Major Stakeholder In Halifax CFL Team Takes Job With Ottawa Senators
HALIFAX — A founding partner of the group trying to bring a CFL franchise to Halifax has taken a job with an NHL team.
The Ottawa Senators announced yesterday that Anthony Leblanc has joined the organization as its president of business operations.
LeBlanc is one of three founding partners and was the de facto public face of Schooner Sports and Entertainment (SSE), the ownership group that wants to create an Atlantic Schooners football team in Halifax.
The group’s plan would require a new stadium to be built in the city, something that has been met with mixed reactions as SSE and the Halifax Regional Municipality negotiate financial support for the venture.
SSE’s had initially asked to build the stadium in Dartmouth’s Shannon Park, with significant help from Halifax taxpayers. But after public pushback and a staff report outlining the challenges at that location, Halifax Regional Council told SSE it would need to find another location.
Council did agree to contribute $20-million to the stadium once it was near completion.
Yesterday’s announcement about LeBlanc’s new role comes on the heels of news the CFL will delay its 2020 season and raises questions about the future of the Atlantic Schooners.
David Wallace, a spokesperson for SSE, told Huddle Tuesday that LeBlanc “remains a founding partner of SSE, but he will not be involved in the active day-to-day business of SSE moving forward.”
Echoing a statement made by the organization on Twitter yesterday, Wallace pointed out that “SSE partners have always owned or held leadership roles in businesses and sports organizations throughout North America in addition to SSE.”
Wallace said the organization “remains committed to the stadium project,” but said “timelines have and will be pushed out” as governments devote their time and resources to COVID-19.
“We have continued to do our own work in the background both on potential site selection and planning in the interim, and have provided updates to HRM where appropriate,” he added.
Maggie-Jane Spray is a senior communications advisor with the Halifax Regional Municipality.
She told Huddle that Halifax city staff have “had some correspondence” with SSE since the council’s decision in December. However, discussions with the organization are now “on hold until further notice” as staff focus on COVID-19.
With Leblanc taking a new role with the Senators, Wallace said Gary Drummond will take on the role as the group’s lead spokesperson.
Drummond, LeBlanc, and Bruce Bowser are the three founding partners of SSE.