The cover of today’s Toronto Sun features Rob and Doug Ford preparing to hike footballs, not taxes
We woke this morning to the news that Rob Ford and his brother and colleague on council Doug Ford have their eyes on a new prize: bringing an NFL team to Toronto. Sure, such business giants as Postmedia CEO Paul Godfrey and the late Ted Rogers tried to bring the NFL to Toronto for years, even decades—but those guys were just quitters! The Fords are totally sure they can do it, and they make it sound so, so easy.
Or so says the Toronto Sun.
“Just imagine the boost to the economy and tourism — because the NFL has to, it’s not even an option — they would have to give us the Super Bowl within the first four years,” [Doug] said. “To get a Super Bowl, it would be worldwide publicity for Toronto and the tourism would be phenomenal.”
The football-mad Ford brothers feel securing one of the pricey properties, the 32 existing franchises in the U.S. dominate the list of most lucrative North American sports teams and an expansion berth, if ever offered, would likely carry a $1 billion price tag, would be a powerful job creation plan all by itself.
Bringing an NFL team would also mean building a new stadium, but the Fords say they’ll guarantee no public money would be spent. Except, maybe not: the Sun also quotes Ford as saying, “The feds would be onside in a heartbeat”—meaning what, exactly? That Ottawa is going to open the purse for Toronto right around when it buys Quebec City a new hockey arena? The Sun can’t bring itself to take this seriously, making sure people also see Steve Simmons’ cold shower of a column on the front page, next to the two brothers Ford, titled “Ain’t gonna happen.”
The NFL hasn’t been shy about telling cities quite clearly that if they want a franchise, they need to pay for the stadiums. At the very least, the city needs to issue debt to finance the infrastructure upgrades for things like this. Los Angeles is looking at doing just that right now. So how do our new Forderlords square “cutting the debt” and “no public funds” with “NFL in Toronto”?
Doug Ford explains the most important question: why? “To be a world-class city, at least a North American world-class city, we need an NFL team.” Los Angeles can cry itself to sleep knowing the Ford brothers have passed judgment and found it wanting. Meanwhile, if Toronto really tries hard, we could someday be as “North American world class” as Kansas City, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Cleveland.
• Fords want an NFL team in Toronto [Toronto Sun]
• Toronto’s dreaming the impossible NFL dream [Toronto Sun]
• Da Mayor and Da Bears [Toronto Sun]
This is a terrible idea. First, they have absolutely no evidence it will be net economic gain to Canada (most of the players are US so it will likely drain Canadian resources).
The taxpayer should not foot the bill for sports. If fans want to watch NFL so badly, they will pay for it. If not, taxpayers who don’t like football should not have to help pay for it.
January 21, 2011 at 12:50 pm | by AdamBeyond stupid for a hundred reasons, and the cover photo makes me gag. These are the people running the city? Ack.
Never mind the NFL politics, CFL politics and costs — even if those were resolved, which is a tall order for Mr. Complex Issues, building a stadium in Downsview Park would be an atrocious land use. Nothing like 30,000 parking spaces polluting the landscape 355 days of the year in what is supposed to be park space. But hey, it would be a short drive from Etobicoke, right, so it must be a super idea!
January 21, 2011 at 1:09 pm | by Lord SimcoeDumb & Dumber
January 21, 2011 at 1:18 pm | by KateThe idea of the NFL in Toronto is nothing new. Paul Godfrey has been making a case for this already for many years. The fact that Rob Ford would support it is not surprising, nor is there anything wrong with that. Ford is allowed to be a football fan. I don’t believe that any initiative to bring an NFL team to Toronto would involve public money as guys like Paul Godfrey are the ones making the push. I certainly don’t believe a stadium will be built with taxpayer money either…at least not the majority…I think everyone has learned from the Skydome fiasco. As long as that is the case…I don’t have a problem with any of this.
