Poll: should the CFL move goal posts to the end dead line as in the NFL ?

[Hackslack]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

The irony of "true, dedicated CFL fans" claiming to cancel season seats and stop giving time or money to the league kills me every time. You clearly don't actually care about the CFL if you're willing to jump ship so easily.

Especially without even giving the changes a chance. If the product has proven to be worse and not worth the money, then sure, scrap the season tickets. But the oweners/board of governors are taking a chance, making decisions to improve the game/bring more money, with the hopes of landing a better tv contract that will hopefully lead to expansion.

Props to the CFL for being bold. I give credit to those who think outside the box and make big bold decisions, and not just keep things as they are for the simple fact that’s the ways it’s always been.

[craner]

I didn’t like allowing teams on the same sideline so I’m glad that has changed

[northernlights99]

Montreal's Olympic Stadium had players benches on Opposite sidelines as per pic below.

BC Place did have benches on Same side so that both football and soccer fields could share the same opposite sideline. They repaint the lines for Lions and Whitecaps games obviously so having One Common sideline for both sports does save.

The MLS field is about 5 yards wider than the CFL field. So one sideline is common for both fields.

However its a case where Corporate BC Place, run by Pavilion Corporation, is telling the BC Lions and CFL the way things are to be and it shouldn't be that way.

For MLS Soccer it doesn't matter cause by convention, teams benches are on Same side anyways.

So for Whitecaps games, benches are on the Same side, have been as long as I remember.

In Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg, CFL benches are Already on Opposite sides. Correct me if I'm wrong.

And Regina's and Winnipeg's Stadiums are Newer, were built after BC Place was opened in 1983. So contrary what the maker of that Video says, at least in the West, this has nothing to do with Grandfathered rules laid down from regional leagues that existed before 1958.

I already posted a pic from the 1963 Grey Cup at Empire Stadium in Vancouver; benches are clearly on Opposite sides.

Here you see clearly in Montreal's Olympic Stadium the benches were on Opposite sides. What an Amazing pic too ! Grey Cup in Montreal, 65,000 fans !

[northernlights99]

[QUOTE=BlackDog204;10531842]That's true, but you are missing the point. We can post a poll in regards to the new CFL field changes in a Mississippi football forum, but the results would not really matter, considering that hardly anyone in the state watches CFL, let alone is planning on spending money buying tickets and merchandise to the games.

The bottom line, is what CFL fans, who actually spend money on the product buying tickets, merchandise, etc. think. With CFL or football specific Canadian forum polls, we get a far better read on how the changes will play out in terms of attendance and viewership.


I tried adding the Poll to a CFL Forum but you can only create a Poll as a New thread.

And do you honestly think I would be so stupid as to post this Poll in Mississippi ? seriously.

[northernlights99]

my pic from a game in Ottawa, you can see the game for free by standing on the grassy hill at east end lol.

As you can see clearly, team benches are on the Same side.

Anyways look at the field. There isn't much room on the Opposite sideline for a bench. There is hardly any room on that side between sideline and stands.

They will clearly have to shift the field over sideways a few yards. Which means relocating the goal post holes.

Then do it again for 2027. They have all this room on the south end where the new stands were built but not much room on the old north end.

Oh well another issue Lansdowne has to figure out. They are planning a new stand on the north end and a new arena for the 67s roughly where I'm standing when I snapped this pic so clearly money is not an issue.

[craner]

Ottawa was the first to put both teams on the same sideline from what I remember. It happened when they re-built the stadium because they wanted to add field level seating to the north sideline. Before that (11 years ago ?) I don’t ever recall teams on the same sideline - in any stadium.

[northernlights99]

Yes in fact my pic was taken sometime between 2015 and 2019, I can't recall but that's when I lived there, post opening of the new south stands. Redblacks had a good team then.

Lansdowne is a Great setting, so many bars and restaurants around the Stadium, 3 floor movie theater, great setting. It's very well laid out. And great fans in Ottawa, lots of tradition going back to the days of Tony Gabriel.

Not like Vancouver, walk out of BC Place there's nothing but a Costco, Condo towers as far as eye can see and a packed Skytrain.

So I guess Vancouver is only CFL city with benches on same sideline. I did see a clip from that Video showing a Lions run back and it showed both teams on same sideline, not sure how recent that was though.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Hackslack

But the oweners/board of governors are taking a chance, making decisions to improve the game/bring more money, with the hopes of landing a better tv contract that will hopefully lead to expansion.

The league’s contract with TSN is up at the end of this year so it will be interesting to see whether the initial changes that come into effect this season will result in a meaningful increase. I can’t see that happening simply because TSN is the only broadcast partner in town and it’ll be such a limited sample size, but I suppose anything is possible. Maybe they become enthralled by all those improved sightlines.

[northernlights99]

Are you suggesting TSN secretly has been pushing the CFL for these improvements ? Maybe. Likely. And probably the reason why this has been covered up so secretly.

The League is ticket driven (having butts in seats is vital) but Television revenue is important also though I don't know what the percentage breakdown of each is.

