Search continues for new ownership to ensure long-term stability. League announces new schedule for 2006.
Release
TORONTO, ON – April 9, 2006 – The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today that the Ottawa Renegades will not participate in the 2006 season. The League is suspending the operations of the franchise while the search for new ownership continues. In making the announcement, the CFL also released a revised game and broadcast schedule for 2006.
“Today's decision is in the best interest of our game and our fans and represents the best opportunity to secure long-term stability and success for Canadian football in the nation's capital,&rdquo said Commissioner Tom Wright. “The decision was a difficult one, but the right one. We will not sacrifice our potential long-term success in Ottawa or any other market in Canada for a short-term solution.&rdquo
“It is because of our growth over the last several years and our current strength across the country that we are in a position to act boldly in the face of this issue,&rdquo said Tom Robinson, Chair of the CFL Board of Governors. “From all points of measure – business, community engagement, quality-of-play – the League is the strongest it has been in a generation.&rdquo
Commissioner Wright added, “With Toronto and Hamilton, we have seen that strong ownership and the right leadership can produce turnaround successes. We are confident that Ottawa can and should be the home of a competitive football team.&rdquo
“The search project will continue to be a vigorous one, with a comprehensive screening mechanism in place to ensure potential candidates have the long-term commitment, financial stability and business acumen to own and operate a successful, competitive franchise on par with the rest of the CFL clubs,&rdquo added the Commissioner. A new owner or ownership group will only be selected if they meet strict criteria that will ensure Ottawa-Gatineau fans of a tier-one on-field and off-field product.
“The Board is aligned and resolute in its vision for football in Ottawa,&rdquo said Mr. Robinson. “The CFL appreciates the support that continues to be shown by fans and League partners throughout the process of revitalizing our franchise in the nation's capital.&rdquo
In a related announcement the League confirmed that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will join the League's East Division. With the change, a new 72 game schedule was released, again tentatively featuring broadcast coverage for all games. The schedule also includes key regional and team-by-team rivalries as central elements.
The League confirmed that it will hold a dispersal draft before the end of the month.
New schedule
2006 CFL Schedule (revised as of April 9, 2006)
Note: Dates and Times Subject to Change
WEEK GAME DATE TEAMS LOCAL EASTERN TV
PRE-SEASON
A 1 Friday, June 02 HAMILTON at TORONTO 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
A 2 Friday, June 02 CALGARY at B.C. 7:30 PM 10:30 PM
A 3 Friday, June 02 MONTREAL at WINNIPEG 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
A 4 Saturday, June 03 EDMONTON at SASKATCHEWAN 2:00 PM 4:00 PM
B 5 Thursday, June 08 WINNIPEG at MONTREAL 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
B 6 Thursday, June 08 B.C. at CALGARY 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
B 7 Friday, June 09 TORONTO at HAMILTON 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
B 8 Friday, June 09 SASKATCHEWAN at EDMONTON 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
REGULAR SEASON
1 9 Friday, June 16 WINNIPEG at MONTREAL 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN/RDS
1 10 Friday, June 16 SASKATCHEWAN at B.C. 7:30 PM 10:30 PM TSN
1 11 Saturday, June 17 HAMILTON at TORONTO 3:00 PM 3:00 PM CBC
1 12 Saturday, June 17 EDMONTON at CALGARY 6:00 PM 8:00 PM TSN
2 13 Friday, June 23 TORONTO at WINNIPEG 7:00 PM 8:00 PM TSN
2 14 Saturday, June 24 MONTREAL at HAMILTON 7:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC/RDS
2 15 Saturday, June 24 CALGARY at EDMONTON 8:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN
2 16 Sunday, June 25 B.C. at SASKATCHEWAN 5:00 PM 7:00 PM TSN
3 17 Thursday, June 29 HAMILTON at CALGARY 7:00 PM 9:00 PM TSN
3 18 Friday, June 30 EDMONTON at WINNIPEG 6:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN
3 19 Saturday, July 01 TORONTO at B.C. 7:30 PM 10:30 PM CBC
4 20 Thursday, July 06 HAMILTON at MONTREAL 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN/RDS
4 21 Friday, July 07 B.C. at EDMONTON 7:00 PM 9:00 PM TSN
4 22 Saturday, July 08 WINNIPEG at TORONTO 4:00 PM 4:00 PM TSN
4 23 Saturday, July 08 CALGARY at SASKATCHEWAN 5:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC
5 24 Friday, July 14 CALGARY at HAMILTON 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN
5 25 Friday, July 14 SASKATCHEWAN at B.C. 7:30 PM 10:30 PM TSN
