Maritimes can support a pro sports team, report says

The Maritimes could play host to a new professional sports team based on the region's population and availability of stadiums, according to a new report by the Conference Board of Canada.

The Conference Board of Canada has released areport on professional sports teamsin the country that outlines what markets could support new sports franchises.

The report found that economic and demographic trends show Canada could support three new National Hockey League teams, the return of Major League Baseball in Montreal and the National Basketball Association to Vancouver and as many as three new major league soccer teams.

Glen Hodgson, the chief economist of the Conference Board, said the Maritimes couldsupport a professional sports team, based on population and stadiums.

"So we're thinking cities like Atlantic Canada, whether it's Halifax, or there's a little stadium in Moncton, where the CFL's hosted a game every year that seats about 20,000 people, so there's a candidate," Hodgson said.

Moncton has hosted two regular season Canadian Football League games in recent years at the new stadium at the University of Moncton.

The CFL has already announced it willskip a game in 2012as the league plans celebrations around the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup.

However, the league has left the door open to returning to Moncton in future years.

The cityhosted theIAAF World Junior Track and Field Championshipsin 2010.

Moncton will also be one of the Canadian host cities ofthe2015 FIFA Womens World Cup.A friendly matchbetween Canada and China was held in the city in May.

Meanwhile,Halifax has put off plansto build a new stadium.

In March, Halifax regional council voted to continue discussions with the federal government on whether a future stadium or other sports arena could be located in the city.