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Angus Reid conducted a survey of the CFL & NFL in Canada recently. The article can be found here.
https://i1.wp.com/angusreid.org/wp-c...ize=895%2C1024 https://i0.wp.com/angusreid.org/wp-c...CFL8.jpg?w=600 https://i1.wp.com/angusreid.org/wp-c...CFL3.jpg?w=644 https://i0.wp.com/angusreid.org/wp-c...CFL5.jpg?w=731 https://i1.wp.com/angusreid.org/wp-c...etho.jpg?w=454 All graphs courtesy of Angus Reid. |
Angus Reid also polled Canadians on their general views of sports leagues in Canada, which can be viewed here.
Here's the main table: https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1846/2...d95556fa_o.png |
The most interesting info for me is the interest in football leagues according to political allegiance.
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Based on those results, the CFL better start figuring out how to attract the 18-34 crowd, OR start pulling fans in from the 18 and under category. That's how you build a future fan base.
It's also interesting to see that Quebec has more preference to the NFL over the CFL. 10 years ago, with Calvillo and Trestman at the helm in Montreal, I don't think those numbers are that way. Winning does wonders in Montreal I guess. No surprise in Ontario as well. Count me as part of that 21% who watch and enjoy both leagues. |
Those stats pretty much prove all of my thoughts about the CFL and it's future as a league in it's current Mickey Mouse state. The fact that they are losing the market to the NFL with younger Canadians is not a shock to me. I've said it before, a league needs more then just 9 teams to make it interesting. Give Halifax a team, Victoria, Quebec City, London. if the numbers are bad and they are losing the younger market to the NFL the future of the league doesn't appear so great.
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Relative to NFL, CFL has work to do. Relative to other major sports, CFL is 2nd in overall popularity, and is far and away more popular overall than MLS and NBA.
The difference between NFL and CFL is the fact that fantasy football exists in NFL. That is probably the greatest reason why you see those increased stats, especially the 18 - 35 age. I’ve always said, there are football fans, then there are the fantasy football fans... People say that if Toronto didn’t have a CFL team the league would die off and become irrelevant... argument is even more true with respect to NBA and MLB. If Toronto lost their team those two leagues would become completely irrelevant l. |
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NFL fantasy leagues are a billion dollar market. That's one reason why the NFL has the appeal that it does. TSN is trying to get CFL fantasy going but offering a $5,000 reward for winning isn't going to attract a big base of people, especially in the 18-35 category, signing up. |
People act as if the so called "Mickey Mouse league" is blissfully unaware of its present older demo. They are very aware under Commish Ambrosie and have been working to fix the problem (and having some early success).
That's why you see party zones being erected and or put into new stadium design, think Rum Hut, Pil Country, Subaru Log Cabin. That why the CFL came up with a video game especially geared to younger kids, that's why you're seeing initiatives towards flag football and programs (Nissan) to help get football back into schools. They are thinking well beyond attracting millennials. |
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You can't just plant a team anywhere just for the sake of adding new teams. I also think the disinformation of the quality of the league relative to the NFL has likely peaked. Sure you'll get lots of people in one particularly highly populated area to buy into the NFL hype but Americans themselves are buying into it less. You are likely to see all big time sports waning in many levels of popularity, we just don't live our lives like we did in the previous century. I think the CFL is as well positioned as any league to take on the future. Why? Because the CFL has had to scratch and claw for the past 30 years and has actually come out the other side even better than then. Almost every major sport should be concerned about their future and who their audience will be well after any millennial generation |
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In any case, it's going to be interesting to see what happens when the Alliance of American Football (what a dumb name) kicks off. All players will receive a minimum 3-year, $250K USD contracts. That should sway some Americans away from playing in Canada since it's more advantageous to stay to play in the US (ie. higher salary, lower taxes, closer to home for some, warmer weather, more accessible to scouts, etc). |
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But I've also been seeing lots of stories of young folk not being able to afford anything and the emergence of the whole tiny house et al movements. Problem is, I want to retire early and downsize but some of the prices on these new age units aren't too great either. And that is their whole raison d'etre, affordability. All I want is my little beach cottage but some of the prices to me are ridiculous, but I suppose it is all relative because someone from the GTA or Vancouver would think they were probably great prices. |
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The USFL had the best chance, but some "small potatoes" big shot blew it for them. |
I don’t mind these new football leagues pop up. It makes the CFL be more competitive to recruit players, increase salaries, etc... not to mention these leagues don’t overlap with CFL, so theoretically players that play in the other leagues can still play for the CFL season. Make $80k in the US league through the winter, the make another $80k trough the summer/fall... not sure it could work that way but hopefully they could find a way
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This next CBA negotiation, which will be after this season, will be very interesting. |
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250k/year minimum contract would be ludicrous for a new league - especially one with only 8 teams to draw revenue from. Another draw to potential players I forgot is that the season is only 12 weeks long and each team only plays 10 games. Enticing to earn more money playing almost half as many games - especially for a sport as physically damaging as football. |
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