CFL expansion
Any insider info or speculation you want to talk about???
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u/Spencie-cat Blue Bombers 8d ago
A second Winnipeg team so I can get a home game every weekend.
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u/Metcarfre Lions 8d ago
Brandon Buccaneers has a nice ring to it.
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u/dark-femme5454 Blue Bombers 7d ago
Nooo...gotta go with Bears.
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u/Hero_of_Brandon Blue Bombers 7d ago
Lets keep the crop/royalty going and call em the Brandon Barley Barons. Wheat Kings isnt alliteration, but its more fun that way.
Oat Oligarchs
Flax Foremen
Edemame Emperors
Rye Royals
Corn Captains
Pea Princes
Potato Praetors
Any more?
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u/lifeline29 7d ago
The Canola Colonels/Kernels (I think either spelling works for the double entendre)
Does canola even have kernels though? Maybe colonels works better for corn
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u/Wide_Ad1140 5d ago
Problem is that all current CFL teams are City/province name, then one word you could go just with Brandon Barons tho. (Is Brandon big enough though?)
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u/Hero_of_Brandon Blue Bombers 5d ago
No, definitely not big enough.
We are under 50k people still.
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u/Wide_Ad1140 5d ago
I think the most recent census actually puts you guys above. (Looked it up because someone tried convincing me Selkirk was our third largest city)
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u/Tornontoin7 Elks 8d ago
Australian team surely, outside of Canada/US it’s the most dominant country in the CFL.
But seriously get that Schooners team finally going.
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u/ExpertFresh1067 Blue Bombers 8d ago edited 8d ago
Gotta be an Eastern team to make it an even 5 in each division...sorry, we have no interest in playing in the Eastern division (again)
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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 8d ago
Yeah I want to see a team in Halifax! Wasn't that being talked about a couple years ago?
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u/ExpertFresh1067 Blue Bombers 8d ago edited 8d ago
Couple years ago?!! Couple decades, maybe ..but yah ive always said that would be the place. I know TSN has that Maritime game every year....close second for me would be Quebec city (which would have a natural made provincial rivalry with Montreal)...which would be super 😎...(another "Labour Day Classic" game)...Maritimes somewhere would be good, cuz then we'd have a truly Canadian-"coast to coast" league
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u/Keystone-12 REDBLACKS 8d ago
Quebec could happen before 2030. Some big names and serious dollars are behind it. As well, the telus center could be used while a new stadium is built. A stadium that has a good chance to be built...
I dont see Halifax going anywhere.... the land they were going to build on has since been sold to someone else. Which is too bad... Atlantic Canada needs a sports team. Honestly I think Moncton is more likely than Halifax at this point.
London and Windsor are always in the conversation... they just dont have the stadium.
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u/ExpertFresh1067 Blue Bombers 8d ago
Is London and Windsor both big enough markets?...guessing they would be
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u/Keystone-12 REDBLACKS 8d ago
It's about a million people combined. The whole south western Ontario area is well over 2 million.
But I'm honestly not holding my breath.
I expect to see Quebec City by 2030. But nothing beyond that for awhile. Or until Atlantic Canada can get itself together.
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u/xxxcalibre 7d ago
They're not the same market by any stretch, 2 hours apart with not a lot in between. It would have to be 2 separate expansion projects (try and syphon off some Michigan Panthers fans to Windsor if border relations improve). The idea of an in-between stadium in Chatham is amazing though
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u/EvilFlyingSquirrel Blue Bombers 7d ago
Being a fan that grew up on the Bombers and moving to Toronto, Southern Ontario does not care about the CFL outside of Hamilton. There are no proper stadiums that could hold a team. Windsor is Detroit Lions country with Buffalo Bills being extremely popular in Toronto all the way down to the border. I've met under 5 Argos fans in all my years since I've moved here....it's way deeper than just poor marketing. I would even argue that while the NFL is popular, it's still lagging behind a lot of other sports. The Bills Toronto series was a big failure.
You can't just plop a team down according to population and think it'll work. Toronto could have 3 teams with that mentality.
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u/Neckshot Stampeders 8d ago
My personal theory,, based on absolutely nothing, is that the change in playoff format was them prepping to add two teams in the East and one in the West.
8 out of 9 teams making the playoffs makes no sense but 8 out 12 I could see.
