VANCOUVER – Canadian Football League Commissioner Mark Cohon honoured the Ottawa REDBLACKS ownership group by presenting it with the 2014 Commissioner’s Award tonight at the CFL Awards Show in Vancouver, British Columbia as part of the 102nd Grey Cup festivities.
Roger Greenberg, Jeff Hunt, John Pugh, John Ruddy and Bill Shenkman were recognized for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the rebirth of the CFL in the national capital.
“This award recognizes a contribution marked by devotion to community, love of our league and incredible perseverance,” said Cohon. “These gentlemen, in the face of various obstacles, kept working and fighting for years to make their dream a reality.”
Originally awarded a franchise in 2008, which was conditional on the construction of a refurbished stadium, the group of local entrepreneurs and philanthropists entered into a partnership with the City of Ottawa. That led to this year’s opening of TD Place, the home of the REDBLACKS and the centrepiece of a massive redevelopment of Lansdowne Park.
The REDBLACKS ‘ home debut was an emotional affair with a celebratory atmosphere: the team won, 18-17 over the Toronto Argonauts, before a capacity crowd. Another eight straight sellouts followed in the new 24,000 seat facility as Ottawa embraced its’ new CFL entry.
“The result of these men’s vision and hard work is a model franchise in a beautiful stadium that’s filled to capacity game after game in a place the CFL really has to be: our capital,” added Cohon.
The Commissioner’s Award is presented each year to an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the development of football in Canada.
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