TUESDAY COMMENTARY – DEFENDING THE CFL
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)
THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE WE’RE BEING TOO HARD ON THE CFL.
LET ME EXPLAIN.
ONE OF THE MANY THINGS WE’VE LEARNED IN THE PANDEMIC IS THAT THE CFL HAS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE BUSINESS MODELS IN SPORTS.
IT’S LARGELY WORKED FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS BUT CORONAVIRUS EXPOSED IT. AND WHO COULD’VE PLANNED FOR THAT?
THE CFL DOESN’T PAY ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT THE NFL DOES NOR GENERATE NEARLY AS MUCH MONEY, SO THE FINANCES REQUIRED FOR DAILY TESTING OF HUNDREDS OF PLAYERS AND STAFF JUST AREN’T THERE.
WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING TOGETHER A BUBBLE LIKE WE’VE SEEN IN THE NHL, NBA, CURLING OR MINOR LEAGUE BASKETBALL AND SOCCER, IT JUST NEVER WAS GOING TO BE FEASIBLE.
CFL TEAMS CARRY TOO MANY PLAYERS AND STAFF TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE THEM IN A BUBBLE IN WINNIPEG OR REGINA FOR TWO MONTHS. PLUS YOU HAVE TO PAY THEM UNLIKE JUNIOR HOCKEY PLAYERS OR PRO CURLERS.
THE NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE AND XFL HAVE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. BASICALLY MOTHBALLED. BUT THE NLL HAS TINY STAFFS AND FOR THE PLAYERS, LACROSSE IS THEIR SECOND JOB. THEY CAN SHUTDOWN WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT.
THE XFL HAS NO STAFF BECAUSE THEY’RE COMING OUT OF BANKRUPTCY AND NEW OWNER “THE ROCK” HASN’T NEEDED TO HIRE ANYONE UNTIL THE PANDEMIC APPEARS TO BE OVER.
THE CFL COULD DO THE SAME, BUT THAT WOULD MEAN FIRING EVERYBODY AND FRANKLY THE OWNERS AND GOVERNORS DON’T WANT TO DO THAT.
THAT’S ADMIRABLE.
BUT WHAT THEY’RE GUILTY OF IS ALLOWING THEIR STAFFS TO SWELL BEYOND WHAT THE REVENUES SUPPORT AND IN SOME CASES, PAYING WAY TOO MUCH TO TOP EXECUTIVES.
TO SIT HERE TODAY AND GUESS IF THE CFL WILL PLAY IS A FOOL’S ERRAND. IT LITERALLY ALL DEPENDS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF VACCINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE SPEED OF GETTING IT TO ALL WHO WANT IT, AND THEN CONVINCING PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO THE STADIUMS.
PLANNING TO PLAY WITHOUT FANS IS ACTUALLY VERY RISKY. IT COSTS A LOT WITH POTENTIALLY NO RETURN, SO REALLY ALL THE LEAGUE CAN DO IS SIT AND RELY ON JUSTIN TRUDEAU.
PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE REALLY ISN’T A PLAN AT ALL.
BUT HERE WE ARE.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.
I thought I had the bubble scenario covered if it was done in Ontario by way of 4 stadiums and then it’s a stripped down model to play the games for the sake of playing. Football is not like hockey – just to large, to expensive, and way to many variables. The sheer number of players to manage is impossible and add in the expenses – tape alone for instance. It can’t be done. Being a realist and knowing what I can control/can’t control with the wisdom to know the difference here is reality. The way it stands now with… Read more »
In the case of the Riders they need to lay off all football operations staff including the gm. Continued business of this franchise now need to be done from a sound legal business perspective. Riders have a non remunerated Board of Directors table who can make further decisions along with legal council moving forward on behalf of the franchise.
Frank and to the point.
Bottom line_ The CFL is bankrupt and can’t sustain another dollar spent, this league needs to dissolve A to Z from a business stand point. Riders should be making immediate emergency contingency plans for 2023plus and applying for franchise application with the XFL, just in case or start planning a new Canadian league with some of their sustainable CFL brethren if they wish to continue to exist In pro sports. Great column opinion today Mr Pedersen, Thank you.