The Great Canadian Sports Attendance, Marketing and TV Ratings Thread

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by thurmas

I think its Toronto wants star players and because cfl salary constraints is unable to sign stars like it could in years gone by is a big reason for the decline in Toronto. Back in the 70s they could sign some of the best players out of US colleges and draw 45 to 50 thousand fans a game. Even in the early 90s Rocket Ismail they were averaging 36,000 a game and Ricky Williams in 2006 30,000 fans a game. If the CFL could sign even 1 star player per team would likely generate a lot more interest.

2007 and most CFL stadiums were at or near capacity for their games and then the league signed an exclusive TV contract with TSN and its been a steady decline since then. Hmmm.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Perhaps the issue isn't so much MLSE not doing its job but that the CFL or gridiron cannot be marketed and/or successful in Toronto in the way that CFL fans are expecting.

Saying that Toronto is too 'American' or that Canadians prefer a league with US teams is simply a coping mechanism for the steady decline of the CFL at this point. Leagues like the CHL continue to exist (and yes I know there are US teams) despite the supposed unwillingness of Canadians to be supportive of purely domestic ventures. I think it's weird to throw the American angle in as a reason when so many CFL players are American to begin with and something the CFL relies on for talent.

OHL teams also struggle in the GTA compared to elsewhere.

Toronto just thinks it's too big for Canada-only leagues.

As for what diffrerent owners would do differently - I think they would do a lot of the same things, only they would try harder, stick with it longer, and actually care about it working. MLSE can't be arsed with giving the Argos their own president.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Yes the CFL has really dropped the ball on selling itself to Canada. But the growing chorus of Canadians who hate the CFL because it doesn't give million dollar contracts or that a US college team could easily beat a CFL team just prove they know nothing about the game and talent level.

I'm also pointing out that CPL, CEBL and even CHL teams are having difficulty in filling their barns as well. Finally that our "National Sports Networks" are more than willing to buy access to mainly US sports products instead of putting a mediocre amount of effort (like showing highlights) in promoting Canadian entities.

NCAA regional gymnastics semi-finals between Moorehead State and Ole Miss on TSN prime time have always been a family favourite in my household!

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by jonny24

OHL teams also struggle in the GTA compared to elsewhere.

Toronto just thinks it's too big TIME for Canada-only leagues.

As for what diffrerent owners would do differently - I think they would do a lot of the same things, only they would try harder, stick with it longer, and actually care about it working. MLSE can't be arsed with giving the Argos their own president.

Fixed that for you

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Fixed that for you

A sadly accurate correction.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

I'm also pointing out that CPL, CEBL and even CHL teams are having difficulty in filling their barns as well.

Yes and no. I'm not caught up on CEBL crowds but some CPL teams are on pace to set season records for average crowds, namely Victoria and Calgary. CHL crowds, last I saw, weren't drastically different from pre-COVID, although we'll need likely another season to see if there's any sort of widespread trend.

Originally Posted by jonny24

OHL teams also struggle in the GTA compared to elsewhere.

Oshawa does fine. Demographics everywhere else, like Mississauga and Markham, don't really add up for CHL teams, and don't make economic sense within the city itself. Hockey, like gridiron, isn't an urban sport.

Originally Posted by jonny24

Toronto just thinks it's too big for Canada-only leagues.

If you say so.

Originally Posted by jonny24

As for what diffrerent owners would do differently - I think they would do a lot of the same things, only they would try harder, stick with it longer, and actually care about it working. MLSE can't be arsed with giving the Argos their own president.

I see.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Yes and no. I'm not caught up on CEBL crowds but some CPL teams are on pace to set season records for average crowds, namely Victoria and Calgary. CHL crowds, last I saw, weren't drastically different from pre-COVID, although we'll need likely another season to see if there's any sort of widespread trend.


Oshawa does fine. Demographics everywhere else, like Mississauga and Markham, don't really add up for CHL teams, and don't make economic sense within the city itself. Hockey, like gridiron, isn't an urban sport.


If you say so.


I see.

I would agree with demographics too Torontos don't really work well for gridiron and hockey as much as it used to either. It's more and more a Soccer and basketball town

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Which new owners? Would love to know who would want to own the team once the CFL is rid is MLSE's supposed mismanagement.

Never claimed to know.

Originally Posted by JHikka

If MLSE is giving up on the team what makes you think they would want to retain them as a tenant? Neither Lamport nor Varsity are really feasible for CFL teams unless the league wants to drop its gameday quality and amenities substantially in order to stay in the market.

