It seems that whenever the CFL has a bit of success (which seems to be anything short of having bankruptcy courts on speed-dial), the topic of expansion always seems to pop up. For the CFL, this is a doubly loaded question since they are a little over a decade from one of the most ill-advised and poorly conceived expansion projects that any professional league on the continent has ever undertaken, so bad that it almost took the league down with it. With that in mind, you can understand why some folks in the league are a bit leery about considering the notion again now that the league is finally starting to show some financial stability. Never the less, a few locations have been floated around as possible recipients for a team. Let’s have a looksee as to their viability for being able to keep a team afloat.
Cosy town, a bit small for a pro team though.
Moncton - In a nutshell, it won’t anytime soon. The population of the area population wise is three times smaller then Regina, and if they think they’re going to get enough folks from out of town, they’re very optimistic. Here’s the travel distances to some of the larger population centers in the area:
- Fredericton? Two hours.
- Saint John? Two hours.
- Halifax? Two hours and four dollar tolls each way to get there.
Also, anyone from PEI isn’t going to drive two hours (or more depending on the part of the island they’re at) and a $42.50 bridge toll to see a football game outside of coming en masse via busloads. That and every sports bar I’ve found here seems to be pro NFL (for some odd reason. Probably the same one that has most baseball fans here being Red Sox lovers?). The only team that I can think of that would be sort of similar to this situation would be the Roughriders, and they’re based in a city that is over three times the size of Moncton (Regina), so they’re not as reliant on remote fans showing up to the game. Plus there’s an aversion to folks traveling long distances here, although this may be amplified by living on an island, it seems to be a regional opinion I’ve found. In short, If I was the commish of the CFL, Moncton is a good central location…..It’s just too damn small. Fredericton or Saint John is a better choice if they’re hellbent on putting a team in New Brunswick. Or they could wait twenty years or so and see if the current population growth figures continue among to make it viable, because if Moncton had the population of Regina or Saskatoon, my assessment on their success changes. It’s not like they don’t already have the stadium practically ready to go already.
Not where the stadium would be, but it'd be a great location.
Halifax - Would place it at ninth in the league in population in it’s city boundaries, and outlying regions would probably bump it to half a million or more. It wouldn’t be my first choice for a location, but for a regional market it’d not only work, but it has the local population to support it as it tries to make a place for itself in the community. Plus Halifax Schooners sounds like a great moniker; might even get rid of thinking of that absolutely horrid beer with the same name. They’d still need a stadium, which from the noise that I’m hearing from Halifax residents, would probably keep the idea on the same shelf that it’s been on for the last two decades, and contributed in the city not being the host of the Uteck Bowl this year. Kind of sounds like Halifax and Hamilton are comparing notes for how not to land a professional team. However, if they found a good owner that pulled a Nike and built a stadium, local government be damned, that would change things in a hurry. There’s definitely interest in football in the area; the Uteck bowl has been going on for decades, and AUS football has a strong following. If the league was jonesing for getting a team for the maritime marketplace, Halifax would currently be the choice of the two.
Grey Cup in very crisp fall weather with a piping hot bowl of poutine? Formidable!
Quebec City – Football in Quebec is practically white hot, and with the seventh largest city in Canada as a potential marketplace, it can more support a team just on population alone, and it’s the only city that doesn’t have a CFL franchise that has or had a professional team in other leagues (Quebec Nordiques). The stadium issue is easy to fix, as there already is one at Laval University that could be upgraded to CFL standards, which I’m sure the Red and Gold wouldn’t mind one bit. And it might add some spice and fire to games with the Alouettes. For those that followed the NHL in the 80′s, think of the games between Montreal and Quebec City and you’ll get the idea, and see why having such an instant rivalry would be most welcomed in the CFL This is really a no-brainer and really should have gotten first crack at expansion over two time loser Ottawa. If the CFL brass is on their game, getting a team is Quebec City needs to be done, and done now.
At least they have a stadium, right?
Ottawa - The Washington Senators/Nationals version of the CFL, I would have done Quebec City before these guys, but to each their own. At least they have competent ownership in the Ottawa 67′s owner Jin Hunt running the show now, who has shown that he can not only deliver teams that are economically viable (which in Ottawa seems to be an adventure), but winners to boot. And unlike most places, the stadium issue is already taken care of, albeit in the form of Frank Clair. If only they had a stadium that wasn’t such a pain to get in and out of; it’s one that urban planners will love, but out of towners will curse due to it’s narrow streets, not near the 417, and cramped parking. Can’t argue with the market size though, there are fans there, it’s just a matter of enticing them to place ass in seat.
