New rules / commissioner's statements

[VictorRomano]

I thought you had to be at least 18 to place a bet?

Prepaid credit cards for teens are a thing.  Nobody is looking up your credit card data to see if the cardholder is of age.  You're supposed to be an adult to buy beer, too, but I see kids all the time that have been drinking.

Laws and rules only limit those who follow them.

[TBURGESS]

Should have made the field 100 meters if they wanted to change it. More Canadian, still 110 yards. 

[Tecno]

Should have made the field 100 meters if they wanted to change it. More Canadian, still 110 yards.

Bingo!  I'm all over that.  If they want the change and to prove it's not to "Amercianize", then switch to 100M, or my 90Y idea, or anything other than NFL-matching 100Y.

The rah-rah-changes people haven't answered yet...

[Tecno]

They sure showed him! Stewart's obviously doing something right.

Goodell - Booed everywhere he goes (18 years on the job)
Bettman - Booed everywhere he goes (32 years on the job)
Silver - Booed everywhere he goes (11 years on the job)

Where you there?  I've never heard such sustained booing of any commish in my 12 years of uber-fandom.

I was at the '19, '22, '23, '24, '25 cups.  I can tell you that at every other one there was a mix of boos & cheers for the commish, with most people being silent (a lot like what fans do to the head ref announcement).  And those combined boos/cheers were
a) 10X quieter than the boos for Johnston, and
b) only a few seconds in duration vs the BOOING THE ENTIRE TIME JOHNSTON WAS SPEAKING.

I was actually very proud to see the level of hate the attendees at PAS were showing.  And at that time it was probably over 50% Rider fans, so extra kudos to them for knowing the real deal and letting Johnston know.  If your 2 biggest markets (us and the greenies) hate your changes even more than the CFL average, you're doing something wrong.

When I watched that part on TV it looked like he was going to cry a bit.  I don't think even he expected that level of disdain.  I hope it only gets worse for him until they cancel the 55YL change.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Where you there?  I've never heard such sustained booing of any commish in my 12 years of uber-fandom.

I was at the '19, '22, '23, '24, '25 cups.  I can tell you that at every other one there was a mix of boos & cheers for the commish, with most people being silent (a lot like what fans do to the head ref announcement).  And those combined boos/cheers were
a) 10X quieter than the boos for Johnston, and
b) only a few seconds in duration vs the BOOING THE ENTIRE TIME JOHNSTON WAS SPEAKING.

I was actually very proud to see the level of hate the attendees at PAS were showing.  And at that time it was probably over 50% Rider fans, so extra kudos to them for knowing the real deal and letting Johnston know.  If your 2 biggest markets (us and the greenies) hate your changes even more than the CFL average, you're doing something wrong.

When I watched that part on TV it looked like he was going to cry a bit.  I don't think even he expected that level of disdain.  I hope it only gets worse for him until they cancel the 55YL change.

I didn't stay for the trophy presentation but if it was even audibly louder than those other guys they really, really showed him. High fives all around.

[blue_gold_84]

When's the last time a CFL commissioner was booed while presenting the Grey Cup?

Oh, yeah... Never.

[blue_or_die]

Sir Blue and Gold is right, though. Boos = great commissioner job well done happy let's go football man yay.

[dd]

Bingo!  I'm all over that.  If they want the change and to prove it's not to "Amercianize", then switch to 100M, or my 90Y idea, or anything other than NFL-matching 100Y.

The rah-rah-changes people haven't answered yet...

I really like the 100 m idea and have long wondered why we haven't changed, probably afraid to go against tradition, but so does moving goal posts and shortening the field. Change the field to 100 m!!!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I really like the 100 m idea and have long wondered why we haven't changed, probably afraid to go against tradition, but so does moving goal posts and shortening the field. Change the field to 100 m!!!

10 meters for a first down is close to 11 yds, not much of a change but could cause a few hiccups. Plus 100 meter field is close to 110 yds (109.361) which is what they're trying to get rid of.

[Balticfox]

Plus 100 meter field is close to 110 yds (109.361) which is what they're trying to get rid of.

But what's the rationale for "getting rid of" the 110 yard field (other than alienating existing fans)? I've actually suspected for several years that the CFL brass now believes that it's necessary to alienate the existing fanbase in order to attract new fans and thereby grow the game.

