The players feel misled by the league, which in turn feels misled by Canada's federal governmentGETTY IMAGES
The CFL will not play in '20 after the league canceled the season yesterday, and "how the league gets to 2021 is going to be a complicated matter, much of which sits beyond the league’s control," according to Dave Naylor of TSN.ca. These past few months have revealed there is "precious little respect between the owners and players in this league." Many players have been "openly critical of the league and commissioner Randy Ambrosie, and don’t understand why they had to go through this process feeling like they were in the dark." Some within the league saw the players as "opportunists at the bargaining table when the pandemic hit and claimed a delay to the season constituted breach of contract." In the end, the players "feel misled by the league and the league feels misled by the federal government." There were "apparently times that Ambrosie seriously considered shutting things down, but on two occasions the league was encouraged by the federal government to continue talking about ways it could support a 2020 season." However, the government has focused its commitment "on helping the league beyond this season, although it's not clear exactly what that means." The league's "harsh reality is that unless teams are going to be allowed 15,000-20,000 fans in stadiums next summer, the CFL is going to need a benefactor of some kind -- be that the government, the NFL or some other private investor" (TSN.ca, 8/17).
QUICK DECISION IN THE END: In Montreal, Herb Zurkowsky reports during a league BOG conference call yesterday, it "took them barely more than 30 minutes to cancel the season," as there was "no way even a truncated season of six regular-season games, played out of Winnipeg in a hub-city, bubble environment, would proceed without assistance from the federal government." It "became clear over the weekend Ottawa wasn’t going to agree to the league’s request" of a $30M (all figures C), interest-free loan. While TV money, "in essence," covers each team’s $5.3M salary cap, the CFL "has, and always will, remain a gate-driven product." Without fans in attendance, combined with no government assistance, "this was doomed to fail" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 8/18).
MAD AT GOVERNMENT: Winnipeg Blue Bombers President & CEO Wade Miller directed his ire at the federal government, saying, "I truly believed it would come through. If that’s what you’re being led to believe, then I believe people." However, in Winnipeg, Paul Friesen writes Miller now is "left to conclude politics caused this football to bounce the wrong way." He said, "If you weren’t interested, just say no. And then move on. I understand if you’re not going to support it. But how to do this to our fans and players and everybody involved until the middle of August?" (WINNIPEG SUN, 8/18).
MORE LOSSES EXPECTED IN '21: Ambrosie said that the league can "expect further losses next season, with no guarantee of fans returning during a pandemic." In Toronto, Mark Zwolinski notes the league's losses for '20 "have been estimated at $20 million" (TORONTO STAR, 8/18). In Calgary, Daniel Austin writes the CFL "needs to find a way to put itself on firmer financial ground," as other professional sports leagues "weren’t dragging themselves in front of parliamentarians and asking for a handout." Finding "stable financial ground is essential, and figuring out how to do that is going to be where the hard work happens over the coming months" (CALGARY SUN, 8/18). In Vancouver, Ed Willes writes it is "hard to be optimistic about the league given everything it faces." The CFL brand has a "durability which has seen it through some tough times." But now it "needs to be something else and that transition will not be easy" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 8/18).
AMBROSIE TAKES A HIT: In Winnipeg, Paul Friesen writes Ambrosie "fumbled his first attempt at gaining federal government support, leaving politicians unimpressed that he was asking for up to $150 million without the support of the CFL Players Association or a more comprehensive business plan." Friesen: "They say first impressions go a long way, and when he subsequently returned with a smaller hat in hand, he was ultimately rebuffed. But not before taking a public beating from players and union officials" (WINNIPEG SUN, 8/18). In Edmonton, Terry Jones writes the CFL "didn’t just lose it’s season, it took a huge hit in terms of image and perception by fumbling and bumbling, bobbling and bungling virtually everything from beginning to end." The league "booted and butchered their misjudged and mismanaged attempts to ‘Return To Play’ all the way" (EDMONTON SUN, 8/18).
BLAME GOES ALL AROUND: POSTMEDIA's Dan Barnes wrote Ambrosie "took responsibility" for the failure during yesterday's conference call with media. But league owners and governors "need to step up and accept their share of the blame as well, given that Ambrosie mostly does their bidding as the face of the league." Some of this "ghastly mess" also is "surely on a federal government that kept sending signals of impending financial help" (POSTMEDIA, 8/17).
UNION OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEW DEAL: The CFL's current CBA is set to expire after the '21 season, but CFLPA President Solomon Elimimian said that the two sides "covered a lot of ground this time around during talks to amend the agreement for a shortened ’20 season." Elimimian said, "Whether we deal with ’21 when it comes or after the ’21 season I think there’s hope there that we can work together" (CP, 8/17). CFLPA Exec Dir Brian Ramsay said that while the cancellation was "'devastating' for the athletes and the families, the pandemic had highlighted some of the structural weaknesses in the league’s operations." He said, "We have an opportunity now to fix this, moving forward, including the relationship between the players and the league" (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/18).
