Montreal Alouettes Owner Gary Stern was a recent guest on The Markcast. He talked about why he got on Twitter, the importance of social media to get new fans, the CFL surviving 100 years, the Alouettes recent coaching change, Vernon Adams Jr, competition from US football leagues, and more.
Stern was asked about the CFL TV ratings verse the USFL. Stern does not like the word USFL or XFL. He also talks about the CFL attracting a US audience.
โI donโt even like the word USFL on your podcast, but theyโre there. I donโt like the word XFL. I donโt even like the word NFL. I love the word CFL. I am passionate about it, and I am really passionate about the Alouettesโฆ we have a good Canadian fan base.
The US leagues, we have to step up (to attract fans)โฆ weโre not competitiveโฆ weโre uniquely Canadian. How do we take this Canadian football and attract the US audienceโฆ There is a balance here and itโs something I think the CFL is going to have to figure it out and fast.. we are uniquely Canadian, but can uniquely Canadian support where we want to go?
Letโs face it, with this new league(USFL & XFL), I wonโt even mention their names. There is going to be increased competition for players. Increased competition for players causes rapidly rising salaries or a diluted productโฆ thatโs going to be a problem.โ
He also goes on to talk about the CFLโs shrinking revenues and losing the players to the US football leagues.
โWeโre looking at shrinking revenues because thereโs less money available from our fan base to payโฆ. Yet Iโm a firm believer weโre going to have to pay more for playersโฆ. Iโm going to get shot for saying that. Itโs not us against the players. Weโre together on this. โ
Stern also talks about how important having great players is to a league.
โWe must find a way for people to watch and sponsor us and have a great entertaining product. That product is based on having great playersโฆ weโre working on it. How do you spend more and have less revenue? I think we have to take a risk, spend more, and hope that our on-field product improves.โ
He also talks about how the new US leagues will impact the CFL next season.
โHow are going to translate this to players next year? Weโre even going to have to protect our players because people are going to come from the US.. Looking for them. This is going to be toughโฆ Iโm passionate. I believe we can do it. But we got to remain open to any and all ideas.โ
Stern was asked about the firing of head coach Khari Jones.
โI wonโt get involved in the whole thingโฆ I have nothing but respect for Khari, for the effort, he put in helping take this team in 2020. We didnโt play in 2020โฆ then we played a shortened season in 2021, and now weโre playing a full season.
The man has been nothing to me but genuine, hard-working, and did everything he could, and he put his heart and soul into itโฆ. Iโm being sincere. It saddens me that heโs no longer with the club, but Iโm not going to go into the rest.โ
He talks about Vernon Adams Jr, Trevor Harris, his dislike for bi-weeks, the CFL media, and more. Worth a full listen.
Mark Perry is the founder and editor of CFL News Hub. A dedicated and experienced football analyst, he has been providing comprehensive coverage of the sport since 2018.
The Alouettes donโt look good at all. Who has Mr. Stern brought in as a marquee player to fill the stands? Nobody. When Sam Berger owned the team it was Johnny Rodgers; the stadium was full. When Nelson Skalbania owned the team it was Billy White โ Shoes Johnson and more, and the Big โ O was full. Mr. Stern should sell the team if he cannot afford to take similar action.
David Tress
July 15, 2022 at 12:52 pm
The Alouettes donโt look good at all. Who has Mr. Stern brought in as a marquee player to fill the stands? Nobody. When Sam Berger owned the team it was Johnny Rodgers; the stadium was full. When Nelson Skalbania owned the team it was Billy White โ Shoes Johnson and more, and the Big โ O was full. Mr. Stern should sell the team if he cannot afford to take similar action.