5 26 Saturday, July 15 MONTREAL at WINNIPEG 6:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC/RDS
6 27 Thursday, July 20 HAMILTON at MONTREAL 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TSN/RDS
6 28 Thursday, July 20 WINNIPEG at EDMONTON 8:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN
6 29 Friday, July 21 B.C. at CALGARY 7:00 PM 9:00 PM TSN
6 30 Saturday, July 22 TORONTO at SASKATCHEWAN 5:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC
7 31 Friday, July 28 WINNIPEG at HAMILTON 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TSN
7 32 Friday, July 28 MONTREAL @ EDMONTON 8:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN/RDS
7 33 Saturday, July 29 B.C. at TORONTO 7:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC
7 34 Saturday, July 29 CALGARY at SASKATCHEWAN 8:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN
8 35 Thursday, August 03 TORONTO at MONTREAL 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN/RDS
8 36 Friday, August 04 HAMILTON at WINNIPEG 6:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN
8 37 Friday, August 04 EDMONTON at B.C. 7:30 PM 10:30 PM TSN
8 38 Saturday, August 05 SASKATCHEWAN at CALGARY 5:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC
9 39 Thursday, August 10 B.C. at WINNIPEG 7:00 PM 8:00 PM TSN
9 40 Friday, August 11 SASKATCHEWAN at EDMONTON 7:30 PM 9:30 PM TSN
9 41 Saturday, August 12 TORONTO at HAMILTON 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TSN
9 42 Saturday, August 12 MONTREAL at CALGARY 8:00 PM 10:00 PM CBC/RDS
10 43 Friday, August 18 EDMONTON at B.C. 7:30 PM 10:30 PM TSN
10 44 Saturday, August 19 MONTREAL at TORONTO 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TSN/RDS
10 45 Saturday, August 19 HAMILTON at SASKATCHEWAN 8:00 PM 10:00 PM CBC
11 46 Thursday, August 24 CALGARY at MONTREAL 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN/RDS
11 47 Friday, August 25 TORONTO at WINNIPEG 7:00 PM 8:00 PM TSN
11 48 Saturday, August 26 SASKATCHEWAN at HAMILTON 4:00 PM 4:00 PM CBC
12 49 Friday, September 01 B.C. at MONTREAL 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN/RDS
12 50 Sunday, September 03 WINNIPEG at SASKATCHEWAN 5:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN
12 51 Monday, September 04 EDMONTON at CALGARY 1:00 PM 3:00 PM CBC
12 52 Monday, September 04 TORONTO at HAMILTON 6:00 PM 6:00 PM CBC
13 53 Friday, September 08 CALGARY at EDMONTON 7:30 PM 9:30 PM TSN
13 54 Saturday, September 09 HAMILTON at TORONTO 3:00 PM 3:00 PM CBC
13 55 Sunday, September 10 SASKATCHEWAN at WINNIPEG 1:00 PM 2:00 PM CBC
14 56 Friday, September 15 WINNIPEG at CALGARY 7:00 PM 9:00 PM TSN
14 57 Saturday, September 16 EDMONTON at HAMILTON 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TSN
14 58 Saturday, September 16 MONTREAL at B.C. 7:00 PM 10:00 PM CBC/RDS
15 59 Friday, September 22 HAMILTON at EDMONTON 7:00 PM 9:00 PM TSN
15 60 Saturday, September 23 TORONTO at CALGARY 5:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC
15 61 Sunday, September 24 WINNIPEG at MONTREAL 1:00 PM 1:00 PM TSN/RDS
15 62 Sunday, September 24 B.C. at SASKATCHEWAN 2:00 PM 4:00 PM TSN
16 63 Friday, September 29 MONTREAL at WINNIPEG 7:00 PM 8:00 PM TSN/RDS
16 64 Saturday, September 30 B.C. at HAMILTON 4:00 PM 4:00 PM TSN
16 65 Saturday, September 30 CALGARY at TORONTO 7:00 PM 7:00 PM CBC
16 66 Saturday, September 30 EDMONTON at SASKATCHEWAN 8:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN
17 67 Friday, October 06 CALGARY at B.C. 7:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN
17 68 Monday, October 09 SASKATCHEWAN at MONTREAL 1:00 PM 1:00 PM CBC/RDS
17 69 Monday, October 09 EDMONTON at TORONTO 4:00 PM 4:00 PM CBC
18 70 Friday, October 13 MONTREAL at SASKATCHEWAN 7:00 PM 9:00 PM TSN/RDS
18 71 Saturday, October 14 TORONTO at EDMONTON 1:00 PM 3:00 PM CBC
18 72 Sunday, October 15 WINNIPEG at HAMILTON 1:00 PM 1:00 PM TSN
18 73 Sunday, October 15 B.C. at CALGARY 2:00 PM 4:00 PM TSN
19 74 Friday, October 20 SASKATCHEWAN at TORONTO 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TSN
19 75 Saturday, October 21 EDMONTON at MONTREAL 3:00 PM 3:00 PM CBC/RDS
19 76 Saturday, October 21 CALGARY at WINNIPEG 6:00 PM 7:00 PM TSN
19 77 Saturday, October 21 HAMILTON at B.C. 7:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN
20 78 Friday, October 27 SASKATCHEWAN at EDMONTON 7:00 PM 9:00 PM TSN
20 79 Saturday, October 28 MONTREAL at TORONTO 3:00 PM 3:00 PM CBC/RDS
20 80 Saturday, October 28 WINNIPEG at B.C. 7:00 PM 10:00 PM TSN
About the Canadian Football League
Building on a strong past toward a stronger future, the Canadian Football League (CFL) celebrates the best of Canada's game with fans across the nation. The 94th Grey Cup will be played in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 19, 2006. For additional information, visit www.cfl.ca.
