By Andy Watson
The Centretown business community is excited about the arrival of the Canadian Football League’s new Ottawa franchise and its joint season ticket package with the National Lacrosse League’s Ottawa Rebel.
Mike Lafleur, general manager at the Duke of Somerset at the corner of Bank and Somerset streets, says he’s “very happy” from a business perspective about the CFL’s return to Ottawa.
“When the Riders were viable in the past there was an overall feeling of support for football,” he says.
“While the new CFL team won’t be competitive right away it will help our business, not directly, but in terms of giving us business. When the team’s on the road they’ll come here to watch.”
Rick Verville, manager at Ritchie’s Sports Fan Apparel Shop on Sparks Street, says the return will be positive.
“Personally, I’m excited. It will be good for business.”
He says he expects merchandise for the new CFL team to be available by December.
Both Lafleur and Verville say they think the combined season ticket package will benefit from an overall increase in sports support from the community.
The “R and R” deal is a combined season ticket package offered by the new CFL team, which will begin playing in Ottawa next summer, and the Rebel.
Brad Watters is part-owner of both teams and he says the package is intended to lure more fans into ticket commitment.
He also says the combined season ticket package has already sold 1,000 tickets in the first three weeks.
The joint CFL-NLL venture will be announcing major corporate sponsorship sometime early this month, according to Watters.
“The two-team system gives us the opportunity to attract more corporate sponsors,” Watters said on his cell phone at home in Toronto.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for total visibilty.”
Watters says he expects corporate support to last for at least the first five years.
This “R and R” deal offers a reduced rate on season tickets for people who choose to purchase season tickets for both teams.
For $599 plus tax, consumers receive tickets for all 10 Ottawa CFL home games and all eight Ottawa Rebel home games.
They also get advanced access to tickets for the 2004 Grey Cup which will be held at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, 25 per cent off Rebel and CFL merchandise and access to pregame parties.
Watters says the two-team deal will attract a wide variety of fans.
“Our target, though, is to get new fans addicted to both games,” says Watters. “We’re trying to blend the two products together.”
Rebel governor and general manager Johnny Mouradian agrees.
“To be successful we have to get new people into our building,” he says. “The key is when you can put both packages together and give people more for their dollar.
“This deal is definitely for the sports fan.”
Mouradian says the relationship with the CFL franchise has been positive to date. “It’s a long-term marriage,” says Mouradian.
“The Rebel is like a little brother to the CFL team. We’re getting along.” The 1,000 seats sold so far through the “R and R” package have increased the Rebel’s total season ticket sales to over 3,500, according to Mouradian.
He says their goal is 4,000 seats before the season opener Nov. 18 against the Vancouver Ravens.