How has the CFL failed?
From the Bullpen
Matthew Hadley
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: Sports
I won't lie, I'm not the biggest football guy.
Sure, I know the NFL teams, I know whereabouts each stands in their division, and I know who the key players are, but I don't spend every Sunday watching numerous games.
More importantly, I can tell you the difference between the NFL and the CFL. I can tell you who each of the teams in the CFL are and who are the strongest. I can also tell you where the league has failed.
The Canadian Football League has an immense amount of potential to become relative competition to the NFL. Let's be honest, the rich history of the NFL, not to mention the massive size of its fan base by comparison, makes it pretty much impossible for the CFL to ever surpass its southern counterpart.
But why can't the CFL capitalize on the same market in Canada that is buying into the NFL?
The first problem the CFL has is its schedule. Look at the NFL - those who follow it spend one entire day watching football. Then, on Monday night, there's one more game, like dessert after a big meal.
The CFL, despite its much smaller size, has a very confusing schedule in comparison. Usually consisting of only four games a week, each week has a different schedule. One week will feature a game on Thursday, on Friday, on Saturday and on Sunday. A couple weeks later, there will be one on Friday, one on Sunday, and two on Monday. Here's a thought. If the CFL can't compete with the NFL, why not try to grab that same audience? Play all games on Saturday to allow the CFL to go up against the lesser-watched NCAA games, and in turn give Canadian football fans a game at pretty much all times on the weekend. A complete weekend of football would be a treat, and the league could grab larger broadcasters, like TSN, with greater ease and more consistency.
The CFL also has a problem with its size and because of this, its fandom. Currently, there are 20 teams in the Ontario Hockey League, yet only eight in the CFL. Might I remind you that the "C" in CFL stands for "Canadian"?
Sure, I know the NFL teams, I know whereabouts each stands in their division, and I know who the key players are, but I don't spend every Sunday watching numerous games.
More importantly, I can tell you the difference between the NFL and the CFL. I can tell you who each of the teams in the CFL are and who are the strongest. I can also tell you where the league has failed.
The Canadian Football League has an immense amount of potential to become relative competition to the NFL. Let's be honest, the rich history of the NFL, not to mention the massive size of its fan base by comparison, makes it pretty much impossible for the CFL to ever surpass its southern counterpart.
But why can't the CFL capitalize on the same market in Canada that is buying into the NFL?
The first problem the CFL has is its schedule. Look at the NFL - those who follow it spend one entire day watching football. Then, on Monday night, there's one more game, like dessert after a big meal.
The CFL, despite its much smaller size, has a very confusing schedule in comparison. Usually consisting of only four games a week, each week has a different schedule. One week will feature a game on Thursday, on Friday, on Saturday and on Sunday. A couple weeks later, there will be one on Friday, one on Sunday, and two on Monday. Here's a thought. If the CFL can't compete with the NFL, why not try to grab that same audience? Play all games on Saturday to allow the CFL to go up against the lesser-watched NCAA games, and in turn give Canadian football fans a game at pretty much all times on the weekend. A complete weekend of football would be a treat, and the league could grab larger broadcasters, like TSN, with greater ease and more consistency.
The CFL also has a problem with its size and because of this, its fandom. Currently, there are 20 teams in the Ontario Hockey League, yet only eight in the CFL. Might I remind you that the "C" in CFL stands for "Canadian"?
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
michael prokopetz
posted 11/24/09 @ 8:19 PM EST
This is without a doubt the worst artical I have ever read. Very uninformed, this guy knows nothing about the CFL.
nick in ajax
posted 11/24/09 @ 11:42 PM EST
Wow, when did you write this, 2000? Really uninformed about the actual business state of the CFL.
Post a Comment