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#21
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...
Last post by theaardvark - Today at 05:18:36 PMIf they change and give the fans the 55 back, I'd be happy.
I don't WANT it removed, but I understand the concept, and agree that it has value.
But the league will not appreciably change with or without the 55yd line, and if that's something they held in their pocket to give back and dull the ire of the diehards, kudos to them for the plan.
As to being a "parrot for the CFL talking points", sorry if I have an ability to allow reason into my thought process. The BOG hired someone, and asked him to make changes to improve the marketability of the league. He did as asked.
Could they have been implemented more incrementally to soften the response? Sure. But this "rip the bandaid off" approach makes more sense to me. We were going to get here eventually. And I do think that the changes will make more sense applied together.
I like the 35 second clock for all but the final 3 min of each half, I like the GP move. I like having the teams on opposite sides, with the size of each cadre, it makes sense. They can get away with it in hockey having smaller groups. But having a long change / short change quarter in half the stadia is silly. Alternately, they could have made all fields have both teams on one side. Make it the same.
I like the changes to the rouge, it takes it from a common event that can be the game winning point to being a quirky anomaly.
I'm OK with the 15yd EZ and losing the 55, if for no other reason than making MTL and TOR have standardized fields (its not baseball). I think 15yd EZ would solve the problem, that they could maintain the 55 and still achieve uniform field sizes. So that could be a give back.
The heart and soul of the game, 3 downs, 12 men, 65yd wide field, proper kickoffs/punts/overtime, and the waggle all remain. No one can be flipping past a CFL game and confuse it with any other sport.
The league does need to start promoting the "new look", start bragging about the product's superiority to other offerings, both historically and with the revisions.
Maybe a 30 second Tik Tok on the new rouge (not even mentioning the old rouge).
And if they are going to give back the 55, that would be a great media blast as well. I'm sure it wont assuage the fury of the ultra die hards, but as a meaningful concession to the fans who love the uniqueness, I think it would be a great PR move.
Also, short vids on why our game is better would be awesome.
Tiktok type videos about the waggle, about the OT, about why we have 12 men, and a 65yards wide field. About why we don't need the "tush push" even with 3 downs, our SY specialists can get involved multiple times a drive, not just the rare occasion the NFL uses them.
About how we only have 3 downs, but the game is so wide open we can still have a running game. But that the extra DB and WR make the passing game so much more exciting.
There is so much to market in the CFL, and we've done a crap job at it since "Our balls are bigger". With the new "elbows up" environment, we need to promote OUR game.
I don't WANT it removed, but I understand the concept, and agree that it has value.
But the league will not appreciably change with or without the 55yd line, and if that's something they held in their pocket to give back and dull the ire of the diehards, kudos to them for the plan.
As to being a "parrot for the CFL talking points", sorry if I have an ability to allow reason into my thought process. The BOG hired someone, and asked him to make changes to improve the marketability of the league. He did as asked.
Could they have been implemented more incrementally to soften the response? Sure. But this "rip the bandaid off" approach makes more sense to me. We were going to get here eventually. And I do think that the changes will make more sense applied together.
I like the 35 second clock for all but the final 3 min of each half, I like the GP move. I like having the teams on opposite sides, with the size of each cadre, it makes sense. They can get away with it in hockey having smaller groups. But having a long change / short change quarter in half the stadia is silly. Alternately, they could have made all fields have both teams on one side. Make it the same.
I like the changes to the rouge, it takes it from a common event that can be the game winning point to being a quirky anomaly.
I'm OK with the 15yd EZ and losing the 55, if for no other reason than making MTL and TOR have standardized fields (its not baseball). I think 15yd EZ would solve the problem, that they could maintain the 55 and still achieve uniform field sizes. So that could be a give back.
The heart and soul of the game, 3 downs, 12 men, 65yd wide field, proper kickoffs/punts/overtime, and the waggle all remain. No one can be flipping past a CFL game and confuse it with any other sport.
The league does need to start promoting the "new look", start bragging about the product's superiority to other offerings, both historically and with the revisions.
Maybe a 30 second Tik Tok on the new rouge (not even mentioning the old rouge).
And if they are going to give back the 55, that would be a great media blast as well. I'm sure it wont assuage the fury of the ultra die hards, but as a meaningful concession to the fans who love the uniqueness, I think it would be a great PR move.
Also, short vids on why our game is better would be awesome.
Tiktok type videos about the waggle, about the OT, about why we have 12 men, and a 65yards wide field. About why we don't need the "tush push" even with 3 downs, our SY specialists can get involved multiple times a drive, not just the rare occasion the NFL uses them.
