Jeff Hunt
Encyclopedia
Jeff Hunt is a Canadian
businessman who currently owns the Ottawa 67's
hockey club of the Ontario Hockey League
. He started a carpet-cleaning firm called Canway. His firm was in the Profit Magazine 100 seven times in the 1990s.
One of the highlights of his ownership was in 1999, when he led the team's bid to host the 1999 Memorial Cup
tournament. Despite that fact that in 1997 the tournament had been hosted across the river in Hull, Quebec
, he was able to convince the Canadian Hockey League
to host the event in the city of Ottawa
and guarantee his team a berth in the tournament. The 67's did not disappoint, as every game of the series was sold out at the 10,550 seat Ottawa Civic Centre. The 67’s would go on to win the Memorial Cup.
On March 25, 2008, Hunt was awarded an expansion franchise. The team is expected to play at Frank Clair Stadium
if the stadium can be remodeled and had been conditionally awarded the right to host the 2014 Grey Cup
game. A Can $
7 million fee was reported to have been paid. After originally being announced to begin play in 2010, its start date was pushed back to 2012, then 2013 and now 2014 or 2015, effectively placing the franchise firmly in development hell
.
Hunt purchased the rights to the Ottawa Rough Riders
name from the Rough Riders' last owner, Horn Chen
. In order to install the Rough Riders name on his new team, Hunt would have to seek approval from the Saskatchewan Roughriders
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman who currently owns the Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...
hockey club of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. He started a carpet-cleaning firm called Canway. His firm was in the Profit Magazine 100 seven times in the 1990s.
OHL Hockey
In 1998, he purchased the Ottawa 67s and has seen his attendance quintuple. When Jeff Hunt purchased the 67’s, the teams previous owner had been spending just $25,000 a year on marketing costs. Hunt would spend that amount every week once he became its new owner. His goal with the 67s was to provide an NHL-calibre experience, from the game and the music to the concessions and promotions. His goal was to create a fan experience that appeals to the whole family and connect the team with the community.One of the highlights of his ownership was in 1999, when he led the team's bid to host the 1999 Memorial Cup
1999 Memorial Cup
The 1999 MasterCard Memorial Cup took place from May 15–23 at the Ottawa Civic Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. Participating teams were the host Ottawa 67's, the Belleville Bulls, winners of the Ontario Hockey League, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, winners of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the...
tournament. Despite that fact that in 1997 the tournament had been hosted across the river in Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
, he was able to convince the Canadian Hockey League
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
to host the event in the city of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and guarantee his team a berth in the tournament. The 67's did not disappoint, as every game of the series was sold out at the 10,550 seat Ottawa Civic Centre. The 67’s would go on to win the Memorial Cup.
CFL Football
Jeff Hunt is a longtime fan of CFL football, he was a Rough Rider season ticket holder and has attended eight Grey Cups. In 2006, Jeff Hunt was part of the Golden Gate Capital group that was regarded as the front-runner among three bids to land a CFL expansion franchise for Ottawa. But The group withdrew after a prominent group member was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. In September 2007, Hunt confirmed that he was once again heading up a group of local investors to talk to the CFL about bringing the Canadian Football League back to Ottawa. Hunt wanted to take over Lansdowne Park, home of Frank Clair Stadium, and operate football, hockey and sports entertainment out of it. His objective was to renovate the stadium itself, and add luxury suites and state-of-the-art facilities.On March 25, 2008, Hunt was awarded an expansion franchise. The team is expected to play at Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:...
if the stadium can be remodeled and had been conditionally awarded the right to host the 2014 Grey Cup
102nd Grey Cup
The 102nd Grey Cup for Canadian football will be played to decide the champion for the 2014 CFL season. If it follows recent history of playing the fourth Sunday of November, it will be played on November 23, 2014.-Host city:...
game. A Can $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
7 million fee was reported to have been paid. After originally being announced to begin play in 2010, its start date was pushed back to 2012, then 2013 and now 2014 or 2015, effectively placing the franchise firmly in development hell
Development hell
In the jargon of the media-industry, "development hell" is a period during which a film or other project is trapped in development...
.
Hunt purchased the rights to the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
name from the Rough Riders' last owner, Horn Chen
Horn Chen
Horn Chen is a Chicago-based businessman and minor league sports entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Central Hockey League, which began to play in 1992...
. In order to install the Rough Riders name on his new team, Hunt would have to seek approval from the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
.