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Nelson Skalbania, principal owner of the
Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes,
is leading a movement to form a new football
league comprised of the existing CFL franchises
and as many as 11 new franchises to be located
in the United States. Birmingham has been
mentioned as one of those cities. Other sites
being considered are New York, Los Angeles,
Syracuse, Chicago, Portland, Rochester,
Shreveport, Memphis, Phoenix and Atlanta. Two
days ago, Skalbania submitted a bid of $8.5
million for Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro,
Massachusetts, home of the National Football
League's New England Patriots. The Patriots have
bid $6.5 million. If the new league is formed,
the stadium would serve as the home of the
Boston franchise. William Putnam, Vice
President and Operations Director of the
Alouettes, confirmed Skalbania's involvement in
the proposed league. Putnam was the owner of the
1974 World Football League champion
Birmingham Americans. Putnam said he would
enthusiastically recommend Birmingham for a
franchise.
Franchise fees in the new league would be $3
million. The majority of revenue will come from
pay-television in the U.S. markets. "The thing
that must be emphasized is that each existing
club in the CFL will end up with more money than
they could dream of. Clubs would double or
triple their revenue," Putnam said.
The organizers are including a number of
well-known names as potential owners including
Al Davis, the Oakland Raiders Managing General
Partner, who is currently involved in an
antitrust suit against the NFL. Other names
mentioned are agent Jerry Argovitz, former NFL
coaches Hank Stram, George Allen, John Madden
and John Raltson, as well as Ted Turner, owner
of Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves.
The new league would have to change an
existing clause in the CFL constitution
requiring all clubs be based in Canada. 7 of the
league's 9 members would have to vote for the
change. The Toronto, Hamilton, British Columbia
and Montreal franchises are supposedly in favor
of the expansion.
However, Jake Gaudaur, Commissioner of the
CFL, says Montreal is the only club pushing for
the expansion. "There is no feeling in the
league for such an expansion except for Mr.
Skalbania. In theory it sounds great to expand
to the United States. However, it's not an
anti-American feeling, but we feel certain that
if we let in the bigger American cities some of
the Canadian cities would drop by the wayside,"
Gaudaur said.
Birmingham Park and Recreation Board head
Frank Wagner said no inquiries have been made
concerning the availability of Legion Field. |
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