New rules / commissioner's statements

[TBURGESS]

The faq page is just a marketing ad for the new rules. It shows only one view of the rules, the one the CFL wants people to see. The only thinking on it is 'How can we sell this to fans?'.

[bomber beetle]

The faq page is just a marketing ad for the new rules. It shows only one view of the rules, the one the CFL wants people to see. The only thinking on it is 'How can we sell this to fans?'.

100% correct. That is key to marketing.

The league could have trotted out the issues of viability, credibility, sustainability etc., etc. as reasons.
Why though? Among committed CFL fans, it is widely accepted that the league is facing major challenges. 
Would the inclusion of these challenges have made it easier to sell to casual or future fans? What would the media do with it?

[theaardvark]

The field has been reduced by 10 yards and goal posts moved to back of 15 yd end zone so field goals will be a net of 5 yds further. With very little return threat I think there will be more field goals as you don't have to cover them you either make it or if it's wide it's out of bounds. A 10 yds reducing on field dimensions won't impact TD production at all, it's a 5 yard pass, insignificant. But I think mos will have Costillo bombing the long field goals as he either makes them or it's a touch back, no need to have your cover team run 50 yards to cover a wide kick

No, FG will still be 15 yards further.  Sure, only 5 yards further from the other side of C, but 15 yards deeper, moving max Castillo FG range from the 55 to the 40.

A punt from your 40 needs to go 60 yards to get to the EZ instead of 70.

Coffin corner kicks become a thing outside the 40, much easier to pin than from the 55.  And kicks into the EZ but not through (new rouge) from outside the 40 are easier, but will also look pretty much like a missed FG return yardage.

It will be interesting to see how ST coaches change their play calls on the new field. 

[Sir Blue and Gold]

No, FG will still be 15 yards further.  Sure, only 5 yards further from the other side of C, but 15 yards deeper, moving max Castillo FG range from the 55 to the 40.

A punt from your 40 needs to go 60 yards to get to the EZ instead of 70.

Coffin corner kicks become a thing outside the 40, much easier to pin than from the 55.  And kicks into the EZ but not through (new rouge) from outside the 40 are easier, but will also look pretty much like a missed FG return yardage.

It will be interesting to see how ST coaches change their play calls on the new field. 

Good points! And I think field goal range will be even shorter because of the holding distance. If you're on the 30, that's +15 for the endzone and +7 for the hold, making it a 52 yard field goal. Scrimmaging from the 40 is probably more like 62 yards which he can probably hit in the right conditions but I'm not sure we'd want to try it very often.

You know is going to like these rules is a punter like Sheahan. Have to say his shorter but more accurate leg could be perfect for the new field.

[bomber beetle]

Do you have a source for that?

If it's a legitimate safety issue related to available space, I can understand the need to make it safer. Although, the CFL never mentioned that in the FAQ.
What I don't understand is that it hasn't seemed to be enough of a concern to bring about change/modification despite the fact the Alouettes have been playing in that venue since 1998.
The safety angle seems a bit questionable.

IMO, modifying one noncompliant venue to accommodate the CFL field (in either the current format or the updated reduced one) would make more sense than changing the field dimensions of the game itself and then modifying all nine venues to fit those new parameters.

I think the decision to reduce the field length to 100 yards does it make more "American," irrespective of the CFL's intent behind the decision.

Look up any image or map view. The endzones both taper in from 10-20 yards deep.
A tapered endzone is the only practical solution available at McGill to fit the current field.
If the Alouettes bought Molson stadium, they could get rid of the track. Buying it is not happening though, so a shorter field is the best trade-off.

Safety: receivers should not need to be aware of different end zones from one stadium to another. They can't focus on where they are going when watching a ball in the air. It is a 'feel' for where they are. A deep corner route in PAS is on the running track in Montreal.

The NHL is concerned about safety issues in the Olympics because the ice surface is slightly smaller.

A Blue Jays player suffered a head injury when crashing into the Green Monster.

It applies to all sports.
Harmonizing the size of the playing surface equals better safety.

Montreal and Toronto would need new stadiums to properly fit the current field dimensions.
It is far more realistic to modify the nine existing fields.

Sure, the field will look more American. However, if the present scenario dictates 130 yard fields, what else can be done?

[jets4life]

100% correct. That is key to marketing.

The league could have trotted out the issues of viability, credibility, sustainability etc., etc. as reasons.
Why though? Among committed CFL fans, it is widely accepted that the league is facing major challenges. 

Poor marketing of the product. It does not help that the Toronto franchise has been driven into the ground by MLSE. 15 years ago the Argos were averaging nearly 30,000 fans/game.

If MLSE sold the team and got put of Canadian football, I have zero doubt that these horrible changes to the game would have never been implemented.

Not only that, it's been proven that community ownership is the way to go.

[Tecno]

Look up any image or map view. The endzones both taper in from 10-20 yards deep.

I was just there.  I was checking it out from the upper deck.  I also checked the overhead images on the internet.

You could probably fit the whole field in just with the 15Y EZ change.  And if not, it would just be a tiny little cut corner of 1-2 Y maybe on one end.

If "must fit Molson" is the biggest reason for shortening the field, and having "no cut corners" is non-negotiable, then they could set the EZ to 14Y.  That would 100% fit Molson.  Problem solved, with no need to lose the 55YL.  And there's zero argument one could make for 15Y EZs being fine but not 14.  Talk about an imperceptible difference.

