Lack of Creativity Costs CFL Dearly

As you all have likely heard, the Canadian Football League has officially cancelled it's 2020 campaign... citing "financial losses". Now, while the extent of those losses is uncertain, so is the future of the league (if there is one). 

If you are looking to brush up on the logistics of the matter, this is not the blog for you. 

The cliff notes is basically this: 

CFL: *Asks Canadian gov't for $30 million dollar loan.*

Canadian gov't: 👋👋👋 

So, now that we officially know there will not be a CFL season in 2020, the question has become: Will there be a season in 2021 and beyond?  

I, much like the Canadian gov't, have no access to the League's financial records, therefore I cannot accurately assess the financial stability of said league.... But... I would be very surprised if this is the first time they have asked for a loan... I'll just say that.

I am in the business of uneducated speculations/opinions.... And I am not changing my ways on this day. 

So let's get to the point...

Leaving money out of it, I truly believe that if the Canadian Football League was as big of a National Treasure as the league thinks it is, the 2020 season would have been saved. 

Instead, we just accepted it as another casualty in what has been a catastrophic year.

It almost appears to me that the CFL thought it was untouchable. Likely a little arrogant. Not concerning itself with financials, banking on the fact they would get bailed out by the country should anything like a pandemic occur.

Instead, we are here. With a 2020 season getting canned, and a league that may be on the verge of folding altogether.  

For the remainder of this blog, let's live in a world where they do get the go-ahead in 21'.

In said world dawns a new day for the CFL. At least, it should. 

With attendance and TV ratings on the downturn in recent years, and the competition for eyeballs getting more and more fierce with leagues like the AAF and XFL stealing some good players and viewers in the States and Canada. 

Yes, the AAF went up in flames, but prior to the pandemic, the XFL was seeming to scratch the itch of football fanatics all over North America. This begs the question, why?

Why would thousands of people rather watch made up teams they have no emotional connection to over a league that's over 100 years old?

Two theories:

1: Caliber of play. 

I don't buy that for a second. Anyone who watched the XFL this winter wouldn't be able to say the games were high caliber with a straight face. It was, however, familiar and creative. It provided similarities to the giant that is the NFL with the FOX, CBS and ESPN broadcasts providing a similar broadcast with some cool new wrinkles like players being interviewed as they line up a kick. It gave the viewer a chance to observe the players like never before. 

This brings me to my second theory...

2: It's a different game.

People all over North America and across the pond are falling deeper and deeper in love with the game of AMERICAN football more and more everyday. Therefore, when they tune into the XFL, it's the same game they love. Different players and different teams, sure, but enough for a fan of the game to keep it on while they putter around the house. 

That audience is the one the CFL is losing out on. And, in turn, losing money. 

Of course you will always have the diehard fans of the Canadian game who grew up around it. That crowd though is getting smaller and smaller and the American game continues to rise in popularity. So much so that the majority of Canadians would watch Sunday Night Football over the Grey Cup.

To me, this leaves the CFL with two choices: 

1. Become a 4 down league. 

2. Fold. 

Not only would becoming a 4 down league expand the CFL's audience in the States AND in Canada, but it would also make good American players more willing to come play in the league. Who knows, you might even get a John Candy/Argos situation where a big star buys a team and a big name player chooses the CFL over the NFL. 

Could you imagine!?!? 

Well, if the CFL doesn't wake up, you won't have to.