Can the CFL survive without the Argos? Fri, October 5, 2007
Bobby Ackles has a cause, and wants your help, football fans. The future of the CFL could be at stake. The president of the B.C. Lions is one of the more respected figures in football, widely known on both sides of the border and with 55 years experience in the game.
What has him worried is the possibility of the NFL moving into Toronto. It's long been talked about, and nothing is imminent, but Ackles' fear is if and when it does happen, the CFL will be through.
The Argonauts are the oldest sports franchise that has kept the same nickname in North America.
We have something of our own in the CFL and should keep it.
Somehow, some of us want to turn totally American.
Gordon, 2007-10-13 16:42:20
Gordon
It doesnt look like baseball coming to Canada has hurt MLB media or for that matter the NBA.
Jimmy, 2007-10-12 20:37:13
Seems to me the NFL is totally about making money and a money making machine. Football comes second.
I really doubt that the owners of the NFL would want to venture into a country outside the US when it wouldn't do anything but hurt media revenue.
The purity of the NFL has long passed.
Gordon, 2007-10-12 18:24:05
Vince
Never say never that the NFL wont come to Canada. Who would have ever thought MLB would have teams in Montreal and Toronto ?
If they can find owners willing to pay the expansion fee and build a new stadium they will come here and or Mexico.
Its in all likelihood just a matter of time Toronto will have an NFL.
Jimmy, 2007-10-08 13:32:12
The NFL will NEVER move to Toronto. It is only a mischievous dalliance by some Americans wannabees in the GTA. However the CFL is its own worst enemy when it comes to conducting business.
The CFL better be careful by staying with only 8 teams. Once you are happy having only 8 teams, it will not be too long before you will have only 7 teams. Whether Toronto goes or another team goes. This is the risk that they will be taking. It is very advisable that they hurry to get a team back to Ottawa. With over 1.5 Million people in the Greater National Capital Region that includes Gatineau, it is the largest market outside the CFL at the moment. The Ottawa area has a rich football tradition, in both the CFL and amateur football, regardless of the short Brad Watters and Gliebermans fiasco years.
The list of great Ottawa CFL players is storied and long. Such names as: Russ Jackson, Frank Clair, George Brancato, Jack Gotta, Bobby Simpson, Ronnie Stewart, Ken Lehman,Tony Gabriel, Tom Clements, Whit Tucker, Vic Washington, Margene Adkins, Hugh Oldham, Jerry (soupy) Campbell, Rhome Nixon, Tony Golab, Dave Thelen, Mark Kosmos, Charlie Brandon, Jim Piaskoski, Rudy Sims, etc.
vince licandro, 2007-10-08 09:39:18
I could see it happening. The NFL just wants the expansion money.
There would probably have to be a group buy the team like Jimmy said the expansion fee and a new stadium plus the payroll would put the cost in the billion dollar range.
I think the Argos would survive, alot of people prefer the fast pace and more throwing of the CFL than the run happy NFL.
James, 2007-10-07 01:19:26
CFL ?Whats the CFL?
Mike, 2007-10-06 11:27:17
Every couple of years, some unfounded rumour surfaces about the NFL expanding to Toronto. The important thing is, it's just that. A RUMOUR. It's not going to happen. Ever. Bob Ackles seems paranoid over nothing. The NFL does not want to expand ANYWHERE outside the U.S. because it doesn't assist their chief moneymaker, U.S. TV contracts. In fact, it hurts it. Goodell is just being nice to Rogers and Tanenbaum, mostly because its bad business to be rude to very rich people. I question that duo's sensibility, because by now they should know an NFL franchise is never coming to Canada. At the very most, their may be a regular season NFL game played here at some point, similar to London this year. The NFL is interested at growing their fan base internationally, but not expanding internationally. That's why they're playing the London game. And sorry to burst Toronto's self-important bubble, but London's more important than Toronto.
JoeMayo, 2007-10-05 20:35:30
How and why would an American football team in Toronto first off kill the Argos, and then kill the CFL?
I mean if the Argos have gone head to head with the mighty Leafs and survived, the NFL will be a peice of cake.
