Winnipeg | CFL Blue Bombers | Princess Auto Stadium - Page 368

CoryB · #**7341** Posted **Sep 12, 2025, 9:28 PM**

Former Bomber's assistant general manager who left after the 2024 season to take the GM job in Hamilton, Ted Goveia, passed away at age 55 earlier today from his battle with cancer that started earlier this year.

Both teams are scheduled to play each other in Hamilton tonight.

The Jabroni · #**7342** Posted **Sep 12, 2025, 10:48 PM**

That is quite the coincidence on a terrible tragedy for not only both clubs, but for the whole CFL.

The tragedy being Ted's passing from cancer.

cheswick · #**7343** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 5:09 PM**

CFL announced "Americanization" of CFL. Shorten fields to 100 yards. Posts at the end of the end zone. Change to rouge.

Biff · #**7344** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 5:35 PM**

Field shortening from 110 yards to 100 yards.
End zones shortening from 20 yards to 15 yards.
Goal posts moving from front of the end zone to the back.
Automatic 35-second play clock.
Team benches must be on opposite sides of the field.
Rouge becomes "active play" outcome, eliminating out-of-bounds rouges.

pspeid · #**7345** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 5:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by biff

field shortening from 110 yards to 100 yards.
End zones shortening from 20 yards to 15 yards.
Goal posts moving from front of the end zone to the back.
Automatic 35-second play clock.
Team benches must be on opposite sides of the field.
Rouge becomes "active play" outcome, eliminating out-of-bounds rouges.

rip cfl

wags_in_the_peg · #**7346** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 6:07 PM**

i watched the video put out by CFL, very informative in my opinion. "aligning" it to be more closer to NFL & US college is not the end of the Canadian game

phone · #**7347** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

i watched the video put out by CFL, very informative in my opinion. "aligning" it to be more closer to NFL & US college is not the end of the Canadian game

Please explain how this is in any way "innovative" and not just mimicking American rules and throwing over 100 years of tradition in the trash?

It most certainly is the end of the Canadian game if the rules of the Canadian game are no longer followed.

cheswick · #**7348** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phone

Please explain how this is in any way "innovative" and not just mimicking American rules and throwing over 100 years of tradition in the trash?

It most certainly is the end of the Canadian game if the rules of the Canadian game are no longer followed.

American football had the goalposts before the end zone until the 70s. Its not like it was always a distinguishing feature of the CFL.

I do remember when the NFL implemented the two point conversion in the 1990's. Everyone was saying it was the end of the American game.

Sheepish · #**7349** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 6:42 PM**

This is maddening and makes me sad. Presumably Canadian universities and junior teams will have to follow suit? Reading between the lines...my guess is the long game is for the CFL to be farm teams for NFL teams. yup...RIP CFL (quoting pspeid above)

optimusREIM · #**7350** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 6:57 PM**

Pros and cons. It's always hard to change, but I kind of see it both ways. My hope is that the rules don't get so ridiculous like the NFL's kickoff rules. The NFL could use more CFL in its game, and the CFL wants to stay relevant and make it easier to integrate. We'll see how this plays out.

phone · #**7351** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 7:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

American football had the goalposts before the end zone until the 70s. Its not like it was always a distinguishing feature of the CFL.

I do remember when the NFL implemented the two point conversion in the 1990's. Everyone was saying it was the end of the American game.

Sure, but the 70s was still 50 years ago... which is longer than most people have been alive at this point, or at least, longer than most people have been old enough to remember. I certainly came into this world over a decade after "moving the goalposts", and am approaching middle age...

As for the two point conversion, rules can change over time -- that is actual innovation, not a doomed naked attempt to entice NFL fans too "good" for the CFL to make the switch. It's a business decision, not a football decision. Stewart Johnston is a former Bell VP for "content and sales". That's the perspective these decisions are coming from.

The CFL is failing, and if anyone needed proof, this is it.

anthonyk · #**7352** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 8:53 PM**

As unfortunate as it is, the way I see it is, the CFL is failing, the NFL is not, CFL looks to NFL for ways to improve the business. In the end, it is a business.

phone · #**7353** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 9:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonyk

As unfortunate as it is, the way I see it is, the CFL is failing, the NFL is not, CFL looks to NFL for ways to improve the business. In the end, it is a business.

See, this is what the controversy boils down to, IMO. There seems to be agreement that the CFL is failing. But views diverge as whether to make it more appealing by turning it into a more NFL-like product, or by leaning in to what makes it distinct as its own sister-sport to American Football.

