The chief executives of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and the Toronto Argonauts say the CFL team might still move to BMO Field, though an early financial hurdle has not yet been overcome.

In a Tuesday interview, MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke rejected a newspaper report that said the company has “cancelled” its plan to renovate the soccer stadium and allow the football club to play there after its Rogers Centre lease expires in 2017.

Leiweke said the relocation plan is not dead — just “on hold”as MLSE attempts to secure $10 million from the provincial government, which is in the middle of an election campaign, and $10 million from the federal government.

Because the money has not arrived, MLSE is now asking city council to endorse a change to the renovation agreement that was approved by council only last month on the condition of an Argos move.

The agreement was for a $120-million project to be paid for by MLSE ($90 million), the city ($10 million, to be repaid by MLSE with interest), the federal government ($10 million) and the provincial government ($10 million).

Leiweke said MLSE still faces pressure to add about 8,000 permanent seats to the city-owned stadium in time for the Pan Am Games next summer. So the company wants council to quickly sign off on a scaled-back renovation which would add those seats and build a roof.

The new plan would require the $90 million in MLSE money and $10 million from the city. “If and when” the additional $20 million arrives, Leiweke said, MLSE would then do the work to accommodate the Argos and 10,000 extra temporary seats for major events such as the NHL Winter Classic.

“There is a path,” Leiweke said. “It may be a year later than initially expected.” He added: “There is no stress or tension here, nor is there any disagreement between us and the governments.”

“We still believe that the project will eventually move forward as it was always anticipated,” said Argos CEO Chris Rudge.

Ottawa says it will not provide funding for sports stadiums. Leiweke countered that he is asking instead for a $10 million contribution to the “big events” the expanded stadium could host, tourist draws such as the Winter Classic, Grey Cup and MLS All-Star Game.

“Our government has been clear that it would not fund professional sport infrastructure,” said Vincent Rabault, press secretary for federal infrastructure minister Denis Lebel. “This decision is being implemented uniformly across the country. That being said, amateur sport infrastructure is now eligible for funding under the Gas Tax Fund.”

With files from Rick Westhead

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