CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[Waffler]

"Closer to the action"

The CFL gold standard has always been seats between the goal lines. That how our stadium was made. I don't know how you can argue it's better now with a smaller field. If we had this knowledge before we surely would have built the stadium differently. Higher on the sides and in between the 30 yard lines. That would be more ideal for the short field or basketball court as I call it.

I use Seattle and Denver as examples in pic.

Anyway, I find my CFL interest already starting to wane. Knowing what is coming already killed it. The only thing that would save it is if they scrap the field changes.

[theaardvark]

The CFL gold standard has always been seats between the goal lines. That how our stadium was made. I don't know how you can argue it's better now with a smaller field. If we had this knowledge before we surely would have built the stadium differently. Higher on the sides and in between the 30 yard lines. That would be more ideal for the short field or basketball court as I call it.

I use Seattle and Denver as examples in pic.

Anyway, I find my CFL interest already starting to wane. Knowing what is coming already killed it. The only thing that would save it is if they scrap the field changes.

If changing the size of the field is that big a factor for you, and your interest in the exciting rules and play of the CFL game is waning because the goal posts are moving out of the way and the 55 comes off the field, we're sorry to lose you. 

Not saying you weren't a prototypical CFL fan before and got broken by the propaganda that shrinking the field is "Americanization" of the game, but I'm sure that after the cosmetic field changes are made, and the on field product actually gets better, you will be back wholeheartedly and forget the heartbreak the changes were supposedly going to cause.

[Waffler]

Duke Ellingson "feeling unsettled" on rule changes.

https://3downnation.com/2025/10/08/duke-ellingson-incoming-cfl-rule-changes-questionable-at-best/

[wpg#1]

If changing the size of the field is that big a factor for you, and your interest in the exciting rules and play of the CFL game is waning because the goal posts are moving out of the way and the 55 comes off the field, we're sorry to lose you. 

Not saying you weren't a prototypical CFL fan before and got broken by the propaganda that shrinking the field is "Americanization" of the game, but I'm sure that after the cosmetic field changes are made, and the on field product actually gets better, you will be back wholeheartedly and forget the heartbreak the changes were supposedly going to cause.

You make this sound like this is JUST NOTHING. Why, if it's nothing, is there such an uproar ? I'll say it once more .. if the game was already exciting, why make these changes. To me, it's to make it look more NFL.
It's not going to sell more tickets and it's not going to make it more exciting. It's already more exciting than the NFL !
I've been a CFL fan my whole life and supported it my whole life. I don't like these changes

[theaardvark]

You make this sound like this is JUST NOTHING. Why, if it's nothing, is there such an uproar ? I'll say it once more .. if the game was already exciting, why make these changes. To me, it's to make it look more NFL.
It's not going to sell more tickets and it's not going to make it more exciting. It's already more exciting than the NFL !
I've been a CFL fan my whole life and supported it my whole life. I don't like these changes

To make it look more NFL, you narrow the field first.  If "Americanizing" is the goal, 65 yard wide 15 yard deep EZ are not "NFL like".

Getting the fields standardized and making them compatible with venues all over the world as far as general length and FG position makes sense, though.  And actually fitting into all 9 CFL stadiums as well.  No chopped corners or transitions / short EZ's.

It takes 10 yards off drives from your side of the 50, it makes FG's 15 yards harder to reach, both of which should actually drive up the number of TD's.

The only downside is the look and taking the 129 yd missed FG return out of the game.  But now we have the pin inside the EZ punt as a special ST play.  And more TD's.

[blue_or_die]

To make it look more NFL, you narrow the field first.  If "Americanizing" is the goal, 65 yard wide 15 yard deep EZ are not "NFL like".

The playing field is now the same as the NFL. The goal post position is the same as the NFL.

Just because they haven't come for all of it doesn't mean it hasn't moved in that direction.

[The Zipp]

The playing field is now the same as the NFL. The goal post position is the same as the NFL.

Just because they haven't come for all of it doesn't mean it hasn't moved in that direction.

the playing field is not the same as the NFL. that is a false statement. 

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Techo, for the 20th time, you can't tell me that these rule changes won't help grow the game either.

It's not just this forum.  You can visit any other CFL forum and you'll hear the same mix of opinions as here.  I read almost as much Riderfans as I do this forum, and it mirrors what's going on here.

And I think these forums DO represent a diverse microcosm of CFL fandom.  Just look at this place: every type of poster, every type of age, opinion, political bent, etc.  (The only thing that's maybe underrepresented vs what we see in the stands is the female voice, for whatever reason.)  As such if something is strongly disliked in the forums, the butts-in-seats opinions probably mirror that.

I've said a zillion times: all stadiums should allow fans on field after the game, AND they should market this on TV/billboards/whatever as a major selling point to children/youth.  Then do the other thing I've said: half-price youth tickets in ANY SECTION when bought with full price adult ticket.

You'll have kids SCREAMING at their parents to go to games to run on the field.  Kids will tell their friends at school.  Everyone will want to go to run on the field.

Doing this is virtually FREE.  Have the teams done this even though I've screamed about it for years?  No.

I get being passionate about a brand and wanting it to change because you don't like it just the way it is. Have an emotional response.

