THE CFL’S QUARANTINE CITY PLAN
The CFL is no different than many other sports leagues which are examining a Hub, Bubble or Quarantine City scenario where players are housed in one or a selected few locations in order to get their games in, without fans in 2020 due to the pandemic. This concept has been examined by the NBA, NHL, MLB, NLL, CEBL and more.
Late this week TSN Insiders revealed the CFL is serious about this notion and 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk had even more info on Friday’s Rod Pedersen Show.
“Right now it’s really just in the discussion phase,” Dunk reported. “It’s an idea. Because it would include all the safety guidelines and logistics that you’d have to follow. The top among that would be how do you get these American players back over the border because it’s gonna be closed now for the foreseeable future.”
Clearly the scenario is in the very early stages and it’s just one of the pressing issues facing Commissioner Randy Ambrosie; not the least of which is securing Federal funding whether there’s a season in 2020 or not.
“(The Bubble City idea) is definitely being discussed,” Dunk continued. “It hasn’t been passed down to the presidents level just yet, but it’s one of the options I’ve been told – I was told a couple of weeks ago there were 12 on the table – that they were looking at in terms of playing games in 2020.”
It hasn’t been divulged which CFL cities are being looked at but Regina Mayor Michael Fougere said he’d offer up the Queen City if necessary.
“It’s simply an interesting concept,” Fougere told Regina’s CJME Radio. “Let’s have that conversation and see where it goes.”
Fougere said he has not yet been contacted by football officials about Regina being a Quarantine City.
CFL training camps were scheduled to open on Sunday but have officially been postponed by Commissioner Ambrosie due to the COVID-19 crisis.
RP
@rodpedersen
Been saying this all along. Why can’t Regina Winnipeg Edmonton host games. All low numbers and larger venues with fan interest.
That’s fine but the money can’t just go to them. It has to be divided among all 9 teams with a nod to expenses incurred by the host cities. It’s better than not playing.
Unfortunately Regina doesn’t have the necessary hotels or amenities for this. It would need to be Calgary, Vancouver or Edmonton.
Regina = Little Hamlet On The Prairies.
If we are trying to prevent players, team personnel and officials from getting COVID-19, why would we send any of them to Calgary where there have been thousands of cases?!? Amenities are one part of the equation, but health concerns have to be a very important part of this decision. Sorry, Calgary makes no sense at all!!