Montreal and Toronto would need new stadiums to properly fit the current field dimensions.
It is far more realistic to modify the nine existing fields.

Uh, what?  8 teams have to change to accommodate the one misfit location?  That sounds bass ackwards to me!

MTL should have to build a "real" stadium and solve their own freakin' problem.  And MTL is probably the 2nd most archaic, outdated, and decrepit stadium -- after CGY.  I was just there.  It's falling apart, rust and chipped concrete everywhere.  Tiny bathrooms.  Everything too small and croweded.  Almost all the seats (including mine at C field) are benches still.

And, strange how Molson was perfectly acceptable for CFL for like 50 years, but all of a sudden the cut corners are the end of the world?  Pffft.  It's just an excuse.  There's no safety issue.  In 10 years I've seen maybe 3 plays impacted by those corners, all of them guys being OOB when they'd be inbounds in any other field.  It's as much as a non-issue as the "throws are hitting the goalposts" "problem".

[Tecno]

The average consumer will not care and to your point, probably won't even notice.

Is insulting your fans' intelligence a good idea?  One thing I've learned about CFL fans is they are almost universally very intelligent about their game.  Yes, even fans wearing green, and other colors in their cities.  I know, because I talk to everyone and I've been to the majority of stadiums now.

So many times I've chatted up someone thinking they probably don't know very much, but it turns out they are uber fans too, know all of their team and are very passionate.

The average walk-up and maybe 1st year STH may not notice the 110, but everyone else will.  If you go to games and talk with people, you'd find the same.

[Tecno]

The angriest people about this are the 1% of the 1% and that group are very accurately represented on this forum, in this thread, and every one of them is still here. In this thread. In all the others talking about all the usual off season stuff.

I wouldn't say that at all.  This forum seems to have people from all walks of life and political bents and personal philosophies.  And there are people who go to every game, and ones that go to zero games.  It's not homogeneous in any way.

As such I would not assume the peak-miffed are all here.  Nor would I assume that the people not here are more peachy keen with the changes.

I've actually never accidentally come across a forum member (of any team) in all my years of going to games (in many cities).  And yet I've come across a whack ton that don't like the changes.  In fact, I haven't come across (in person) a single person who LIKES the changes.  They either don't care, or hate it.

I've yet to personally meet someone who says "to heck with that 55YL, I hate that thing!".  The ONLY people saying that are the 2-3 HERE on the forum.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I was just there.  I was checking it out from the upper deck.  I also checked the overhead images on the internet.

You could probably fit the whole field in just with the 15Y EZ change.  And if not, it would just be a tiny little cut corner of 1-2 Y maybe on one end.

If "must fit Molson" is the biggest reason for shortening the field, and having "no cut corners" is non-negotiable, then they could set the EZ to 14Y.  That would 100% fit Molson.  Problem solved, with no need to lose the 55YL.  And there's zero argument one could make for 15Y EZs being fine but not 14.  Talk about an imperceptible difference.

Uh, what?  8 teams have to change to accommodate the one misfit location?  That sounds bass ackwards to me!

MTL should have to build a "real" stadium and solve their own freakin' problem.  And MTL is probably the 2nd most archaic, outdated, and decrepit stadium -- after CGY.  I was just there.  It's falling apart, rust and chipped concrete everywhere.  Tiny bathrooms.  Everything too small and croweded.  Almost all the seats (including mine at C field) are benches still.

And, strange how Molson was perfectly acceptable for CFL for like 50 years, but all of a sudden the cut corners are the end of the world?  Pffft.  It's just an excuse.  There's no safety issue.  In 10 years I've seen maybe 3 plays impacted by those corners, all of them guys being OOB when they'd be inbounds in any other field.  It's as much as a non-issue as the "throws are hitting the goalposts" "problem".

IMO a more dangerous situation exists when there are paved segments on the outside edge of football fields and receivers and DB's land on hard pavement or slide across it out of control into a wall. Can't recall which stadiums have that set up but know there are a few of them.

[Tecno]

The noise was mostly a backlash against Americanization.

Maybe for some.  Not for me.  The "Americanization" is the fear for the future, but not the immediate hear and now issue.

I cry for the loss of the 55YL.  If they had decided to make the field 90Y, I would have cried just the same -- which proves it's not just "Americanization".

Johnston can make a blood oath there are no American aspirations, and sacrifice his first born son in its name, and I wouldn't change my stance one bit.

[Tecno]

The die-hards like us are angry right now. I hate the changes. But I know myself well enough to know I can rant for the next year, but when the weather warms up, and the season starts, I will be at PAS as usual.

As will I.  In fact, the 5%ish that have said they are quitting come '27 is a bit surprising to me.  But I can totally understand it, and can relate to it.  I even respect it.

[Tecno]

I see where your coming from, but I'm more with Techno on this one. I think the CFL was expecting some backlash on this, but probably underestimated the magnitude of it. The noise alone won't get their attention and that's all they have to deal with right now.

100%.  They probably thought they'd get like 25% of uberfans a bit miffed, not 75% a lot miffed.  I bet they also didn't expect any STH losses.  They didn't realize it's 2025 and you can't just roll out the same tired propaganda techniques that used to work 5-10 years ago -- a vast swath of humanity has wised up.

However, I think the noise is impacting them more than you think.  The neverending booing of Johnston at the GC and the look on his face sent a big message to the BOG.  WM, too, was probably keeping a close eye on it from his box.