Paul Godfrey, former municipal politician and eminence grise about city hall and now sports businessman, continues to yearn for a bigger stadium stadium.
Years ago, as Metro Toronto Chair, Godfrey had an idea for a stadium that would be funded entirely with private funds and would cost $75 million. That stadium grew into what used to be called the SkyDome – a huge sinkhole of public funding that cost about $600 million. After some financial flips, the SkyDome was bought by Rogers Communications recently for $25 million.
Wotta deal! All those public dollars into a building bought at bargain basement prices by a private businessman.
Gordfrey presides over the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team that is a major tenant of the overbloated stadium and he zealously protects the stadium from all threats. A couple of years ago, Godfrey blocked plans for a seniors’ apartment building across the street from the SkyDome because he was worried that the old dears might be a security threat.
Godfrey has always wanted a bigger stadium for an American football franchise. He had hoped that Toronto’s last failed Olympic bid would deliver the tax dollars to fund a new sports stadium.
A warning to municipal, provincial and federal politicians: If you are approached by Godfrey and hear the words football stadium, just scream no and run in the opposite direction.
- Michael Shapcott
