LARRY, THE CABLE GUY

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EDMONTON — From the sounds of Larry Thompson’s voice, he seems like the kind of gentleman a breakfast visit, budgeted for an hour, would be welcomingly exceeded. I think he would graciously accept the kindness of the morning wait staff dutifully filling his empty coffee cup. But perhaps his enthusiastic self probably, would, let the conversation roll on, and on and on: cold coffee, anyone? Thompson would settle back comfortably in his chair, spinning tales of growing up in Gibbons, just a — fresh — cup of coffee northeast of Edmonton, and going to his first Eskimo game as a 12-year-old. Then, he would swing over to his successful business career: a construction company, first in Barrhead, before migrating south to Spruce Grove, which, according to glasdoor.com had revenues of well over $100 million After selling his company, he was given the resources to kick off his football dream — not of catching a Grey Cup winning touch

Thompson was introduced as the new owner of the Edmonton Elks. But, really, it was close to a papal conclave. While he wasn’t introduced as the savior as the savior — although he would probably, very quickly, dismiss such a compliment — he, most certainly is. Let’s call a spade, here: without Thompson’s investment, the Elks were unceremoniously headed to extinction. To be fair, there were a total of 21 groups expressing interest in the Elk’s ownership, clearly squashing notions of lack of interest in the Elks. Yet, Thompson was, alas, the chosen one. A striking nugget for me? Interim CEO and president Rick LaLachuer mentioned to reporters Thursday that he first started talking to Thompson shortly after he came to Edmonton about a year ago to assume the interim role. So inquiring minds need to ask: did the special committee struck by the Elks board of directors to examine viability of private ownership over being community-owned, if, Thompson was fast tracked … and, we steadfastly applaud this.

Private ownership. That term seems to be engulfing the C F L, alluding all but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders, who — bless their following — remain community owned. It has a welcoming ring to it, doesn’t it? Community-owned. That business model worked very well. But. Times, Bob Dylan, has been telling us for decades, are changing. They still are. The population explosion is perhaps a factor, too. With more people, and hence more disposable incomes potentially become available… add in costs of doing business, going higher than the end zone uprights … and — not taking anything away from the community-owned team, perhaps a privately owned team is taken a little more seriously.

I invite you, at your free will, of course, to a few hundred words ago, where I shared how Thompson’s age when he attended his first C F L game where he had, not one. But two dates. The Edmonton Eskimos, and they C F L. 
He fell in love with both of them. And you could hear the mad passion in his voice of his heart-throbbing moment of that first kiss. Or, in this affair, two kisses — which in the sweetest unromantic gesture — encourages one another. That image turns 52 this year. I would like to respectfully submit Thompson to remember how he felt, and how that feeling grew, and grew. And grew. Now, think of that as a new owner, in a market that needs new blood. New fans. The mission, then, is to cleverly come up with ways to attract young fans with today’s thinking and technology. There is, after all, an abundance of both. I said it before and I’ll say it again: create a new state-of-the-art C F L video game. That’s how you get young people engaged — and that maybe Thompson’s key word in this new building project.

Given Edmonton’s pedigree of business people, the 21 other applications, and, really, that’s what they were. Applications to be Elks owner, are to be recognized Clearly, there is no winner here. Yet, Thompson is the perfect owner. His remarks to the media assembled on Commonwealth Stadium field were a minute and thirteen seconds. That, in itself, speaks volumes. Thompson’s ownership isn’t about him. Not at all. Thompson wasn’t in an exact tailor-made suit with the finest material for Thursday's announcement. A burgundy sports jacket, colorful shirt and jeans are his style.He’s a fan, first who wants to, as he said, bring back the winning ways.

Larry Thompson can – and will – make a direct impact.