I would miss seeing the beautiful gals on TSN talk about the Argos.

As for the Poll, it has been listed under Canada, its a Canadian Football league so affects all of populated Canada not just individual provinces.

So I feel the Poll's location is appropriate. There is no such thing as making a Poll for just certain people.

If Non football fans want to vote including Cheerleaders, the more the merryer.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

The irony of "true, dedicated CFL fans" claiming to cancel season seats and stop giving time or money to the league kills me every time. You clearly don't actually care about the CFL if you're willing to jump ship so easily.

So you're only a "true" fan if you spend money blindly and uncritically?

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by northernlights99

Are you suggesting TSN secretly has been pushing the CFL for these improvements ? Maybe. Likely. And probably the reason why this has been covered up so secretly.

No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if TSN was involved in the conversation in some capacity.

[Hawrylyshyn]

Originally Posted by jonny24

So you're only a "true" fan if you spend money blindly and uncritically?

In my opinion no. For context, certain other posters on here will claim that's the only thing that matters then they have turned around and said they will no longer watch or spend money on it.

I was just using their own logic against them ("if you don't actively go to games and spend money you're not a real fan and your opinion does not matter")

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by craner

Ottawa was the first to put both teams on the same sideline from what I remember. It happened when they re-built the stadium because they wanted to add field level seating to the north sideline. Before that (11 years ago ?) I don’t ever recall teams on the same sideline - in any stadium.

As far back as I can recall, Ivor Wynne had both teams against the north stands (sideline width was cramped, but there were dugouts for each)

THF/Hamilton Stadium kept that setup, but has the space to accommodate teams on each sideline. They'll just need to move/replace the field-level video boards that have been on the east side.

[craner]

^I remember the dugouts and limited sideline room at IW - didn’t realize both teams were on the same sideline though.

[ScreamingViking]

I can see the team (well, all the teams actually) doing something with the extra space at each end too, whether that's an extension of existing "lounge" areas or something at field level - IMO, it was probably the biggest impetus for the changes to field dimensions. Depending on whether the fields remain centred, there could be 10 extra yards to work with at both ends. And I think while it's an open question whether the field remains at 100 yards over the longer term or returns to 110, the 15-yard endzones will stay.

[northernlights99]

Well my Poll is Tied. Very surprising.

The Senators Radio rights with Bell Media are also up at end of season which calls into question the future of Ottawa's TSN 1200.

Bell Media slashed their TSN stations in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Hamilton. They lost or never re bid for hockey radio rights.

1040 in Vancouver and 1260 in Edmonton are silent, I'd imagine Ottawa's 1200 is next to be Cut.

Vancouver Canucks are on Sportsnet 650 as well as Mariners and Seahawks. Lions and Whitecaps on 730 after CKNW moved from 980 to 730 then 980 went silent.

Lions and Whitecaps have to actually buy their airtime for their games directly from the station.

CHED in Edmonton moved from 630 to 880 now 630 is silent. Both are owned by Corus Entertainment which may file for bankruptcy.

I mean if you can't afford to operate two AM stations in the same market.

680 CJOB in Winnipeg has radio rights for both Jets and Bombers.

I wonder if cutting its radio holdings is a cost saving measure to help TSN pay for Luke Wilson's new haircut ?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

I voted yes... as it seems a tad "safer" for the players.

Elly, do we have a rare case of agreement?

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

As far back as I can recall, Ivor Wynne had both teams against the north stands (sideline width was cramped, but there were dugouts for each)

THF/Hamilton Stadium kept that setup, but has the space to accommodate teams on each sideline. They'll just need to move/replace the field-level video boards that have been on the east side.

This is why this one was pretty surprising to me. I assume these are a decent revenue generator, or they wouldn't drag out and wire up 100 TVs. So teams are going to forgo that now?

[Biff]

I played High School and Jr Football and I always thought the goal post location was ridiculous. I played safety and the goal post was always an issue when the opposing team got into the red zone. I know that people say they like the little quirky things that make certain leagues unique. Having played and watched a ton of football over the last 40 or so years some things just don't make sense and the goal posts in the middle of the field of play is one of them.

[savevp]

The actual rule changes are perhaps less important than the manner in which they were implemented. The absolute secrecy, and apparent unanimity from the owners, suggests there is more afoot. These changes alone very obviously aren't going to move the needle on revenue, unless downward.

The NFL sized field and NFL kicking position suggest to me that there is either an upcoming deal with the NFL to turn the CFL into a development league, or that they will attempt another US expansion. Neither are a good idea at the best of times, and certainly not now. To me, the logical course would have been trying to get out from under the NFL by looking to our rugby origins, but we will see what is to come.

Many longtime fans will rightfully be feeling betrayed by how this was sprung on us, and I'll absolutely maintain that boycotting/abandoning the league is a valid move for fans of the game. We lost hockey to the Americans long ago, but the idea that we should sit silently as the stewards of football hand the CFL over as well, that's not support