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#21

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by theaardvark - Today at 04:02:51 PM

Surveys have shown that ~5% of CFL fans will cancel their ST's or not go to games if the 2027 changes (100Y,GPs) go through.

Not a single survey of any sort has shown 5% new people will start buying ST or go to games because of the changes.

That's a major problem, and unless it just magically materializes, Johnston is harming the league, not helping it.  That's the reality of the here and now.

It is easy to be outraged and say you will cancel your ST if changes go through.

But, when push comes to shove, I'd say less than 1% will, if that.

As to adding STH, no idea if it will.  But the status quo isn't cutting it in most markets.  5 years of GC appearances is bolstering WPG ticket sales, that can turn on a dime. 

All we've had about the changes has been negative, from the fans and from the press.  The focus has been on the loud.  The fans that are loudest are the ones that "will give up their ST's" and hence, they are the ones the press is covering.

I don't think I've seen a single press report that represents the opinion that I believe.  And I think that there far more that think the way I do than will "give up their seats".

But that's the way media works, you cover the chicken littles, because that gets clicks.

You want retro football, with leather helmets and wooden "H" goalposts on the goal line, start a new league.

The CFL needs some better spin people for sure.  "This is not your Granpa's CFL, but he'd sure like it".  The game is faster, the field is more modern but retains the big EZ and width, and the players are better.

We need more interviews with players that have spent time in the NFL who say that the level of play in the CFL is far better than they expected.

Letting naysayers dominate the media will not save the league. 

Giving potential new fans a reason to watch will.  Challenging the naysayers to give it a look will.

Do we need to convert every Canadian NFL fan to being CFL junkies?  Not at all.  But we do need to find a way to get some of those eyes to give the CFL a look.

It is unfortunate that south asian countries do not have American Football (using that term to differentiate from Soccer) leagues, or games that have skills that translate to American Football.  That is the biggest untapped market for the CFL.  With all the New Canadians available to win over, getting a Global Player from Dehli might be a great marketing tool.  Remember the "Million Dollar Arm" movie? 

The NHL have made some inroads in addressing this large base.  I'm not suggesting that we could broadcast every game in Punjabi, or that the contributions of Chungh, Khan, Shanks, Bassi, Dhillon haven't been valuable among their communities, just that finding players talented enough to be taken in the Global draft would be a marketing coup.

#22

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by Sir Blue and Gold - Today at 03:27:09 PM

More playoff games also equals more expenses. More money paid to the players and the staff. Calling them playoff games means more money in playoff bonuses for the players. For half the teams it means more money paid for travel and hotels and per diems. Home teams will make more money. Away teams might even lose some.

In business, you look at the net, not the gross.

You can have the profit of more playoff games or you can have the profit of no more playoff games.

Would you like a line graph?  Asked another way, do you think the leadership group is so bad they would be proposing something that would result in a net loss?

#23

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by TBURGESS - Today at 03:02:22 PM

I'll keep this very simple for you: more playoff games equals more money for the teams, players, league and media partners.

I have no idea why you're bringing up pre-season games and trying to equate them to playoff games whether they be new or old. Only someone clever enough to stick a "never go full Johnson" on their profile would need this explained. The guy operates in business circles you don't even know exist and he'll probably bring in more corporate revenue in a year than you will in your entire life. But whatever. You're the expert. Happy?

More playoff games also equals more expenses. More money paid to the players and the staff. Calling them playoff games means more money in playoff bonuses for the players. For half the teams it means more money paid for travel and hotels and per diems. Home teams will make more money. Away teams might even lose some. 

In business, you look at the net, not the gross. 

#24

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Blue In BC - Today at 01:55:37 PM

The bogger question is why Brady isn't getting 100k plus in marketing money, he even has his own tv show

Report on CFL.CA says he's getting $30K MM. It also says he got a $120K signing bonus in December. That answers part of the question about how much SMS we had left from 2025 and didn't go over.

#25

Offside Forum / Re: NHL 2026 Playoffs

Last post by blue_gold_84 - Today at 01:15:19 PM

Flyers blow a 2-0 lead and lose in OT. Ducks looked pretty meh in game 1.

#26

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Pete - Today at 01:12:54 PM

The bigger question is why Brady isn't getting 100k plus in marketing money, he even has his own tv show

#27

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Jesse - Today at 10:30:23 AM

I don't know why you refuse to read and think about actual debate points, and you never try to refute any, resorting to sweeping hand-waving.  It's like arguing with my wife.

Feb 17, 2026, Zach Collaros did an autograph session at PAS.  Every other team would say that's worth $10k MMM.  We didn't.  Why not?  Let's apply reasonable use of the MMM like very other team and QB and put more money back in our SMS pocket to spend on improving the team.

Yeah, I've seen Zach do a few things this off season. Autographs, coaching schools/flag football, podcasts with the club.

#28

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by BlueInCgy - Today at 09:01:25 AM

The way of the future may be less crowds but a larger TV audience.  We may have to tailor the league more in that direction.  Just look at movie theatres now vs 25 years ago.  Used to have 250 seats and you'd go to shows with all filled.  Now the theatres have 50 seats tops, and usually most are empty.

Not disagreeing with you, especially if your team isn't within a 1 hour drive of your house.  I haven't been to a Stamps game in years even though I've watched nearly every one.  Ignoring ticket cost, the drive + parking add nearly 3 hours to the day for me.  And if gas sits at 2 bucks a litre this summer, stadiums attendance will suffer a lot because disposable income will shrink and out of towners won't make the trip.


The problem with the theory is that COVID proved this is a gate driven league, and the televised experience feeds off the live crowd.  Remember how exciting crowdless NHL games were.  CFL would be worse.  And if Stewjos goal is no one in the stands, spending piles of money on field mods make no sense.

#29

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / 2026 Rookie Training Camp

Last post by ModAdmin - Today at 07:31:26 AM

For those who plan to attend training camp this year (starting May 6th), please report your observations here.  Media reports on the Rookie Training camp will also be posted here.

#30

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 06:38:14 AM

There's also the aspect of covid ruining many people making them scared to go anywhere ever again.  Add into that the generational shift and the rise of everyone-has-autism-itis.  It may be that filling stands (or putting butts in seats anywhere) will never happen again until/unless the health of society turns around.

And even many "healthy/normal" people (especially middle/upper-middle class ones) all decked out their pads with massive TVs and hifi, and are happy saying "nah, I'll watch at home, it's better".

The way of the future may be less crowds but a larger TV audience.  We may have to tailor the league more in that direction.  Just look at movie theatres now vs 25 years ago.  Used to have 250 seats and you'd go to shows with all filled.  Now the theatres have 50 seats tops, and usually most are empty.

I am very involved with a club in town and post-covid we're still in "recovery mode" in terms of membership.  A ton of people are just plain anti-social or scared, and I'm in a club that is traditionally full of introverts to begin with.  But we're slowly recovering, and the CFL should be able to, too.