All options open for 2021
Commissioner says he’s willing to restart money talks with Ottawa
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie says the league is examining all options — including a resumption of talks with the federal government, playing in hub cities and holding games with no fans or limited crowds — to get back on the field in 2021.
The league cancelled its 2020 season on Aug.17 because of the pandemic, after it was unable to secure financial assistance from Ottawa. They had hoped to play a shortened campaign in Winnipeg.
The CFL had maintained it required government funding to stage a shortened season and presented Ottawa a threetiered request in April that began with $30 million initially, more in the event of a shortened season and up to $150 million for a cancelled campaign. In July, it was modified to $44 million before asking Ottawa for a $30-million, interest-free loan on Aug. 3. However, the sides couldn’t agree on a deal.
“When we didn’t succeed in August in our discussions, the federal government did leave the door open to ongoing discussions,” Ambrosie said in a telephone interview Thursday. “My strong feeling is that part of the responsibility is to be optimistic that conversations can restart and take us somewhere.”
But the CFL isn’t pinning all of its hopes solely on Ottawa. Ambrosie said the league and its nine teams are considering all options, including playing in a hub city, staging games in an empty stadium or before reduced crowds. All of those options would be difficult for franchises that all rely heavily on ticket sales to generate revenue.
Ambrosie expects to have some answers on Nov. 16. That’s when he’ll hold a town hall with fans to kick off Grey Cup Unite, where the league will hold many of the events usually held during Grey Cup week, but virtually.
The biggest challenge is uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus. It’s unclear what the numbers will be like next summer, or when a vaccine might be widely available.
“We are looking at a no-fan scenario, we’re looking at a couple of levels of limited fans,” Ambrosie said. “The most optimistic version of our plan is the vaccine is out and taking a positive footing, and we’re looking at hub city again because you have to account for all of these things as possibilities.
“But the challenge we’re all facing, not just football, is that we don’t know where the pandemic is going to take us in the short to medium term. We’re going to look at every possible way to get back on the field … we’re going to try to the best of our ability to figure out a way to do it.”
Another issue for Ambrosie and the CFL is the state of the B.C. Lions following the death of owner David Braley on Monday.
“We’re going to have to work through the challenge of David’s passing in the middle of this pandemic … but I really believe there’s a bright and great future for the B.C. Lions,” Ambrosie said.