Money. The amount of TFC fans they'd close compared to the rent from having the Argos play there is miniscule. Added to that City Hall has been pro-sharing the stadium in the past. No reason to think MLSE wouldn't take their money. Besides, it's not like there's any real feasible stadiums for a CFL team elsewhere, unless you count Guelph.

[Al Ski]

I've been a follower of the CFL all my life. Not overly enthusiastic but I follow the scores, the standings and go to games every now and then.

When many players don't earn enough to live in the cities that they play for ie: Toronto and Vancouver - that's a REAL problem.

The other is of course 10 teams but that's been long standing..

The clown show 'crossover' b.s. is just sad.

[JHikka]

https://www.ledevoir.com/sports/7393...es-de-montreal

FIX Auto CEO Steve Leal has put in a bid for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL, and a relocation to somewhere in or around Montreal is a condition of that purchase. They would need to find a location to build a 3-4K capacity CHL arena, likely on the South Shore of Montreal, likely in one of the following communities: Boucherville, Chambly, Châteauguay, Longueuil, Saint-Constant, Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Sainte-Julie.

FIX Auto is based out of Blainville, where there is already a Q team.

The Titan originally played in Laval between 1971 and 1998 before relocating to Bathurst.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

2007 and most CFL stadiums were at or near capacity for their games and then the league signed an exclusive TV contract with TSN and its been a steady decline since then. Hmmm.

The 3downnation folks are starting to ask why there are no games on CTV and trying to promote Sunday games in the summer, both subjects need to be explored.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by elly63

The 3downnation folks are starting to ask why there are no games on CTV and trying to promote Sunday games in the summer, both subjects need to be explored.

NFL is on CTV because of advertising incentives.
CFL is on TSN because of subscriber incentives.

Bell can use each in each silo to push numbers in both directions. It's fair to assume that CFL games on TSN wouldn't raise advertising rates and so their exclusivity on TSN is to encourage people to not cut the cord on that platform. I'm assuming the guys at 3down know this already.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Bell can use each in each silo to push numbers in both directions. It's fair to assume that CFL games on TSN wouldn't raise advertising rates and so their exclusivity on TSN is to encourage people to not cut the cord on that platform. I'm assuming the guys at 3down know this already.

What ever Bell's aim is, its not working for the CFL.

[thurmas]

I read today fox is paying the USFL 150 million over 3 years on their TV deal for 8 teams which is almost 2 million more per club then what tsn is paying the CFL these days. CFL needs to diversify their content providers

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by thurmas

I read today fox is paying the USFL 150 million over 3 years on their TV deal for 8 teams which is almost 2 million more per club then what tsn is paying the CFL these days. CFL needs to diversify their content providers

Comparing American TV contracts to Canadian TV contracts is apples to oranges. That said, the CFL should do what they can to try and get a better contact with ESPN in the future. Their games draw quite well for a foreign league, which just goes to show how football-hungry the States are.

[thurmas]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Comparing American TV contracts to Canadian TV contracts is apples to oranges. That said, the CFL should do what they can to try and get a better contact with ESPN in the future. Their games draw quite well for a foreign league, which just goes to show how football-hungry the States are.

CFL is better quality players and game and far more valuable an asset to TSN than what USFL is to Fox programming i think in this instance its a fair comparison.

[thurmas]

CFL usually gets 100 to 250k viewers on ESPN 2 but its been stuck in that zone for years now not sure they can get more out of ESPN than what they already get

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by thurmas

CFL is better quality players and game and far more valuable an asset to TSN than what USFL is to Fox programming i think in this instance its a fair comparison.

I don't know if having better players matters, but Fox clearly values the USFL since they own the league. It's also a matter of what Canadian channels are willing to pay for CFL content. I don't really see them getting more than what they currently are, which is approximately $50 million a year.

Originally Posted by thurmas

CFL usually gets 100 to 250k viewers on ESPN 2 but its been stuck in that zone for years now not sure they can get more out of ESPN than what they already get

Dave Naylor was commenting on Twitter a few days ago and said the CFL's deal with ESPN is up after this year and that the League thinks it can get a good windfall for their rights. Hopefully they figure out something.

[elly63]

Thought some of you might find this interesting

3900 miles (the longest single microwave network in the world) 139 microwave towers, about every 30 miles, costing $50 million. beginning the service July 1, 1958.

Video: CBC: The Marvellous Microwave Network

[thurmas]

Cfl ratings last week as per 3downnation. Lions-riders 700,000 viewers. Alouettes Ticats 353,000 on TSN. Alouettes president Mario Mancini said team is averaging 200,000 viewers on RDS per game. Bombers Stampeders 607,000. Argos Redblacks 428,000.