Major Announcement from Commish Tomorrow.

[TICATS SUCK !]

I just finished reading an article by Santino Filoso
on 3DN about the upcoming changes. His views echo mine.

[IssuesMcgee]

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.

Hey, I'm sure if you asked the guy downstairs what he thinks about the CFL aligning its rules closer to American football, he would say it's the smartest, greatest, most wonderful thing we have done as a country. I really hope he doesn't catch wind of it because the boasting would be brutal.

[ArgoBruce]

I have so many thoughts about the specific changes, but most have already been discussed so I won’t repeat them. For the record, I’ll only say that I support the views of Nathan Rourke and Santino Filoso at 3-Down Nation https://3downnation.com/2025/09/26/than ... e-changes/. I’ll just add two things.

What problem are the changes intended to solve? It’s all a little vague. The commissioner is pleased to “clean up the canvas” whatever that means. If the problem is a declining fanbase, that’s a marketing issue. The games this year have been highly entertaining. Teams are averaging 27 points a game (54 combined), there’s plenty of last-minute drama and there’s more parity than the last few years. Why change the product on the field? Let’s look at MLSE’s marketing efforts. The population of the GTA is 7.1 million. Since the Argos average only 14,000 per game, that’s a “success” rate of 0.2%. The population for the Winnipeg area is just 953,000 (all figures from Google) but they average 32,000 per game for a rate of 3.3%. On a per capita basis, the Bombers are 16 times more successful than MLSE at putting bums in the seats. Yes, I know there’s more competition for the sports dollar in Toronto but does MLSE even do any marketing, apart from their efforts on behalf of the Buffalo Bills?

I’ve always treasured the CFL because it is ours - Canadian. The opponents are from Canadian cities, the only anthem is O Canada (apart from a few years in the 1990’s), the players could be neighbours and the rules are ours. A hundred years of fine-tuning those rules has made our game challenging and exciting. There are so many ways to score. (Quick story: Last Saturday the Calgary Dinos were trailing the University of Regina Rams 36 to 27 - 9 points - with only 13 seconds left. From the 28-yard line, they scored a touchdown, a 2 point convert and then, with only six seconds left in the game, drove the kickoff out the back of the opposing end zone to earn a rouge and tie the game). We’re told the new changes “modernize” the game. Let’s use honest words, they “Americanize” the game. Every one of those changes comes from the NFL rulebook. Given that these changes were developed in secrecy and delivered as a done deal, I suspect that there is more to come in succeeding years. CFL rules are finely balanced and drastic changes to the playing field will result in a cascade of rule changes. My friends and I are still debating whether to renew our Argo tickets for next year, but our emotional connection to the CFL has certainly taken a hit.

[AngeloV]

And I’ll ask again. What would everyone that wants to die on this hill do if 4 or 5 owners were tired of losing money on these teams and walked away?

I love the game as is. Absolutely in a perfect world, I would not change a thing. But I would rather have this future version of the CFL game than no CFL at all. I mean, we’ve already lowered our attendance expectations and we are still not hitting those lower expectations. People are so quick to throw out that word “marketing” but there is more to it than that.

Even in Vancouver, they need to bring in a high priced musical talent once a year to get a great crowd. Problem with that is it people were leaving after the musical act. Something needs to be tried to bring in new, young fans. People need to just accept it. If you’re an Argos fan, you will still be an Argos fan. If not, just leave and stop whining.

[shatto]

Not sure how reducing the field to 100 yards will make the game better. More Americanized obviously. Could there be a clue in the comment about potential International interests in our league? Should it read American interests? Are the owners looking for a quick buck in another American expansion? I hope not--remember how the last attempt worked out!!!

[argolio]

And CFL punters often are called to make tackles whereas almost never in the NFL

That's a function of punt returns being legislated into the CFL while it's the opposite in the NFL with fair catches and more kicks ending up out of bounds or as touchbacks. Nothing to do with the actual punters.

Not sure how reducing the field to 100 yards will make the game better. More Americanized obviously. Could there be a clue in the comment about potential International interests in our league? Should it read American interests? Are the owners looking for a quick buck in another American expansion? I hope not--remember how the last attempt worked out!!!

Could be another attempt at American expansion if the UFL dies, or it could be staging games overseas. 150 yard CFL field doesn't fit most soccer stadiums. 130 yards does.

[OV Argo]

I have so many thoughts about the specific changes, but most have already been discussed so I won’t repeat them. For the record, I’ll only say that I support the views of Nathan Rourke and Santino Filoso at 3-Down Nation https://3downnation.com/2025/09/26/than ... e-changes/. I’ll just add two things.

What problem are the changes intended to solve? It’s all a little vague. The commissioner is pleased to “clean up the canvas” whatever that means. If the problem is a declining fanbase, that’s a marketing issue. The games this year have been highly entertaining. Teams are averaging 27 points a game (54 combined), there’s plenty of last-minute drama and there’s more parity than the last few years. Why change the product on the field? Let’s look at MLSE’s marketing efforts. The population of the GTA is 7.1 million. Since the Argos average only 14,000 per game, that’s a “success” rate of 0.2%. The population for the Winnipeg area is just 953,000 (all figures from Google) but they average 32,000 per game for a rate of 3.3%. On a per capita basis, the Bombers are 16 times more successful than MLSE at putting bums in the seats. Yes, I know there’s more competition for the sports dollar in Toronto but does MLSE even do any marketing, apart from their efforts on behalf of the Buffalo Bills?

