After a lengthy search for a new ownership group, the Montreal Alouettes have finally found a suitor to take over the club.
Montreal businessman Pierre Karl Peladeau will be the new lead governor of the franchise after purchasing the team from the CFL earlier this week. Peladeau has an estimated net worth of $1.9B and has ties to a vast printing and media empire (Quebecor) where he made his fortunes.
The CFL entered into exclusive negotiations with the 61 year old last week, with a deal coming together in relatively short order afterwards.
“I’m proud to run a large company which has been involved in the Montreal business and the Montreal community. My father told me that when you receive so much, you need to give as much as possible,” said Peladeau. “The Montreal Alouettes is not only a business, it’s more than a business. It’s about community investment. It’s about being here, being strong and creating [something] Montrealers can be proud of.”
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie added “This is a special day for this incredible franchise, its fans across Quebec, and the city of Montreal. Pierre Karl and his passion for sports, entertainment and his community are remarkable. I know he will do a tremendous job in stewarding the Alouettes.”
The Alouettes journey has been far from a smooth one in recent years. The CFL assumed control of the franchise in 2019 from then owners Robert and Andrew Wetenhall and sold it to Sid Spiegel and Gary Stern in early 2020.
Unfortunately, Spiegel would pass away later that year without having ever seen his new club play a single game (owing to the cancellation of the 2020 season due to COVID), and his estate put the team back up for sale.
The league once again stepped in and helped with the day to day operations of the franchise until a new owner could be secured.
“Our goal in this process was to put the Alouettes on a path to long-term success, ideally under strong, local ownership,” said Ambrosie.
While terms of the sale have remained confidential, initial reports indicate that 10 groups emerged as “serious bidders” during negotiations. Although Peladeau is the president and CEO of Quebecor Inc, the deal is reportedly a private sale rather than an acquisition through the business itself.
As part of the sale, former Alouettes president Mario Cecchini’s contract will not be renewed. However it didn’t take long for the executive to find a new role as it was recently announced that he would take over as commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) on May 8th.
Cecchini will replace former commissioner Gilles Courteau who recently stepped down after 37 years at the head of the organization. Interim commissioner Martin Lavallee will continue in his role until Cecchini takes over.
The club’s acquisition by Peladeau could have wide ranging effects on the Montreal sports scene and CFL as a whole. Effects which could reverberate across multiple leagues for years to come.
At the moment the CFL has a broadcasting partnership with TSN & RDS through 2025. These Bell Media driven entities are direct competitors of Quebecor Inc, meaning the Montreal billionaire will have a vested interest in the outcome of the next broadcasting deal between the league and its media partners down the road.
Peladeau has also mentioned in passing that he’s been keeping an eye on the developments surrounding MLS franchise CF Montreal. The soccer club has publicly stated their intent to improve their current financial outlook, and could be in the market for new ownership in the coming years.
Should Peladeau become involved, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Alouettes and CF Montreal become partners in a bid for a new stadium in the city. The structure wouldn’t be unique, as the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto FC currently have a similar pact in place with regards to BMO Field under the stewardship of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).
While these scenarios represent future outcomes likely years down the road, the immediate impact of Peladeau’s purchase of the Alouettes will help stabilize one of the league’s marquee franchises for 2023 and beyond.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Samounet. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.