Major Announcement from Commish Tomorrow.

[OV Argo]

So they're going to keep losing money on purpose in order to be able to say "we're losing money and need to stop losing money"? Why not just say it now and skip the extra losses? It's getting hard to keep track of the conspiracies.

No, they are willing to lose money for one year (maybe two, with smaller crowds and less TV viewers) in a fanciful, laughable belief that after they crush real Canadian football, they will be able to ca$h in on some sort of merger with American football and maybe a TV deal (a lucrative one in the States for a Canadian only CFL will just NOT happen - ever) - so, MLSE and S. Ontario wannabeland get promised an NFL team for down the road, and a few remaining CFL cities get to join some wimpy little US spring league (with smaller pay-rolls to worry about for sure) that can be a feeder to the NFL. This is all so predictable for MLSE corporate clown, American wannabe types, but it's really astonishing that at least a couple of current CFL owners did not see thru this charade (very disappointed in Doman in BC); but them and their bean-counters may have been convinced by MLSE's accountants or strong-arming and maybe this Johnson goof was selected Commish cause he could help lead the way - since he is this football, media and bizness genius who could help pull the wool over the BOG sheep's eyes.

And who says most CFL teams are losing money now? - the media? - private corporation onwers ? - that cry-baby story that a bunch of CFL teams are bleeding ca$h every year is a load of horseshite IMO for suckers to lap up. How much did the Bombers lose lately. All these CFL teams that are crying that could open their books to a forensic audit for all to see, but that would never happen.

[paulwoods13]

"This is all so predictable"

Truer words have never been spoken.

[ArgoGabe22]

So they're going to keep losing money on purpose in order to be able to say "we're losing money and need to stop losing money"? Why not just say it now and skip the extra losses? It's getting hard to keep track of the conspiracies.

League is losing money but is anyone seriously optimistic these changes will bring in the bucks? I still think stronger marketing and changing the perception of the CFL without changing it is more necessary than removing the 55 yard line. Anyone who despises the Canadian game and think its minor won't care even if games were averaging 80 points a game or that the goal posts are in the back of the endzone. The CFL is niche. Corner Gas was niche. Canadian music is niche minus the Top 40 pop stars. Those that follow Hollywood and listen to Top 40 pop radio aren't interested in Xavier Dolan films and listening to Canadian indie artists like City and Colour either.

Lower soccer leagues around the world aren't trying to become the big leagues. They fulfill a market need, creates local pride, and is cheap and accessible entertainment. The CFL doesn't have to be the next NFL, nor does it have to be compared to it. But yes, it has to be financially sustainable and I am not sure anyone has the answer on how to fix that problem. Just a shame that other cultures perhaps don't hate their own things. I'm sure the people of Cyprus have no issues supporting the Cypriot league.

[OV Argo]

"This is all so predictable"

Truer words have never been spoken.

What's so predictable here is defenders of the CFL standard party line faith coming out in droves to make excuses or rationalizations for these wonderful changes to Canadian football. The CFL BOGutles$ is counting on this, and book it that most dupes in the Canadian media will fall in line. . 4 downs, no more rouge, a fair catch and no ratio would be defended as - "well, it just good for bizne$$" Carry on.

[AngeloV]

So they're going to keep losing money on purpose in order to be able to say "we're losing money and need to stop losing money"? Why not just say it now and skip the extra losses? It's getting hard to keep track of the conspiracies.

League is losing money but is anyone seriously optimistic these changes will bring in the bucks? I still think stronger marketing and changing the perception of the CFL without changing it is more necessary than removing the 55 yard line. Anyone who despises the Canadian game and think its minor won't care even if games were averaging 80 points a game or that the goal posts are in the back of the endzone. The CFL is niche. Corner Gas was niche. Canadian music is niche minus the Top 40 pop stars. Those that follow Hollywood and listen to Top 40 pop radio aren't interested in Xavier Dolan films and listening to Canadian indie artists like City and Colour either.

Lower soccer leagues around the world aren't trying to become the big leagues. They fulfill a market need, creates local pride, and is cheap and accessible entertainment. The CFL doesn't have to be the next NFL, nor does it have to be compared to it. But yes, it has to be financially sustainable and I am not sure anyone has the answer on how to fix that problem. Just a shame that other cultures perhaps don't hate their own things. I'm sure the people of Cyprus have no issues supporting the Cypriot league.

While I agree, this might not be the business deal people are hoping it to be, I am tired of hearing about marketing. I am on record as saying marketing has nothing to do with it. Casuals that don't know how good the talent is look down on the league when they see the majority of the players make less money playing pro football than they do at their everyday job.
The goal here is try and somehow get increased revenue, and like it or not, the changing of the field is because they have an eye on US expansion. It is not ideal, but to me, it's better than some owners walking away from their teams, with no others willing to buy in and take losses. For the most part, the game isn't changing. Way too much whining for my liking.

[R.J]

A couple of good decisions by the League IHMO.

I'm actually all for changing the rouge, as I have never liked that a team could get a point for missing and clearing the end-zone. Ceding a point for a player catching it and not getting it out of the end-zone makes sense though. I also like the League switching to a running clock (wish they would have gone to 30, but baby steps I guess). IIRC, either Paul or maybe Ravi in the past brought up how teams have been taking advantage of the subs and refs whistling in the play, to the point that the NFL for awhile now actually runs more plays than the CFL. Also, having the benches back on opposing sides is a good thing, I can't recall why teams/stadiums starting putting them on the same side.

