I mentioned this in a previous post, but this article expands on the idea/opportunity for regional sports teams and the TCCA.
[October 31,2006] Toronto Sun- What this town needs are more people like Bob Deluce, who got Porter Airlines going despite all the naysayers
If Bob Deluce has his way, the Toronto Maple Leafs will soon be flying on his Porter planes.
And their fans too. Heck, if this guy has it his way, he'll have the Raptors, Argos and the Marlies on board as well.
"There have already been inquiries to see what we offer," he said after addressing the Economic Club of Toronto yesterday at the prestigious National Club on Bay St. "It's such a natural for sports teams."
Yesterday he announced Montreal as Porter Airlines' second destination point -- starting in December. They start bookings tomorrow, just one week after they began daily flights to Ottawa.
How about that, Mayor David Miller? What was that about stopping the Island Airport bridge? It seems they are ferrying in a new island airline era! You can't win them all.
Just think of how perfect this could be for the teams. For some trips they could leave from the island instead of Pearson and be in their opposing city a lot quicker.
'MORE ENERGY'
"They can be down there in eight minutes," he said. "Maybe they'd have a little more energy for the game."
It will be a "high end" trip on a 70-seat Q400 Bombardier turboprop plane -- with service provided by flight attendants wearing throwback uniforms and a smile. "We want to be one of the 100 best companies for people to work for," Deluce said, noting if you accomplish that, you end up with "happy customers."
Mark this date down folks. Feb. 27, 2007. The Maple Leafs will be at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Remember how good that game was Saturday? It would be fun to go to this one.
And with Montreal now on the Porter flying route this means fans can jump on a plane from the office downtown, fly for an hour, go to the game and fly back all in the same night -- all for $250. "We see this as a neat opportunity," said Deluce. "It's going to be great for sports and entertainment."
Just think of the packed planes of Yankee, Red Sox and Tiger fans coming this way one day. Deluce has big plans. Imagine that. Bringing people here to spend their money? That's part of my waterfront vision, folks. Capitalism.
Porter is growing. The city is benefitting. It's great. At least something exciting is happening in this town.
What a boring municipal election this year. This is no race. The candidates are trying to stir it up with no success and Miller sure as heck is not going to light a fuse.
The most exciting public figure in town right now is Bob Deluce. And he's not running. I met him for the first time yesterday and was thinking this guy sure has stamina. You'd have to go 24/7 at full tilt to beat him. Miller's not that crazy. In fact he's pretty smart.
Deluce is shaking things up and it's wonderful too see. Free enterprise at its best. Miller should try it. A positive business is the only way to turn this town's fortunes around.
Let the entrepreneurs fly. Just watch what they can create.
Marxism, or whatever the hell some of this people on council are trying to employ by dynamiting everything, is not going to work here. They don't even use it in Russia any more. Sickening whining about the federal and provincial governments not handing out tax money -- so they can waste it -- is not going to wash much longer.
BOON TO SPORTS FANS
Shut up and do something. And let others. People like Deluce, who doesn't seem to ever let the BS stop him. Nobody told him you can't fight city hall. Certainly nobody told him he could win. Don't look now but he is. First Ottawa, then Montreal and next New York, Chicago, Detroit, Thunder Bay and who knows where else.
And sports fans will be able to go to those cities to see the Toronto team compete. Those islanders better get their protest signs out. They are going to be busy because Porter Airlines seems to be on the move.
Some believe Miller may try to kill this fledgling business by trying to take control of the Toronto Port Authority from the feds. He should take a quiet and low-emission Porter Flight from the island if he goes up to the capital to negotiate this. It will cost him less time and the taxpayer less money.
Who knows, he may change his mind after the experience. If he does, the mayor loves the Leafs too and perhaps one day he'll take a trip down with the fans to cheer them on and such progress happening in our great city.
