Music: {allcanada} REPORT: CFL TO ASK FEDERAL GOV. FOR $12M FOR 2012 GREY CUP

Monday, October 4, 2010

{allcanada} REPORT: CFL TO ASK FEDERAL GOV. FOR $12M FOR 2012 GREY CUP

A report in the Globe and Mail states that the CFL will request $12 million from the federal government to help finance the 100th Grey Cup game, scheduled for Toronto's Rogers Centre in 2012.

According to the story, CFL commissioner Mark Cohon will appear before a House of Commons finance committee on Wednesday along with Chris Rudge, CEO of the 2012 Grey Cup festival, and former CFL players Michael Clemons and Pierre Vercheval.

"$12 million is a modest amount in terms of money made available for cultural events," Rudge told the Globe and Mail. "It would allow us to expand the number of events held within the city, concerts and involve the entire cultural community, things that happen in Caribana or Gay Pride. And we want to see this done across the country as well, and see more people come to Toronto and rally the way we saw people rally around the (Olympic) Games in Vancouver."

This year's game will be played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Nov. 28. The 2011 game is scheduled to be played at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, where a retractable roof is currently being installed.

"The Olympic experience taught a lot of us what major sporting events can do to transform our country and our communities and we're taking those lessons to the 100th Grey Cup," added Rudge.