Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk created soccer fever in Ottawa when he announced plans to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to the city. The MLS is looking to add two new teams by 2011, and Melnyk is determined to make Ottawa a top choice.
Earlier this month, he released plans for a new soccer facility that would seat over 20,000 people and would make BMO Field, home of the Toroton F.C., look like an abandoned warehouse.
The blueprints and the planning models look great, but there’s more for Melnyk to consider.
Take the fans. Ottawa just doesn’t have a concrete, sustainable fan base. Sure, the city has been on a soccer high since it held the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in July 2007. The tournament created a buzz that electrified the city, and tickets were scooped up faster than scalpers could reach the sidewalks. Culture and sports came together as the players competed for national pride, not million-dollar contracts. Fans were drawn to the blood, sweat and tears they witnessed at every game.
Citizens of Ottawa loved these aspects of the FIFA tournament – but hosting a local team for an entire season is something else. A permanent professional team just wouldn’t create the urgency and excitement of a two-week World Cup tournament.
Another obstacle involving a professional soccer team is that the CFL continues to haunt this city. Plans to run a successful pro football team in Ottawa may have failed in the past, but Ottawa 67’s owner Jeff Hunt is rumoured to be the man with a plan.
Hunt and a group of investors have already bought the rights to bring football back to the city. But as the old saying goes, this town ain’t big enough for the both of ‘em.
The MLS and CFL both run during the summer months and wrap up their playoffs in November. They also schedule most of their games on weekends. There isn’t enough interest in Ottawa to support these two professional teams if they’re going to have competing schedules.
All this aside, Ottawa has seven other cities to beat in its hopes of landing a franchise, and the MLS will do more than just roll the dice and hope for success. The league will do its homework, research the different markets and judge which city can draw the most revenue. A handful of cities are being considered, including Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal and Vancouver. Montreal’s attempts will probably be led by American businessman George Gillett Jr., who already owns the Montreal Canadians, a NASCAR auto-racing team and part of the Liverpool soccer team. Vancouver’s franchise has been linked to NBA superstar and British Columbia native Steve Nash. These are not easy names for Melnyk to compete with.
Still, Melnyk is Ottawa’s best hope for bringing professional soccer to the city. Money has never been a problem for the guy and he seems to be a true sports fan. He’s shown loyalty to the Senators and his OHL franchises. Friends say he’s an owner who respects his fans and treats people right. But Melnyk’s good character just isn’t enough.