About how we only have 3 downs, but the game is so wide open we can still have a running game. But that the extra DB and WR make the passing game so much more exciting.
There is so much to market in the CFL, and we've done a crap job at it since "Our balls are bigger". With the new "elbows up" environment, we need to promote OUR game.
#22
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...
Last post by Waffler - Today at 04:56:15 PMOlder posters would remember Bud Ulrich, long time CFL official and a good one. Following is his letter to the editor in the Free Press.
A former ref's perspective
I'll preface my remarks by stating my involvement in the Canadian Football League as a head referee from 1974 to 1986, assigned to three Grey Cups (Montreal – 1979, Toronto – 1982, and Edmonton – 1984). I have played the game at the high school level and officiated in the amateur ranks for 13 years prior to being invited to the CFL.
I am a strong supporter of the CFL, attending games on a regular basis. The new rules the league is implementing bother me greatly. I can understand the new commissioner wants to improve the game, but I believe in the saying, "If it's not broken, don't fix it!"
Aligning the changes, i.e. smaller field, goal posts placed on the dead-ball line, no points for a missed field goal (play is whistled dead) takes away from some of the most exciting plays we witnessed for many years. I'm sure the commissioner is aware of this. Placing the goal post on the dead-ball line will reduce the number of field goals as the distance is increased with the new rule. Incidentally, the CFL scored more points per game last year than the NFL.
I checked with another official/supervisor of the CFL and in his 47 years in the league, the only time the goal posts created a problem was during a game between Oakland and Green Bay Packers who played an exhibition game in Winnipeg. During my short time of 12 years in the CFL, never once did the goal post cause a problem.
These changes can only be viewed as aligning our game with the National Football League. In today's climate of Canada needing to be self-reliant and not dependant on the United States for the development of our game, I am both surprised and disappointed with the rule changes.
I live in Winnipeg and I'm very proud of our team and the support of our fans. Saskatchewan boasts this position as well. Edmonton has a real problem with their fan base, and Toronto leads the way with the largest population, and the least fans. Surely this is the No. 1 problem! I fail to see how any rule changes will bring about more fans to the cities that need them the most.
The new playoff structure is flawed. Having over 90 per cent of the teams involved in playoffs, and the possibility of an all-east or all-west Grey Cup will decrease fan attendance both at the game and viewership on TV. The notion that more games will draw more fans is highly suspect. The east-versus-west is and always will be a competitive event. This rivalry will be eliminated. To do otherwise will provide disastrous results.
Bud Ulrich
Winnipeg
A former ref's perspective
I'll preface my remarks by stating my involvement in the Canadian Football League as a head referee from 1974 to 1986, assigned to three Grey Cups (Montreal – 1979, Toronto – 1982, and Edmonton – 1984). I have played the game at the high school level and officiated in the amateur ranks for 13 years prior to being invited to the CFL.
I am a strong supporter of the CFL, attending games on a regular basis. The new rules the league is implementing bother me greatly. I can understand the new commissioner wants to improve the game, but I believe in the saying, "If it's not broken, don't fix it!"
Aligning the changes, i.e. smaller field, goal posts placed on the dead-ball line, no points for a missed field goal (play is whistled dead) takes away from some of the most exciting plays we witnessed for many years. I'm sure the commissioner is aware of this. Placing the goal post on the dead-ball line will reduce the number of field goals as the distance is increased with the new rule. Incidentally, the CFL scored more points per game last year than the NFL.
I checked with another official/supervisor of the CFL and in his 47 years in the league, the only time the goal posts created a problem was during a game between Oakland and Green Bay Packers who played an exhibition game in Winnipeg. During my short time of 12 years in the CFL, never once did the goal post cause a problem.
These changes can only be viewed as aligning our game with the National Football League. In today's climate of Canada needing to be self-reliant and not dependant on the United States for the development of our game, I am both surprised and disappointed with the rule changes.
I live in Winnipeg and I'm very proud of our team and the support of our fans. Saskatchewan boasts this position as well. Edmonton has a real problem with their fan base, and Toronto leads the way with the largest population, and the least fans. Surely this is the No. 1 problem! I fail to see how any rule changes will bring about more fans to the cities that need them the most.
The new playoff structure is flawed. Having over 90 per cent of the teams involved in playoffs, and the possibility of an all-east or all-west Grey Cup will decrease fan attendance both at the game and viewership on TV. The notion that more games will draw more fans is highly suspect. The east-versus-west is and always will be a competitive event. This rivalry will be eliminated. To do otherwise will provide disastrous results.
Bud Ulrich
Winnipeg
#23
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...
