Ottawa Sun
Published: Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Soccer has legs to kick CFL out

In the shadow of last week's federal budget, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk squired Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber to meetings with federal Infrastructure Minister John Baird, Premier Dalton McGuinty and Mayor Larry O'Brien.

Melnyk wants to build a $110-million stadium -- complete with five practice pitches for community use -- to house an MLS franchise (which he will purchase) if the funding stars align and city council makes a quick decision. Budget 2009, with its infrastructure focus, could be one of those stars in Melnyk's sky.

The immediate challenge is council's forthcoming decision docket, which also includes a proposal for Lansdowne Park revitalization.

Ottawa is the only G8 capital city without a major outdoor stadium. And if we are to attract world-class spectacles like another FIFA tournament, international "friendly" soccer matches, an NHL outdoor classic or A-list global artists who are noticing Ottawa as a great place to play and sell-out in an hour or less, we need to act.

For my money, I think a soccer stadium is the wiser and easier decision for council. The project could be completed in two years, no environmental assessment is needed, it would create about 1,000 construction jobs and the city property involved is a snow dump, generously valued at $10 million. Not to mention ample parking, highway and mass transit access.

In fairness to the Lansdowne Live proposal, the Greenberg-Ruddy-Shenkman-Hunt quartet is an accomplished and serious group. This group knows Lansdowne is first and foremost a real-estate play and in the long term why not clean up all 40 acres, including the abomination that is Frank Clair Stadium?

Even without a stadium, this group should be encouraged by council to pursue the innovative construction of housing, retail and entertainment at Lansdowne, with the land alone valued at $80 million. Their combined record in community building is outstanding and their vision is sorely needed to revitalize Lansdowne Park.

But on the merits of CFL football versus MLS soccer, the world's game wins hands down.

CFL football has failed three times already and today's Ottawa is not the city of the Riders glory days of the 1960s and 1970s. If Ottawa was truly a football town, tens of thousands of kids would be playing organized football, the Gees Gees would attract thousands to each game and Carleton University would still have a football team.

CFL football is at most 10 to 12 home dates per year from July to late October. MLS soccer is 20 to 24 games from April to November. And MLS soccer franchises generate $50 million and more annually ... that's a World Junior hockey tourney, every single year.

More than 90,000 kids play soccer in the region as opposed to 50,000 for hockey. And if my son's school is any indication, jerseys sporting logos from Manchester United, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Toronto FC or the national crests of Brazil, Italy and England are wining the daily duel over Sens, Habs, Leafs and NBA merchandise.

FIFA U-20 in 2007 proved we have the embassy crowd and cosmopolitan mix to support top flight soccer. More than 100 local clubs exist to snap up group packages. And many pubs on weekend mornings host crowds of rabid soccer fans following games on TV from across Europe.

MLS soccer is for real. Toronto FC began play in 2007, the Seattle Sounders take to the field this spring and Philadelphia will field a club in 2010 bringing the tally to 16 teams. Will Ottawa be number 17? Let's find out.