CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[BlueInCgy]

Speculation is just that right now, there's all kinds of rumours kicking around.

Personally not a fan of going to 4 downs nor interested in NFL field configurations.  I find 4 down football less entertaining.

But we have a gate problem across the league so I'm guessing the decision is weighted against the survival of the league.

[Jesse]

I love the NFL.

But it already exists. There's no need to make our league more like it.

The issues that surround our league, the coaching cap, limits on hours that players can practice, limits on padded practices, even the simple schemes, it's all monetary issues. Limits that a smaller league has to work within.

Changing the rules on the field doesn't help any of the things people have a problem with. It certainly doesn't bring in new viewers.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

There isn't really anyone thinking they'll move away from three downs next year. There's lots of rumours and 'know a guys', but that one seems pretty clearly not one that's out there. Who knows.

[The Zipp]

or they could be rope a doping all of us and it will be a partnership with youtube to show the games.  they twist this as "changes to the game"...

lots of people talking about the cfl this afternoon and evening.  job done

[Sir Blue and Gold]

or they could be rope a doping all of us and it will be a partnership with youtube to show the games.  they twist this as "changes to the game"...

lots of people talking about the cfl this afternoon and evening.  job done

Could be but the TSN deal runs though 2026 so timing is odd for that.

[theaardvark]

Well, we've seen how well non-NFL 4 down teams draw...

If you want to improve revenue streams, making the CFL "just another league" makes no sense.

Marketing the differences makes far more sense.

We all know our game is better, regardless the talent.

Market that the last three minutes are the most exciting minutes in sport, no lead is safe, no taking a knee.

Market the "no fair catch", an actual exciting kicking game.

Market the motion, the waggle, 12 players.

Market the field, get a couple of the biggest arms in the NFL and let them try a sideline to sideline pass.

There is so much to celebrate in the CFL game, selling out by capitulating to NFL/NCAA rules will, in my opinion, lose diehard CFL fans without any guarantee of picking up any fans.

Gate problems can be solved with better marketing to local markets.  Marketing is not easy, but worth every dollar spent.  Hiring some additional promoters at the league office level to get butts in seats would be a great investment of "equalization" money instead of it being a handout.

[BlueInCgy]

I'd contend that a 70 cent Canadian dollar is a fairly severe monetary challenge, especially with ELCs as a 70K ELC contract is less than 50K USD, and no one goes to college to make 50K a year.

Am I scared?  No. If I don't like the changes I'll simply stop watching.  And that should be the biggest concern here.  If the new changes don't bring in new fans and loses loyal fan base, the death of the league won't be far behind.

[BlueInCgy]

Well, we've seen how well non-NFL 4 down teams draw...

If you want to improve revenue streams, making the CFL "just another league" makes no sense.

Marketing the differences makes far more sense.

We all know our game is better, regardless the talent.

Market that the last three minutes are the most exciting minutes in sport, no lead is safe, no taking a knee.

Market the "no fair catch", an actual exciting kicking game.

Market the motion, the waggle, 12 players.

Market the field, get a couple of the biggest arms in the NFL and let them try a sideline to sideline pass.

There is so much to celebrate in the CFL game, selling out by capitulating to NFL/NCAA rules will, in my opinion, lose diehard CFL fans without any guarantee of picking up any fans.

Gate problems can be solved with better marketing to local markets.  Marketing is not easy, but worth every dollar spent.  Hiring some additional promoters at the league office level to get butts in seats would be a great investment of "equalization" money instead of it being a handout.

Isn't all of the above the Our Balls Are Bigger campaign?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Two things, that's what they've been doing going back to the 1990s "our balls are bigger" campaign. It hasn't worked.

The second is a real tide change, or understanding in marketing that distinctiveness is more important than differentiation which is straight out of 90s/early 2000 textbooks.

[theaardvark]

I'd contend that a 70 cent Canadian dollar is a fairly severe monetary challenge, especially with ELCs as a 70K ELC contract is less than 50K USD, and no one goes to college to make 50K a year.

Am I scared?  No. If I don't like the changes I'll simply stop watching.  And that should be the biggest concern here.  If the new changes don't bring in new fans and loses loyal fan base, the death of the league won't be far behind.

How many go to college and never play one down for money?  There are literally thousands of NCAA grads who would love to play for money, even $50k.  Many play semi-pro ball for a fraction of that.

No one comes to the CFL to make $50k/yr for an extended period.  Its a chance to play pro ball, work towards a bigger paycheck in Canada, or even a look from the NFL.

I share your concern of losing the loyal fans the CFL has by selling out.

[theaardvark]

Isn't all of the above the Our Balls Are Bigger campaign?

One of the best campaigns of all time, if only it were still the case, I'd pick that back up in an instant.  You have to love the single entendre.

"Our receivers can go deeper"?

"Longer, wider, more to play with"?

"You want motion?  Check out our backfield!"

"Can you count to 12?"

There are so many ways to market to the US.

For Canadian markets, emphasize the "Uniquely Canadian" aspect. Find aspects that we can market to new Canadians, and other things to recapture lost fans. 

The league office needs to take the lead, improve the resources the teams have, update the technology, get Hamilton on board...

[The Zipp]

One of the best campaigns of all time, if only it were still the case, I'd pick that back up in an instant.  You have to love the single entendre.

"Our receivers can go deeper"?

"Longer, wider, more to play with"?

"You want motion?  Check out our backfield!"

"Can you count to 12?"

There are so many ways to market to the US.

For Canadian markets, emphasize the "Uniquely Canadian" aspect. Find aspects that we can market to new Canadians, and other things to recapture lost fans. 

The league office needs to take the lead, improve the resources the teams have, update the technology, get Hamilton on board...

you mean the "radically canadian" campaign?

[BlueInCgy]

How many go to college and never play one down for money?  There are literally thousands of NCAA grads who would love to play for money, even $50k.  Many play semi-pro ball for a fraction of that.

No one comes to the CFL to make $50k/yr for an extended period.  Its a chance to play pro ball, work towards a bigger paycheck in Canada, or even a look from the NFL.

I share your concern of losing the loyal fans the CFL has by selling out.

Yeah but it's a markedly different decision when you move to a different country for it.  Exchange rate currency risks, higher travel costs to get home to visit family, etc.  it's fairly common to lose money going on the road internationally, I know, I've down it for years and I make well more than most CFL players.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

@nielsonTSN1260
The CFL will be stealing the spotlight in  Canadian sports tomorrow.

[Blue In BC]

I hope they don't want to make the CFL some sort of USFL crap by changing everything.