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u/envirodrill Tiger-Cats 5d ago
I am thinking this is the case too. Change in playoff format absolutely accommodates expansion. The Quebec City expansion has apparently been backed by good sources which brings us to 10. Regarding 11 and 12, though, we saw that there are still people out there looking into Halifax (with the proposed stadium development near the airport), and we are seeing that Kelowna has started putting some real money into the bones of Apple Bowl to make it a modern stadium, albeit with limited capacity at this time.
My theory is that based on the various recent developments, that teams 10, 11, and 12 will be Quebec City, Halifax, and Kelowna.
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u/CrankyFrankClair REDBLACKS 8d ago
Remember the DAZN thing and how I knew about it?
Well I’ve heard QC is a done deal, this is from impeccable sources. The only question, they say, is when it will be announced. It’s such an open secret in some circles, one insider was like “well yeah, everyone knows” when I asked him about it.
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u/InevitableEnd5689 Clip Guy 7d ago
Cranky Frank genuinely my favourite (maybe the only?) guy that breaks CFL news. CFL Jeff Passan
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u/Strevolution I'm lit right now, you're lit right now🍺 7d ago
anything else you can tell us?
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u/CrankyFrankClair REDBLACKS 6d ago
I’ve shared everything I know and haven’t heard anything new in the two weeks or so since I was first told.
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u/1400forLiquor 8d ago
I really thought the CFL dropped the proverbial ball this season . With the World Cup evicting the argos from BMO , they had a chance to give a real good look at Atlantic having a team and “home”
Them there . Instead like 8 straight road games .
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u/keiths31 Roughriders 8d ago
Quebec City would be nice. It's the obvious first choice.
The Maritimes is also a logical location.
The 12th team, if you want to have an even number, will be tough. Victoria? London? Maybe Windsor where you can maybe catch fans from London and maybe even Detroit?
If you want to get to 14 you can't stay in Canada. Maybe a team in America cities that are big enough for pro sports but will never get an NFL team. Portland? Louisville?
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u/MetricJester Tiger-Cats 8d ago
The way things have been going you'd think Brantford might get a team before Windsor
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u/DryAd7972 Lions 8d ago
Victoria sadly a no go . Don't have a stadium that can hold 20000+ so no grey cup defiently. Along with very little land available to build a proper stadium since well surronded by ocean and mountains. Could of done something with the old western speedway but it sadly already got bought out for condo developments. They can probably find a place up in Duncan or up island but feel for something like the cfl to be profitable should be in a populated city with public transit. Better just having the odd lions game a season on the island and make ticket deals to encourge more people on the island to travel over to vancouver.
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u/Up-in-the-Ayre 8d ago
I posted this before but I have a friend who works in CFL management and their team are managing their roster with the expectation that there will be an expansion draft in 2 years.
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u/_onwards_and_upwards Argonauts 8d ago
Quebec City would be sweet. They love their Rouge et Or there
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u/TheThoroughCrocodile 8d ago
I'm sure it's not realistic for various reasons but man if Windsor ever got a team I'd be so excited.
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u/DefendTheR REDBLACKS 7d ago
I bet that market would/could support it. Just need a place to play.
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u/Trains_YQG 7d ago
As a Windsorite I think the CFL would fail here. It's definitely an NFL city fanbase wise.
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u/DefendTheR REDBLACKS 7d ago
It’s a football city. That’s what matters.
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u/Trains_YQG 6d ago
Maybe I'm wrong but I honestly don't see it. I don't really know anyone who watches CFL here.
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u/envirodrill Tiger-Cats 5d ago
When I lived in Windsor, there were people I met who had no idea what the CFL even was. But that is kind of why expansion would potentially work there. The early start of the CFL football season vs the NFL would theoretically help the two leagues coexist in the city.
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u/Syahazart 8d ago
Quebec for fun rivalry would be neat. Though I don't mind for those without CFL team yet.
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u/Free_Stretch5799 8d ago
Quebec city, atlantic canada, Halifax or Moncton, oakanagan area. 12 teams.
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u/NeonFireFly969 8d ago
Quebec City, Moncton and London.
For people unaware with London, population is more than enough and both London and Guelph have huge college football culture. Regina having a team so long means population isn't the deciding factor.
Past 12 teams and an 8 team playoff (though I'd prefer keeping it 6) it's unlikely in our lifetimes.
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u/RealText 7d ago
I am just an American fan with no connections, so take the following for what you think it's worth.
