Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
I actually really like this idea - but cautiously if that makes sense.
One concern is that it might make the league seem even more "small time" in the larger markets.
And then we end up with a CHL-style situation where the league is in tons of markets big and small across the country, is actually a national leader in bums in seats, but has little to no national visibility.
OTOH, under a hypothetical scenario (if they can pull it off) having 10,000 people at a CFL game in Vaughan, 8,000 people at a CFL game in Mississauga, 9,000 at a CFL game in Oshawa, and 10,000 people at a CFL game at BMO Field in Toronto, all on the same weekend, would arguably be better than having just 15,000 people from the entire GTA at a single Argos game at BMO.
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I've been arguing for years that one team in the GTA is just gonna be invisible.
8 games a year in a place so busy doesn't make any sense.
Ironically I think baseballs exceptionally long season is a real benefit.
You can just casually set a date with friends for whenever and not give it a second thought.
Mississauga etc needs a team, not to mention London, KCW, etc.
CHL is obviously overkill, no city smaller than 200k should ever be considered for a team, and even then only if it is a regional hub.
I think 1 team for every 2 million people(in the region) makes sense.
EDIT: The most obvious thing to do would be create some sort of farm league/expansion hybrid.
Every team gets an affiliate, players are rotated between the farm team and the main team to cut down on roster costs. Use a ton of local/junior talent to fill out the rest of the teams at low cost.
Get rid of exhibition games altogether.
Place all the teams in Eastern Canada. With a St Lawrence division with Sherbrooke, QC. Moncton, Halifax, and put 5 teams in the GTA/London/KWC.
Set the farm league to start in Early spring maybe mid April.
Set it up so in the future the league could become it's own conference I.e. AFC-NFC equivalents
If the Big CFL fails you have a small scale landing pad, if the farm teams thrive you can bring the more successful teams into the fold.