CFL 2024

[Kyle McMahon]

Well, I do agree with some of your points here but unfortunately good old Canada isn't looking like much of a haven right now.

Without getting into a political discussion here, many of the social problems in the USA have been exported to Canada-- and here, North of the border-- we are looking down the barrel of tough economic times.

Inevitably, it will impact the CFL and sooner or later the NHL as well. In the NHL, players are paid in American bucks but a big chunk of the revenue is in the Northern Peso. That is not good for the Canadian clubs.

Ticket buyers will endure a certain amount of financial pain---just how much remains to be seen.

The decline of the Canadian dollar is going to become a problem quickly for the CFL. At this point, is it even worth it for an American to come up here for less than 100k CAD? Young guys hoping for an NFL shot will probably remain willing, but once that chance comes and goes, I doubt they'll see the CFL as worthwhile if they're not making star-level money.

I don't see any reasonable scenario on the horizon that suddenly strengthens the CAD against the USD; a further weakening is much more probable. For players that are actually interested in relocating to Canada on a permanent basis, this might not be a huge roadblock, but those players aren't the majority. We're not there yet, but there exists a scenario where American imports become expensive luxuries.

I hope we've got some forward-thinking owners paying attention to this. A mostly Canadian league would see a further decline in on-field talent and I don't see the CFL surviving as a bona fide major league under those conditions. Corporations and institutions, soon governments, are starting to accumulate Bitcoin to hedge against eventual currency collapse. Haven't heard about any sports leagues keying in on this yet, or if the CFL itself has any sort of collective war chest, but they should be examining the possibility. They won't be able to pay imports with Canadian dollars forever. File it under pipe dream, but the CFL surviving and thriving with big-name players poached from the NFL because they had the foresight to load up on bitcoin would be the most clutch shit ever.

 

[bellagiobob]

The decline of the Canadian dollar is going to become a problem quickly for the CFL. At this point, is it even worth it for an American to come up here for less than 100k CAD? Young guys hoping for an NFL shot will probably remain willing, but once that chance comes and goes, I doubt they'll see the CFL as worthwhile if they're not making star-level money.

I don't see any reasonable scenario on the horizon that suddenly strengthens the CAD against the USD; a further weakening is much more probable. For players that are actually interested in relocating to Canada on a permanent basis, this might not be a huge roadblock, but those players aren't the majority. We're not there yet, but there exists a scenario where American imports become expensive luxuries.

I hope we've got some forward-thinking owners paying attention to this. A mostly Canadian league would see a further decline in on-field talent and I don't see the CFL surviving as a bona fide major league under those conditions. Corporations and institutions, soon governments, are starting to accumulate Bitcoin to hedge against eventual currency collapse. Haven't heard about any sports leagues keying in on this yet, or if the CFL itself has any sort of collective war chest, but they should be examining the possibility. They won't be able to pay imports with Canadian dollars forever. File it under pipe dream, but the CFL surviving and thriving with big-name players poached from the NFL because they had the foresight to load up on bitcoin would be the most clutch shit ever.

Some excellent forward thinking thoughts. Unfortunately this is a league that can’t even get their own stats properly publicly available, I doubt they even know what bitcoin is or how to use it as a currency hedge. But as you say maybe some of the owners are bright enough to figure it out.

 

[Kyle McMahon]

Some excellent forward thinking thoughts. Unfortunately this is a league that can’t even get their own stats properly publicly available, I doubt they even know what bitcoin is or how to use it as a currency hedge. But as you say maybe some of the owners are bright enough to figure it out.

Sadly I suspect you are quite right. One slim hope would be that a single well-respected owner with long term vision might be able to sway the group as a whole. Hearing the detailed breakdown of those team report cards was disheartening...lots of stuff that is just downright unprofessional occurring...players having to find their own doctors for injury rehab and such. That doesn't paint a rosy picture in terms of owners being willing to invest in their own franchises.

 

[MoontoScott]

The decline of the Canadian dollar is going to become a problem quickly for the CFL. At this point, is it even worth it for an American to come up here for less than 100k CAD? Young guys hoping for an NFL shot will probably remain willing, but once that chance comes and goes, I doubt they'll see the CFL as worthwhile if they're not making star-level money.

