Why doesn't Canada have a NFL team?

[Sly]

They have a team for every other "major" North American sport that I can think of... why not football? I would think a city like Toronto would be able to support of football team. No?

[aflex]

Canadian teams in American based leagues suck. Except for NHL of course.

[Alex]

Why am i not thinking of a MLB team in canada

EDIT: Blue Jays

[xclusive]

CFL wouldn't be to happy with that competition

[Tempest]

Our cities can barely support our own CFL teams, never mind then also having a NFL team.

[Young]

Canadian men are not manly enough for American football. Thats why they have 3rd rate players and end zones that are 20 yards long.

Plus...NFL teams need 50k plus fans...that would never happen in Canada.

[SL|M!]

Cause they NBA did sooooooooo well up here!

[BRISK]

www.cfl.ca

[pr0]

They got some tough fuckers in canada, i dunno why not.

[Raja]

The CFL and the NFL cut a deal a few years ago. As long as the CFL exists the NFL will not consider a Canadian NFL franchise.

[Spunky]

We probably aren't big enough to support a team.Toronto although a fairly big Canadian city barely gets any fans for their CFL team..seems more like a Baseball/basketball town

[XTC Max]

Because nobody wants to play football on ice :D

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Raja

The CFL and the NFL cut a deal a few years ago. As long as the CFL exists the NFL will not consider a Canadian NFL franchise.

A REAL answer. Thank you.

Do Canadians watch NFL more than CFL? I never hear anything about the CFL, I think I've seen it on TV once.

[iBanker]

Originally Posted by XTC Max

Because nobody wants to play football on ice :D

I can't believe I'm the only person to find this funny .

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Sly

Do Canadians watch NFL more than CFL? I never hear anything about the CFL, I think I've seen it on TV once.

Some (like me) do watch more NFL than CFL. But I did catch the Grey cup game a few weeks ago, it was one hell of a good football game.

[Doctor Dre]

Originally Posted by Tempest

Our cities can barely support our own CFL teams, never mind then also having a NFL team.

Big markets like toronto, vancouver and MTL could probably pull it off.

[Spunky]

Originally Posted by XTC Max

Because nobody wants to play football on ice :D

It's also tough to get rid of the walrus shit on the tundra..it tends to freeze over

[Doctor Dre]

Originally Posted by Spunky

We probably aren't big enough to support a team.Toronto although a fairly big Canadian city barely gets any fans for their CFL team..seems more like a Baseball/basketball town

You forgot... hockey ?!? lol

how's dat

[Doctor Dre]

Originally Posted by Sly

A REAL answer. Thank you.

Do Canadians watch NFL more than CFL? I never hear anything about the CFL, I think I've seen it on TV once.

I personally only watch CFL ... NFL games once in a while that's about it.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Young

Canadian men are not manly enough for American football. Thats why they have 3rd rate players and end zones that are 20 yards long.

Plus...NFL teams need 50k plus fans...that would never happen in Canada.

One could think that way... if one was clueless.

Hey, for every stupid remark you can make you'll hear a Canadian shoot back with something like "Yeah? Well at least we don't need FOUR DOWNS to get a first down like your NFL pussies "

In the CFL you get 3 downs to move the ball, if you can't cut it with that you can't cut it.

Two different sets of rules, no sense at all in comparing the two leagues.

And Canadians on the whole would prefer to preserve our CFL rather than bring in NFL franchises, so it's a non-issue.

[Hey You . . . I Know You!]

Originally Posted by Raja

The CFL and the NFL cut a deal a few years ago. As long as the CFL exists the NFL will not consider a Canadian NFL franchise.

The real reason is that the league is literally the "National Football League." They are not the "International Football League." Canada is not part of our nation and is therefore not eligible to join.

[BRISK]

Originally Posted by Hey You . . . I Know You!

The real reason is that the league is literally the "National Football League." They are not the "International Football League." Canada is not part of our nation and is therefore not eligible to join.

Don't the Toronto Blue Jays play in the American League in MLB?

And the National Hockey League has both Canadian and American teams, no?

