Although no IBL owner will officially comment to confirm this, but the writting is on the wall that the OSG (Ottawa Stadium Group) will pull the plug on the Fat Cats at the end of the season as it is not financially viable for the OSG to keep the Fat Cats in operation.
OSG as most of you are aware really only wanted the Stadium for other events like the CAN AM league and concerts etc. Ottawa City Council granted them the stadium usage rights on the condition that they get a baseball team to play there. So when push came to shove OSG turned to the IBL and agreed to cover transportation and accommodations for the visiting teams and were awarded a conditional franchise.
Hotels and buses aren't cheap. so i'm guessing the tab was around 75K-100K and that doesn't even cover other franchise expenses.
Plus to top it off there are rumours of a law suit for breach of an agreement the OSG had entered into with the former Oshawa Dodgers franchise to purchase their franchise from them.
Full details http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/article/147615
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This is old hat. Maybe they were holding the stadium long enough to get a Can Am league franchise in there for the 2011 season. Besides the tab for the hotels and meals there is also the stadium lease of 108K.
ReplyDeleteWhere are your sources? You are completely MISINFORMED. OSG isn't pulling the plug because they aren't financially viable.
ReplyDeleteThey had record attendances, averaged about 2600 people a game (way better than all the other teams) and are currently planning for 2011. The Fat Cats had a better attendance then the can-Am league games which were hosted at Ottawa Stadium.
As for Lawsuit, Oshawa is just whining because they didnt get the 30K for the franchise, instead OSG gave it's 30K to the IBL in return for an expansion franchise. OSG never signed an agreement to purchase the team.
Before you bring people down because you say their team is folding, ensure you have the correct information.
What is your name and source so I can contact the IBL for confirmation?
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