In my view, turning it into an NFL-like product might result in a sugar rush for some fans. But, in the long run, it will just turn the CFL into even more of an NFL pseudo-farm league than it already is, preventing any long term growth beyond a certain ceiling.

If the CFL was to instead try to further differentiate it from the American game, it would give more room for the league to actually innovate and find new ways to broaden/renew the fan base instead of pulling from the grab bag of American rules until there's nothing left.

Americanizing the game is a lazy, myopic band-aid solution that will do long term harm to the CFL, and to the Canadian game generally.

The Jabroni · #**7354** Posted **Sep 22, 2025, 11:16 PM**

I don't like this news, but if it's a way to improve the business, then whatever. Doesn't mean I will like this idea. If this ends up working out, then colour me humble pie.

If it turns out as bad as I think it is, then RIP CFL, followed by an angry mob asking for Stewart Johnson's head!

Andy6 · #**7355** Posted **Sep 23, 2025, 12:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phone

Sure, but the 70s was still 50 years ago... which is longer than most people have been alive at this point, or at least, longer than most people have been old enough to remember. I certainly came into this world over a decade after "moving the goalposts", and am approaching middle age...

As for the two point conversion, rules can change over time -- that is actual innovation, not a doomed naked attempt to entice NFL fans too "good" for the CFL to make the switch. It's a business decision, not a football decision. Stewart Johnston is a former Bell VP for "content and sales". That's the perspective these decisions are coming from.

The CFL is failing, and if anyone needed proof, this is it.

The presentation was carefully written to avoid any reference to the NFL or American football. Instead of being honest about adopting NFL rules because they are hoping to cash in by merging with a U.S. minor league in future (or whatever the truth is), they portrayed the changes as "innovations" that no one had ever thought of before ... including a helpful diagram to show us what an upright would look like if it were on the back line instead of the goal line, as though football fans would need help picturing such an exotic and brilliantly innovative location for a football goalpost.

The CFL has been "dying" for longer than most of us have been living. In spite of all that dying, it's still the same 9 cities it was when I first remember it over 50 years ago.

wags_in_the_peg · #**7356** Posted **Sep 23, 2025, 1:08 PM**

my kids & nephews all 18-27 do not follow CFL, they go to Bomber games to party. However NFL & college, they are nuts over. "aligning" our league to be a feeder league to NFL (almost like farm teams) would be beneficial in the long run. can you imagine the Bomber being the farm team for Vikings & Chiefs prospects, that would be hugely popular. please no arrows or bullets shot at me for saying the above

Biff · #**7357** Posted **Sep 23, 2025, 1:38 PM**

The new CFL Field at Princess Auto Stadium

pspeid · #**7358** Posted **Sep 23, 2025, 1:53 PM**

IMO the soul of the CFL started to die when the Ottawa football club's latest incarnation wasn't allowed to call themselves the "Rough Riders". A nine team league without two teams that have essentially the same names just wasn't Canadian.

neutroniks · #**7359** Posted **Sep 23, 2025, 2:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

my kids & nephews all 18-27 do not follow CFL, they go to Bomber games to party. However NFL & college, they are nuts over. "aligning" our league to be a feeder league to NFL (almost like farm teams) would be beneficial in the long run. can you imagine the Bomber being the farm team for Vikings & Chiefs prospects, that would be hugely popular. please no arrows or bullets shot at me for saying the above

That is very accurate. I remember going to the old stadium near polo, and the 18-27 demographic didn't dress that way at the old stadium. They actually dressed for games. Now the 18-27 demographic dress like they're going to a club or a concert. It's basically one big club by the Rum Hut, you'd think you were at La Roca or the Pal hahaha.

But while this would be exciting to be a feeder team, NFL practice roster players make more than some of the middle to higher paid CFL players. Unless you're a player that is specifically looking for playing time and TV time, a lot of players are going to stay in the NFL trying to crack past the practice roster, while still getting paid more than most CFL players.

borkborkbork · #**7360** Posted **Sep 23, 2025, 2:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by neutroniks

That is very accurate. I remember going to the old stadium near polo, and the 18-27 demographic didn't dress that way at the old stadium. They actually dressed for games. Now the 18-27 demographic dress like they're going to a club or a concert. It's basically one big club by the Rum Hut, you'd think you were at La Roca or the Pal hahaha.

Interesting polling about the younger demographic.

Leger asked Canadians whether moving to a full NFL style game (4 downs, etc.) would increase or decrease their CFL fandom.

18-34 year olds: 10% decrease; 20% increase (net 10% gain)
55+ year olds: 23% decrease; 8% increase (net 15% loss)

https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CFL-National-Omni-Jan-13-2022.pdf