Canadian Football League 2008 - Page 10

ReginaGuy · #**181** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 3:27 AM**

We need to get this country more interested in sports (other than hockey). I would love to see the CFL add 5-10 more teams. Other countries have no trouble filling huge stadiums in relatively small cities. I don't know what Canada's problem is.

Also, am I the only one that thinks the CFL season should be shifted 2 months back? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to start in May and avoid having to play deep into November? This is Canada! It seems a little bit idiotic to have our championship late November when almost all of our stadiums are open to the weather.

It would be much better for the fans and players to take advantage of warmer months like May and June

Rico Rommheim · #**182** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 3:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

Kelowna's not much smaller than Regina, and the surrounding area is more populated, with Vernon (60k) 30 minutes North, and Penticton (30k?) to the South. The Okanagan Valley is quite heavily populated.

Victoria's not in Vancouver.

Saskatchewan could support another team.

Agreed. If countries like Sweden and Norway can support their own football (soccer) leagues than so can we with the CFL.

-Victoria could get one.
-Halifax should be able too.
-2nd team for saskatchewan? Sure why not? Imagine the HUGE rivalry!
-Why Quebec city doesn't have a CFL franchise is mind blowing, probably the biggest untapped football market in the country! 750,000 in the metro and up to 1,000 000 in the greater Quebec region!
-Kelowna is growing rapidly and has a decent minors sports thing going on, I could see the CFL giving it a shot...
-Intothewest's right, London should easily have one!

list, redux

Vancouver
Victoria
Kelowna-BC Interior
Calgary
Edmonton
Regina
Saskatoon
Winnipeg

Toronto
Hamilton
London
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Halifax
x-northern Ontario? Windsor? Kitchener-Waterloo? Gatineau?

IntotheWest · #**183** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 3:49 AM**

^Saskatchewan has BY FAR the most loyal CFL fans in the country. It would be absolutely absurd to think Saskatoon couldn't handle its own team. The only reason the CFL never talks about it, is because they think everyone in Sask is such diehard RR fans that they wouldn't support it! It's the same reasoning as western cities not getting NHL teams years ago (since, we were all Canadiens or - god help us - Leafs fans).

Saskatoon and Halifax should, without even a second thought be the first places CFL tries to get into.

Nicko - Kelowna's population is 165,000, and as mentioned Vernon is about 30 minutes north (40,000), with Penticton about the same to the south (35,000). Not including all the places in between (Summerland, Peachland, etc). All told, the Okanagan is home to about 350,000...and, arguably, the best summer weather (re: warm, sunny, dry) in Canada.

"Vancouver Island" (not Vancouver) is about 700,000 folks - 330,000 in Victoria metro.

And I threw London in there, but surely, even another team could fit somewhere in the South Ontaro region?? Another TO-area team? Maybe as far out as like Barrie??

DOUBLE-EDIT: Rico, I read your post, but somehow missed your last line...Windsor or KW sounds good too. Not sure about Gatineau though...that whole area seems to have bad Karma with the CFL

Windsor would be cool though. Not sure if T Bay (northern Ont?) could support a team?

I'll be far more interested in the CFL in a 15-16 team ALL Canadian league.

EDIT: ReginaGuy - I agree with it starting in June or May. I think only Calgary still gets snowstorms then

SHOFEAR · #**184** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 4:02 AM**

How many times over the past 20 some years has Saskatchewan made money?

How does splitting the market, not in half-but perhaps taking away 15% of the fan base for a team in Saskatoon make the CFL stronger?

The best case scenario is it turns out like Regina- a market that rarely makes money, except now that market is even smaller.

There are other markets with a far bigger up side that don't run the risk of destroying a financially weak market. Lets go to those markets first.

IntotheWest · #**185** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 4:15 AM**

^Well, I think most of us are basing our ideas on general interest in a certain region, and a given population base. There's obviously other factors - such as stadia to play in as well.

But, do you know the financial details of all the teams?? I was sure the CFL as a whole wasn't a huge money success story over the last 20-ish years - nor every team in it. Regardless of not knowing the specifics, I'd find it hard to believe that the RR don't hold their own as well as most every other market.

The other factor you mention - "taking away 15% of the fan base" would have to be researched first. How many Saskatoon-ites (??) travel to the games in Regina. It would take a bit a way from the RR, but I still stand behind saying they have enough fans in Sask to go around. When Sask comes to Calgary for example, they make up likely 30-40% of the fans watching. They drive their cars around hanging out the windows wearing green and white and waving their oversized flags like they just won the 'Ship...and that's a regular season game.

Besides, please keep in mind that for some stupid reason, the CFL Commisioner last year mentioned expanding into "U.S. Border towns"....which, of all places, included Fargo, ND.

If he "thinks" CFL would work in Fargo, I'm definitely right about Saskatoon

Rico Rommheim · #**186** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 4:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntotheWest

Besides, please keep in mind that for some stupid reason, the CFL Commisioner last year mentioned expanding into "U.S. Border towns"....which, of all places, included Fargo, ND.

