CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It should be noted that Calgary (1985) and Saskatchewan (1986) came dangerously close to folding as well, so this cannot be dismissed as an isolated issue. In fact the Riders needed a 24 hour telethon season ticket drive, just to stay afloat at the end of 1986. When 4 of 9 teams either have folded or have come dangerously close to folding in 10 years, it becomes a league problem.

Name one owner in any sports league who is not interested in making money...lol. Chipman and Thomson certainly are.

None of the CFL's private owners are solely invested in their team that makes it their only means of income, it's always a side project.  Taken in the context of the best way to invest their capital, the CFL has not been a great investment.  Remember Larry Tanenbaum ******** because the value of the Argos was not rising as much as the other franchises in the MLSE group, that seemed to be the focus of his CFL interest.

[bomber beetle]

When I was a young guy in the late 70's, talk about the NFL was rare.

More recently:
"One-quarter of men aged 18 to 34 follow the NFL closely (26%) compared to just
one-in-nine (11%) for the CFL. A similar ratio is evident for men 35 to 54 (34% NFL vs 19% CFL), while
older men (55+) follow both leagues at an equal level, approximately three-in-ten.
https://angusreid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023.02.08_NFL_vs_CFL.pdf

Plenty of other interesting information in the link.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

When I was a young guy in the late 70's, talk about the NFL was rare.

More recently:
"One-quarter of men aged 18 to 34 follow the NFL closely (26%) compared to just
one-in-nine (11%) for the CFL. A similar ratio is evident for men 35 to 54 (34% NFL vs 19% CFL), while
older men (55+) follow both leagues at an equal level, approximately three-in-ten.
https://angusreid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023.02.08_NFL_vs_CFL.pdf

Plenty of other interesting information in the link.

Just finished watching the NetFlix series on Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys, when he bought the team in 1989 he paid $140 million to do so, which was considered high at the time as the team wasn't officially for sale.  Today they're worth more than $10 billion, that arc in value took the NFL from a blue collar league to a media conglomerate with immense marketing power and commercial influence.  The show is so big now I don't think the owners care much about the sport of football at the heart of it, it's wealth generation that's the real star of the show.

[jets4life]

When I was a young guy in the late 70's, talk about the NFL was rare.

More recently:
"One-quarter of men aged 18 to 34 follow the NFL closely (26%) compared to just
one-in-nine (11%) for the CFL. A similar ratio is evident for men 35 to 54 (34% NFL vs 19% CFL), while
older men (55+) follow both leagues at an equal level, approximately three-in-ten.
https://angusreid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023.02.08_NFL_vs_CFL.pdf

Plenty of other interesting information in the link.

Interesting stats. This would explain why they did a segment on Southern Ontario not caring that much about the Argos Grey Cup win in 1991, and how most everyone was buying up Lions merchandise, and trying to see the team play in 1991. It was when we had the Detroit channels In the mid 80s-90s. The people interviewed for that segment would be in their 50s today. I was born in the late 70s, so I can't say how things were back then.

 However, I don't think talk of the NFL was ever "rare" in Canada. My Dad, my Uncles, and my Dad's friends all remember the 70s Minnesota Vikings, and were big fans. It was obvious that by Super Bowl XX, everyone was talking about the Bears. From then on, it seemed the NFL had passed the CFL in popularity,  By the 90s, it was not even close in Canada.  The NFL was far more popular, mainly due to the explosion of cable TV, and then the internet.

Yes, the NFL has dwarfed the CFL for a couple of generations in Canada. If the Vikings were to win the Super Bowl, I bet that it would be on par with the Blue Bombers winning the Grey Cup. The way I see it, is it's not due to the CFL doing anything wrong, but rather the NFL, and football in general becoming massively popular in the US. Believe it or not, there was still a time in the late 70s/early 80s when an argument could be made that Baseball was America's #1 sport. Football pulled away from baseball, and everything else by the end of the 80s, and now is the undisputed king of sports in North America.

The CFL just cannot compete with the NFL. Nor should we modify our game so that it more closely resembles the NFL. We just have to accept that our game is unique, and different than the American Football. BTW, has the league bothered to inform the CJFL or the Universities in Canada of the proposed changes?

[wpg#1]

Anyone watch the low scoring, non exciting, CFL games this weekend ? WE need changes 

( sarcasm ) 

[markf]

Just finished watching the NetFlix series on Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys, when he bought the team in 1989 he paid $140 million to do so, which was considered high at the time as the team wasn't officially for sale.  Today they're worth more than $10 billion, that arc in value took the NFL from a blue collar league to a media conglomerate with immense marketing power and commercial influence.  The show is so big now I don't think the owners care much about the sport of football at the heart of it, it's wealth generation that's the real star of the show.

The Cowboys.... Have won a few playoff games since the nineties, and yet are the most valuable, and top money-making team.

The NFL operation is saturated with hyperbole, gimmicks salesmanship.

This weekend a player cost his team a game, intentionally dropping the ball while crossing the goal line. For a cool high light video.