I don't see any reasonable scenario on the horizon that suddenly strengthens the CAD against the USD; a further weakening is much more probable. For players that are actually interested in relocating to Canada on a permanent basis, this might not be a huge roadblock, but those players aren't the majority. We're not there yet, but there exists a scenario where American imports become expensive luxuries.

I hope we've got some forward-thinking owners paying attention to this. A mostly Canadian league would see a further decline in on-field talent and I don't see the CFL surviving as a bona fide major league under those conditions. Corporations and institutions, soon governments, are starting to accumulate Bitcoin to hedge against eventual currency collapse. Haven't heard about any sports leagues keying in on this yet, or if the CFL itself has any sort of collective war chest, but they should be examining the possibility. They won't be able to pay imports with Canadian dollars forever. File it under pipe dream, but the CFL surviving and thriving with big-name players poached from the NFL because they had the foresight to load up on bitcoin would be the most clutch shit ever.

Agreed--but I far prefer Gold and Silver as hedges against the inevitable disaster.

36 Trillion (10^12, hard to even imagine that number) at the USA federal level (and counting as I write this note) but nobody will admit it to it. Well, that's a political discussion for another day.

Canada is also debt ridden and in disarray. It will impact the CFL. Like you say, at some point it isn't worth coming North but some will still come out of love for the game. Few will play 10 or more years here like the days of old.

At least there is someone in charge of the EE franchise now and he looks like a very successful businessman. Better times for the EE based on that alone.

 

[Kyle McMahon]

Agreed--but I far prefer Gold and Silver as hedges against the inevitable disaster.

36 Trillion (10^12, hard to even imagine that number) at the USA federal level (and counting as I write this note) but nobody will admit it to it. Well, that's a political discussion for another day.

Canada is also debt ridden and in disarray. It will impact the CFL. Like you say, at some point it isn't worth coming North but some will still come out of love for the game. Few will play 10 or more years here like the days of old.

At least there is someone in charge of the EE franchise now and he looks like a very successful businessman. Better times for the EE based on that alone.

Hedge preferences aside, we realize the debt snowball is rolling down the mountain and gathering speed, little debate to be had there. I couldn't even imagine facing down the impending economic realities with the previous board in place. Thankful to have somebody at the helm in LT that (presumably) understands business and money...traits that have seldom been prerequisites among CFL owners.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Sadly I suspect you are quite right. One slim hope would be that a single well-respected owner with long term vision might be able to sway the group as a whole. Hearing the detailed breakdown of those team report cards was disheartening...lots of stuff that is just downright unprofessional occurring...players having to find their own doctors for injury rehab and such. That doesn't paint a rosy picture in terms of owners being willing to invest in their own franchises.

I don't know for certain we can assume the review is unbiased or unselective. Or not had by dynamic. Historically we're not used to seeing information like this because the Eskimos were the well run flagship for years. When you have that, and nothing pleases like winning, you have a lot of positive reviews. When a club is in dissaray on the field and few people in stands the whole feel of being on the club starts to be more negative. Some of it real, some of it just felt.

I take some umbrage as well to the players here talking dietary concerns. One of the foremost social media posts from the players all year is how they just loaded up on the the greasiest worst to eat garbage at fast food locations around the league. Not exactly athlete food. Maybe some of the players themselves have some blame in the dietary department.

That said I wish the team moved things back in TC to somewhere like Concordia College which is a nice and attractive location on the river, for camp, and in a facility that is mostly empty then and where room and board can be provided at lower cost. With everything needed located there.

In anycase when your record on the field is bad a lot of distortion can take place where everything is perceived badly. Despite the team having the best field house training facility in the league, one of the best stadiums in the league, and a pretty decent City in which to live and love. Some of the distortion also being the shot taking that is so loved around Canada, around the league loving to disparrage the once Evil Empire.

Meanwhile the AL's play in a stadium that once had trees growng through the concrete stands. A stadium that was so deplorably kept University teams didn't like playing there. A stadium that still today has bench seating in a lot of areas.

Or lets talk about Regina where 3down nation disseminates this stuff. I guess they have better watermelons there.

