WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government laid out the red carpet for the Canadian Football League Monday, promising $2.5 million to help Winnipeg serve as the league's hub city if the goes ahead.
"I think this is the right spot to host the CFL, I think it's the safest place," Premier Brian Pallister said.
"We've got a pretty good general back and forth going (with the league) so far and we're told ... we have a few days to nail down, cross some Ts and dot some Is."
The league is currently in talks with the players association on whether to hold a season at all, and it has asked the federal government for financial help.
If a season goes ahead, Pallister is hoping Winnipeg will be chosen partly because Manitoba's COVID-19 case numbers are among the lowest in the country. There have been 354 confirmed or probable cases to date and seven deaths.
While details would have to be worked out, the plan is to hold 60 games over 15 weeks, provincial Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox said.
The provincial money would go to pay for practice field rentals, transportation and other expenses.
Manitoba's chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said players would be required to self-isolate upon arrival and essentially live in a bubble during their time in Winnipeg.
If a team wanted to have its players eat at a restaurant, he said, the restaurant would have to be closed to the general public.
Testing would be mandatory and frequent for players upon arrival, but would not be as frequent afterward, he said, unless someone close to them tested positive.
Pallister said even if the league proceeds with no fans in the stands, having players, coaches and staff in Winnipeg would boost the hard-hit tourism industry.
He also said there would be an emotional benefit to fans if the league can get up and running this year.
"There's kind of an immeasurable emotional aspect to this, I think, for a lot of Manitobans who have been feeling kind of deprived from their nightly ritual of checking out how the sports teams are doing, and watching some sports or sports highlights on TV."
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