'93 Chronology-Gold Miners Debut

 

'93 Chronology-CFL Preview

Event Date: July 7th, 1993

Event Description: CFL Preview

Source: Star Phoenix

'93 Chronology-Gold Mining

Event Date: July 7th, 1993

Event Description: Gold Miners Ready

Source: Ottawa Citizen

'93 Chronology-Yanks Are Coming!

Event Date: July 7th, 1993

Event Description: CFL International

Source: Ottawa Citizen

'93 Chronology-Travel Plans

Event Date: July 4th, 1993

Event Description: Smiths' Vegas Vision

Source: Sacramento Bee

'93 Chronology-Open For Bidding

Event Date: April 28th, 1993

Event Description: Disney Eyes Franchise

Source: Leader Post

'93 Chronology-Rush Job

Event Date: January 29h, 1993

Event Description: CFL Considers Orlando

Source: UPI

Despite the boundaries on a map, the Canadian Football League could be coming to Orlando this summer or the summer of 1994.

Sal Biondo of Washington, D.C., hopes to establish a CFL expansion team that would play its home games in the Florida Citrus Bowl, well south of the Canadian border. Biondo was planning to join the CFL in 1994, but CFL Commissioner Larry Smith has asked him to consider fielding a team by July.

The rush is because the San Antonio Texans, scheduled to join the league this year along with the Sacramento Gold Miners, have decided to wait until 1994. Biondo said he hoped to have a decision between 1993 and '94 by the middle of next week.

"We know there are a lot of problems down there (Orlando), partly caused by the last team (the Orlando Thunder of the World League)," said Biondo, 45, who is a real-estate developer who tried to own a team in the World League and the never-formed Professional Spring Football League. "We're looking at coming in for 1993, but I don't know if it's possible.

"If we come down, we want Orlando to know it will be for more than a year. This will be our new business, and Orlando will be our new home."

Biondo has talked to Orlando physicians Tom Winters and Roy Ambinder about becoming partners in the venture. Winters said he and Ambinder are interested in a 1994 start but not 1993.

The Florida Citrus Sports Association may be involved but not in an ownership capacity, said Bob Moore, FCSA's chairman. Said Moore: "As far as we (the FCSA) are concerned, we welcome any opportunity to bring more events to the Citrus Bowl."

Joanne Grant, director of the Orlando Centroplex, said she talked with Susan Biondo, Sal's wife, earlier this week. Said Grant: "We discussed marketing errors by the Thunder, and I told her I felt six months was not enough time to heal the wounds."

'93 Chronology-Expansion 101

Event Date: January 29th, 1993

Event Description: CFL Expansion Timeline

Source: Ottawa Citizen

'93 Chronology-Questions Remain

Event Date: January 29th, 1993

Event Description: CFL Team Drops Out

Source: Vancouver Sun