We do not need that stuff here.

[dd]

Anyone watch the low scoring, non exciting, CFL games this weekend ? WE need changes 

( sarcasm ) 

Ya, there's nothing wrong with the product we have right now, face it, we are a small market league and we are changing things to hope to attrack new fans, but really, we won't. Toronto will never draw more than flies to their games just because of the complex major league sports it has to compete with, and no field or rule changes is going to change that. but whatever

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ya, there's nothing wrong with the product we have right now, face it, we are a small market league and we are changing things to hope to attrack new fans, but really, we won't. Toronto will never draw more than flies to their games just because of the complex major league sports it has to compete with, and no field or rule changes is going to change that. but whatever

I think in the case of the Argos they may be trying to appeal to the wrong demographic, if a sports fan already has season tickets to any or all of the Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays, they probably have the cash but don't have the time or interest to attend additional Argo games.

Target the demographics that realistically can't afford to go to those other sporting events, working class/blue collar, seniors and families with children. Economics are set to get worse before they get better.

[Tecno]

But now I am 10 yards closer to the far EZ, and 15 yards closer to the Endline of the EZ, and the goal posts are 10 yards further away on both ends.

The "closer to the action" argument is disingenuous.

If you sit near center (I sit at the 55) I can tell you that if the EZ action is 10Y closer it won't matter one bit, and you know it as a 50YL sitter.  It's still "far away" but highly visible.  No one at midfield will notice any difference.  I'll still get out the binocs for sneaks or 2PATs, or watch the jumbotron.

If you sit beyond the deadline, then everything gets worse.  Your "far side is 10Y closer" is pure bunk and you know it.  I've sat in the EZs and corners many times (when cheap-ticket stubhub hopping every game) and I can unequivocally state that once the action goes to the other side of the field you are basically only watching the jumbotron.  Trying to see the N-side EZ plays from the family zone seats is a complete impossibility, regardless of 10 or 5 yard field size tweaks.

So please, don't insult us with "closer to the action".  It's a red herring and entirely dishonest from a practical standpoint, even if it's mathematically correct.  It's literally not a thing and anyone saying it is trying to gaslight you into accepting the disastrous loss of the 55YL.

[Tecno]

There were a couple of unannounced rule changes made in 2025 by the CFL. One of those changes resulted in a rule reverting back to a previous version because there were unintended consequences that were encountered. That rule change was submitted by a CFL executive.

Tell us more.  You can't just drop that here and then go quiet!  My money is on what I noticed they changed with regard to command's calling of the "close ones" for challenges/reviews.  They clearly are not following the standard from the mid-2024 "clear and obvious no slow-mo" memo.

[Tecno]

What other choice is there? Maintaining the status quo would very likely bring about the death of the league.

That's what they said right before expanding into the USA the last time... Then the expansion itself nearly brought about the death of the league.

[Tecno]

Further, this forum is not representative of the market, would rather vilify those actually trying the grow the game and are paying the bills (most of them at a significant loss). But who cares right?

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.

Why can't I ask you if YOU have any insights how not making changes to attract new fans will help the seven teams losing money? You can't. Mainly because it's what they've been doing for years and we are where we are.

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.

At least point, be mad for the sake of being mad. Rawr change bad. I get being passionate about a brand and not wanting it change because you like it just the way it is. Have an emotional response. Not going to blame you for that.

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.

[Tecno]

Well, I sit in the highest price area, and not a one even mentioned the changes.  So there's that.

No one was talking about it in my section either, until I asked.  Then everyone had an opinion.  Every answer varied from "hate it" to "don't like it" to "don't like X but maybe we have to change to get more fans".

If no one was talking about it before that, it's because we're all the too-darn-polite scared-to-poke-their-head-up Canadians.

And I didn't lead anyone with "what do you think of these garbage changes", I asked "what do you think of the changes"?

Try asking some people next game.

[theaardvark]

"Closer to the action" is also applicable to the upper deck corners.  Having ST there in the past, you actually lose action under you.  That's going to change. 

But regardless, the most important point is that it does not make anyone's seats worse, so it doesn't ruin things. 

Your comment about the after game on field events is quite good.  Yes, it should be done everywhere, all the time. 

It isn't free, though.  There are insurance costs, and there are staffing costs, that's a huge field with lots of things to supervise and make sure people don't get in trouble or get hurt... or do damage, no food or drinks must be screened, etc.  Waiting for traffic to clear is great, like the free appies in the Pinnacle after.  And hosting the activities takes people, and trotting out some of the players would be huge... don't need to be starters.. PR players and backups, no pds but with Jerseys...

[Stats Junkie]

Tell us more.  You can't just drop that here and then go quiet!  My money is on what I noticed they changed with regard to command's calling of the "close ones" for challenges/reviews.  They clearly are not following the standard from the mid-2024 "clear and obvious no slow-mo" memo.

Nothing to do with the Replay Centre. The rule that reverted back to its original form has only been encountered 4 times this season, so it is not that noticeable. Ironically, one of those instances was just a few hours after my previous post.