The independent Can-Am Association will shrink to six teams this season following decisions to suspend operations in Ottawa and Atlantic City.The independent Can-Am Association will shrink to six teams this season following decisions to suspend operations in Ottawa and Atlantic City.
A press conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern in Ottawa to announce the decision to suspend operations in Ottawa. It’s been a star-crossed market for the Can-Am Association: the owners of the Ottawa Rapidz lasted a single season before bailing out, saying they’d lost much more money than anticipated — leading them to sue the league.
UPDATE: Here’s the meat of the official press release from the Can-Am folks:
When a proposed sale of the Atlantic City club fell through last week, and it became too late to find new ownership for the 2009 season, the director of the Atlantic City Surf turned in its membership to the league. Because the Ottawa club did not have ownership and was being funded by league members, league directors made the reluctant decision that it was not in the financial interest of the league to fund two clubs.
“We are tremendously disappointed that the Can-Am League will not be in Ottawa and Atlantic City in 2009,” said league Commissioner Miles Wolff. “These are two cities that we believe can be strong members. However, without solid ownership and the financial commitment behind these teams, it is in the best interest of the league to go with six clubs.”