Brad Watters

{{Short description|Canadian sports executive}} {{Use American English|date=February 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} '''Brad Watters''' (born 1971) is a sports executive who was president of the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto Rock. He ran Ottawa Rebel and the Ottawa Renegades.<ref name=prime>[http://www.primetimesport.ca/brad-watters/ Brad Watters] from PrimeTimeSport.ca, retrieved April 17, 2014</ref>

==Biography== He grew up in Leaside, Toronto, studied at Huron University College part of the University of Western Ontario and is the son of Bill Watters.<ref name=star>[https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2007/11/17/watters_the_younger_chip_off_ol_wilburs_block.html Watters the Younger chip off ol' Wilbur's block] from ''Toronto Star'' retrieved April 17, 2014</ref>

He bought the Ontario Raiders in 1999 and moved them to Toronto where they became Toronto Rock.<ref>[http://www.torontorock.com/article/toronto-rock-announce-new-owner-and-general-manager Toronto Rock announce new owner and general manager] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419082522/http://www.torontorock.com/article/toronto-rock-announce-new-owner-and-general-manager |date=April 19, 2014 }} from Toronto Rock retrieved April 17, 2014</ref> From 2001 to 2003, Brad Watters owned the Ottawa Rebel National Lacrosse League franchise. The team became inactive after the 2003 season and was later purchased by Bruce Urban and moved to Edmonton, Alberta, becoming the Edmonton Rush. Watters also established the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League in 2001.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cfl-returns-to-ottawa-1.256083 CFL returns to Ottawa] from ''CBC'' retrieved October 10, 2001</ref> Watters sold the team to Bernard Glieberman in 2005.<ref>[http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/10/10/ottawa-redblacks-president-jeff-hunt-speaks-to-former-ottawa-renegades-boss-brad-watters Ottawa RedBlacks president Jeff Hunt speaks to former Ottawa Renegades boss Brad Watters] from ''Ottawa Sun'' retrieved April 17, 2014</ref> The team suspended operations the following year, before folding in 2008.

Throughout his time in sports management he was in charge of his own company, BJW Sports Inc.<ref name=prime/> From 2007, he was joint team president of the Toronto Argonauts with Pinball Clemons. In 2009, he was succeeded by Bob Nicholson who was previously team president of the Argonauts from 1995 to 1999. He went on to return as president and chief executive officer of Toronto Rock National Lacrosse League team.<ref> He has three children, Kaitlyn, Lauryn and Mark, the youngest of which has gone on to play division one lacrosse at St. Joseph's college. [http://www.ilindoor.com/2008/11/13/brad-watters-back-with-the-rock-as-president-and-ceo/ Brad Watters back with the Rock as President and CEO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013902/http://www.ilindoor.com/2008/11/13/brad-watters-back-with-the-rock-as-president-and-ceo/ |date=April 19, 2014 }} from ILIndoor.com retrieved April 17, 2014</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watters, Brad}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:University of Western Ontario alumni Category:Businesspeople from Toronto Category:Toronto Argonauts team presidents Category:Canadian Football League executives