get to go through Tim Hortons on any given week or every month.”

Indeed, the stadium affectionately known as the ‘Donut Box’ has had a big year, highlighted by the Maple Leafs-Sabres outdoor game and Canada’s dramatic World Cup men’s qualifying win over the U.S. They’re the kind of events many had hoped for when $145 million in public funds was used to make Tim Hortons Field a reality in 2014 (OK, few would have predicted Canada winning such a big World Cup qualifier and Leafs Nation wasn’t dreaming about a loss to the pesky Sabres).

But -- and it’s a big but -- it must be remembered THF construction likely doesn’t happen without southern Ontario being awarded the Pan Am Games in 2015.

Also, Hamilton is part of the biggest market in Canada, and has an established and historical football tenant in the Tiger-Cats. The same can’t be said for Atlantic Canada.

With the pandemic changing everything, plans for a potential stadium in Halifax were discontinued in 2021.

Since then, talk of CFL expansion in Atlantic Canada has quieted.

But Ambrosie says Schooner Sports and Entertainment, headed by Gary Drummond, remains very interested in putting a team in the region (Jim Stapleton of the group said all media questions were being directed to the CFL when contacted by Sportsnet this week).

“They want to be thoughtful and they want to be methodical,” Ambrosie said. “They don’t want to come here and make a bunch of noise and fanfare about a team. They want to focus on how do they help contribute to a stadium project that will be good for the region? How do they use it as a way to activate their desire to own the CFL’s 10th franchise?”

The CFL is leaving the door open to Halifax or Moncton, N.B. as potential homes – which makes sense because it allows the league to talk to two different provincial governments.

Moncton, while significantly smaller than Halifax, is known as a hub city because it is centrally located in the region. A little band called The Rolling Stones played a concert in front of about 70,000 fans in Moncton in 2005.

Moncton opened the 8,800-seat Avenir Centre, home of the QMJHL’s Wildcats, in 2018 and is co-hosting the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship with Halifax.

“You can make an argument for Halifax to be the host city for a CFL franchise, but I also think you can make an argument for Moncton,” Ambrosie said.

In the meantime, the CFL figures to be able to paint a rosy picture Saturday. All 10,000 tickets for the game in Wolfville, which is about an hour from Halifax, sold out in an hour.

At the very least, it will have people wondering about the possibility of expansion.

“I’m not the most patient guy on the planet,” Ambrosie said. “I’d like to see it happen fast, but more importantly I’d like to see it happen well.”

What we liked in Week 5

• The Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The B.C. Lions had all the buzz with Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke putting up outstanding numbers, but the two-time defending Grey Cup champs showed why they remain the team to beat in a convincing 43-22 road win.

• Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo. Despite a nagging knee injury, he completed 17 of 22 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

What we didn’t like in Week 5

• Roughriders defensive lineman Garrett Marino’s dirty hit on Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (who is now sidelined for weeks), followed by ‘verbal comments about Masoli’s heritage’ and his ensuing celebration.

Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson, after saying all the right things in the immediate aftermath of Friday’s debacle, only made things worse this week when trying to explain the mess – the apologies were coming fast and furious for everything this week.

The CFL handed Marino a four-game suspension, the longest punishment in league history for on-field behaviour. The Roughriders should take the next step and release Marino, who has a bad history.

• The awful weather (causing a one-hour delay), the injury to Canadian quarterback Tre Ford and the 49-6 loss for the host Edmonton Elks against the Calgary Stampeders. That’s 10 losses in a row at home for Edmonton.

• Watching the East fall to 1-12 against the West with the Redblacks’ loss to the Roughriders. A little balance would be nice.

What to watch in Week 6

• The battle of the only two remaining unbeaten teams on Friday as the Calgary Stampeders visit Winnipeg to face the Blue Bombers.

• The play of the winless Tiger-Cats at home against the winless and Masoli-less Redblacks on Saturday. If the two-time defending East champs can’t win this game, it’s a disaster in The Hammer.

• Danny Maciocia’s debut as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes against visiting Edmonton on Thursday after the GM fired Khari Jones last week.

Week 6 picks

Edmonton Elks at Montreal Alouettes (-8), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Maciocia, new defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe and new offensive play-caller Anthony Calvillo face a reeling Elks team in their first test. Taylor Cornelius starts at QB for the Elks. PICK: Edmonton

Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-3.5), Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Second straight week unbeaten Winnipeg goes against a fellow undefeated team. Calgary has started slow in too many games this year. Do that against Winnipeg and it’s trouble. PICK: Calgary

Saskatchewan Roughriders (-2.5) vs. Toronto Argonauts at Wolfville, N.S., Saturday, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

A little bit of a homecoming for Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther, who is from Truro, N.S. Storybook ending would see him boot the winning field goal and have the Roughriders cover. PICK: Saskatchewan

Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-6.5), Saturday, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

Caleb Evans starts at QB for the injured Masoli as first-year Redblacks GM Shawn Burke returns to his old stamping grounds. Coming off the bye, Tiger-Cats should be plenty motivated after an 0-4 start. PICK: Hamilton

2022 record: 9-10

Odds from FanDuel as of Wednesday night.

Power rankings

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-0, last week: 2): Went into Vancouver on a short week and notched a convincing victory against the previously unbeaten Lions

2. Calgary Stampeders (4-0, last week: 3): Now 2-0 against provincial rival Elks this year after blowout last week. How will they do against a much tougher Winnipeg squad?

3. B.C. Lions (3-1, last week: 1): Rourke wasn’t going to go through his first season as QB without a little adversity. He has a bye week to learn from the loss to the Bombers.

4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1, last week: 4): Four wins have come against teams with a combined record of 2-15.

5. Toronto Argonauts (1-2, last week: 6): Failed convert prevented overtime last time out against Winnipeg. Argos GM Mike (Pinball) Clemons had to play peacemaker after a dispute broke out between players on the bench that night, so we’ll see if the team presents a united front out east.

6. Montreal Alouettes (1-3, last week: 8): Hard to believe a team could jump two spots after firing its coach last week, but such is the state of the East.

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-4, last week: 9): Again, this jump has nothing to do with the actual team making the leap.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (0-4, last week: 5): Evans starts this week, but gotta think Nick Arbuckle will get his shot soon after Redblacks acquired him in a trade with Edmonton this week.

9. Edmonton Elks (1-4, last week: 7): Team now on its third starting quarterback of the year in Cornelius.