 

[theaardvark]

But what's the rationale for "getting rid of" the 110 yard field (other than alienating existing fans)? I've actually suspected for several years that the CFL brass now believes that it's necessary to alienate the existing fanbase in order to attract new fans and thereby grow the game.

 

I'm not sure why it isn't presented as such, but the logical reason I see for shortening the field is making it so that all 9 CFL stadiums can fit a full CFL field.  MTL and TOR have crappy non-CFL fields that look stupid.

It's not to make it American, the EZ are still 50% deeper, and the field is so much wider.  So, its in no way "American" or to fit into an American field for expansion.

[TBURGESS]

Shortening the Endzones allow all stadiums to fit the fields. Shortening the actual field isn't needed. 

[blue_gold_84]

I'm not sure why it isn't presented as such, but the logical reason I see for shortening the field is making it so that all 9 CFL stadiums can fit a full CFL field.  MTL and TOR have crappy non-CFL fields that look stupid.

All the league had to do was shorten the depth of the endzones so it'd fit the configuration of all nine CFL venues.

There isn't a logical reason for shortening the length of the field from 110 to 100 yards.

This was already covered almost two months ago in the original thread.

[bomber beetle]

I'm not sure why it isn't presented as such, but the logical reason I see for shortening the field is making it so that all 9 CFL stadiums can fit a full CFL field.  MTL and TOR have crappy non-CFL fields that look stupid.

It's not to make it American, the EZ are still 50% deeper, and the field is so much wider.  So, its in no way "American" or to fit into an American field for expansion.

I agree, in 2027 all fields will be the same and that is a good thing.
Also, this makes the conversion of BC Place and BMO from soccer to football much less complicated and expensive. Time lapse videos are easy to find...it is quite the process.

Let's face it, this is good for the future. In Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver soccer has either caught up to, or surpassed, the CFL in popularity. There will never be a CFL specific stadium built in those three cities if this trend continues. Calgary, Edmonton and maybe even Halifax will be more inclined to build a stadium that suits both sports. Perhaps the Alouettes can forgo the costs of modernizing Mcgill and move into Saputo. BMO's World Cup renovations will be good for the Argo too, although the fans there will need to wait until 2027 to enjoy the endzone viewing platform. If all else fails, the game fits into U.S. stadiums for expansion, but I don't think that is a priority.

The way I see it, this is 'Soccerization' not 'Americanization'. The CFL is not going to announce that they will increasingly be playing second fiddle to soccer. So we get the message that this will improve the game....which is possible but far from a certainty.

[blue_or_die]

I'm not sure why it isn't presented as such, but the logical reason I see for shortening the field is making it so that all 9 CFL stadiums can fit a full CFL field.  MTL and TOR have crappy non-CFL fields that look stupid.

It's not to make it American, the EZ are still 50% deeper, and the field is so much wider.  So, its in no way "American" or to fit into an American field for expansion.

It's because you're the only person who thinks that this is the reason. Stew-Jo included.

I agree, in 2027 all fields will be the same and that is a good thing.
Also, this makes the conversion of BC Place and BMO from soccer to football much less complicated and expensive. Time lapse videos are easy to find...it is quite the process.

Let's face it, this is good for the future. In Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver soccer has either caught up to, or surpassed, the CFL in popularity. There will never be a CFL specific stadium built in those three cities if this trend continues. Calgary, Edmonton and maybe even Halifax will be more inclined to build a stadium that suits both sports. Perhaps the Alouettes can forgo the costs of modernizing Mcgill and move into Saputo. BMO's World Cup renovations will be good for the Argo too, although the fans there will need to wait until 2027 to enjoy the endzone viewing platform. If all else fails, the game fits into U.S. stadiums for expansion, but I don't think that is a priority.

The way I see it, this is 'Soccerization' not 'Americanization'. The CFL is not going to announce that they will increasingly be playing second fiddle to soccer. So we get the message that this will improve the game....which is possible but far from a certainty.

This is super true. Soccer is so popular in Canada that today Valour FC announced is ceasing operations indefinitely. The timing of this post is brilliant - thank you.