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Over the past year, there has been renewed conversation about the possibility of bringing a Canadian Football League franchise to Atlantic Canada. You’ve likely seen the news coverage, or discussed this topic with your friends and family. Maybe you’ve even met with us.

It’s time we introduced ourselves more broadly. We are Maritime Football Limited Partnership and we’re hoping to capitalize on the enthusiasm and momentum in the region to land a CFL franchise on the East Coast.

We are an ownership group of three individuals – Anthony LeBlanc, the former owner and CEO of an NHL franchise with roots in New Brunswick; Bruce Bowser, a national business owner from Dartmouth; and Gary Drummond, an entrepreneur and former NHL owner and executive from Western Canada.

This group has ownership experience and is connected to professionals in the sports and entertainment space, and specialists in the area of development and stadium construction. With the support of Atlantic Canadian advisers and our growing network in the region, we have been developing a plan and concept for both a team and multi-use stadium that Atlantic Canadians can truly be proud of.

As Canada’s national league, the CFL aspires to establish franchises and build their brand from coast to coast. We’ve been working closely with the CFL and they tell us players want to play in Atlantic Canada, and beyond that, fans want the league to continue to grow and expand east.

Grey Cup playoffs will grow to include an even number of teams, and CFL fans from across the country will have an opportunity to experience the enthusiasm and famous hospitality this region has to offer. Atlantic Canada will finally have an opportunity to be part of this annual national tradition.

But in order to make this vision a reality, we need a stadium. A stadium is about more than football. It has to be. This can be an asset for Nova Scotia to leverage — to attract people and sustainable private investment; an entertainment venue; a training and research facility; and an anchor for international games and sporting events. Professional sports can be a catalyst for both economic growth and civic pride.

Maritime Football Limited Partnership will be contributing significant private capital to help fund the construction and operation of the stadium.

But let’s be clear: to make this vision a reality, a certain degree of public investment will be necessary. We’re learning about the challenges and opportunities for both Halifax Regional Municipality and the provincial government — and how this vision could align with their priorities and fit within planning frameworks.

We’ve explored the desire of Atlantic Canadians to attend games and we’ve studied the proposed economic impact of a CFL franchise on the Nova Scotia economy. We’ve gleaned valuable information from the experiences of other jurisdictions. This is a big undertaking and there’s more work to do. We know we need to be thoughtful, we need to be deliberate, and most importantly, we need to be transparent.

We will be providing regular updates and encouraging you to engage with us and share your questions and thoughts. Your feedback and participation throughout this process will be invaluable. Please follow us on Twitter (@MaritimeFtball) and sign up on our website to receive updates: www.maritimefootball.ca

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