New rules / commissioner's statements

[bomb squad]

But also consider that if you're on the team B 35 and you blow it on 3rd & medium, that team is only 15Y from midfield, and only 65Y from the other EZ.  In other words, if you blow the gamble you're giving them pretty good starting field position.

Coffin or hem them at their 5 and they must drive the entire field.

I can see only ONE thing possibly increasing: many 3rd & mediums in "no mans land" will be a 5YL, GL or EZ shot -- in other words a deep low-percentage shot -- because an INT will be equal to a punt.  However, once coaches coach every DB on batting down these shots instead of INTing them, it'll revert to being a failed gamble and you have that field position problem in my first paragraph again.

The CFL already has a no mans land area, and yet still only 1-2 coaches "go for it" regularly.  Namely Dickenson The Greater.  Why would the ultra-conservative other coaches suddenly be in The Gamblin' Mood?  MOS will still take his deep FG shots -- 62Y will become the norm for Castillo.  Teams with 43Y max FG range (read: Parades) and a strong Ozzie P will do a lot of coffin shots.

Maybe you'll have a few in-between coaches going for it more... maybe.  But if they get burned by a lot of failures, they'll be forced to do more kicking, less gambling.

That's just it. There really isn't a "no man's land area" now. Sure, maybe when you're close in, but that's not what we're talking about with NMLA. Where would it be then? 45 and in, it's field goal attempt. 45+? A full length punt and cover. If a coach wants to be bold and "go for it", that's his prerogative, but there is no place in the normal course of a game where a 3rd and mid gamble makes sense measured against a punt or a field goal. Unless your in desperation catch up mode.

There will be a "no man's land area" with new field

[markf]

NFL Monday night chargers eagles

End of 3d quarter

Total scoring

One td

Five field goals

We need MORE field goals, not less!

[bomber beetle]

It's possible that the sports culture in Toronto has changed to the point that the people in the city no longer will support a league that they consider "second class."

The Argos are not alone. The city has tried the AHL and OHL either in the city or nearby suburbs (Mississauga, etc).  If the team is not the Leafs, the people tend not to support it

Toronto has gone from a metro area of under 3 million people to an international  city of over 7 million. My guess is that nothing other than the NFL will work there.

You are probably right.

The one glimmer of hope might be seen in the city's support for TFC of the MLS.

If the Argos could somehow gain an equal amount of credibility and fan support, they might do ok.
That's a tall order though. The NFL casts a huge shadow compared to overseas soccer.

I want to think it could happen. The new rules won't move the needle, but this might be the first baby step in the attempt.

[Tecno]

At the end of the day, come 2027, I'll be happy with the changes and you'll be... what? Here? Sulking?

And what will you do if the 100Y change is cancelled?  Will you take your ball and go home?  A loooot can happen between now and TC2027.  Johnston can be canned just as fast as he was brought in.

Nothing is set in stone.  The push back is real.

[Tecno]

That's just it. There really isn't a "no man's land area" now. Sure, maybe when you're close in, but that's not what we're talking about with NMLA. Where would it be then? 45 and in, it's field goal attempt. 45+?

Dickenson T.G. has shown us where the NML is, and it exists because his K is not reliable from 45+.  It's the 37-47 YL range.  Some teams will go for it there. sometimes, especially if it's &short or &medium.

Yes, once the GPs are moved there will be a slightly bigger, and slightly more tempting NML.  Yes, more teams will "go for it", sometimes.  But it won't be this huge NML like NFL has where every team goes for it.

[Tecno]

If MLSE is not happy the Argos are probably dead and gone. The Argos could easily be the next Valour. Who could blame MLSE for dumping this franchise that almost no one in a huge city wants to watch?

Meh, let them go then.  Pinball can have that legacy hanging around his neck.

We would reach way more cups if we were back in the E anyhow.  The league has survived quite well with 8 teams for a lot of years.

Screw MLSE.  Let them have their NFL team, or not.  I don't care.

[Tecno]

Spoiler: It's you.

Uh, I wasn't the one who posited either sides of this.  I'm just pointing out your supposition is no better or truer than the other guy's -- until someone provides citations.

[Waffler]

The league has survived quite well with 8 teams for a lot of years.

Agree, but I would seriously look at Quebec City to keep it 9 teams. Laval gets over 15,000 fans and that's just college ball.

Montreal and Quebec had a good rivalry going in the NHL. I am sure it would be a natural in the CFL too.

[blue_gold_84]

Screw MLSE.

MLSE doesn't care about the Argonauts.

[bomber beetle]

MLSE doesn't care about the Argonauts.

I suppose you could be right.
Why, though, would they choose to lose millions of dollars each year on something they don't care about?

[bomber beetle]

And what will you do if the 100Y change is cancelled? Will you take your ball and go home?  A loooot can happen between now and TC2027.  Johnston can be canned just as fast as he was brought in.

Nothing is set in stone.  The push back is real.

Probably about a 1 in 1,000,000 chance, to be realistic.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I suppose you could be right.
Why, though, would they choose to lose millions of dollars each year on something they don't care about?

Probably because MLSE makes hundreds of millions from their other teams so the Argo losses don't hurt and may even be used as a write off.  If nothing else they'll keep the Argos/football alive for future strategic purposes.

[blue_gold_84]

I suppose you could be right.
Why, though, would they choose to lose millions of dollars each year on something they don't care about?

MLSE's total equity exceeded $12B as of last year. I'd have to guess the financial losses of the Argonauts since MLSE acquired the franchise have been tolerable, and more than likely offset by the substantial financial gains of its other subsidiaries (Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC, etc.). From a business standpoint, that's not a sustainable approach.

The Argonauts seem like an afterthought in the GTA, and it doesn't seem like MLSE does much to promote the franchise. Hence my opinion that I don't think the powers that be within MLSE care much about them, if at all.

[Tecno]

Probably about a 1 in 1,000,000 chance, to be realistic.

That's what they want you to believe.  Perception is everything.  They want you to think you're in the minority, when "Save The 110 YL" people are clearly in the vast, nay overwhelming, majority.

Until the 2 new turf orders are placed (and even past that) anything can happen.  The first people cancelling their STHs over the changes will hit this year.  Then it snowballs before the '27 season.  It all depends how big that group turns out to be.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

MLSE's total equity exceeded $12B as of last year. I'd have to guess the financial losses of the Argonauts since MLSE acquired the franchise have been tolerable, and more than likely offset by the substantial financial gains of its other subsidiaries (Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC, etc.). From a business standpoint, that's not a sustainable approach.

The Argonauts seem like an afterthought in the GTA, and it doesn't seem like MLSE does much to promote the franchise. Hence my opinion that I don't think the powers that be within MLSE care much about them, if at all.

I don't think the Argos are even trying, probably half the population of the GTA can't afford $100 tickets to attend other sporting events.  The Argos could capitalize on that market and do well by appealing to families with children by promoting reasonable pricing and fun alone.  One thing I've noticed attending  NHL games in the last few years, is the fun aspect seems  artificially generated.