Well, it’s actually “High 4 p.m“, but that lacks a certain dramatic flair.
The city has delivered an ultimatum to the Ottawa Lynx.
On Tuesday, the city’s legal team sent a two-page letter to the ball club’s legal firm instructing them that if they don’t inform the city of their intention to play baseball in Ottawa for the 2008 season by 4 p.m. today, they will “assume that the Ottawa Lynx intend to breach its obligations to the city.”
But, according to CTV (via CFRA):
The city sent a legal request to the Lynx demanding an answer, adding no response will be treated as breach of contract.
It all begs the question: Why does the City need to know if the Lynx intend to breach the contract? This should become clearer soon, but for now it’s worthwhile to note that this urgent “need to know” is not being driven by City council - unless a meeting has been held since Tuesday of this week when some councillors met with Miles Wolff. No, I think this demand letter came from somewhere or someone else.
And if the City won’t consider an admission that they won’t play in 2008 as a “breach of contract” - what difference does it make? Because according to the Mayor’s office they can’t negotiate with any party until the Lynx breach the contract. So, if they are to be taken at their word, I guess they aren’t negotiating a deal with anyone behind closed doors right now.
But getting back to the question, my growing belief is that what the City ultimately wants is to take back control of the Stadium and throw out a “request for proposal” (RFP). Which is what they will have to do if the current “operating agreement” (OA) ceases to exist - because once the “operating agreement” (OA) is gone - it’s gone. The current OA extends to 2009, with a five year option. But no one will be able to step in and assume an OA which is no longer in force. That includes the Ottawa Stadium Group - unless the City decides it wants to “sole source” a solution and negotiate a new OA with a single group, rather than issuing an RFP. Given how things have been handled with Lansdowne Park recently, this seems unlikely - if they did sole source Lynx Stadium to Ottawa Stadium Group without entertaining other bids, Council will have created a difficult precedent for itself. Councillors Doucet and Hume might as well hand over Lansdowne Park to Minto and save their breath if they permit certain forces at City Hall to negotiate a new deal for Coventry Road without issuing an RFP.
And why won’t the Lynx just say what everyone thinks they already know? The park in Allentown/Lehigh Valley is not yet complete. Will it be finished in time? Probably, hell - it’s likely. But it’s not done yet. The sale of the team has not gone through yet. Will it? I think so, but the fact of the matter is no one has turned over the keys yet. It would be unwise in these circumstances for Mr. Pecor to give up Lynx Stadium, because he may yet need it.
So what’s really on the agenda down at City Hall? I suppose Miles could send a letter, demanding to know by 4 p.m. today what they plan on doing with Lynx Stadium if the team is no longer being considered as the prospective tenant.
But here’s the most interesting question: To whom would he send his letter?