I’ve always treasured the CFL because it is ours - Canadian. The opponents are from Canadian cities, the only anthem is O Canada (apart from a few years in the 1990’s), the players could be neighbours and the rules are ours. A hundred years of fine-tuning those rules has made our game challenging and exciting. There are so many ways to score. (Quick story: Last Saturday the Calgary Dinos were trailing the University of Regina Rams 36 to 27 - 9 points - with only 13 seconds left. From the 28-yard line, they scored a touchdown, a 2 point convert and then, with only six seconds left in the game, drove the kickoff out the back of the opposing end zone to earn a rouge and tie the game). We’re told the new changes “modernize” the game. Let’s use honest words, they “Americanize” the game. Every one of those changes comes from the NFL rulebook. Given that these changes were developed in secrecy and delivered as a done deal, I suspect that there is more to come in succeeding years. CFL rules are finely balanced and drastic changes to the playing field will result in a cascade of rule changes. My friends and I are still debating whether to renew our Argo tickets for next year, but our emotional connection to the CFL has certainly taken a hit.

Outstanding post ! Welcome !

And the example of a super exciting finish in that recent Dinos/Rams game is great, but would be lost on CFL types who have no clue about or respect for that level of Canadian football.

And it's clear that some CFL fans believe the league is just a business - like any other (nothing special or historic about Canadian football) - and these poor, hard done by CFL owners just have to make changes, to evolve or die - after bleeding piles of ca$h for years and years = yeah, sure thing. And F the coaches, players, and paying customer fans - we decide what's best for the CFL, after all we are the owners. This clueless clown group of American wannabes (BOG cowards, MLSE and Commish Stewie) think they are going to get away with this ... and they may well. We shall see the cost though. There may be all sorts of sycophants in the media out there willing to bend over and defend these wonderful CFL changes, but there are also lots of people speaking out. The BOG may win the media propaganda battle on this, but I guarantee you they are going to lose lots & lots of paying customer fans over this.

[argolio]

And it's clear that some CFL fans believe the league is just a business - like any other (nothing special or historic about Canadian football) - and these poor, hard done by CFL owners just have to make changes, to evolve or die - after bleeding piles of ca$h for years and years = yeah, sure thing. And F the coaches, players, and paying customer fans - we decide what's best for the CFL, after all we are the owners. This clueless clown group of American wannabes (BOG cowards, MLSE and Commish Stewie) think they are going to get away with this ... and they may well. We shall see the cost though. There may be all sorts of sycophants in the media out there willing to bend over and defend these wonderful CFL changes, but there are also lots of people speaking out. The BOG may win the media propaganda battle on this, but I guarantee you they are going to lose lots & lots of paying customer fans over this.

It's been a business since IRFU and WIFU, the future East and West divisions, officially went professional in 1954, and the amateur ORFU was squeezed out of competing for the Grey Cup the next year. It became a bigger business in the 80s went broadcast rights deals started rising exponentially. Not coincidentally, the CFL's long-term problems began in 1987 when the 84-86 TV deal could not be replaced.

Appealing to patriotism and tradition is all well and good, but accomplishes little in today's world. The NFL barely acknowledges its first three decades when countless teams started, merged, moved and folded, and the league barely survived some years.

These changes may accomplish little, but it's either grow or die.

[OV Argo]

And it's clear that some CFL fans believe the league is just a business - like any other (nothing special or historic about Canadian football) - and these poor, hard done by CFL owners just have to make changes, to evolve or die - after bleeding piles of ca$h for years and years = yeah, sure thing. And F the coaches, players, and paying customer fans - we decide what's best for the CFL, after all we are the owners. This clueless clown group of American wannabes (BOG cowards, MLSE and Commish Stewie) think they are going to get away with this ... and they may well. We shall see the cost though. There may be all sorts of sycophants in the media out there willing to bend over and defend these wonderful CFL changes, but there are also lots of people speaking out. The BOG may win the media propaganda battle on this, but I guarantee you they are going to lose lots & lots of paying customer fans over this.

It's been a business since IRFU and WIFU, the future East and West divisions, officially went professional in 1954, and the amateur ORFU was squeezed out of competing for the Grey Cup the next year. It became a bigger business in the 80s went broadcast rights deals started rising exponentially. Not coincidentally, the CFL's long-term problems began in 1987 when the 84-86 TV deal could not be replaced.

Appealing to patriotism and tradition is all well and good, but accomplishes little in today's world. The NFL barely acknowledges its first three decades when countless teams started, merged, moved and folded, and the league barely survived some years.

These changes may accomplish little, but it's either grow or die.

So, why didn't they die in the past 30 years with a 110 yard field and 20 yard end zones and goal-posts a couple of yards behind the goal-line ?

Appealing to "business" sense or principles is just swell and all - if you are a small c zealot, or if you believe CFL / Canadian football is just a simple business like any other - sort of like selling widgets or fruit at the local farmer's market. Also if you are a true believer in the CFL BOG crying poor schtick year after year after year now. MLSE just can't afford to carry or market the Argos; gotta save ca$h to pay 3 million dollars a season to a 4th line mediocre grinder on the Leafs.

People are free to believe in any fairy tales they like; pretty common in the internet / social media times now. The BOGoofs are counting on you !!!

[paulwoods13]

People are free to believe in any fairy tales they like; pretty common in the internet / social media times now. The BOGoofs are counting on you !!!

Would believing the owners would never walk away from the league because they've endured losses for years qualify as a fairy tale?