CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[Sir Blue and Gold]

You are once again being condescending, taking personal shots at people who disagree with you. I guess you know nothing about business, seeing as how every single league for the last 50 years has failed miserably, trying to emulate the NFL.

Anyway, you are not really much of a CFL fan, if you are insulting people who are against these changes. Go to an NFL forum, if you want our game to lose  it's Canadian identity, and copy the NFL.

I'll still be here, Pal. Live for this. Will you?

[jets4life]

I'll still be here, Pal. Live for this. Will you?

Well if the CFL implements all these changes, the league will fold by 2030 at the latest. So it's going to be irrelevant soon.

[dd]

Does anyone 'cherish' the 100 yard fields or the shorter end-zones or the uprights at the back of the end-zone? No? Then there is no advantage to doing it.

Costs money + No Advantage = Stupid Decision and that doesn't even include pissing off the old fans who have kept the lights on for the last 40 years.

You're bang on, Costs money + No advantage = stupid decision. It would be one thing if they explained the need for the change and what problem it is solving (there isn't any) vs change for the sake of change and potentially create a fan alienation problem.

[bomber beetle]

When times are tough for the league, critics always trot out 'marketing' as the solution.
Well, now we have it. This is probably the biggest marketing strategy that the league has ever undertaken.
They need to be bold and that is what this is. No doubt these changes are the tip of the iceberg...we shall see where this takes the league.
 

[theaardvark]

Well if the CFL implements all these changes, the league will fold by 2030 at the latest. So it's going to be irrelevant soon.

If losing the 55 yard line kills the league, it was dead anyway.

You are being disingenuous by trying to downplay the big change- loss of the 55 yard line, and the smaller end zones, by deliberately rambling on about the goal posts.

Did you notice that hardly anyone is upset about the goalpost issue. Myself, and especially my old man (who was a star Bison- offered 2 CFL tryouts) both agree that moving the goalposts to tne back of the endzone may be a good idea, however that is a small change.

The big change is making the field nearly identical to an NFL field. Why? What is wrong with a 110 yard field, with larger end zones? It's just going to dilute the game, and negatively affect stadiums that were specifically designed for the CFL (especially Regina and Winnipeg). I would even go as far, as to say that the ones going on about changing the field to make it smaller, and more like the NFL, are not really Bomber fans.

65 yard wide field it the hallmark dimension of the CFL.  They did not touch that.  If anything, the shorter field makes the field wider relatively.

Moving the goal posts affects the game far more than shortening the field. It moves the FG try up 15 yards, changing the play calling as the teams move over center field. 

Shortening the field basically takes one set of downs out of a drive from your side of C.  Nothing more. 

The 15yd EZ is still 50% deeper and 15yds wider than NFL, so it is nothing like it.  While it is shorter, the removal of the goal post obstruction might actually give more room for making plays.

Yes, PAS and Mosaic were designed for the 110 yard field.  Every other stadium, existing and proposed multiuse stadiums, fit 100+15 yards better, especially Molson and BMO which cannot house a full 110+20 yd field.

One less first down needed per drive to score means more scoring.  Other than that, no change in play losing the 55 yard line.

[jets4life]

When times are tough for the league, critics always trot out 'marketing' as the solution.
Well, now we have it. This is probably the biggest marketing strategy that the league has ever undertaken.
They need to be bold and that is what this is. No doubt these changes are the tip of the iceberg...we shall see where this takes the league.
 

It will take the league into oblivion.

IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

[theaardvark]

It will take the league into oblivion.

IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

I am curious how you figure it will kill the league. 

[bomber beetle]

It will take the league into oblivion.

IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

What is the 'IT' that won't work?

We know about the 'it' of changing of the field, but none of us know what else is coming.

Stewart Johnson: ""I think you're going to hear a lot from myself and the league with exciting announcements over the next coming weeks and months. We're not focused on rules — of course, we have a rules committee, and it will annually look to tweak and improve our game, but we have a lot of other exciting announcements we're working on and that's our focus," Johnston said to 3DownNation."

[jets4life]

What is the 'IT' that won't work?

We know about the 'it' of changing of the field, but none of us know what else is coming.

Stewart Johnson: ""I think you're going to hear a lot from myself and the league with exciting announcements over the next coming weeks and months. We're not focused on rules — of course, we have a rules committee, and it will annually look to tweak and improve our game, but we have a lot of other exciting announcements we're working on and that's our focus," Johnston said to 3DownNation."

It's going to be like the American expansion in the 1990s.  Except this time, I don't think the NFL will bail the CFL out like they did in 1997.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Well if the CFL implements all these changes, the league will fold by 2030 at the latest. So it's going to be irrelevant soon.

...And you have the audacity to try and fact check my posts?

[TBURGESS]

Doing anything 'more American' during a trade war with the US is completely mistimed and absolutely stupid. We should be leaning into the Canadian nationalism that the trade war has created. Think this is our league instead of this is more American. 

[blue_or_die]

Fair. Do you understand what I think the league is trying to do: and that is align the game more generally to NFL which may encourage Canadians who live in Canada and enjoy the NFL to give it a shot?

Do you also see that interacting with that segment might be assessed as easier than other segments, such as, new Canadians who prefer other sports (cricket, soccer, etc.) or non sports fans.

When you segment markets looking for growth, since resources are finite, you choose the lowest hanging fruit or who you're most likely to win with resources you do have. One option that has no up front costs are changes to the rules (product) compared to an integrated campaign (very expensive). They likely need to do both.

Segmenting the market is done typically from your own data, free existing data, and data obtained by market research companies but it's probably not something the league (or any business) is going to share with the publicly.

