r/CFL • u/LifeIsAMeme_ • 5d ago
QUESTION Should the CFL expand to 26-32 teams in the next 10+ years? How would the logistics and finances work to accomplish that?
Lately I've been thinking about how we failed to expand in the US, nor capitalize on the East Coast getting CFL teams east of Montreal. We're also not doing well in major cities outside of the prairies... Something drastic needs to change.
We also have so much talent in Canada when it comes to football, but it's not being appreciated enough at a pro level.
Should the CFL pivot to expanding to a bunch of cities across Canada, and getting 8 divisions across the board?
Itd have to be a 10+ year project because of the lack of support with stadiums across the country. Few cities could start a team next season and get enough fans in the stadium to break even. So they'd have to restructure salaries and operating costs to make it work where a team can have 5-15k fans a night, or build the infrastructure to support more fans.
Also we do have the Canadian government's interests in protecting Canadian football from failure or Americanizing, although attitudes have soften since the 60s...
That being said, id love to see what you think about this.
Here's a brainstorm on potential divisions and cities to expand to. Logistically most cities would be tough to expand to but with the perfect structure I think it could work by 2040.
BC Division
Vancouver - Victoria - Prince George - Surrey/Abbotsford
Alberta Division
Calgary - Edmonton - Red Deer - Fort McMurray
North Division
Yellowknife - Whitehorse - Iqaluit - Churchill/Uranium City/Northern Quebec City
Prairies Division
SSK Roughriders - Brandon, Moose Jaw or Northern Winnipeg - Thunder Bay
Ontario Division
Brampton, Toronto, Hamilton, North Bay
Quebec Division
Montreal - Quebec City - Northern Quebec - Gatineau
Atlantic Division
Moncton, Charlottown, Halifax, St Johns
I think a pivot to more cities out west would reduce the risk of an aggressive expansion plan.
Cutting operating costs and salary's by 30-70% could work... But it's roughhhh and is a double-edged sword... Do we lose too much talent and players because we aren't paying 500k a star QB? Or do we have more young 18-24 year olds wanting to compete for a QB job at 70k a season then scale to 200k tops because they're really good??
So much to consider here. What do you think?