The fact that the US teams were not required to play any Canadian players would have destroyed the league eventually.
We’re lucky they folded as soon as they did.
It wouldn’t have destroyed the league. It might have changed some things. The easiest solution would be to get rid of the ratio entirely which the CFL probably would have done. The second option would be to give players guaranteed contracts, restrict free agency, and have a salary cap based on cost of living.
CFL also famously makes up rules to fit the situation. We have Nationalized Americans today. They could have said that all Americans that went to school in the Northern part of the States were “Honorary Canadians” that count towards the ratio. No one would have blinked.
Been through this before. By 1995 the US teams success trend was already there compared to Canadian teams. Getting rid of the ratio would americanize the league and we all know how Non NFL Pro football turns out.
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The specific scenario had to with it succeeding though so that would buck the trend of non NFL Pro Football. Getting rid of the ratio wouldn’t necessarily Americanize the league though. That’s like saying the forward pass being added in 1929 Americanized the league.
???
Totally disagree but you’re entitled to your opinion. 
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In both situations they probably would lose/had lost a small amount of fans but the diehards would eventually croak. The bulk of the fans that go to games are casual fans. Most fans are just happy to go to a live event, eat hot dogs etc. with their family.
One fellow here in BC asked me why they punted on 3rd down. People go to games and have no clue about the league or any of it’s rules.
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Has nothing to do with “diehards”. It has to do with losing the connection to the game (Canadians) via a flood of american players,coaches, GM’s and ruining the game in Canada. My opinion.
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You could market a guy from Washington state as easily as you could market a guy from Halifax in BC. People out here would actually like the guy from Washington State more.
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Black outs began long before the '80’s. During the '60’s and '70’s, because of the proximity, we in Toronto and Hamilton couldn’t watch either team’s home games. So when they played each other, both fan bases had to listen on the radio. This included playoffs. What a brilliant move that was by the league. We grew up never seeing either team in their home darks on tv.
Actually, if memory serves, it was in the late '80’s or early '90’s that the league began to ease blackouts under certain criteria. For instance, lifting the blackout if the game was sold out so many hours before it started.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally agree that it didn’t help with bringing in new fans. Looking back, as much as I hated the blackout era, it was all we knew, growing up. In my case, it never was an influence on me becoming and staying a fan of the CFL.
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Ah yes! Listening to the transistor radio with Perc Allen doing the play-by-play, while desperately trying to find the best place to get “good” reception!
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In the 90s I used to go up to my girlfriend at the times place because she lived outside the blackout area for Hamilton games
She lived up in the Meadowvale area about 20 minutes from the Toronto Zoo
That’s how I dealt with the blackouts back then
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The blackouts were an attempt to fill the stands in the days when the CFL got next to nothing for TV broadcasts.
Now each team can get a guaranteed $5 MILLION and if they can get 20,000 per game at an average of $80 a ticket they aren’t doing too bad.
My take on the 90’s CFL expansion into USA
A little bird was flying south for the Winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.
While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.
The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.
Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you’re in deep shit, it’s best to keep your mouth shut!
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