Lets face it they only added the two extra games in 1986 to try and bring in more revenue. Instead all it's done is make less people go to more games, especially in the East and in BC where we are only seeing an average attendance of just over 20,000. Toronto Canada’s largest city and last seasons Grey Cup champs only got about 18,000 last game. Back when we only played 16 games the East was getting well over 30,000 per game and TV ratings were much higher as well. When we take into consideration that the Canadian population has also grown over the last 26 years it makes these numbers look even worse.
16 games like back in 1986 and like the NFL plays is good enough. It's not like any contending teams need the extra two games in an 8 team league to make the playoffs anyway. 18 games also pushes the Grey Cup game to far into winter. I don't know if anyone here has been to a Grey Cup game outside at the end of November. I have, It's quite painful sitting in -20 weather watching two teams that aren't even yours play on a frozen field.
It’s now longer now… they just turned 2 pre-season games into regular season season games.
So, when NFL owners finally get their way and the NFL goes to an 18 game season, then will the 18 game CFL season be the right length?
I think thats why they are now making new stadiums smaller with seating around 25,000 or less it makes it look less empty and it causes a supply and demand issue like in Montreal. When you have sellout after sellout people want to get in on the action. But I like you said if we only played 16 games like in the NFL those Eastern teams and BC would probably get over 30,000 fans a game. Instead they have given the casual football fan too many dates and too many seats to chose from. If your going to have 18 games in large stadiums you need to reduce the ticket prices.
We've only been at below 30,000 for years because Empire didn't even hold 27,000 hardly.
I think the Lions lost a lot of fans because of that because the year before that they were averaging above 30,000 and had a few games near 38,000.
I don't think 18 games has anything to do with it.
I think the Lions should bump the ticket prices down definitely. Bring back 7-11 tickets and you but for 50 or 60 bucks instead of 40 will see a huge jump in sales.
The prices were just too steep, even for me. When I make more money i'll gladly pay it but its not an option right now.
There is nothing better then football when its -20.
I'd rather see more games, than less. But I wish they would start earlier in the season, so they're not playing into November. October is cold enough, playing into November is just silly.
I'd agree, if there are too many empty seats then make some available for cheaper prices.
I too would like to see lower ticket prices but here's the problem... you sell 25,000 seats at $30 each (750K) or you sell $27,000 seats at $25 each (675K). Dropping the price costs the team 75K per game (675K per year). They might make up some of that with concession fees and parking but not enough to justify the lower ticket prices. What would you do?
something I hear from a lot of people is playing the same team so many times. There is one team you play 4 times, often 5 with preseason. a new team or 2 will help. I also know other who say 'well, after 9 games, you kinda know who is in the playoffs, and who is not.' Thus, tuning in on labor day and beyond kinda tells you all you need to know. There is a lot of truth in odd man out 3/4 make it leagues.
Long or not, it is presently a gate driven league, and thus needs the games. I do feel it will be alleviated significantly if an even 10th team comes in.
there can never be too many games. anyone who thinks there are just doesnt really appreciate the cfl like a true fan
I’ll bet that if the NFL go’s to 18 games you’ll see a drop in attendance. I’m watching the Argos game right now theirs hardly anyone at the game and it’s being broadcast on NBC. It’s embarrassing. The right thing to do is have 25,000 to 30,000 seat stadiums and only 16 games. Then besides Ottawa joining next season the CFL could probably have two more teams in the CFL in the smaller markets like Quebec city and Halifax / Moncton sharing a team.
It’s plus 20 in Toronto right now and the stadium looks like a ghost town. Their is a problem in the CFL and it can be fixed with some common sense.
Thats nice to say but I’m watching the Argo game right now and the stadium looks like a ghost town. Their is a problem in the CFL and it can be fixed with some common sense.
I'm watching the Argos game right now theirs hardly anyone at the game and it's being broadcast on NBC. It's embarrassing. The right thing to do is have 25,000 to 30,000 seat stadiums and only 16 games. Then besides Ottawa joining next season the CFL could probably have two more teams in the CFL in the smaller markets like Quebec city and Halifax / Moncton sharing a team.
You just posted the same exact thing 3 times… but in any case, the problem is the Toronto market not having respect for the CFL, not the fact that the CFL season is too long. Try to get Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg (i.e. half the teams) to agree to take a 2 game cut in revenue… not likely.
Also, Quebec City would not really be a “smaller market” as it basically equals Winnipeg and Hamilton. Halifax would be, but it’s still larger than Regina, although Saskatchewan has more than Nova Scota (albeit it’s much less densely populated). There would be no point in sharing a team though; it’s hard enough to get a market to build a stadium let alone get one to build one for only half (or some other fraction) of the games.
And to the original poster, I’ve been to 5 Grey Cups in outdoor stadiums in the prairies; 3 featured my team. Dress warmly and suck it up; we’re from a Winter country, deal with it. No one is forcing you to go; afterall, you do have the choice of sticking to Toronto, Montreal, and BC Grey Cups.
I dont care what the stadium “looks” like. I just want more football. As long as they can keep it going, all the much better.
Not having Rogers feed scraps to the Argos would help.
What type of attendance do you expect on a late Tuesday evening?
All teams would suffer similarly at the gate.
And you’re Canadian? Shame on you!
What a wimp!
Waaah its too cold!!! Waah! I don’t like watching football in November!!
Please… Sad excuse for a football fan! :roll:
The problem is not that the season is too long or that there are too many games (It'll be longer next year; with nine teams each team will have two bye weeks, making the season twenty weeks long unless the league "compresses" a week or two), the problem is that the teams play each other three or four times a year. People lose interest. And that won't be solved unless and until the league goes to ten teams, which isn't likely to be anytime soon.
As for starting the season earlier and ending before November, that's one of the more ridiculous ideas I've heard lately. It already starts too early; One of the reasons attendance lags in July and August is that there are just too many other things to do in the summer. And if people in Green Bay, Chicago, Buffalo and Boston can go to outdoor games in the middle of January, people in Canada should be able to handle outdoor games in November, and even in early December. The Grey Cup has been played as late as December 9, though that wasn't in the "modern" era, and the last time Hamilton hosted, the game was originally scheduled for December 10 of that year.
I cannot see attendance changing when going from 9 home games to 8. Hardcore fans will go to every game and casual fans will go o 1/8/9 or 4/8/9. The CFL revenue is very gate-driven and they need every regular season game possible to make money. Keep it as it is. Also compared to the NFL, due to the more open field and smaller players, there is less injuries over a season. This is why the NFL (see Peter King) wants to keep the NFL season shorter, and they are right.