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Professional football

A.L. Williams to Purchase CFL Franchise

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A.L. Williams, one of the wealthiest men in North America, has made a $100,000 deposit towards purchasing a Canadian Football League (CFL) franchise for either San Antonio or Orlando. Williams, who made hundreds of millions operating a massive insurance organization, is poised to become the owner of a CFL franchise that would be ready to field a team for the 1995 season. The franchise would be located in San Antonio, with a contingency plan for Orlando if a stadium lease cannot be arranged.

Key Takeaways:

  • A.L. Williams, one of the wealthiest men in North America, has made a $100,000 deposit towards purchasing a CFL franchise.
  • The franchise would be located in San Antonio, with a contingency plan for Orlando if a stadium lease cannot be arranged.
  • Williams has the same level of financial credentials as Fred Smith, the wealthiest owner in CFL history, who purchased an expansion franchise for Memphis last November.
  • Williams has recently made an unsuccessful pitch to purchase the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • Larry Smith, the CFL commissioner, has met with Williams several times in recent weeks, and a deal has all but been officially completed.
  • Tom Herring, owner of Tony Roma Restaurants, was negotiating with Larry Smith about a CFL franchise for San Antonio but was dropped due to his smaller bankroll.
  • Mike Riley, a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber head coach, has been approached by Williams and Smith about the possibility of running the new franchise, but has indicated he is not interested.
  • Forrest Gregg, who spent this past season as the head coach of the CFL's Shreveport Pirates, is a candidate to become the new head coach of the NFL's Houston Oilers.

Statistics:

  • $100,000: The amount A.L. Williams has deposited towards purchasing a CFL franchise.
  • Hundreds of millions: The amount of money Williams has made operating a massive insurance organization.
  • 1995: The target season for the new franchise to be ready to field a team.
  • San Antonio and Orlando: The two potential locations for the new franchise, with a contingency plan for Orlando if a stadium lease cannot be arranged.

Sources:

  • The Globe and Mail
  • CFL commissioner Larry Smith
  • A CFL owner
  • Tom Herring
  • Mike Riley
  • Forrest Gregg

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