The Strength of the CFL and How Its Only Getting Better
- Updated: November 26, 2016
The big game is just about upon us.
After a week of preparation, the West Division champion Calgary Stampeders and East Division champion Ottawa Redblacks are all but to square off in the 104th Grey Cup – a trophy named in 1909 after Canada’s then-Governer General, Earl Grey.
Before both clubs take the field on Sunday, though, CFL Commissioner Jeffrey Orridge held his State of the League conference on Friday morning, informing the media – and later, the fans – of, well, the state of the league.
2016 was Orridge’s first year at the CFL helm after serving the previous four years as the executive director of CBC Sports. But, to say that this season was an auspicious start for the new commissioner would be a vast understatement.
CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge addresses the media at Friday morning’s State of the League.
(Photo credit: Ryan Remiorz/CP)
In the key 18 to 49 age demographic, viewership rose 7% in 2016. On TSN, the CFL’s flagship network, viewership was at 553,000 fans while RDS, TSN’s French-Canadian cousin, it was at 130,000. These may not seem like staggering numbers but given that Canada’s population is only a fraction of that of the United States’, these are nonetheless encouraging numbers.
Of the nine CFL teams – don’t be fooled; the CFL is no less exciting despite having only a handful of clubs – six of them saw their TV ratings increase this past season. Even female viewership saw improvement this season, increasing by 7%.
In addition, Orridge disclosed that a recently-conducted IMI study revealed that 44% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 identified themselves as CFL fans, which is up by 3% in 2015, which, believe it or not, is tied for second with Major League Baseball and trailing only the National Hockey League. Additionally, according to said study, many of those fans have described the CFL as “exciting, innovating, authentic” and relevant to them.
As far as the on-field product of the Canadian Football League is concerned, excitement and suspenseful has been prevalent to say the least, leaving most fans staying until the final whistle.
Photo credit: Ryan Cowley
The 2016 CFL season saw half of its games decided not only by 10 points or less but in the final three minutes of regulation. Additionally, one in four games this past season have been won — or lost — by four points or less while one in 10 games needed overtime to solve matters.
As for website traffic, the Redblacks, Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have all seen a 50% increase in traffic for their respective websites. It certainly didn’t hurt that each of three aforementioned clubs either renovated their stadiums or moved into new ones altogether in recent years.
In fact, for the host of this year’s Grey Cup, BMO Field, it has given football fans an opportunity to carry on the rich American football tradition of tailgating. The facility’s parking lots make that possible, unlike the football-unfriendly Rogers Centre, located in the heart of real estate-sparse downtown Toronto, where the Argos had called home for the previous 26 seasons.
But while BMO Field isn’t brand new – it opened in 2007 – its atmosphere is electric, whether fans are going to see the facility’s other host, MLS’s Toronto FC, or a rugby match. Plus, what’s more Canadian than playing outdoors? With its retractable roof, Rogers Centre, as great a facility as it is, has never possessed that “true north” feel. Just ask the Montreal Alouettes how much more exciting a CFL game is in a smaller outdoor stadium.
In 1996, the Alouettes returned to the CFL after a 15-year absence having relocated from Baltimore – yes, the CFL had American teams as part of a U.S. expansion attempt in the mid-90’s; but more on that later. But, in their first two seasons back in the CFL, the Alouettes played at the oversized and decrepit Olympic Stadium – or “The Big O” – only to be met with poor attendance and future uncertainty. However, thanks to a scheduling conflict, the Alouettes decided to play a 1997 playoff game at Molson Stadium, which was home to the Redmen, the football team of Montreal’s McGill University. The move, only meant to be temporary, turned out to be a rousing success and in 1998, it would be their permanent home while the Big O was left to the now-long-forgotten Expos or, what younger baseball fans would prefer, what the Washington Nationals used to be.
The interior of BMO Field during the Argos’ 2016 season-opener in June.
(Photo credit: Chris Young/CP)
Prior to the 2016 season, BMO Field was renovated to be more football-friendly. Unfortunately, the Argos didn’t have the success they had hoped for. They had finished the 2016 with a 5-13 record — good enough for last place in the East — which included a forgettable 2-7 record at home. Speaking of their home success, or lack thereof, the Argos averaged just 16,380 fans at their new 26,500-seat home, failing to record a single sellout along the way.
Despite the struggles, though, Commissioner Orridge is optimistic that things will get better in Toronto.
“Things don’t happen overnight,” he said on Friday morning. “We all wish they would’ve sold out every game … it didn’t happen this year but let’s be optimistic because we know we’re doing the right things, all the elements are in place, we’re going to get better.
Photo credit: Ryan Cowley
“You’ve got a brand new stadium, committed, quality ownership with people who really care and one of the largest markets in Canada. It’s got all the elements of success, it just takes time. We still have a vested interest in making sure our biggest market is successful.”
As for next year, to coincide with Canada’s 150th anniversary, the 2017 Grey Cup will in the nation’s capital of Ottawa at the newly-renovated TD Place.
It may take some getting used to given the differences – wider and longer fields, gigantic end zones and only three downs – but I urge fans of American football to watch the 104th Grey Cup, even if it’s just for a half, or even a quarter – to see how you feel about the Canadian version of the game. Whether through cable or online, whether you want to support the California contingent or not, take a look and see how you feel. I certainly can’t guarantee that everyone will become a fan immediately – if at all – but it will rub off on more fans than you might think, including, quite possibly, yourself.
So, this Sunday, be sure to give the CFL a chance. You might be surprised.
The 104th Grey Cup takes place on Sunday, November 27 at 6:30pm EST (3:30pm PST).
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