The Fighting Blackberries perhaps?
Kitchener/Waterloo – Paging Steve Basille. It’s not the NHL, but we have a commissioner that doesn’t have a Napoleon complex, so that should count for something right?. Plus he wouldn’t have to drive to Hamilton to see a game. Outside of a lack of stadium that’s up to CFL specs, the TigerCats might be concerned that it might infringe on their market (Kitchener/Waterloo is roughly an hour drive from downtown Hamilton). Of all the selections, the market financialy could support a team, being that it’s one of the IT centres of Canada, including Mr. Basille’s own company. And IT folks do love sports, contrary to popular belief. I wouldn’t put them ahead of Quebec City, but if the CFL ever expanded to twelve teams, they really should be one of the front runners. along with…
London - Tenth largest city in Canada, and second largest without a team. For the Southwestern Ontario it might be a better choice location wise then Kitchener/Waterloo or Windsor, although the lack of an ownership on as strong of footing as RIM’s founder would make it lose a bit of luster. At least it’d keep away concerns that Hamilton might have about their market being infringed upon. Also, a partnership arrangement with UWO much like the Alouettes have with McGill would solve the Stadium issue nicely. Once Quebec City has a team, I’d say that London is 1a next to Kitchener/Waterloo 1b and Halifax 1c.
Windsor - Top fifteen in size, but the city isn’t doing well financially, and you have the NFL next door. Then again, it’s the Detroit Lions, so folks in Detroit might like a team that has an actual chance to not suck for years at a time. Barring the folks in Detroit and area getting passports en masse, or the economy in Windsor and surrounding Essex County rebounding, it’d be a long-shot.
St.Catherines/Niagara – Same situation with Windsor, only the local economy isn’t as depressed, but they have the NFL next door and unlike Detroit, that team has a history of marketing to Ontario for fans. Plus they’ve actually been decent in recorded history. Combined with Hamilton complaining bitterly about competition being set up almost next door, this idea has as much change to be born as the 1984 Halifax Schooners.
Northern Ontario – I’ve heard this one being discussed as of late in some locations, and all I have to say is do they know anything about the area? There’s only three cities over one hundred thousand in population, and the largest of the three (Thunder Bay) is not only smaller then Regina, but has no other population centres to draw upon. It’d be on par to throwing the Moncton entry into Northern Ontario, removing the other cities within a two hour drive, then expecting enough fans to show up. It’d be great, but they just don’t have the population to support a team.
Saskatoon – I think that Rider Nation survives because it has an entire province to draw upon, or at least that’s the only reason I can think of since Saskatchewan only recently got over the one million mark. Putting a second team there, even if the city being considered is slightly bigger then Regina, would be pretty dicey. PLus I’m sure the Riders would be very much against that, and with good reason. Pass.
Okanagan - Probably one of the two markets left in Western Canada that could support a team, I’d wonder if there would be any interest to keep the seats filled on a consistent basis. British Columbia always struck me as another Ontario to a lesser, where the CFL isn’t as fervently followed. That being said, I’m sure that if a team was to land there, it’d help interest, and would have fans in the interior thrilled that they don’t have to go to Vancouver or Alberta to see a game. Plus the economy around there is decently healthy, although not to the degree of some of the other entries on this list.
Victoria - If the league ever expands to twelve teams, having another Western entry would be a good thing to have, as seeing Winnipeg in the East just looks weird. That being said, I really think that Victoria is the best choice out of the lot that is available. They have the Vancouver island cornered, and have access to the Vancouve3r marketplace via the ferry service from the mainland, plus being a government town, there’s a stable economy. However I dont’ think they’d be a better choice over say London or Halifax, as they’d have the Lions for competition, and would have to build facilities right from scratch.
Quite a few options for expansion in this country alone, but few candidates that wouldn’t involve some risk, something the CFL needs little of. The CFL commissioner Mark Cohon, who actually has answers when asked about expansion, has already stated that Atlantic Canada receiving a football team in the near future will be probable, but “we’re not there yet.”. An almost complete u-turn from the CFL’s expansion policy less then twenty years ago under 
Larry Smith’s reign. Still, if the league could find two strong owners, with top grade facilities that could bring the game to more fans across the country while keeping the league growing, the sky’s the limit.
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The owner of the Sports Blog Network, Chris tells it exactly as he sees it, be it in the stands, in front of the tv, or on his semi-trusty laptop. And always with a can of trusty Dr. Pepper by his side, and spell-check working overtime. 
Whoever suggested Northern Ontario for your article has never lived here. I’ve been up here for the last five years, and there’s no city or town here that could support a team. Not even close.