 

[bellagiobob]

And Rider fans laughed at us for trading for Fajardo.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Jake Maier. Oofffff. Hands down thats the starting low bar recently in CFL.

I'd pay this guy like they used to in Regina.

 

[brentashton]

I feel like we’re shopping at Giant Tiger

Saskatchewan Roughriders acquire Jake Maier's negotiation rights from Calgary Stampeders | TSN

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have acquired the negotiation rights to quarterback Jake Maier from the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for an eighth-round draft pick in the 2025 CFL Draft.

www.tsn.ca

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

And Rider fans laughed at us for trading for Fajardo.

Another Festivus miracle

 

[brentashton]

And Rider fans laughed at us for trading for Fajardo.

Hey, wait a minute…I think I’m the only Rider fan usually in this thread…

 

[Stoneman89]

And Rider fans laughed at us for trading for Fajardo.

This is beautiful. Things are really lining up for us nicely.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[Kyle McMahon]

I don't know for certain we can assume the review is unbiased or unselective. Or not had by dynamic. Historically we're not used to seeing information like this because the Eskimos were the well run flagship for years. When you have that, and nothing pleases like winning, you have a lot of positive reviews. When a club is in dissaray on the field and few people in stands the whole feel of being on the club starts to be more negative. Some of it real, some of it just felt.

I take some umbrage as well to the players here talking dietary concerns. One of the foremost social media posts from the players all year is how they just loaded up on the the greasiest worst to eat garbage at fast food locations around the league. Not exactly athlete food. Maybe some of the players themselves have some blame in the dietary department.

That said I wish the team moved things back in TC to somewhere like Concordia College which is a nice and attractive location on the river, for camp, and in a facility that is mostly empty then and where room and board can be provided at lower cost. With everything needed located there.

In anycase when your record on the field is bad a lot of distortion can take place where everything is perceived badly. Despite the team having the best field house training facility in the league, one of the best stadiums in the league, and a pretty decent City in which to live and love. Some of the distortion also being the shot taking that is so loved around Canada, around the league loving to disparrage the once Evil Empire.

Meanwhile the AL's play in a stadium that once had trees growng through the concrete stands. A stadium that was so deplorably kept University teams didn't like playing there. A stadium that still today has bench seating in a lot of areas.

Or lets talk about Regina where 3down nation disseminates this stuff. I guess they have better watermelons there.

I wasn't singling out Edmonton with my comment, it was directed at the whole league. Seems just about every team had some pretty obviously bush-league stuff come to light in those reports. I don't love the 3Down Nation podcast, but they did a pretty detailed breakdown on a recent episode. You're always going to have squeaky wheels exaggerating a little bit I'm sure, but it's clear there needs to be some improvement of standards across the board if the CFL wants to have a reputation as a major league just a step below the NFL. You can't have guys coming up here from lower-end NCAA programs and feeling like they've been demoted.

It's concerning that money is tight enough around the league that there are teams who can't provide equipment, training facilities, game-day meals, medical staff, and training camp accommodations that are deemed acceptable by significant numbers of players. It's not where every complaint applies to every team, but basic stuff like this needs minimum requirements mandated by the league as a whole. Teams cheaping out in certain areas tarnishes the whole collective operation. Reality may be that the money just no longer exists to fund non-salary player expenditures to the degree a pro athlete in 2024 expects coming out of college. But we also know some owners can be notoriously cheap, and let's honestly hope this is the case, and not the former.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Hey, wait a minute…I think I’m the only Rider fan usually in this thread…

View attachment 950535

AHEM...



Rider fan answering the Bat Signal.

I hated the Maier trade as instant reaction. However looking at his age and development - a 27 multi-year CFL starting QB, this is a decent gamble. If he can apprentice under empty calorie Harris this might have a chance as a okay succession plan bet ... or it flushes down like Kendall Roy trying to step up to run Waystar Royco! haha

 

[Drivesaitl]

I wasn't singling out Edmonton with my comment, it was directed at the whole league. Seems just about every team had some pretty obviously bush-league stuff come to light in those reports. I don't love the 3Down Nation podcast, but they did a pretty detailed breakdown on a recent episode. You're always going to have squeaky wheels exaggerating a little bit I'm sure, but it's clear there needs to be some improvement of standards across the board if the CFL wants to have a reputation as a major league just a step below the NFL. You can't have guys coming up here from lower-end NCAA programs and feeling like they've been demoted.