[greygoose]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

One could think that way... if one was clueless.

Hey, for every stupid remark you can make you'll hear a Canadian shoot back with something like "Yeah? Well at least we don't need FOUR DOWNS to get a first down like your NFL pussies "

In the CFL you get 3 downs to move the ball, if you can't cut it with that you can't cut it.

Two different sets of rules, no sense at all in comparing the two leagues.

And Canadians on the whole would prefer to preserve our CFL rather than bring in NFL franchises, so it's a non-issue.

go canada

[Sly]

Originally Posted by BRISK

Don't the Toronto Blue Jays play in the American League in MLB?

And the National Hockey League has both Canadian and American teams, no?

As does the NBA.

[BRISK]

Originally Posted by Sly

As does the NBA.

Someone should phone the Toronto Raptors and tell them they can't play anymore because someone on GFY said they're not eligible.

[Holly]

Canadians don't know how to do anything but shovel snow and fuck moose.

If you handed them a football, they'd draw antlers on it, cut out a hole, and try to stick their penis in it.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Holly

Canadians don't know how to do anything but shovel snow and fuck moose.

If you handed them a football, they'd draw antlers on it, cut out a hole, and try to stick their penis in it.

And we, unlike Saddam Hussien, are definitely hording weapons of mass destruction.

[Hey You . . . I Know You!]

Originally Posted by BRISK

Don't the Toronto Blue Jays play in the American League in MLB?

And the National Hockey League has both Canadian and American teams, no?

Well "Major League Baseball" is not limiting by definition. The "league" names are left over from the days when it was strictly played in the United States.

The NHL . . . well crap, I (like 99% of Americans) don't know anything about that.


Obviously the answer is money. I'm just trying to pick on those hosers.

[Holly]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

And we, unlike Saddam Hussien, are definitely hording weapons of mass destruction.

Don't worry, you're next on the liberation list.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Sly

Why doesn't Canada have a NFL team?

This simple answer to this question is that, unlike the other major sports, we have our own league for football, "The Canadian Football League"

The league has a long and storied history all it's own, thus Canadians want to preserve it rather than have yet one more thing swallowed up and absorbed by the giant living to our South.

From wikipedia.org:

The Canadian Football League (CFL; French: Ligue canadienne de football) is a professional league located entirely in Canada that plays Canadian football. It is considered to be the highest level of play in Canadian football. The league's top trophy, the Grey Cup, was donated by Governor General Earl Grey in 1909 to the team winning the Senior Amateur Football Championship of Canada. Both the trophy and the championship game have become known as the Grey Cup.

Since 1954, when the Ontario Rugby Football Union stopped challenging for the Grey Cup, the trophy has been awarded only to professional teams with the championship generally being an East vs. West competition. This is also the year the British Columbia Lions started play as the ninth professional team, so although the CFL was not technically founded until the late 1950's, 1954 is often referred to as the start of the "modern era" of Canadian professional football.

It is also considered to be the year the CFL was founded in substance if not in name. The game is very similar to American football but there are several major rule differences. Compared to the NFL, the CFL can be considered a "gunslingers" league.

There you have it.

[Tempest]

Originally Posted by Holly

If you handed them a football, they'd draw antlers on it, cut out a hole, and try to stick their penis in it.

We'd rather save our money for beer than spend it on a fleshlight...

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Holly

Don't worry, you're next on the liberation list.

If that means you yourself are coming to my house, no need to kick the door in.

Take me, I'm yours.

[stev0]

Originally Posted by Sly

They have a team for every other "major" North American sport that I can think of... why not football? I would think a city like Toronto would be able to support of football team. No?

And why doesn't the US have a team in the CFL? haha...

[stev0]

Originally Posted by Tempest

Our cities can barely support our own CFL teams, never mind then also having a NFL team.

People in Canada don't really care about football... most of us would rather watch hockey or real football (soccer).

[willysbirthday]

They don't have a NFL team cuz all of the meat head players in the CFL league cried their poor little hearts out when the Baltimore Stalions won their prechious little trophy

[mackey]

Doesn't the NFL fund the CFL now anyways?

