From yesterday’s Three Guys on the Radio (TGOR), a discussion about the Can Am proposal, and the now famous letter.  Sorry about the format, but until I figure out how to embed an audio player into WordPress, this is the best I can do. 

Sue me (pun intended).

*** UPDATE ***

“Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”

                                               United States Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

Let me say it once again: I’m glad that all the facts have now come out.  Until the last couple of days, we’ve been getting parts of the story, in bits and pieces - but now, with the letter from Miles Wolff, we now have as complete an airing of the issues as we’ve had so far.  I encourage you to read the letter and listen to the discussion from yesterday’s podcast (i.e. the Youtube vid. above) -it was a little disheartening to hear “Stuntman Stu” trotting out the argument that only a few hundred people show up for games.  Quite apart from the fact that it’s entirely inaccurate - he has first hand knowledge that it’s not the freaking case!

Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd and Stuntman.  Sunday, July 22, 2007.  Attendance: 3,374.

As Neate pointed out in his post here, you now know one of the reasons why the Lynx in the person of Kyle Bostwick have been so reticent to declare they were leaving.  Couple the detail in Mr. Wolffe’s letter with the Mayor’s office’s response to the Can Am supporters,

“Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the future of the Lynx Stadium.

Presently the Ottawa Lynx have two years remaining on their lease at the Coventry Road facility and despite recent media reports we have not been officially informed that they intend to breach their contract at this time.

Until such time as the Lynx breach their contract, discussions regarding the future of this facility would be premature yet we continue to review our options for the long term use of this facility.

The Mayor’s goal is to ensure that we protect the interests of the taxpayers while continuing to make this facility available for the enjoyment of the citizens of Ottawa. I continue to follow the developments and hope that we may find a solution that fulfills both of those goals.

Sincerely,

Lynne Manion
Administrative Services Coordinator
Mayor’s Office, City of Ottawa”    (emphasis added)

and it would seem reasonable to conclude that the City is equating an announcement that the team is leaving with a declaration that they intend to breach their contract.  I think that another inference can be fairly drawn:  “contract” is a euphemism for the “operating agreement” (or, what has widely been referred to as “the lease“), and once that contract is “breached” the City has a free hand and can issue an RFP (request for proposal) for Lynx Stadium.  At that point, the Can Am League has to get in line with everyone else - Wal Mart, Future Shop, the wrecking ball, and yes, the indoor soccer guy.

The Can Am League doesn’t need or want that contract broken - so don’t get fooled into thinking or demanding that the Lynx should call it quits.  Miles Wolff wants to live under the terms of the existing operating agreement, and possibly extend it further. 

Here’s one of the few questions now remaining: Is the City waiting for - or hoping for a breach? 

Finally, for today, the other trap all of us (including myself) need to avoid is acting as though “the City” was one homogenous entity, with a well directed plan concerning Lynx Stadium.  In fact, we now know that there is some support for the Can Am League proposal. 

We just need to keep the pressure on.

*** UPDATE II ***

The “first hand knowledge” link has been updated.