Change in East Semi-Final Game Time

[ArgoRavi]

The East semi-final, which the Argos will be hosting, will now start at 1 pm on Halloween instead of 3 pm. The West semi-final will now start at 4:30 pm EDT instead of 6:30 pm.

[Scooter McCray]

The East semi-final, which the Argos will be hosting, will now start at 1 pm on Halloween instead of 3 pm. The West semi-final will now start at 4:30 pm EDT instead of 6:30 pm.

On account of Trick or Treating?

[AngeloV]

You can think this man on twitter for this. He has been on a crusade to get the time changed.

https://x.com/sprtandmovieguy/status/21 ... 9702590885

[Scooter McCray]

An honest question. Would any other league do this? Change the time?
The league made this schedule late 2025. They knew the Semi Finals were on October 31 when they set the times then.
I am a fan. I am going to be at that game whether its at 1, 3, 6 or 8 pm because its going to be a heckuva game. When I was a kid in Ottawa in the 70s, if my Dad said would you rather Trick or Treat or go to a Rough Rider playoff game, I would have picked the football game every time. I stopped trick or treating at the age of 11.
My neighborhood now gets maybe 30 kids whereas it used to be 200. The demographics are older now.
My point is no other league bends and twists itself into pretzels like the CFL.
The Argo game is probably going to draw 15,000 regardless of whenever they play it unless ownership decides to let Toronto know they own a football team.
The Western city.....probably Vancouver, may have an impact. But I would defer to maximize TV audience. Peak trick or treating 6:30-9:00 pm local. So original West game interferes in Eastern Canada.
New times make sense in avoiding trick or treat times, but will afternoon bring max TV audience?
All of this was known a year ago when deciding on moving the season earlier.

[AngeloV]

New times make sense in avoiding trick or treat times, but will afternoon bring max TV audience?

Well, the west semi doesn't have to go head to head with HNIC now, so I think that game will get more viewership from eastern Canada.

[Scooter McCray]

New times make sense in avoiding trick or treat times, but will afternoon bring max TV audience?

Well, the west semi doesn't have to go head to head with HNIC now, so I think that game will get more viewership from eastern Canada.

Right, another consideration. HNIC. Should have just scheduled it this way from the beginning.
The Finals will go up against HNIC, but division finals are a better draw, just like Grey Cup goes up against NFL and draws better.
NHL doesn't care its Halloween. NFL wouldn't, MLB won't.
The CFL has to care about all these things why? Their fanbase is more fragile? Potential fanbase is more noncomittal? Stewart Johnston must be somewhat of an expert on TV audience so this is the right call, just not sure why they didn't go this direction originally.

[argolio]

New times make sense in avoiding trick or treat times, but will afternoon bring max TV audience?

Well, the west semi doesn't have to go head to head with HNIC now, so I think that game will get more viewership from eastern Canada.

HNIC is dead. It's now Rogers Saturday Night Hockey.

I'm fine with the time change.

[ArgoGabe22]

Halloween or not I prefer the 1pm time. Wish the West started at 5pm though. I thought Halloween was dwindling. Great reason to skip giving out candy is that football is on! If you have kids, then dress up to the game

[ArgoRavi]

An honest question. Would any other league do this? Change the time?
The league made this schedule late 2025. They knew the Semi Finals were on October 31 when they set the times then.
I am a fan. I am going to be at that game whether its at 1, 3, 6 or 8 pm because its going to be a heckuva game. When I was a kid in Ottawa in the 70s, if my Dad said would you rather Trick or Treat or go to a Rough Rider playoff game, I would have picked the football game every time. I stopped trick or treating at the age of 11.
My neighborhood now gets maybe 30 kids whereas it used to be 200. The demographics are older now.
My point is no other league bends and twists itself into pretzels like the CFL.
The Argo game is probably going to draw 15,000 regardless of whenever they play it unless ownership decides to let Toronto know they own a football team.
The Western city.....probably Vancouver, may have an impact. But I would defer to maximize TV audience. Peak trick or treating 6:30-9:00 pm local. So original West game interferes in Eastern Canada.
New times make sense in avoiding trick or treat times, but will afternoon bring max TV audience?
All of this was known a year ago when deciding on moving the season earlier.

No other league would get crapped on like the CFL would. They're held to a higher standard than any other league.

I don't think Trick or Treating is as big now as it used to be but I was assured on Twitter that it's still a significant thing. I too was probably about 11 when I last did it and, yeah, would have picked a CFL or Leafs game any time over that.

I believe the East semi-final will get over 18k at least.

[IssuesMcgee]

I live an hour North of Toronto and Trick or Treating is still a huge deal. We get hundreds of kids every year.

Now I get to enjoy two traditions on the same day instead of one. I won't have to be one of those Halloween grinches who keeps his lights off and doesn't hand out candy.

This works great for me and any fan living in a place that still takes Halloween seriously.