It's in the NFL's best interest for the CFL to succeed. What they like about it is that the CFL season ends just as the NFL season hits the stretch run, so the audience in Canada can then watch the NFL after the CFL.
And yes, the main reason Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, etc. don't have NFL teams is that the NFL agreed not to put teams in Canada as they are an investor in the CFL. It's in the NFL's best interest for the CFL to succeed. What they like about it is that the CFL season ends just as the NFL season hits the stretch run, so the audience in Canada can then watch the NFL after the CFL.
Of course if the CFL failed, the NFL would be in Canada either with a new league (NFL Canada) or expanding teams into the big cities.
There was a rumor that the Arena League might also try to move into Canada...
Paul Godfrey is in serious talks right now to bring an NFL team to Toronto. In fact hes already taken the necessary steps to meet NFL guidelines regarding luxury boxes etc. Where do you get your mis-information?
I just don't believe that an NFL team in Toronto would make it.
I think it is silly to say that the NFL won't go to Canada because of some secret handshake. If the NFL finds a city that would be profitible, they'd take it in a heartbeat.
The problem is this. The NFL makes money on two things, stadium sales and TV. Right now most of the Canadian teams would have to play outdoors, which means sub-zero temps most of the season. Sounds like fun, but it's not easy to sell out a city in 10 degree weather if you aren't good. Some cities like Chicago, New York, New England, Buffalo, and Green Bay can do it because of long storied history and football being so popular. However, could Toronto draw 60,000 in 5 degree weather if they are 3-9? Probably not. In that case, they'd need a new stadium, much like the ones you are seeing built like Ford Field. These stadiums provide big revenue and lots of luxury boxes.
Second is the TV. There just isn't a huge following in Canada like there is in the US. You also won't have fans in the US being fans of a Toronto team like you do here. Go to any major city and you'll find people who are fans of all different teams. Without a history, it won't help.
So unless a city like Toronto decides to build a state of the art stadium for football, and keeps the Argonaut name for it along with the history and following, it will never happen.
Toronto has the skydome.. Vancouver has BC PLACE etc.. temp isn't a problem.. Vancouver has a milder winter than a lot of american cities..
so teams like jacksonville and carolina have a big history?
Toronto has the skydome.. Vancouver has BC PLACE etc.. temp isn't a problem.. Vancouver has a milder winter than a lot of american cities..
so teams like jacksonville and carolina have a big history?
Those aren't new stadiums though. New stadiums = lots of luxury boxes = tons of cash. Jacksonville and Carolina are in states that have a rich tradition of high school and college football. There are a lot of fans of football in those states.
I'm not saying it wouldn't survive or even flourish. I just think right now the NFL is more concerned with putting teams into markets like LA.
The CFL is really good football, some of the biggest college stars play in the CFL...usually because they're a little small to play in the NFL (Doug Flutie for example) alot of canadians like both the NFL and CFL, I dont really worry about which one I like more I just enjoy the games. And TO could get enough fans for an NFL game if they ever got a franchinse which I doubt they ever will. Just stop calling the super bowl champions "world champions" same goes for the nba
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