-Image via Regina Leader Post
He brings up a tremendous point in the possibility of what is called a derbie in Italian soccer and of course other leagues…two teams from the same region battling it out for supremacy. As we saw in the NHL years ago (The Montreal Canadiens and the Quebec Nordiques), it can create a passionate debate that can at times get ugly, but generate a lot of steam and money for everyone involved.
And at the end of the day aren’t we talking about money? More money for everyone involved? If the players are paid more in this league, that will attract more players…but what about those players? Nine teams and a good but smaller college ball organization in all of Canada, how can it compare to the NCAA of the US? Mr. Ambrosie addressed that as well…
“The positive not
e is there are almost 850 NCAA programs of various shapes and sizes in the United States, there’s a lot of football being played in the US, there’s college football and junior football being played in Canada….We’ve gotta find a way to find those QBs, we’ve gotta find a way to develop those QBs…We’ve always had a great track record of attracting phenomenal QBs, and we’ll continue to attract them…But this is definitely a topic that is front and centre.”
-via TSN (transcription) – link above
But Quebec City isn’t the on
ly possibility for expansion. As has been reported by numerous sources, including a piece over at 13thmansports.ca, Halifax is perhaps the leading possibility right now for expansion.An “ownership group,” as the above-mentioned source referenced it, has been around since 2018 and since that time the possibility of the expansion has been more of a concrete possibility, especially with serious proposals for stadiums in and around Atlantic Canada—specifically Halifax, Nova Scotia.
There were even some games played there and in New Brunswick as well. The games played there, specifically at Raymond Field on the Acadia University campus in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, which was attended by just over 10 thousand screaming and very enthusiastic fans, were indeed successful.
That was back in 2022, and to say i
t was a success would be an understatement; it was a positive nod in the possible expansion Ambrosie has been after for a while.As the source also states, the Atlantic Schooners were almost a team for a planned expansion back in the mid-eighties, but that ball got squashed way before it was allowed to get rolling. This time though, things are being handled a tad more strategically and slowly, the momentum being allowed to be built a little at a time and really, Ambrosie has been at this a while, as stated.
So in the end, an Expansion might be on the way. The placement of that tenth team for now and maybe more in the future should be considered imminent; the only thing left is determining just what city will get the honor of being that tenth team. What side are you on? Quebec or Halifax?
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Costa
August 26, 2023 at 3:50 am
The CFL needs to stop thinking “big”. They are not. They need to think small. Like the Betfred Super league or the NRL. They need to create partnerships with CPL and MLS and start sharing stadiums. Building temporary/permanent stadiums. They should consider shrinking the field to 100 yards with 15 yard endzones but keeping the same width and the 12th player. I say this so stadium construction can be simple as a soccer field can fit in these dimensions so we can create small steep intimate stadiums. Secondly, get the damn game back on cable! CTV. SPONSORSHIP of the league. And SPINSORSHIP of each team. Same model
like the Rugby leagues. 1 DIVISION. For the love of God, 1 division. Each team already travels once to each coast. Come on. 2 divisions is nonsense. Even with 10 or 12 teams, 1 DIVISION. Finally, bring the high school and university championships games to Grey cup weekend. Create grass roots and tradition. Finally we need teams in Halifax, Quebec City and the Okanagan. 12 teams. This is a formula for success.
Howard
September 7, 2023 at 11:51 pm
Halifax
Jim
September 12, 2023 at 9:33 am
Anchorage
David Tress
September 13, 2023 at 11:41 am
The CFL should still think big. The four biggest cities in Canada without a CFL team are London ON, Quebec City, Halifax and Victoria. That is where the next CFL teams should be. However, without new stadiums that seat at least 35,000, it won’t happen quite yet.
BK
November 15, 2024 at 9:17 am
Please let’s go ahead with the Schooners already! I’m 65 and life long fan of the CFL, now the clock is ticking. To the Schooners, release some merchandise. I’m in Cape Breton, game day on the roads to Halifax could look like Saskatoon heading to a game in Regina!
To Randy Ambrosie THANK YOU! Your service to the league will not go unnoticed in the future. You leave big shoes to be filled.
Having CFL games to watch on tv regularly has been a blessing, keep it up.