Expansion

[TBURGESS]

Expansion itself has always been a pipe dream. The only one since the 60's was to the US and we all know how that turned out. 

[LXTSN]

Expansion itself has always been a pipe dream. The only one since the 60's was to the US and we all know how that turned out.

Are we not counting Ottawa in 2014? Not that it's been a HUGE success but they are still around 12 years later.

[blue_gold_84]

Are we not counting Ottawa in 2014? Not that it's been a HUGE success but they are still around 12 years later.

That's just Ottawa's third kick at the can; they had the Rough Riders and then the Renegades. I don't think the RedBlacks technically qualify as an expansion team in the sense that expanding into cities like Halifax, Quebec City, or London would.

[Blueforlife]

If you build it, they will come 

[dd]

After seeing the dismal crowds at Hamilton and Calgary, I wouldn't worry about expansion, I'd be more worried about why there isn't more people attending games---especially the home openers. This isn't the dead of July when everyone's on holidays and at the lake, its June 4th and stadiums are half full. Add to that the traditionally brutally low crowds in Toronto and Edmonton, you have half the league with attendance problems.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

After seeing the dismal crowds at Hamilton and Calgary, I wouldn't worry about expansion, I'd be more worried about why there isn't more people attending games---especially the home openers. This isn't the dead of July when everyone's on holidays and at the lake, its June 4th and stadiums are half full. Add to that the traditionally brutally low crowds in Toronto and Edmonton, you have half the league with attendance problems.

I wouldn't even call them half full, there's no density at all. some rows have 2 or 3 people most have none.

[VictorRomano]

I would prefer to see expansion into Saskatoon, so that the Bombers have another Saskatchewan team to smash.  Just sayin.

[bomb squad]

25k is probably 5 maybe 10k too many seats, I think the days of huge stadiums are over, no one wants to pay for them and the experience from the top row isn't worth the price of admission.  I remember going to a Rolling Stones concert in Canad Stadium back in the 90's and realizing I spent more time watching Mick Jagger on the big screen than looking at him directly.

Wpg is now the outlier in the CFL, even Sask. isn't able to fill their stadium more than once a season, thanks to traveling Bomber fans. Covid seems to have really killed a lot of CFL fans desire to attend games in person, hopefully the CFL can generate enough revenue off media sales and streaming rights to better supplement their income as a gate driven league.

The CFL isn't as popular as it should be. That's the problem. Not the view from the top row of the stadium.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The CFL isn't as popular as it should be. That's the problem. Not the view from the top row of the stadium.

Do you realistically think Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto will ever fill their stadiums again?  If a new stadium is built with public money within the next decade, sustainability should be put before unrealistic expectations of growth.

[markf]

The Maritimes.... I haven't been there, I really do not have any idea about the way things are in Nova Scotia New Brunswick, PEI, Nfld.

It seems quite cut off from the rest of Canada. I just don't hear about the goings on there very much. At least compared to the  other provinces.

Why would they not want a CFL team?  My thinking is the public just isn't interested.

Do maritimers mainly follow NFL and NHL maybe? Maybe more interested in local minor league sports?


There are People there to whom the cost of a stadium would be pocket change.

[VictorRomano]

There are People there to whom the cost of a stadium would be pocket change.

Just like David Thompson in Winnipeg with the Jets, the Irving family could put a new stadium in the Maritimes and it would a rounding error to them.

[blue_gold_84]

I'm sure if the Irvings were interested in owning a CFL franchise and/or building a stadium, either one or both would've happened by now.

Hoarding wealth in offshore accounts seems more up that family's alley, though.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The Maritimes.... I haven't been there, I really do not have any idea about the way things are in Nova Scotia New Brunswick, PEI, Nfld.

It seems quite cut off from the rest of Canada. I just don't hear about the goings on there very much. At least compared to the  other provinces.

Why would they not want a CFL team?  My thinking is the public just isn't interested.

Do maritimers mainly follow NFL and NHL maybe? Maybe more interested in local minor league sports?


There are People there to whom the cost of a stadium would be pocket change.

Not so much the place but possibly the wrong time, if they would have established a team in the 60's the CFL would be well entrenched in the Maritimes.  Now with streaming and social media football fans can follow any team they like.  I imagine a lot of Maritimers follow the NE Patriots closely if not attend games.

[markf]

Just like David Thompson in Winnipeg with the Jets, the Irving family could put a new stadium in the Maritimes and it would a rounding error to them.

Yep.

[theaardvark]

There has to be something in it for the wealthy to invest in a what is most likely a losing venture, like a CFL team.  You need someone like Gary Stern, where the investment was a small compensation for the joy he got from the team.  Or a Bob Young.  Or John Candy.

It still would be a great get if after the UFL folds again, we could get someone like The Rock involved in the CFL.