[mackey]

Similar to a minor league for the NFL... (besides drafting players from college)

[mackey]

nevermind, it was cleared up for me, according to my friend, the NFL bailed the CFL out of Bankruptcy and ran the league for 2 years until they got back on their feet, this was like 8 years ago or something...

I don't think the NFL wants to touch the CFL anymore..

[flashfire]

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

[Young]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

One could think that way... if one was clueless.

Hey, for every stupid remark you can make you'll hear a Canadian shoot back with something like "Yeah? Well at least we don't need FOUR DOWNS to get a first down like your NFL pussies "

In the CFL you get 3 downs to move the ball, if you can't cut it with that you can't cut it.

Two different sets of rules, no sense at all in comparing the two leagues.

And Canadians on the whole would prefer to preserve our CFL rather than bring in NFL franchises, so it's a non-issue.

I was only kidding dude. I love Canada. Quebec has beautiful brunettes.

Canadians don't really understand what the big deal with football is. Hockey is your sport.

Football is now the number one sport in the U.S.

[pocketkangaroo]

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.

[pocketkangaroo]

Question for the CFL buffs: Didn't they add a couple American teams for a few years? I thought I remembered a Nashville team.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Young

Canadians don't really understand what the big deal with football is.

You really should have left it while you were behind, and stop talking out of your buttchute about what Canadians understand or don't understand.

Come up here sometime before making these idiotic assumptions.... Hit any major city on Superbowl or Grey Cup Sunday and walk into just about any sports bar and you'll find out just how rear-end wrong you are about "what Canadians don't understand about football"

Some of you 'mericans are too funny for words.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by pocketkangaroo

Question for the CFL buffs: Didn't they add a couple American teams for a few years? I thought I remembered a Nashville team.

Yes, but we don't like to talk about "that time" :D

[SAM SIYC]

I just refuse to watch a football game where they put the goal's post in the middle of the touchdown area (CFL) lol

NFL rocks

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by pocketkangaroo

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.

Not without Canada's and the CFL's approval they wouldn't. Sorry.

Originally Posted by pocketkangaroo

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.

We do have a few domes up here, but I agree in that your NFL goes until well into January, whereas our Grey Cup game is played in November. Unless we had every franchised city having an indoor dome it wouldn't work, but like I said earlier it won't work anyway because Canada wants to preserve it's league, not have yet another thing of ours absorbed into the US. In that light the sport of football is unique, for Canada.

Originally Posted by pocketkangaroo

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.

You're right, it will never happen.

And there is more of a following for both the CFL and the NFL up here than you might think. We may not get 50,000 fans out to each game like the NFL does, but millions of Canadians are watching both the NFL and CFL on the tube every week. Millions. We are cheering, betting, following the stats and injuries and coaching changes, everything. Just like you.

There are still plenty of US cities that the NFL could expand to, the CFL is just fine where it is, as it is, in Canada.

[Young]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

You really should have left it while you were behind, and stop talking out of your buttchute about what Canadians understand or don't understand.

Come up here sometime before making these idiotic assumptions.... Hit any major city on Superbowl or Grey Cup Sunday and walk into just about any sports bar and you'll find out just how rear-end wrong you are about "what Canadians don't understand about football"

Some of you 'mericans are too funny for words.

Hahahahahahhahahahhahhahahahhhah please don't compare Americans love to Football with Canadians love for Football. AHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA

oh boy. thanks for the laughs

[Downtime]

because we dont like canada

[Moraxian]

The CFL tried to make in the USA by puting teams in the USA (Baltimore, San Antonio and Shreveport all tried... and failed.) They also tried to get on US TV, including network TV during a Labor Dispute in 1987. NBC put a CFL game on, on a rainy, miserable day in Edmonton. I think one of the teams scored a couple of Rouges and the final score was 2-0 or 2-1 or some ridiculously low score. Not that CFL football wouldn't sell in the USA, it's just that it's a different game, like Arena Football. If the CFL moved most of their games to mid-week and did a revenue sharing cable TV deal with a US network, they'd find a niche audience.

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...

There's not enough black people up here.