See how this works.  I can accuse you of having "an emotional response" and zero logic too.  What you said is literally not an argument.  It's ad hominem.

At this point I don't really care what you think. There's a super obvious reason why aligning the game to more closely resemble the most popular version of football that exists would be good. Predominantly, the CFL is Canadian because it is played in Canada for Canadians.

There's all the data that shows how static growth has been and from the business perspective doing nothing is no longer an option. There's data that shows NFL owning the younger demographics in Canada. Any business worth a dime would react to that and attempt to make changes.

They're obviously doing it and I hope they continue to further align beyond 2027. I think they will. You aren't going to stop watching because the goalposts get moved back and neither will any of the other chest thumpers in this thread.

[blue_or_die]

the playing field is not the same as the NFL. that is a false statement. 

Length*.

[TBURGESS]

If I believed that the changes would sell the CFL to the US market, I'd agree with them, but it won't so I don't. 

[blue_or_die]

Techo, for the 20th time, you can't tell me that these rule changes won't help grow the game either.
At this point I don't really care what you think. There's a super obvious reason why aligning the game to more closely resemble the most popular version of football that exists would be good. Predominantly, the CFL is Canadian because it is played in Canada for Canadians.

There's all the data that shows how static growth has been and from the business perspective doing nothing is no longer an option. There's data that shows NFL owning the younger demographics in Canada. Any business worth a dime would react to that and attempt to make changes.

They're obviously doing it and I hope they continue to further align beyond 2027. I think they will. You aren't going to stop watching because the goalposts get moved back and neither will any of the other chest thumpers in this thread.

Just like new people aren't going to start watching because the field is shorter and the goalposts get moved back. That's the argument.

All you've ever said is, "well we gotta do something" without giving a good reason as to why that something will be useful.

But as you say, you're getting your wish and I agree with you that they will probably keep moving in the direction of making it seem more like the NFL. Hopefully it works! Of course I don't think it will and it would be laughable to think I would give the league a pass for "at least twying somefing".

The difference between old fans and new fans is that old fans pay money and new fans hopefully pay money. Gotta be careful how you roll this out so that money is coming from somewhere...

[theaardvark]

The playing field is now the same as the NFL. The goal post position is the same as the NFL.

Just because they haven't come for all of it doesn't mean it hasn't moved in that direction.

It is still longer by 10 yards (deeper endzones) and wider.

Yes, goal posts have been moved, with a completely understandable purpose, to get them out of the way.

There is no way you can look at a CFL field and mistake it for an NFL field.  The dimensions are not even close.  Is it as divergent in 2027 as it is today?  No, but the game, in all ways, is uniquely Canadian.

I still think this paves the way to hold CFL preseason south of the border, in AZ and FLA, depending on the political situation, allowing the GC to move to a less inhospitable date, weatherwise.

It also opens up a much easier NFL preseason hosting (or even Toronto hosting Bills reg season games, or Buff hosting Tor reg season games (might get a bigger crowd there).  Those ideas are much tougher with vastly divergent field configurations, as we saw with the Raiders/Packers at IG Field fiasco.

Until we actually see the field in person, and watch the game played on the new field with the new rules, any objections are literally without substance, and pretty much based on tradition and feelings.  I'm not dismissing the value of tradition or feelings, but sometimes change is good.

[Blue In BC]

I still think this paves the way to hold CFL preseason south of the border, in AZ and FLA, depending on the political situation, allowing the GC to move to a less inhospitable date, weatherwise.

Tin hat is out early today.

Why on earth would the CFL do either of those things?

[theaardvark]

Tin hat is out early today.

Why on earth would the CFL do either of those things?

The CFL has moved the GC earlier in recent years by starting the season earlier. 

Moving it a month earlier would make preseason in Canada untenable.  Also, preseason in AZ/FLA makes sense, its cheaper to get the huge number of US players we host in camps, and less need for paperwork.  The smaller Canadian contingent would love a working vacation in spring in AZ/FLA.

Puts US eyes on the game in springtime, both live and maybe some local TV content.

Moves more of the season out of competition with the NFL, giving more of a captive audience.

Preseason games in Canada are not attended well, and any lost gate will probably be made up for in reduced expenses for running camps.

Personally, I'd MUCH rather go to Grey Cup festivities in WPG in October (like, next week) in nice fall weather than in November in a parka...

[wpg#1]

The CFL has moved the GC earlier in recent years by starting the season earlier. 

Moving it a month earlier would make preseason in Canada untenable.  Also, preseason in AZ/FLA makes sense, its cheaper to get the huge number of US players we host in camps, and less need for paperwork.  The smaller Canadian contingent would love a working vacation in spring in AZ/FLA.

Puts US eyes on the game in springtime, both live and maybe some local TV content.

Moves more of the season out of competition with the NFL, giving more of a captive audience.

Preseason games in Canada are not attended well, and any lost gate will probably be made up for in reduced expenses for running camps.

Personally, I'd MUCH rather go to Grey Cup festivities in WPG in October (like, next week) in nice fall weather than in November in a parka...

Wow .. how do you come up with this stuff ? Hilarious ! Yes, lets fly everyone down to Florida for trainng camp ? A preseason game. Hotels, meals, flights .. no problem. So the cost of this is OK ?
You somehow try to convince people on here it'll be all great, and you make it worse.