Kind of indifferent towards going to 15 yard end-zones (not the first time the league has shortened them - re: BC Place), and also indifferent towards moving the goal post. If the League and teams feel that it's been a hindrance all these years than so be it.

Only change I actually dislike is taking the field to 100 yards. 55 Yard line is one tradition I think the League should have stuck with, and maybe instead should/could have cut the width of the Field.

If I had to guess, I think some of these changes were due to future CFL/MLS Stadiums (CFL width is fine, it's the length that has caused issues). Whitecaps if they stay have already stated (along with the Commish) that they would need a new stadium, and I can't see Doman not wanting to get involved with that. There was chatter before about Peladeau and the Impact trying to figure something out. And, I think we all know about the BMO Situation.

[ARGO57]

I have been a staunch CFL fans for 50 years and really like the changes that the CFL is introducing, they all make sense to me.
I recognize that the game needs to evolve with the times to generate interest with a new generation of fans, let’s face it this league has been stagnant for decades and has failed to maintain anywhere close to the presence it once held in the Canadian sports landscape.
Personally I think they have managed significant change while still maintaining the unique rules which make the Canadian game great.
Perhaps it would have been nice to maintain the length of the playing field and simply reduce the size of the end zones but doing what they are going to do opens up the possibilities in regards to future venues if/when expansion is considered.
Having said all of this I do not want anymore changes that would seriously alter the Canadian game (fewer Canadian players, 4 downs) as the league would simply become a watered down version of the NFL.
Ambrosie talked a good game and delivered nothing so I applaud Commissioner Stewart Johnston for having the courage to push this forward so quickly.

[IssuesMcgee]

"This is all so predictable"

Truer words have never been spoken.

What's so predictable here is defenders of the CFL standard party line faith coming out in droves to make excuses or rationalizations for these wonderful changes to Canadian football. The CFL BOGutles$ is counting on this, and book it that most dupes in the Canadian media will fall in line. . 4 downs, no more rouge, a fair catch and no ratio would be defended as - "well, it just good for bizne$$" Carry on.

Well, OV. When the time comes, it looks like you and I will be the only ones vehemently arguing againt becoming the 51st state.

[OV Argo]

"This is all so predictable"

Truer words have never been spoken.

What's so predictable here is defenders of the CFL standard party line faith coming out in droves to make excuses or rationalizations for these wonderful changes to Canadian football. The CFL BOGutles$ is counting on this, and book it that most dupes in the Canadian media will fall in line. . 4 downs, no more rouge, a fair catch and no ratio would be defended as - "well, it just good for bizne$$" Carry on.

Well, OV. When the time comes, it looks like you and I will be the only ones vehemently arguing againt becoming the 51st state.

Ha, ha - not going there

Everybody is entitled to their own vision or wishes for the CFL, and be nice if it "improved", but to me, what that means to a lot of people is for the owners to make more money or for the league & it's supporters to be noticed by Americans. I don 't think you're going to find a huge amount of CFL fans crapping on the league they love, no matter almost anything the BOG did. But ... we shall see. The BOG is already getting a lot of kowtowing from their sycophants / shills in our media over this, but there are some voicing dissent.

Some of these little tweaks are fine (the benches, the clock), but F-ing with the integrity of Canadian football (field size, totally changing the FG game, reducing the rouge drastically), is another matter altogether IMO. These are IMO unassailable features of Canadian football, and I cannot support our game being sold down the river for dollar reasons (and I strongly suspect the main actors behind these moves have other motives for down the road and would not bat an eye at a Canadian football league dying to be replaced by an alliance with American football - a dinky little pro Spring league, with a decent US TV contract, and the promise of NFL involvement (Toronna gets a team / the little league becomes a farm system for the NFL).

So, hopefully the CFL carries on, the owners make some money, and retains most of it's fans, and gains new ones; I just won't be one of them come the 27 season if they stick with this pi$$ing on Canadian football routine (and I pretty well guarantee they will be looking to greatly reduce or totally eliminate the ratio soon down the road). Already informed my RedBlacks tix rep of my thoughts ( - he took it quite politely).

I gots a combined 4 U Sports and Junior ball teams as well as other minor football to go out and support or watch in these parts (sad that so little of it is available on TV). CFL = oh say can you see - I won't be buying tickets or merchandise anymore; might check out to odd game on TV for a few minutes or so, or maybe watch the GC game; which is what I do with NHL hockey now.

[AngeloV]

"This is all so predictable"

Truer words have never been spoken.

What's so predictable here is defenders of the CFL standard party line faith coming out in droves to make excuses or rationalizations for these wonderful changes to Canadian football. The CFL BOGutles$ is counting on this, and book it that most dupes in the Canadian media will fall in line. . 4 downs, no more rouge, a fair catch and no ratio would be defended as - "well, it just good for bizne$$" Carry on.

Well, OV. When the time comes, it looks like you and I will be the only ones vehemently arguing againt becoming the 51st state.

Yeah, because these changes mean we all want to be the 51st state.