You can still disagree it will work. That's your opinion entirely. But can you see that there is likely ogic and tactics being acted upon from a strategy somewhere at head office. Again, your thoughts on the matter succeeding aside, I can see how this path could be chosen over others and no action is also a choice too. I found it interesting they publicly told us that not doing something was not an option for them. The truth is all options before them would have pros and cons and all could be difficult to pull off. I happen to agree with it based on my experience, I advocated for some of this much prior to this year, but your milage obviously differs.

I do understand that you think what the league is doing is trying to make the CFL look more appealing to NFL fans in Canada and I do certainly agree that is the lowest hanging fruit and most logical segment to try and capture. I do not understand or agree that this segment factors - consciously or subconsciously - field dimensions, 3 minute clock and goal post positioning into their decision making. The reason I think this is true is because, anecdotally, the many people I talk to/know who are pro NFL and anti CFL have cited different reasons and never the above changes or anything of the sort. If the league thinks that there is indeed a connection between these, I would like to hear what they have done to arrive at that conclusion. I don't expect them to share "the report" or deliver a powerpoint presentation, but perhaps some well thought-out words from the commissioner that aren't fluff to give this grass roots fanbase some insight, given they are significantly disrupting these elements. Of course you are correct that they are not obligated to do that, just like I'm not obligated to watch games, attend games, buy overpriced stadium beer, food or jerseys.

If they put together a subset of action plans and determined the highest value path was what they are proposing, then I imagine they determined that there is good reason to believe that these changes would both attract Canadian NFL fans and not be viewed as overly hostile to their existing fanbase. Since I can't connect those dots and have not been provided reasoning from the league as to how those dots are connected, I'm a non-believer. I also would like to think that this green commissioner has thought of the scenario where the plan does not work and there is likely no going back from the changes made and they end up with no new fans and an upset base. In that scenario, there is zero forgiveness if their excuse is, "well we had to try SOMETHING". I'm worried that we will be having that discussion in 2030.

I agree that doing nothing is not an option. I think that doing something that will be effective should be our option. I don't think doing what is being proposed will be effective because there is no reason for me to based on my anecdotal experiences and lack of both objective and anecdotal arguments provided by the league and the segment they're targeting, respectively.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I do understand that you think what the league is doing is trying to make the CFL look more appealing to NFL fans in Canada and I do certainly agree that is the lowest hanging fruit and most logical segment to try and capture. I do not understand or agree that this segment factors - consciously or subconsciously - field dimensions, 3 minute clock and goal post positioning into their decision making. The reason I think this is true is because, anecdotally, the many people I talk to/know who are pro NFL and anti CFL have cited different reasons and never the above changes or anything of the sort. If the league thinks that there is indeed a connection between these, I would like to hear what they have done to arrive at that conclusion. I don't expect them to share "the report" or deliver a powerpoint presentation, but perhaps some well thought-out words from the commissioner that aren't fluff to give this grass roots fanbase some insight, given they are significantly disrupting these elements. Of course you are correct that they are not obligated to do that, just like I'm not obligated to watch games, attend games, buy overpriced stadium beer, food or jerseys.

If they put together a subset of action plans and determined the highest value path was what they are proposing, then I imagine they determined that there is good reason to believe that these changes would both attract Canadian NFL fans and not be viewed as overly hostile to their existing fanbase. Since I can't connect those dots and have not been provided reasoning from the league as to how those dots are connected, I'm a non-believer. I also would like to think that this green commissioner has thought of the scenario where the plan does not work and there is likely no going back from the changes made and they end up with no new fans and an upset base. In that scenario, there is zero forgiveness if their excuse is, "well we had to try SOMETHING". I'm worried that we will be having that discussion in 2030.

I agree that doing nothing is not an option. I think that doing something that will be effective should be our option. I don't think doing what is being proposed will be effective because there is no reason for me to based on my anecdotal experiences and lack of both objective and anecdotal arguments provided by the league and the segment they're targeting, respectively.

All fair and reasonable. I see what you mean and everything you've said makes a ton of sense. Since it seems we agree that "NFL fans in Canada" is a good group to try to expand CFL interest to, but not in approach, how would suggest they do it instead?

[blue_gold_84]

But isn't the commissioner of the league and the approval and support of the CEOs/owners of all member clubs? You better at business than Dolman? More proven than Wade?

Because I'm agreeing with that pedigree and you're the one who isn't with nothing to back it up.

This appeal to authority logical fallacy you've adopted here isn't really a good look on your part. Only Miller's got a real leg to stand on here, IMO: he's the only one whose organization has been profitable for an extended period of time.

The CFL from a business standpoint is not sustainable. The changes proposed don't fix the sustainability issue. On the contrary, the changes will cost more money.

Neither you nor the so-called experts at CFL HQ have backed up any of their proposed changes with data. So, what pedigree is there to speak of? It's like they're throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks - and calling that change. It's pretty absurd.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

This appeal to authority logical fallacy you've adopted here isn't really a good look on your part. Only Miller's got a real leg to stand on here, IMO: he's the only one whose organization has been profitable for an extended period of time.

The CFL from a business standpoint is not sustainable. The changes proposed don't fix the sustainability issue. On the contrary, the changes will cost more money.

Neither you nor the so-called experts at CFL HQ have backed up any of their proposed changes with data. So, what pedigree is there to speak of? It's like they're throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks - and calling that change. It's pretty absurd.

Does 3M tell you why they change product features? Why do you expect that level of details here?

And it really isn't a stretch. Amar Dolman is worth almost a billion dollars from scaling businesses. The MLSE team run really successful and profitable sports franchises. Wade Miller was a successful entrepreneur before he knocked the Bombers out of the park. Bob Young knows more about sports marketing than any of us. The commissioner works for them. All of them. He's the tool that fulfills their mandate and if he doesn't deliver they'll find someone who does.