CFL financial status

[Blue In BC]

On Wednesday, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said the league needs to find ways to drive revenue. "Seven of nine teams did not make money last year. That's not a sustainable business model," said Johnston.

The two profitable teams, Johnston said, are the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Prairie rivals the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Johnston, who was appointed to the league's top job in April, said a major part of getting more people in the seats is fostering early love for the game among potential new fan and to grow the fandom around the sport.

That's not good news and it contradicts the SMS increase and revenue sharing posted for this season.

[bomb squad]

On Wednesday, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said the league needs to find ways to drive revenue. "Seven of nine teams did not make money last year. That's not a sustainable business model," said Johnston.

The two profitable teams, Johnston said, are the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Prairie rivals the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Johnston, who was appointed to the league's top job in April, said a major part of getting more people in the seats is fostering early love for the game among potential new fan and to grow the fandom around the sport.

That's not good news and it contradicts the SMS increase and revenue sharing posted for this season.

What exactly is being contradicted? Was there a different claim made with respect to team profits?

[Blue In BC]

What exactly is being contradicted? Was there a different claim made with respect to team profits?

How do you get an increase in overall revenue when 7 teams are not making a profit. Did all of the total revenue only come from the Bombers and Riders?

If 7 teams are losing money what sense does it make to increase the SMS by $450K or whatever that amount was mentioned.

I don't remember reading about that when new SMS was mentioned and that seems like a contradiction to me.

[Jesse]

I was wondering about this too. A couple possibilities:

1. The profits from the Bombers and Riders exceed the loses from the other teams. Most could be breaking even or thereabouts.

2. The teams themselves lost money, but this is before league revenue from the TV deals and any other league revenue is added to the equation.

[Stats Junkie]

In its simplest form

Profit = Revenues - Expenditures

Revenues were up significantly in 2024 and SMS is tied to the revenue side of the ledger.

[Blue In BC]

In its simplest form

Profit = Revenues - Expenditures

Revenues were up significantly in 2024 and SMS is tied to the revenue side of the ledger.

IIRC, Bombers recorded a $7M+ profit and the Riders about $2.1M. We don't know how much the other 7 teams lost combined. We only know they didn't record profits. Also don't know what those numbers looked like in 2023.

[The Zipp]

cfl and cfl teams are going to have to get into schools in a big way to get the younger fans engaged. maybe brand all school supplies and give them out...everyone gets an argos pencil case??

when the commish is talking about things being "unsustainable" that isn't great.

just partner with the NFL in some way already

[gobombersgo]

cfl and cfl teams are going to have to get into schools in a big way to get the younger fans engaged. maybe brand all school supplies and give them out...everyone gets an argos pencil case??

when the commish is talking about things being "unsustainable" that isn't great.

just partner with the NFL in some way already

I remember when I was a kid and the Bombers in partnership with the police came out with football cards.

I eagerly collected the whole set and I think it was part of what got me interested in the team.

[Blue In BC]

cfl and cfl teams are going to have to get into schools in a big way to get the younger fans engaged. maybe brand all school supplies and give them out...everyone gets an argos pencil case??

when the commish is talking about things being "unsustainable" that isn't great.

just partner with the NFL in some way already

I'm not in favour of an NFL partnership but someone would have to explain how that would work and improve our lot. I wonder how they know about the teams that are privately owned profitability? Not that it matters but did any team going in 2023 have to pay for coaches fired that reflected in a better position in 2024?

[TecnoGenius]

just partner with the NFL in some way already

Why would the NFL do that?  They're the big dog and anything we beg of them will cost major coin, thus defeating the purpose.

[TecnoGenius]

I've always yelled we need to get kids out to games.  Cheaper kids STs everywhere except premium sections.  I noticed WFC had an ad up on the scoreboard about a new kids pricing scheme, but I'll bet it still doesn't include inside-the-30s tickets.  Dad won't give up great 55YL seats just to get cheaper tickets for the tots.

Every stadium needs to let fans on the field post-game.  Every. Single. One.  Costs virtually nothing except extending staff hours by 30 mins or so.

However, all of the kid ideas will only pay off 15-20 years down the road.  They will not pay off to any significant extent immediately.  CFL also needs ideas to get more butts in seats in the short term.

[Jesse]

I've always yelled we need to get kids out to games.  Cheaper kids STs everywhere except premium sections.  I noticed WFC had an ad up on the scoreboard about a new kids pricing scheme, but I'll bet it still doesn't include inside-the-30s tickets.  Dad won't give up great 55YL seats just to get cheaper tickets for the tots.

Every stadium needs to let fans on the field post-game.  Every. Single. One.  Costs virtually nothing except extending staff hours by 30 mins or so.

However, all of the kid ideas will only pay off 15-20 years down the road.  They will not pay off to any significant extent immediately.  CFL also needs ideas to get more butts in seats in the short term.

If the point is to get kids to the game, I don't know if extending the night past midnight really helps with that. I took my daughter last game and we bolted as soon as the clock clicked down. She still didn't get to bed until around 11:30.

[TecnoGenius]

If the point is to get kids to the game, I don't know if extending the night past midnight really helps with that.

Then you haven't stayed after the game then!  Tons of kids, and tons of teens.  More families than lone adults.  Check out the line to meet Buzz & Boomer!  Ya, the youngest fans aren't too numerous on 7:30 KO nights, but lots of 8 & up.

It's not as late as you think, either.  It takes 10-15 mins after final whistle before you can actually get on the field.  Then maybe 25-30 mins before they kick everyone out.

So in reality you could take an extra 30 mins after final whistle to make the kids happy.  That's the time you'd be sitting not moving in traffic anyhow.  It really isn't anything, especially on a weekend.

Games are usually 3 hrs without OT, so that means you are on the field until 11pm at worst.  Then no traffic after that.

Try the field next time and you'll be shocked how much your kid(s) love it.