Christ, not this again.

artvandelay · #**187** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 6:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReginaGuy

Also, am I the only one that thinks the CFL season should be shifted 2 months back? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to start in May and avoid having to play deep into November? This is Canada! It seems a little bit idiotic to have our championship late November when almost all of our stadiums are open to the weather.

It would be much better for the fans and players to take advantage of warmer months like May and June

No way, football is meant to be played in the icy cold and wind of late November.

SteelTown · #**188** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 1:27 PM**

CFL and NFL should work up some sort of agreement to allow NFL teams play with CFL, vice versa. Imagine Ti Cats vs Steelers or Argos vs NY Giants, Alouettes vs New England, Stampeders vs. Broncos, Lions vs Seahawks, etc.

Jay in Cowtown · #**189** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 2:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by artvandelay

No way, football is meant to be played in the icy cold and wind of late November.

That wouldn't be a problem here in May & June

circle33 · #**190** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 2:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

CFL and NFL should work up some sort of agreement to allow NFL teams play with CFL, vice versa. Imagine Ti Cats vs Steelers or Argos vs NY Giants, Alouettes vs New England, Stampeders vs. Broncos, Lions vs Seahawks, etc.

That worked in the 50s and 60s, when salaries in each league were similar, but there is no way that would fly today. As much as I love the CFL, such games would be blood baths.

Beltliner · #**191** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 4:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC83

So it's NFL Day in Toronto... anyone going to this game?

I heard they were only able to sell about 30,000 tix and the rest were given away?

If this is true (and I pray it is), I suppose this means Money-Bag Rogers' new cash-scham was a big waste of time/hype/and money!

Edit: I guess it's kinda true?

Canadian Press
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jODss2veYvKSVnumOcmqJH0qGEng

The house was papered last night--it's only a question of by how much. The announced attendance was 48,434, about 5,000 shy of the Pop-Top's capacity, but Krasnaya Zvyezda is reporting 15,000 giveaway tickets, while The Scum is claiming 17,000 freebies.

Tough luck for Uncle Ted and the scalpers--and if you're in the office of the NFL commish, you're probably not a happy camper today.

Rico Rommheim · #**192** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 4:59 PM**

The failure of the NFL in TO is great news!

DC83 · #**193** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beltliner

The house was papered last night--it's only a question of by how much. The announced attendance was 48,434, about 5,000 shy of the Pop-Top's capacity, but Krasnaya Zvyezda is reporting 15,000 giveaway tickets, while The Scum is claiming 17,000 freebies.

Tough luck for Uncle Ted and the scalpers--and if you're in the office of the NFL commish, you're probably not a happy camper today.

Wow that's fantastic (kinda).

But was it a) Ticket Prices, or b) Canadian Identity that deterred these folks from the game? $300-$500 / ticket is DISGUSTING! MLSE disgusting!

Anyone think they'll continue w/ the other 7 games? I hope that $78 million loss wasn't too big for Teddy to handle or I'M going to have to start paying for incoming txts too! :s

samne · #**194** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 5:12 PM**

I dont think this was a fare test. We've had preseason NFL games in Toronto before, including the 90's Cowboys.

The real test will be the regular season games played at the Dome over the next few years.

This game was a re-introduction to the product and examining how to approach this over the next period. You can bet Rogers and Tannenbaum will be doing there market surveys after last night.

DC83 · #**195** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 5:30 PM**

^^ Here's my (unscientific) survey

Canadians prefer the Canadian Game
Canadians are pissed at Mobile Phone rates

There ya go, Rogers! Now concentrate on making Canadians happy!

IntotheWest · #**196** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 5:34 PM**

^I'm not a big football fan...but, just realized that this was PRESEASON??? For double the average price charged in the US?

Yeah, no doubt it wasn't a fair "test" of the market.

I guess Americans are big into the NFL, so preseasons probably sell out...but, that ticket price is what got them.

I wouldn't mind checking out a NFL game at some point - just to say I saw one live, but no way I'd pay even half those prices.

EDIT: ^Ah...more details I missed. Rogers is behind it. They must have a hidden long-distance charge on those tickets.

DC83 · #**197** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 6:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntotheWest

EDIT: ^Ah...more details I missed. Rogers is behind it. They must have a hidden long-distance charge on those tickets.

Nope, just a Ticket Access Fee... no one knows what it is... it's just there!
(jokes obviously)

ReginaGuy · #**198** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 11:00 PM**

I just watched highlights of the Bills-Steelers game in Toronto.

Wow, it seems like there was no atmosphere at all. The crowd looked and sounded completely bored.

With such an overwhelming failure, maybe we won't have to hear people from Toronto whining about getting an NFL team anymore.

Ayreonaut · #**199** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 11:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReginaGuy

The crowd looked and sounded completely bored.

Well it was an NFL game.

Nicko999 · #**200** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 11:45 PM**

Toronto is going down tonight!!!