Halifax mayor says CFL team dream still possible

The dream of Halifax landing a Canadian Football League expansion franchise is once again alive.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage confirmed that he recently met with the CFL commissioner Mark Cohon in an effort to discuss a new stadium.

Savage said the economic climate has changed, and there's a strong desire in the city — not just for a football team, but a world class venue.

"We've never given up on the idea of a stadium. At the time that we looked at it, everything wasn't in play that we needed," he said.

"We didn't have the partners at the other level of government and I think we need private sector support as well. But I think that there's some appetite and we have to gauge that."

Savage said there's no formal plan to move forward.

In May, Cohon challenged people at a news conference in Moncton to help bring a team to the Maritimes. He said he doesn't buy the argument the Maritime region does not have a strong enough business base to support a team of its own.

There has been much debate about which Maritime city would have the most success hosting a CFL franchise.

Earlier this year, a sports marketing analyst said that Halifax has a better chance than Moncton at maintaining a successful franchise in the Maritimes.

The Montreal Alouettes and the Hamilton Tiger Cats will play a regular season game in Moncton on Sept. 21. The annual CFL game that Moncton hosts usually sells out.