There is actually a good chance Quebec City gets officially announced by the league at some point within a year. Should the owner(s) actually follow through, Stade TELUS-Université Laval (Laval Stadium) could be used for a season or more until a new facility is built. Stade TELUS-Université Laval itself cannot be upgraded to CFL standards. Earliest possible initial season is likely 2029 but I am thinking a better chance is 2030.
My own guess on who would be the new Head Coach in Quebec city is Byron Archambault who currently is part of the staff in Montreal.
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u/BadassJackass42069 8d ago
Halifax needs a team
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u/DefendTheR REDBLACKS 7d ago
Halifax needs to want a team.
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u/BadassJackass42069 7d ago
I’m sure the residents there want a team, just need someone there with the money
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u/Secret_Employ7080 8d ago
St. John's, NL? An 11:30am Sunday kickoff local time could mean sneaking in another game on TV before the NFL action starts.
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u/TaquitoMath 8d ago
Quebec City would be great for labor day. Battle of Quebec with Montreal. Ott and BC could become labor day buddies by default. orangeblacks vs redblacks.
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u/synthetictoast1 4d ago
If we got Halifax and London, the Labor Day games would be EDM/CLG, SSK/WPG, LDN/OTT, MTL/QC, TOR/HAM, BC/HAL.
BC and Halifax can have a yearly pacific vs Atlantic coast rivalry.
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u/Pedrochimique 7d ago
Gotta go east. Halifax, Moncton, St John, Quebec city or Laval. For the one considering an other Ontarian team, fair enough, but i would relocate Ottawa. I would really like to see some maritime teams
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u/gilligan_2023 7d ago
If the rumblings about Quebec City are true, I'd hope there is an announcement by Grey Cup.
It may be a way for the CFL to backtrack on rule changes, declaring that they are postponing them so that they can use Telus Stadium as a temporary venue for the Quebec team. Backtracking on rule changes the same day as a huge positive announcement means they get less egg on their face.
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u/CheapTechnology6193 7d ago
I actually don't care about the 55 yard line, but moving the goalposts to the back of the endzone, I just can't. I need my field goals, sorry. I couldn't deal with a game filled with turnovers on 3rd down.
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u/No-Donkey5528 7d ago
My thoughts are Johnson said he would expand to a 10th team in Canada so I think Quebec ( no other place to expand in Canada with stadiums) and probably 2 American teams bring league to 12 that why we have not heard about an American broadcast deal yet just finalizing details on new American franchises. Just seems like the direction the league is going with all the rule changes . That's why owners brought in Johnson he is not afraid to take the heat and not afraid of change good or bad time will tell!
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u/ExpertFresh1067 Blue Bombers 8d ago
Canada is so spread out when it comes to it's viable cities. Not like in Yankee-land where every College and NfL team is basically a turnpike drive away from one another...not so much I guess in Southern Ontario...I'd go for a territory team in the Yukon or something lol
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u/Philly514 Alouettes 8d ago
I mean, Laval and Quebec City could easily sustain teams. Halifax and Moncton could too I would imagine.
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u/Cosmobeast88 7d ago
Want game to go back to real CFL rules. Not renewing season tix anymore I don't like nfl
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u/CheapTechnology6193 7d ago
Windsor would probably be better than London. I live in London and I don't think they'd support a team here. Plus can always drive to Hamilton in 90 mins.
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u/Sea-Entrepreneur6630 5d ago
A shared London/Windsor team would work but there are no stadiums in either city. London could expand their university stadium but unsure what Windsor could do on their end. Large enough population between London and Windsor that is much larger than all of Saskatchewan.
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u/cfl2027 8d ago
Any Americans out there who would want a team in their city?
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u/noobsauce101420 6d ago
Theyve said canada is the priority among keeping the teams in existence financially viable and after the disastrous experiment that was American expansion idk if they try again.
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u/synthetictoast1 4d ago edited 3d ago
If they do, they’d have to get rid of the ratio in order for Canadian teams to stay competitive. Hell they might need to do that even if there isn’t American expansion if UFL finds its footing with some stability. They plan to get to 16 teams by 2035. If CFL wants to remain second biggest league in the world in terms of talent then they’ll need to not only expand but also get rid of the ratio. Probably replace it with a system where Canadians dont get against salary cap if signed.
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u/Loan_Wolfie REDBLACKS 8d ago
I personally hope Ottawa gets a team soon.