No, the departure of Gary Stern from the daily operations of the Montreal Alouettes does not mean that the football club is once again for sale.
That was confirmed Monday by Alouettes president Mario Cecchini after club CEO and administrator Stern announced he was stepping down from the team.
“Today, I have to share with you my new reality: I can no longer be responsible for the daily operations of the Montreal Alouettes,” Stern wrote in an open letter addressed to Alouettes fans. It was a difficult decision for my family and me to make, but it is an irrevocable decision. »
“I like this team. I love Montreal and our fans. As a lifelong sports fan, my role with the Alouettes was a dream come true. I loved every minute I spent (leading the team). »
For Cecchini, this is only an administrative change which in no way calls into question the involvement of the majority shareholders in the team.
“In fact, for the near future, it’s business as usual, Cecchini said in a telephone interview. What needs to be explained is that the shareholding structure does not change. What changes is that the majority shareholder will now represent the team to the league by appointing a new governor shortly. »
So there is no question of getting rid of the club acquired by Sid Spiegel and Gary Stern in January 2020.
“I spoke to them briefly (Monday) morning and will have a longer discussion with them (Tuesday). No one has told me about a sale or transaction to date, Cecchini said. What I have been told several times this morning is that nothing is going to change. It is the same majority shareholder who was kept informed of the activities. The only thing that changes is that I, instead of talking to Gary, I’m going to talk to someone else.”
Same story on the CFL side.
“I spoke with the representatives of the majority shareholders of the Alouettes, indicated the commissioner, Randy Ambrosie, on the social networks. I am happy to report that I have been assured that the activities of the club will continue in the same way. »
” [Gary Stern] keeps his 25%, that’s clear, added Cecchini. What they are saying is that the majority shareholder has decided to be in contact with the league and the Alouettes himself. »
The president does not believe that the daily life of the Alouettes will change.
“I think it’s going to be the status quo. We have always managed from here. In a pinch, perhaps by speaking directly with the majority shareholder, it will be easier, he notes. But what I felt this morning, and it was repeated to me several times, was that we didn’t want to change anything in the way it worked. […] The people who pay the bills are the same: they will continue to do so. »
Long-standing partnership
Stern and Spiegel, his father-in-law, bought the club in partnership in January 2020, but Spiegel was never able to see a match for his team.
The CFL canceled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Spiegel passed away in July 2020. His age was not disclosed at the time of his death, but he was said to be 89 at the time of his death. buy the Alouettes.
“My wife Julie and I are still in mourning for her father, who left a little over a year ago. Sid Spiegel was my longtime business partner and we shared the same dream of owning the Alouettes,” Stern wrote. He was also a close friend.”
“His death put our management plan for the Alouettes on hold. We were ready and wanted to invest in the long-term future of the Alouettes. Due to the season being canceled by COVID, Sid, who owned 75% of the club’s shares, unfortunately never had the opportunity to see his team play. I will always regret it.”
“From now on, decisions regarding the finances and operations of the club will rest with Sid’s estate,” Stern continued in his letter. The close relationship we had, which included our love of the sport and our ability to grow the team as we have grown our other joint ventures over the years, no longer exists.
“I wish the best to our team, our fans and our community. I remain one of the biggest supporters of the Alouettes and the CFL. But I will encourage them from the sidelines as I return to my role as a simple fan and retire from club activities. I thank everyone in Montreal. I will always cherish the memories created with you. »
American businessman Robert Wetenhall owned the Alouettes from 1997 until 2018, when the league took over the team’s operations while looking for a new owner.
At the start of the Wetenhall era, the Alouettes were a league powerhouse.
From 1999 to 2012, they finished first in the Eastern Division 10 times and appeared in the Gray Cup eight times, winning it three times.
But the Montreal club’s last Gray Cup with Wetenhall as owner dates back to 2010, and the club missed the playoffs in the last four years of its reign, compiling a record of 21-51 during that period.
It was reported that the Alouettes lost $12 million last season under Wetenhall, who died in September 2021, at the age of 86.
The Montreal team is having a rollercoaster 2022 season with a 4-6 record, second in the East Division. It’s the only team to defeat the defending champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers so far this season.
The Alouettes recently drew their biggest home crowd of the season, 21,024, when they came from behind to defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-28 thanks to a 48-yard field goal from David Côté .
The Alouettes host the Ottawa Redblacks (2-8) on Friday night.