I believe that any proposals for an NFL franchise would be spearheaded by Rogers…who already owns the Blue Jays and has been known to be interested in obtaining the Leafs and Raptors too. Rogers already owns the Rogers Centre and would logically pay for any upgrades to the stadium itself in order to accommodate more seats, etc.
Yes…the NFL to Toronto would be good…but only if the money is coming from the private sector.
January 21, 2011 at 1:53 pm | by JamesMeanwhile, if Toronto really tries hard, we could someday be as “North American world class” as Kansas City, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Cleveland.
The elitism in this publication makes me want to gag.
January 21, 2011 at 1:54 pm | by NatalieSeriously Natalie? They’re simply pointing out the idiocy of the non-definition of “world class”. We’ve already been told by the Fords that LRT is “third world” transit – I suppose by that standard that San Francisco, or Prague, or etc etc etc is a third world country. This sort of labels are useless as they have no basis in reality. Much like the word “elitism”.
January 21, 2011 at 2:49 pm | by Mr WhistlerI had often wondered why Rob Ford wanted to be mayor (I mean, he doesn’t even seem to like Toronto). Now we know.
Also, well said, Mr. Whistler
January 21, 2011 at 5:14 pm | by AdamRob ford is the best ting that ever happened to this city:
http://thirtykzone.com/2011/01/21/like-him-or-not-rob-ford-is-proactive-and-keeps-to-his-word/
January 21, 2011 at 7:10 pm | by taraWhat doesn’t make you lefties gag? All you do is post sarcastic gaging comments about Mayor Rob Ford. Yet when Miller or McGuinty squeezes the life out of our pay cheques to give to you, self proclaimed entitlement crowd, you cheer them on. Oh, how I wish I could meet you clowns face to face.
GROW UP ALREADY AND LEARN TO READ……IT WON’T COST US A THING AND IT WILL BRING BIG BUCKS TO MANY PEOPLE.
Seems to me, your not happy unless we, the majority of tax paying citizens are being gouged to death by your blood sucking Liberals, so that they can hand it over to you. I guess your just pissed that those days are partly over and come this next election, all of it will be over, since Tim Hudak will win and finally put an end to all this gouging once and for all.
This devout ex-Liberal, never ever wants to see the Liberal party in office ever again. They have done nothing but try to destroy the middle class at every turn. Shame on them. They are an insult to the memory of the late Trudeau.
January 21, 2011 at 9:50 pm | by MissyThis Nanny/Prison/Stalin State is coming to an end. Deal with it!
Yeah Mayor Rob Ford, Go Man Go! :)
Awesome, awesome, AWESOME. An NFL team is the one thing that has prevented me from saying Toronto is the BEST. As a Canadian first, east-coaster second, i would be very proud if the city of Toronto got an NFL franchise.
January 21, 2011 at 11:35 pm | by DeanLOL @ Missy. That was hilarious.
January 22, 2011 at 9:37 am | by Mr WhistlerI don’t want to sound to elitest when I say this so I will choose my words carefully. Missy, you are an idiot.
January 22, 2011 at 2:04 pm | by G_AGood news public transit to be cutailed so we can have more gridlock to get to a football game and to work.
January 22, 2011 at 2:17 pm | by Mick Thomas@G_A ,
Don’t sweat it…..in your wildest dreams you could never sound like an elitist!
hahahah and as far as calling me names, excuse me, that’s NOT the Miller & McGuinty Politically Correct way is it………IGNORANT PUBLIC SECTOR MORON! hahahahah
YEAH ROB FORD, GO MAN GO AND THIS OCTOBER,
YEAH TIM HUDAK, GO MAN GO!!!
Bring on the private sector projects and bring down the Nanny/Stalin Public Sector State!
January 22, 2011 at 3:34 pm | by Missy:)
Dear Ford…stay in Chicago and never come back.
Signed, real Canadian.
January 22, 2011 at 3:37 pm | by realcanadian