Oh there will be the honeymoon period in Hogtown. But outside Hogtown nobody in CAnada is going to quit supporting their teams for a Hogtown football team.
And weren't the NBA and baseball and ARena football supposed to kill the ARgos and the CFL?
The NFL will be no different. The CFL is more powerful in this country then people think. Anybody who think an American game coming here will make people abandon our own just don't get it.
I mean talk about an inferiority complex, eh?
Rick Grace, 2007-10-05 18:37:28
Paul Godfrey wants a NFL team!!!!Well one thing about a NFL team in Toronto, it will be a loser, you combine Godfrey, The Maple Leafs,Blue Jays & Argonaughts, put all four in a bag & shake it, out comes what went in 4 losers.
Do we want or need a NFL team in Toronto/Canada, think about it!!, how do the Yanks treat Canadian teams in the NHL,NBA & MBL, like caca. Our Canadian Football is better & to top it off it is Canadian. Let godfrey go to the USA, he would fit right in, a egostisticl mutt!!!!
Gary Graham, 2007-10-05 15:44:30
We have something of our own in the CFL and should keep it.
Somehow, some of us want to turn totally American.
Gordon, 2007-10-13 16:42:20
It doesnt look like baseball coming to Canada has hurt MLB media or for that matter the NBA.
Jimmy, 2007-10-12 20:37:13
I really doubt that the owners of the NFL would want to venture into a country outside the US when it wouldn't do anything but hurt media revenue.
The purity of the NFL has long passed.
Gordon, 2007-10-12 18:24:05
Never say never that the NFL wont come to Canada. Who would have ever thought MLB would have teams in Montreal and Toronto ?
If they can find owners willing to pay the expansion fee and build a new stadium they will come here and or Mexico.
Its in all likelihood just a matter of time Toronto will have an NFL.
Jimmy, 2007-10-08 13:32:12
The CFL better be careful by staying with only 8 teams. Once you are happy having only 8 teams, it will not be too long before you will have only 7 teams. Whether Toronto goes or another team goes. This is the risk that they will be taking. It is very advisable that they hurry to get a team back to Ottawa. With over 1.5 Million people in the Greater National Capital Region that includes Gatineau, it is the largest market outside the CFL at the moment. The Ottawa area has a rich football tradition, in both the CFL and amateur football, regardless of the short Brad Watters and Gliebermans fiasco years.
The list of great Ottawa CFL players is storied and long. Such names as: Russ Jackson, Frank Clair, George Brancato, Jack Gotta, Bobby Simpson, Ronnie Stewart, Ken Lehman,Tony Gabriel, Tom Clements, Whit Tucker, Vic Washington, Margene Adkins, Hugh Oldham, Jerry (soupy) Campbell, Rhome Nixon, Tony Golab, Dave Thelen, Mark Kosmos, Charlie Brandon, Jim Piaskoski, Rudy Sims, etc.
vince licandro, 2007-10-08 09:39:18
There would probably have to be a group buy the team like Jimmy said the expansion fee and a new stadium plus the payroll would put the cost in the billion dollar range.
I think the Argos would survive, alot of people prefer the fast pace and more throwing of the CFL than the run happy NFL.
James, 2007-10-07 01:19:26
Mike, 2007-10-06 11:27:17
JoeMayo, 2007-10-05 20:35:30
I mean if the Argos have gone head to head with the mighty Leafs and survived, the NFL will be a peice of cake.
Oh there will be the honeymoon period in Hogtown. But outside Hogtown nobody in CAnada is going to quit supporting their teams for a Hogtown football team.
And weren't the NBA and baseball and ARena football supposed to kill the ARgos and the CFL?
The NFL will be no different. The CFL is more powerful in this country then people think. Anybody who think an American game coming here will make people abandon our own just don't get it.
I mean talk about an inferiority complex, eh?
Rick Grace, 2007-10-05 18:37:28
Do we want or need a NFL team in Toronto/Canada, think about it!!, how do the Yanks treat Canadian teams in the NHL,NBA & MBL, like caca. Our Canadian Football is better & to top it off it is Canadian. Let godfrey go to the USA, he would fit right in, a egostisticl mutt!!!!
Gary Graham, 2007-10-05 15:44:30