CFL scraps season amid virus, ending Grey Cup’s 100-year run

The Canadian Football League canceled its 2020 season Monday because of the pandemic, marking the first year since 1919 the Grey Cup won’t be awarded.

The move by the nineteam league dashed hopes of a shortened season in the hub city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement the decision was in the “best long-term interests” of the league.

“We are absolutely committed to 2021, to the future of our league and the pursuit of our vision of a bigger, stronger, more global CFL,” he said.

The CFL, unlike other major leagues in North America, does not have the luxury of a billiondollar television contract. While its deal with TSN has become more lucrative over the years, the CFL remains a gatedriven league, a major problem when fans aren’t allowed in the stands.

The league was unable to secure financing from the federal government after requesting an interest-free loan of $23.7 million on Aug. 3 to stage an abbreviated 2020 campaign. The deal fell through Sunday night.

The commissioner has said the league lost more than $15 million last season.

“Even with government funding and a new CBA, our owners and community-held teams would have had to endure significant financial losses to play in 2020,” Ambrosie said.

The league also needed approval from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, said last Friday he was encouraged by the CFL’s plan, but couldn’t provide a timeline for a decision the league quickly needed to proceed.