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CFL Commissioner Optimistic About Future In Toronto Despite Underwhelming Year

CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge remains "optimistic about the CFL’s future in Toronto despite a disappointing season from the home-town Argonauts and lagging ticket sales" for yesterday's Grey Cup, according to Dan Ralph of CP. Under new ownership, expectations were "high for the Argonauts" heading into the '16 season as they "moved from the domed Rogers Centre to the outdoor BMO Field." However, the season was "marked by disappointments." The team finished "last in the East Division and posted a dismal 2-7-0 record at home, averaging just 16,380 spectators at the 26,500-seat stadium with no sellouts." Orridge: "Things don’t happen overnight. We all wish they would’ve sold out every game ... it didn’t happen this year but let’s be optimistic because we know we’re doing the right things, all the elements are in place, we’re going to get better" (CP, 11/25). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur wrote this was "another annus horribilis for the CFL in Toronto: a new stadium, new owners, a bright shining future, and they only got 16,380 people per game in the building to watch the team implode." The team "lost more than its customary minimum" of $5M (all figures C), due "partly to marketing costs." If this was a watershed year, the Argonauts "once again failed." The break-even point "under current ticket prices for the Argos is about 20,000." They are "considering lower-priced tickets, though, to better attract the legions of young people who live all around them" (TORONTO STAR, 11/27). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes under the header, "Everyone Loves The CFL (Except Toronto)" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/26). 

GETTING NEGLECTED: In N.Y., Curtis Rush noted the Grey Cup suffered from "benign neglect" in Toronto, which is "another troubling sign for the CFL." The game is "nearly irrelevant in Toronto, which is wrapped up in the Blue Jays’ off-season moves and the fates" of the Maple Leafs, Raptors and Toronto FC, which is playing for a berth in the MLS Cup final. Toronto-based S&E Sponsorship Group President & CEO Brian Cooper, former president of the Argos, said that he "thought the Grey Cup’s history and heritage would overcome the malaise, but they have not." Cooper: "CFL football’s relevance in this market is slipping, and I don’t know how you turn it around." Cooper added, "The Raptors were in the NBA playoffs competing against LeBron James in the Eastern Conference finals, and then all of a sudden, the Saskatchewan Roughriders come into town? For some, that doesn’t have the same appeal or cachet" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/26).

MISSING A LINK? The CP's Ralph noted Orridge "isn't following the NFL's lead and acknowledging a link exists between football-related head trauma and brain disease." During his annual state-of-the-league address last week, Orridge said, "I can't speculate or comment on what the NFL's findings have been and what led them to that conclusion. Last I heard, it's still a subject of debate in the medical and scientific community. The league's position is there's no conclusive evidence at this point." The CFL has been named in a $200M class-action lawsuit "over concussions and brain trauma." However, Orridge said that the "number of concussions suffered in the CFL this season was down" by 20% (CP, 11/25). Concussion Legacy Foundation Exec Dir Chris Nowinski said Orridge is "misleading CFL players and the football community." Nowinski: "People in football leadership have to stop telling the people this is not something you should be concerned about. It’s a big problem. It’s a very destructive disease." CFLPA Exec Dir Brian Ramsay said Orridge's comments were "disappointing and frustrating" (SPORTSNET.ca, 11/25).

SPEAK UP: The TORONTO STAR's Arthur wrote Orridge in his second attempt at a state-of-the-league address "was better, sure." He "slipped here and there, like when he plugged CFL dot com," which is not the league’s website. There was "plenty of focus on connectivity and metrics and Instagram and Twitter and Facebook engagement." There was "good news in terms of marginal TV rating increases (versus declines over the past two years)." But having to answer questions about health and safety is when Orridge "became a real live football commissioner." Arthur: "From the 'I'm not a medical expert' answer to the basic denials, the answers were straight out of the NHL playbook and the NFL playbook" (TORONTO STAR, 11/26). In Edmonton, Terry Jones wrote Orridge "stuck with his all-style, no-substance approach." Orridge "displayed the same bafflegab walk-you-around-the-block approach." He fell "considerably short of earning any rave reviews" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 11/26). In Toronto, Steve Simmons wrote unlike most pro leagues, the CFL "needs help from the media and yet has a more restrictive media policy" than the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. It should be the "leader in this area, not in last place" (TORONTO SUN, 11/27).

DEFENSIVE STANCE: The Ottawa Redblacks won the Grey Cup with a 39-33 OT victory over the Calgary Stampeders, and several CFL players took to Twitter yesterday to promote and defend their league's on-field product. BC Lions QB Travis Lulay: "Incredible finish to 2016, you gotta love this game. WOW!" Montreal Alouettes RB Nik Lewis: "This is y the CFL is more entertaining than the NFL." Saskatchewan Roughriders FB Spencer Moore: "I am so sick and tired of everyone's comments regarding the relevance of the @CFL. Fact is - the players, and fans LOVE OUR GAME."

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