It's concerning that money is tight enough around the league that there are teams who can't provide equipment, training facilities, game-day meals, medical staff, and training camp accommodations that are deemed acceptable by significant numbers of players. It's not where every complaint applies to every team, but basic stuff like this needs minimum requirements mandated by the league as a whole. Teams cheaping out in certain areas tarnishes the whole collective operation. Reality may be that the money just no longer exists to fund non-salary player expenditures to the degree a pro athlete in 2024 expects coming out of college. But we also know some owners can be notoriously cheap, and let's honestly hope this is the case, and not the former.

The league has been sub NCAA top programs for some time. Decades really. The league is so entirely mismanaged as well. Really at this point it has to be a barn circuit instead of teams working so much against each other and even counter bidding salaries, particularly for QB's up. The league can't afford that. Precarious situation economically in a lot of CFL cities and the league has been overall on life support for decades. Not really sure how it survived pandemic.

CFL also suffers from other things and I can only speak to local on this but I've had several discussions with ETS for instance and the drastic paring of Park and Ride that they have done not just pertaining to the Eskimos or Elks but all events. Less Park and ride locations now, the service isn't nearly as good and inanely one of the remaining locations is ST Albert which I've raised shouldn't in any way be funded by COE taxpayers. The city financing has hurt, and the city had inordinately invested in LRT lines at the cost of such service as Park and Ride. Thats a huge hit to the Elks. I've raised that with COE too. The city itself stopped feeling the Edmonton Football club is even relevant a decade ago but I can't go into those details.

So heres some local hurts. ETS park and ride being not half the program it used to be has impacted attendance. City also funding less programs that would have players or team at other civic events. Sponsors have gone down and no longer any ticket collaborations with any of Save On Sobeys, or the Restaurant and Bar promotions that used to exist. Some of these still offer rides to the game. NONE of them are offering tickets.

The college promotion was a complete miss. Basically nobody was buying those tickets, hard to know why. There is basically zero connection between Elks and the very large base of post secondary students we have here. Its like we completely missed that even being a fanbase.

I don't think its the owners being cheap. Its being tired of losing money as Larry Thompson and others are being expected to do. The Elks in particular lost 4M /yr through several years and the gate last season was worse than ever. In addition operational expenses of any kind keep climbing extraordinarily. The club likely lost 5-6M, hopefully not more, just this last season. All the financials are available every year. Elks have been using up all the surplus that was the rainy day fund. Its gone.

 

[Drivesaitl]

AHEM...



Rider fan answering the Bat Signal.

I hated the Maier trade as instant reaction. However looking at his age and development - a 27 multi-year CFL starting QB, this is a decent gamble. If he can apprentice under empty calorie Harris this might have a chance as a okay succession plan bet ... or it flushes down like Kendall Roy trying to step up to run Waystar Royco! haha

I guess you never know though. I thought Fajardo was done yrs ago. Maier hadn't ever materialized in Calgary but maybe something specific there. Who knows. Seems like in the CFL all these QB's get recirculated and everybody ends up with one or another at some point. Hopefully they got him cheap and can flesh out payroll on rest of club. CFL so unpredictable now and from year to year even not knowing how the league continues indefinitely. Really for awhile I'm surprised when each season gets finished. If any club goes under its done.

Just reported that the Riders have lost well over a Million this past season. With them being among the healthier franchises. The Elks as I've mentioned have again lost in the +5M range this past season.

Bombers did make 5M but with them choking away all these Grey Cups thats a league cashcow that can't be relied on and its also a boon had due to Investors field Stadium and a lot of Arena/Stadia will result in boon years for up to a decade. Historically after that draw factor is often done. The buzz no longer there.

Theres maybe been some revenue in BC but a club that is also gaming the Salary cap and putting up pressure on league contracts. Ironically the Leos, who were for decades a club saved by team transfers is now in a brief moment of success putting upward pressure on actual payrolls.