Last post by Stats Junkie - Today at 03:58:24 PMQuote from: ModAdmin on Today at 07:01:26 AMIt all seems pretty premature to me. No one has observed the planned changes yet so comments about the changes are all based on emotion/feelings. Fact is, some will like the changes, some will not. But it is going to play out and we know status quo is not working to get fans into the seats (with a couple of exceptions).This is a fair comment about emotion.
I think it is also fair for fans to state their opinions about the changes before we see the results. In today's society it seems like we are asked for receipts after the fact.
I also don't buy the status quo narrative. When was the last time the CFL didn't make any rule changes during an offseason.
#24
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: 2026 Rookie Training Camp
Last post by gobombersgo - Today at 03:56:48 PM
#25
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: major announcement - big c...
Last post by bomber beetle - Today at 03:39:04 PMQuote from: jets4life on Today at 12:51:34 AMI'm not sure why the "Hurray for the changes!" posters keep insulting the intelligence of the majority of CFL fans who know exactly what the changes will mean to the league. It's fine that you love the changes, but why scrape to the bottom of the barrel and imply us hardcore fans are imbeciles.
PS...we both know that 99.5% of fans are not shrugging your shoulders. Hell, last season I was at a game, and overheard people discussing the changes. Nearly everyone there stated that they were unhappy with the loss of the 55 yard line, the reduction of the end zone, etc.
There is also an inverse relationship between the more passionate the CFL fan, the more unlikely they are to be in favor of these new "improvements" to the game. The people least likely to go to games are the ones that are most open minded. The people who buy tickets, merchandise, streaming, etc are the ones that are going to be more opposed to them.
This fact leads me to believe that the changes will be detrimental to the league in the long run, and ultimately will hurt revenue and attendance.
I apologize that you were offended by my post.
I am a hardcore fan. I do not 'love' all the changes. I do not know why the field is changing so I suppose that makes me an imbecile as well. I do know that something needs to change so I have presented my thoughts on why it is happening and how it may help the league to be sustainable....but I am just guessing.
I am involved with multiple sports organizations, which puts me in touch with hundreds of Bomber season ticket holders. I stand by my claim that no one likes the changes and most don't understand the need for them. However, none have expressed a desire to drop their tickets...in other words they are shrugging it off. I have only come across one person who was 'angry'...and he is not going to drop his tickets either.
#26
Offside Forum / Re: NHL Discussion (Other than...
Last post by blue_gold_84 - Today at 03:16:11 PM #27
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / $4.6M investment in amateur fo...
Last post by blue_gold_84 - Today at 03:14:29 PMhttps://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/05/4-6-million-invested-in-amateur-football-in-2025/
More info available in the link.
QuoteTORONTO — Each year, the Canadian Football League (CFL) and its nine member clubs stand strong in the community, championing the causes that matter most to Canadians and growing the game from coast to coast to coast.
In 2025, coaches, players, mascots and team personnel put in more than 9,100 hours participating in community events, promoting literacy, heightening food security, combatting gender-based violence, standing against bullying and more. � A total of $4.6M was donated to amateur football programming with over 3,000 hours spent sharing the game with youth, women and girls, Indigenous communities and more. Across 728 school visits, events at community centres and on football fields, the CFL collectively reached 233,700 youth throughout the year.
More info available in the link.
#28
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...
Last post by blue_gold_84 - Today at 03:11:08 PM #29
Offside Forum / Re: Winnipeg Jets Discussion -...
Last post by blue_gold_84 - Today at 02:47:11 PMQuote from: Jesse on Today at 02:16:30 PMFor those who think this core can make a Stanley Cup run, sure.
The core isn't the issue, IMO. I think it's the lack of sufficiently talented depth that continues to hinder the team. It shouldn't be this difficult to solidify the top 6, particularly down the middle.
Quote from: Jesse on Today at 02:16:30 PMThe only chance we have at success is draft and develop and we've failed at that in this cycle.
And quite miserably I'd add. I think you were onto something when you brought up Marcel Comeau's departure as it relates to the poor draft history since.
Why Jets should explore all options with No. 8 pick
#30
Offside Forum / Re: Winnipeg Jets Discussion -...
Last post by Jesse - Today at 02:16:30 PMQuote from: blue_gold_84 on Today at 02:11:25 PMMaybe not the worst idea...?
For those who think this core can make a Stanley Cup run, sure.
I think we've seen the best they have to offer and it's been well short. The only time we had a run is when we were stocked with young guys in their entry deals, buoyed by a high draft pick.
The only chance we have at success is draft and develop and we've failed at that in this cycle.