A CFL franchise for Windsor? The idea makes more sense when you think about it
https://www.windsorontarionews.com/
WindsorOntarioNews.com March 12 2026
A CFL team for Windsor may not seem as far-fetched as you might first think. Dan Woods (photo), a former broadcaster, TV producer and actor in Degrassi - he played Mr. Raditch - and now semi-retired in Windsor, is pitching the idea of a 20-30,000 seat stadium at the former Windsor Raceway site. He has a facebook group, CFL in Wincity and the concept is attracting "significant support" on social media. Woods says there are several arguments in favour of the city scoring such a team. First, the CFL has long needed a 10th team for "balance" and recent proponents in the Maritimes and Quebec City have been rejected. Second, football is popular here with thousands attending weekly Lions or UM Wolverines games. And this would be a "regional" team not just city. "The signposts say 250,000 but the reality is we are part of a metro area of over 4.5 million people," Woods says. "Yes, we would draw from Detroit. Perhaps Ohio too." The CFL would complement the NFL for football-addicted fans. "The CFL is in week 12 when the NFL starts week one," he says. And the city's size? Windsor is bigger than Regina SK "one of the most profitable teams in the league." It would also help repatriate sports fans to Windsor and draw out-of-towners as a tourist attraction, where once the casino and our riverfront parks drew Americans but have been overridden by comparative projects stateside. "The Windsor Raceway attracted thousands of Americans until the slots were removed and caused it to close," he says. Where would such a stadium be located? That former raceway site itself. Woods admits this is the "most controversial" part of the proposal as it pushes up against plans to expand the Ojibway Prairie park. "Ojibway expansion is a worthwhile cause but was never part of the park plans until the Raceway lands became available," he said. "Parks Canada has $36 million set aside to invest into the park and while it's likely a reasonable investment, but those funds could be put toward improving the existing park rather than expansion." And services are already in place and the property zoning grandfathered for sports and entertainment in "eyesight" of the new Gordie Howe Intl. Bridge.
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