In light of Snet selling off Mondays to Prime for NHL and considering the ratings those had is greater than the CFL gets I don't know how much CFL can continue to get from TSN either. If TSN indeed picks up more of the NHL contract in next negotiation as Rogers seems to be tapping out, what does that even mean for the CFL?

Theres other things like this that have killed Pro sports golden goose and are doing it again.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-morgan-campbell-shawn-lemon-betting-1.7307749

Pro sports going to bed again with organized gambling, this time legal and sanctioned is at some point going to question the competitive sporting results of all pro sports. so that if its determined that sports results are gambling rigged as they were before, why even watch?

went OT but so much uncertainty.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I guess you never know though. I thought Fajardo was done yrs ago. Maier hadn't ever materialized in Calgary but maybe something specific there. Who knows. Seems like in the CFL all these QB's get recirculated and everybody ends up with one or another at some point. Hopefully they got him cheap and can flesh out payroll on rest of club. CFL so unpredictable now and from year to year even not knowing how the league continues indefinitely. Really for awhile I'm surprised when each season gets finished. If any club goes under its done.

Just reported that the Riders have lost well over a Million this past season. With them being among the healthier franchises. The Elks as I've mentioned have again lost in the +5M range this past season.

Bombers did make 5M but with them choking away all these Grey Cups thats a league cashcow that can't be relied on and its also a boon had due to Investors field Stadium and a lot of Arena/Stadia will result in boon years for up to a decade. Historically after that draw factor is often done. The buzz no longer there.

Theres maybe been some revenue in BC but a club that is also gaming the Salary cap and putting up pressure on league contracts. Ironically the Leos, who were for decades a club saved by team transfers is now in a brief moment of success putting upward pressure on actual payrolls.

In light of Snet selling off Mondays to Prime for NHL and considering the ratings those had is greater than the CFL gets I don't know how much CFL can continue to get from TSN either. If TSN indeed picks up more of the NHL contract in next negotiation as Rogers seems to be tapping out, what does that even mean for the CFL?

Theres other things like this that have killed Pro sports golden goose and are doing it again.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-morgan-campbell-shawn-lemon-betting-1.7307749

Pro sports going to bed again with organized gambling, this time legal and sanctioned is at some point going to question the competitive sporting results of all pro sports. so that if its determined that sports results are gambling rigged as they were before, why even watch?

went OT but so much uncertainty.

Very challenging times for the CFL. Will be fascinating to see how they approach the Commissioner search and what they deem essential leadership skills and experience. Most important hire ... since their last hire.

I hadn't heard the Riders financials. But losing money on a Western Championship team within monopolistic provincial pro sport conditions is worrisome. Blip or trend? I've heard fatigue from some of my Sasky brethren for price gouging for all elements of the brand. Tough times for alot of people so hard choices made on discretionary activities like football and buying that fourth Riders jersey . We'll have to see if they can continue to build on their on-field success. Winning cures apathy and fan fatigue. Regarding the television rights, we'll have to see. I think they played at least one game on a regular network so maybe there's a plan to diversify broadcast airings. I imagine the Canadian cable networks require Cancon as part of their operating licenses so likely always a home for CFL especially within massive content world we live in. But that all goes back to my first paragraph and their next Commissioner hire. Critical to navigate the game's relevancy, revenue growth, audience development, club solvency.

The gaming boom has actually correlates with increasing viewership of live sports. Studies I've seen that are Euro based indicate that watching live sports increases with the associated betting available with it. That's gross to me but clearly we see with NHL, major networks, and player endorsements that gambling is here to stay and an increasing league revenue source.

Existential times for the CFL. On the personnel side of things, I think Fajardo is a great signing for the Elkimos as a positive, great teammate to nurture Ford's development into a starting QB and resilient enough to come in as required. Vernon Adams should be a real good stabilizing talent in Cowtown (shit!) which needs to steady their fan erosion after being spoiled for a decade of strong teams. Never dull in the CFL.

 

[brentashton]

AHEM...



Rider fan answering the Bat Signal.

