| Au Revoir Montreal!! Rockets to Land in Drummondville!!
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| (CBL Newswire) - By Heywood Jablomi of the Associated Press |
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After months of speculation Montreal Rockets owner and GM Shane Hoopfer announced today that his team will be leaving Montreal and move north east to Drummondville at the end of the 2007 CBL season. Also the team has announced the team name and logo will be changed as the franchise will be called the Drummondville Doughboys, and will play in the newly built Pillsbury Park in downtown Drummondville.
When asked for reasons why the team would be relocating Hoopfer responded with "There are many reasons for the move, first off we get a new state of the art stadium which is being dubbed The Oven in the local media" he continued "We recieved no support from the Local government for funding to make sorely needed upgrades to the Stade de Rocket Richard" but apparently that was not the only sticking point between the Rockets and the Montreal city council. "Playing in Montreal is a nightmare as we are taxed up the arse by the city, and Gerald Tremblay (Mayor of Montreal) was absolutely no help at all at the negotiating table. All he would do is whine about how the Expos haven't left so why would you"
And it appears that the Mayor of Drummondville, Francine Ruest-Jutras was more than happy to 'play ball' the Premier had the following comment "As a great fan of the CBL it is my privalige to announce that the great city of Drummondville will be getting their first CBL team starting in 2008. Speaking for the citizens of Drummondville we could not be any happier" Also the Doughboys will not be locally taxed! the Mayor explained that "The selling points to get Mr. Hoopfer to move the team to Drummondville was a pre bought season ticket package of 26000 already, also the beautiful new facility Pillsbury Park which will seat in the neighborhood of 60000. And we topped of the deal by agreeing that the Doughboys franchise would not be taxed locally as it will be generating millions of dollars into the economy and create approximately 1500-3000 new jobs in the upcoming year"
When asked if he had any regrets of purchasing the Rockets with the intention of moving the team Hoopfer responded "I do feel bad for the fans in Montreal that truly did support the team but in the end this is purely a business decision and the fans of Drummondville will be pleased with the product we bring to the field as I feel we are one of the best up and coming franchises in the CBL" Hoopfer also added the following comment directed to Mr. Tremblay and the Montreal city council "We did our best to try and work out a deal with you to stay in Montreal, but you would not support us so in closing Mange Mondou Mr. Tremblay!!!!"
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