CFL Expansion Goals For Eternity!

[tigerrr22]

I'd chronologically order it this way. (Phase three being the toughest step but save this for last.)

Phase one of CFL expansion: add Ottawa and Moncton. (Winnipeg placed back into the West.)
WEST: BC, Edm, Cal, Sask, Winn. EAST: Tor, Ham, Mon, Ott, Monc.

Phase two: add Quebec City and Halifax. Break the league into three Divisions:
WEST: BC, Edm, Cal, Sask. CENTRAL: Winn, Tor, Ham, Ott. EAST: Mon, Que, Monc, Hal.

Phase three: add a Dominion Division to the league. A Division of predominantly Canadian players playing the CFL game in smaller markets, smaller stadiums and for lower pay. A group of 6 teams that play each other twice, in a regular season, to gain the last three CFL playoff seeds. (No regular season games against the Primary 12 teams either.) Top three Dominion DIvision teams , in order of records, are CFL playoff seeds #11, #12 and #13 in the CFL playoffs. Dominion Division teams to be added are: Victoria, Saskatoon, Brandon, Kitchener, London and ST Johns. The league would then have four divisions and 18 teams all with the goal of winning the Grey Cup. If any of these smaller markets can excel in ticket sales and move up to bigger stadiums then they could also be considered, as future primary teams in the CFL. Also the Dominion Division would be a feeder system of primarily Canadian talent for the 12 primary CFL teams in future seasons. 18 team CFL would be as follows: (renamed teams: Vancouver Lions, Regina Roughriders.)

WEST DIVISION: VAN, EDM, CAL, REG.
CENTRAL DIVISION: WINN, TOR, HAM, OTT.
EAST DIVISION: MON, QUE, MONC, HAL.
DOMINION DIVSION: VIC, SASK, BRAN, KITCH, LON, STJOHNS.

Playoffs would be as follows.

Winners of West Division, Central Division & East Division are seeded #1, #2 and #3 in order of records. The rest of the teams, from these three Divisions, are seeded in order of record #4 thru #12. Top 10 primary seeds make the playoffs. Then from the Dominion Division the top three teams are seeded #11, #12 and #13 for the CFL playoffs. (Primary teams #1, #2 and #3 get a bye.) First round of playoffs see #4 versus #13, #5 versus #12, #6 versus #11, #7 versus #10 & #8 versus #9. Winners advance to form the final eight. Reseeded so #1 plays last remaining seed etc. Next round reseed the final four. Then the next round you have your Grey Cup matchup. (Highest seed always has home advantage until the Grey Cup game.)

A playoff system like this would allow small market teams and large market teams to all fall under the Grey Cup tradition. It would allow for more Canadian players to take part in their countrys' football glory and the Dominion Division teams could have a "game of the week" on national television as part of the TV deal the CFL has with any such networks in the future. A playoff system that melds the primary teams with the Dominion Division teams is all it would take to see football grow substantially in Canada as well as maintain a solid footing in dealing with money issues amongst the big and small market teams. Maybe the more teams that make the playoffs the better as the Grey Cup playoffs is when the TV ratings soar.

6.1 million viewers watched the 2009 Grey Cup game. That's up from last years' 3.6 million that tuned in on TSN to watch the 2008 Grey Cup won. (Significant TV audience growth.) maybe we have reached the age of "Build it and they will come" in Canada. Big markets or small. The idea of smaller markets being helped by the bigger markets is key as well. The CFL has never been a money making venture. It's really been about the team owners and their love of the game and cutting their losses as much as possible. I think an 18 team CFL is viable and much closer to being a reality than most might think. Right now Canada!

Dominic In Vancouver

P.S. Anyone who can forward this post to Mark Cohon has my permission.

[Vern Halen]

We have debated the Saskatoon option ad nauseum on rf.com.

The general consensus is that Saskatoon could not support a team with the Riders still in existence.

[Lions4ever]

We have debated the Saskatoon option ad nauseum on rf.com.

The general consensus is that Saskatoon could not support a team with the Riders still in existence.

That's a relief. One team from Saskatchewan supported by legions of nauseating imbeciles is probably enough.

[David]

Sorry to laugh, Vern, but THAT was funny!

DH

[tigerrr22]

You'd have a conflict of interest with one ownership group owning and operating two teams in the same league. The idea of the Dominion Division is to offer future owners teams that can operate on a smaller budget, smaller stadium and smaller revenue streams. But it would also offer marketing groups the chance to see if they can grow these Dominion Division teams into being primary teams for the future. Crowds of 6,000-12,000 could probably be had in all 6 of the above mentioned Dominion Division cities to start with. So the owners work out ticket prices, sponsorship for the occasional national TV broadcast and also sponsorship for any regional TV broadcast of any such games. Then the playoffs see three of these teams try to knock off three or more of the primary CFL teams in the playoffs. Everybody loves an underdog!

These Dominion Division players would be basically Canadian players, who did not make the primary teams in training camp or are otherwise out of football. Qualifications should include, Canadian junior football experience, Canadian or American University football experience or a history of playing pro football as a player tries to make a comeback. Also, the 10 game Dominion DIvision season would start after the Primary CFL teams regular season does. The players would earn enough money to call these playing days a part time job but could use the experience to become solid Canadian players in the bigger markets earning more money in future seasons. (Once a player is contractually committed to a Dominion Division team he's only allowed to play on that team until the end of the season. Off season and leading into Primary 12 training camps would be the only time a Dominion Division player can try to land a new contract on a primary 12 team.)

You'd also see some imports that are fringe players looking to become better and higher paid players in the CFL on the Dominion Division rosters if they can make a financial go of it. I would also suggest that the CFL keep a Canadian player quota per team in the Primary 12 although it could be lowered more easily (as a player number) with many Canadian players finding football employment in the lower echelons of such an 18 team CFL. Also a hard cap would be set for the Dominion Division teams too. Break even and grow football in these markets would be part of the ownership agenda. With growing fan support and TV ratings of Dominion Division games can a higher salary cap be brought into the next season. Better pay for players who are a huge reason why growth could occur too. Very realistic to consider.

Also the West Division, Central Division & East Division championship trophies would be awarded to the regular season Division champs (of each DIvision) before the CFL playoffs. Also a CFL Dominion Division trophy would be awarded to the first place Dominion DIvision team before the CFL Playoffs would be played. A new "Centre Leaf section" Trophy would be made for the Central DIvision winner and maybe an entire maple leaf, that's smaller than the Leaf section trophies, could be made for the Dominion Division winner each season.

Dominic In Vancouver

P.S. When is Mark Cohon going to actually do something that he is accountable for?