I hated the Maier trade as instant reaction. However looking at his age and development - a 27 multi-year CFL starting QB, this is a decent gamble. If he can apprentice under empty calorie Harris this might have a chance as a okay succession plan bet ... or it flushes down like Kendall Roy trying to step up to run Waystar Royco! haha

Yes, my bad. BEL from the west coast bureau reporting in for duty!

Very challenging times for the CFL. Will be fascinating to see how they approach the Commissioner search and what they deem essential leadership skills and experience. Most important hire ... since their last hire.

I hadn't heard the Riders financials. But losing money on a Western Championship team within monopolistic provincial pro sport conditions is worrisome. Blip or trend? I've heard fatigue from some of my Sasky brethren for price gouging for all elements of the brand. Tough times for alot of people so hard choices made on discretionary activities like football and buying that fourth Riders jersey . We'll have to see if they can continue to build on their on-field success. Winning cures apathy and fan fatigue. Regarding the television rights, we'll have to see. I think they played at least one game on a regular network so maybe there's a plan to diversify broadcast airings. I imagine the Canadian cable networks require Cancon as part of their operating licenses so likely always a home for CFL especially within massive content world we live in. But that all goes back to my first paragraph and their next Commissioner hire. Critical to navigate the game's relevancy, revenue growth, audience development, club solvency.

The gaming boom has actually correlates with increasing viewership of live sports. Studies I've seen that are Euro based indicate that watching live sports increases with the associated betting available with it. That's gross to me but clearly we see with NHL, major networks, and player endorsements that gambling is here to stay and an increasing league revenue source.

Existential times for the CFL. On the personnel side of things, I think Fajardo is a great signing for the Elkimos as a positive, great teammate to nurture Ford's development into a starting QB and resilient enough to come in as required. Vernon Adams should be a real good stabilizing talent in Cowtown (shit!) which needs to steady their fan erosion after being spoiled for a decade of strong teams. Never dull in the CFL.

Great post BEL. You’ve captured a lot of salient points for the Rider’s future, the CFL and really , all clubs.

2025, sigh, another watershed moment for Canada’s league.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Very challenging times for the CFL. Will be fascinating to see how they approach the Commissioner search and what they deem essential leadership skills and experience. Most important hire ... since their last hire.

I hadn't heard the Riders financials. But losing money on a Western Championship team within monopolistic provincial pro sport conditions is worrisome. Blip or trend? I've heard fatigue from some of my Sasky brethren for price gouging for all elements of the brand. Tough times for alot of people so hard choices made on discretionary activities like football and buying that fourth Riders jersey . We'll have to see if they can continue to build on their on-field success. Winning cures apathy and fan fatigue. Regarding the television rights, we'll have to see. I think they played at least one game on a regular network so maybe there's a plan to diversify broadcast airings. I imagine the Canadian cable networks require Cancon as part of their operating licenses so likely always a home for CFL especially within massive content world we live in. But that all goes back to my first paragraph and their next Commissioner hire. Critical to navigate the game's relevancy, revenue growth, audience development, club solvency.

The gaming boom has actually correlates with increasing viewership of live sports. Studies I've seen that are Euro based indicate that watching live sports increases with the associated betting available with it. That's gross to me but clearly we see with NHL, major networks, and player endorsements that gambling is here to stay and an increasing league revenue source.

Existential times for the CFL. On the personnel side of things, I think Fajardo is a great signing for the Elkimos as a positive, great teammate to nurture Ford's development into a starting QB and resilient enough to come in as required. Vernon Adams should be a real good stabilizing talent in Cowtown (shit!) which needs to steady their fan erosion after being spoiled for a decade of strong teams. Never dull in the CFL.

Gambling kills the golden pro sports goose and its happened before. It may increase interest in short term as people play around with gambling on the games they love. Eventually, and of course, the gambling results in much more fixed activity, rigged games, rigged results and theres no other path this goes in The Sanctity of pro sports results eventually get rigged with gambling. When that happens, and with regular uproar, people will stop watching at some point. They have in regards to other sports at different periods of time.

yeah, betting on sports one loves is gross. Its the quickest way to wreck the sport and league.

The Cancon stipulations are a joke. They aren't heeded or enforced at this point. I doubt its even a factor now. By 2025, and I can't go into this. it won't even matter.