More delays and we wait till December 10

[PaulD]

http://lejournaldequebec.canoe.ca/journaldequebec/sports/baseball/archives/2009/11/20091124-152107.html

Apparently we have to wait till December 10 to see if there will be a new team in Pittsfield.

Ottawaballfan was right it is Pittsfield. Not Ottawa. Not Three Rivers.

I am disapointed your not getting your team Ottawaballfan.:mad:

[Marcelo]

Below is the translation of the article. But first I want to say that, as a sport town, Ottawa absolutelly SUCKS. Nothing works here and any american village of 5,000 people is a better destination for a sports franchise than Ottawa. The only positive point is that we are at 2.5 hours driving from Syracuse where we can watch AAA baseball. That's what I am going to do a few times in 2010.

Translation from Google with no editing:

CanAm League will not publish its 2010 schedule soon!


Negotiations for the sale and transfer of the concession of the American Defenders of New Hampshire protracted and following a conference call on Monday, leaders of the CanAm have extended the deadline from November 30 to December 10.

"Talks are continuing between the main shareholder of American Defenders Buddy Lewis and a group of buyers. A letter of intent has been filed to the league by the buyers and counsel for the parties involved are still working on the record, said Tuesday the CanAm commissioner Miles Wolff.

"If we felt that Lewis was in a fishing expedition we did it would not grant additional time," said Wolff, who confirmed that the city of Pittsfield and Wahconah Park antiquated were the only target in the sights of buyers.

For the CanAm no longer seems to have plenty of choice to place his sixth training. A return to Ottawa or the establishment of a team in Trois-Rivieres, eyeing the two markets last summer by the minority owner of Dan Duquette Defenders are no longer on the radar screen of Wolff.

"I have not heard from Duquette for over a month, Wolff confirmed. In Ottawa, I was the tenant of the stadium until the end of October we were in an interesting position to restart operations. Municipal authorities seemed to have other priorities and one of the two interested developers focused on another sports project. As for Three Rivers, the record never got under way. "

In short, if the sale turns Defenders of the dishwater, do not be surprised if the CanAm must bring an itinerant club in 2010.

Tentative Schedule

Pending any confirmation, Wolff has developed a tentative schedule. According to this draft, the Quebec Capitales will begin defense of their title Wednesday, May 27 at Municipal Stadium against the formation of Pittsfield.

"The schedule will not change if New Hampshire is transferred to Pittsfield or any other city in the northeastern United States. However, if he must fall back on a city in Canada, we should reschedule the entire issue to facilitate travel across the border, "said Wolff.

In two lines

- With the Black Bears of Berkshire County, Pittsfield has had a foothold in the Northeast League (the forerunner of the CanAm) during the seasons 2002-03. This concession was later moved to New Haven where after four seasons at Yale Field, it was buried in the most total indifference.

- Less than three weeks after it began operations, the winter league in Florida (FWBL) ceased operations last week. Some players CanAm evolved in this new circuit with four teams, which would provide an alternative for players who do not wish to go into exile in the Caribbean or South America during winter. The leaders of the FWBL put the key in the door promising that players, coaches and suppliers are paid. You bet!

[ottawasportsfan2010]

Marcelo
Thats not true at all not even close.You look at the past teams most teams left not because so much of fan support but bad managment.

Ottawa Rebel (Lacrosse)
For the 1st year and a bit real good attendance then they moved to the civic centre and things went down hill.

Ottawa Riders/Rens
Both teams in the past 20-30 years were badley managed Attedance was not a big issues and with the rens the franchise rights were revoked.

Ottawa Lynx
This is one team maybe the only team that had real big attendance issues.

Ottawa Rapidz
Attendance was really not that big of a issue there were in the middle of the pack and not a very good team.

You look at the current teams the sens 67s/olympics all does good attendance wise the sens and 67s do very well.

[OttawaBallFan]

> Ottawaballfan was right it is Pittsfield.

I'm usually not right. I was hoping I was not in this case. But after analysis, Pittsfield seemed like the logical choice. I mean, Duquette owns a team there, it would be easiest for him to move the Defenders there.

> I am disapointed your not getting your team Ottawaballfan.

Thanks. I'm disappointed too.

One sentence in the article:

Municipal authorities seemed to have other priorities and one of the two interested developers focused on another sports project.

I understand the city having other priorities than baseball at the moment. Heck, they're busy with a budget and want to limit tax increases. Apparently, they are supposed to decide on the stadium in early December. Seems to me with Miles and another group interested in putting a team there from the SIB that it's just a matter of saying OK and taking rent revenue.

I read the first part of that sentence as meaning Miles is a bit frustrated that the city has not made a decision (ie, giving the go-ahead) on what to do yet. I doubt they will make a decision next month to sell and/or tear down the stadium. Doesn't make sense. Otherwise, they would have torn down Frank Clair stadium five years ago.

The second part of that sentence, I don't know what to make of it. Developers? (The French uses the word promoters which I translate as investors). Interesting that they are involved in another sports project.

Also, on CTV news last night, it was quickly reported that a new investor is interested in bringing baseball back in Ottawa. The name: Dewayne Wise, former Blue Jay. Note that is probably for a SIB team, not Can-Am.

Personally, I don't think sports in Ottawa sucks. I don't know about the Rebels. I'm not a football fan but seems like the Riders and Renegades were badly managed. The Lynx problem was weather in April and May greatly reducing attendance.

The Rapidz almost matched average attendance from June that the Lynx did. Granted, a 2500 attendance for a AAA team is not great. But I think that the last few years, they just didn't put the marketing necessary to bring people in. Almost seemed like they threw in the towel as early as 2005. Given the Rapidz attendance without much marketing that I could see, I think they did very well.

Rapidz, definitely management mainly contributed to their demise. The Voyageurs (which would have been the Rapidz renamed) were simply caught in the middle with Atlantic City folding. So it burns my behind when hearing that baseball failed three times. It's really once with the Lynx.

Hockey does well obviously, although the Sens attendance is apparently down (recession? poor team?). 67s seem to do well which surprises me as I thought with the Sens, they would fold.

I'll say it again: with proper marketing, a baseball team can do well, especially one in a league like the Can-Am with shorter season.

[ottawasportsfan2010]

I can't see the teraing down the stadium with the amount of interest in it as of now.