CANADIANS RESPOND TO NFL/CFL FRANCHISE QUESTIONS IN NEW POLL

[ticatfan]

TORONTO -- An overwhelming majority of Canadians don't want an NFL team in Canada, especially if it means the demise of the CFL, a survey suggests.



http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=437932

[Pinkerton Security]

Well....good. Only things Canada is good for are beer and hockey.

[Historian]

It's called diving in head first even though you don't know the market.

The NFL has always been smarter than that.

[better days]

Well....good. Only things Canada is good for are beer and hockey.

And Gentleman's clubs.

Canada is GREAT at all three of those.

[Bill Cody]

The NFL needs to just stop with the madness of adding teams in foreign countries. It's like they're kids in a candy store. Show some restraint for God's sake. Let Canada do their JV version of football and be happy with it. London? I never understood the point of that at all, the logistics are ridiculous and the English don't really care that much about American football. Why should they?

The biggest risk to the NFL isn't underexposure it's overexposure. I get that it's madly popular now but Americans can get sick of anything if it's in their faces 24/7.

[gebobs]

Well....good. Only things Canada is good for are beer and hockey.

Strippers and poutine.

[Pinkerton Security]

Strippers and poutine.

ah yes how could i forget poutine.

[ticatfan]

The NFL has peaked and now it could end up destroying itself by trying to get even bigger. Nothing but greed.

[better days]

ah yes how could i forget poutine.

The more important question is how could you forget the strippers?

[OpIv37]

The NFL needs to just stop with the madness of adding teams in foreign countries. It's like they're kids in a candy store. Show some restraint for God's sake. Let Canada do their JV version of football and be happy with it. London? I never understood the point of that at all, the logistics are ridiculous and the English don't really care that much about American football. Why should they?

The biggest risk to the NFL isn't underexposure it's overexposure. I get that it's madly popular now but Americans can get sick of anything if it's in their faces 24/7.
The NFL has saturated the US. As a nation, we are obsessed with it. There is not much more they can do within the US.

But they aren't satisfied with the billions they already make so they keep trying to push it on foreign countries.

[OLDSRIP]

Well....good. Only things Canada is good for are beer and hockey.

I met a lot of nice Canadian girls too. No no the ballet. Lol

[SpikedLemonade]

The problem with the poll is that it is mostly irrelevant.

Asking Canadians outside of an hour from Toronto what there opinion is of an NFL team that could only be placed in Toronto is plain stupid. Of course, those Canadians don't want Toronto to get a NFL team.

And if you think people in Buffalo have a hate on for Toronto, that is nothing compared to how most of the rest Canada feels about Toronto.

Finally, if an owner has the dough and has bought a NFL team he does not need Canadians permission to move the team to Toronto -- only the NFL owners permission.

It is true that Canadian taxpayers do not want to spend a dime to build a NFL stadium. Last night Markham which is attached to Toronto on the north had their city council vote against spending any public money on a NHL rink.

[stuckincincy]

I like CFL football.

[Dozerdog]

The best way the NFL can make more money is to expand the season and maybe push the league to 36 teams and push the schedule to 18 games.Teams need to be North American based. (Mexico City / LA / San Antonio Maybe/ Toronto or Vancouver.

The NFL also needs to address union issues and player safety issues. If they bought up the CFL, changed the rules to normal football, and used it as a development league (Like NFL Europe) they can get their global footprint without negatively impacting the game from a US Fan's prospective.

Eliminate half the preseason to make up the 2 weeks and add a 2nd bye week for teams to heal and rest up. Bye weeks also help the NFL schedule all those goofy Thursday games without exposing players to extra injury risk due to fatigue.

The season / Super Bowl moves into February for TV sweeps - Big win for broadcasters


Put 8 teams in Canada, 8 Teams in Europe and have the NFL Supply them with players. Win win for everyone. Union gets more jobs, marginal players who need more preseason get to playing time

[Generalissimus Gibby]

The best way the NFL can make more money is to expand the season and maybe push the league to 36 teams and push the schedule to 18 games.Teams need to be North American based. (Mexico City / LA / San Antonio Maybe/ Toronto or Vancouver.

The NFL also needs to address union issues and player safety issues. If they bought up the CFL, changed the rules to normal football, and used it as a development league (Like NFL Europe) they can get their global footprint without negatively impacting the game from a US Fan's prospective.

Eliminate half the preseason to make up the 2 weeks and add a 2nd bye week for teams to heal and rest up. Bye weeks also help the NFL schedule all those goofy Thursday games without exposing players to extra injury risk due to fatigue.

The season / Super Bowl moves into February for TV sweeps - Big win for broadcasters


Put 8 teams in Canada, 8 Teams in Europe and have the NFL Supply them with players. Win win for everyone. Union gets more jobs, marginal players who need more preseason get to playing time

18 games and 36 teams will destroy the league. If you ask me there are too many teams already and the talent pool has been diluted. I think the league could stand to be reduced by at least two teams (I'd merge Jacksonville and Tampa as well as Houston and Tennessee, the Jags-Bucs team would play in Tampa and as a piss on your grave offer I'd have the Titans and Texans team play in Houston). I'd also place an absolute cap on games at 16, chop the pre-season by two games, and tack on an extra bye week.

[YardRat]

The best way the NFL can make more money is to expand the season and maybe push the league to 36 teams and push the schedule to 18 games.Teams need to be North American based. (Mexico City / LA / San Antonio Maybe/ Toronto or Vancouver.

I could see the 18 games eventually, although the union will fight it tooth and nail. Don't see 36 teams, 32 is pretty topped out.


The NFL also needs to address union issues and player safety issues. If they bought up the CFL, changed the rules to normal football, and used it as a development league (Like NFL Europe) they can get their global footprint without negatively impacting the game from a US Fan's prospective.

The negative impact in Canada would be huge. That developmental league would die quicker than NFLE, and I doubt it would get off the ground at all.


Eliminate half the preseason to make up the 2 weeks and add a 2nd bye week for teams to heal and rest up. Bye weeks also help the NFL schedule all those goofy Thursday games without exposing players to extra injury risk due to fatigue.

Probably 2 bye weeks if they go to 18 games...just dump Thursday night already.


The season / Super Bowl moves into February for TV sweeps - Big win for broadcasters

Granted.


Put 8 teams in Canada, 8 Teams in Europe and have the NFL Supply them with players. Win win for everyone. Union gets more jobs, marginal players who need more preseason get to playing time

Canada would never fly, and Europe has already bit the dust once.

The NFL will never attain the international appeal that other sports, most notably soccer, have.

[tomz]

Well....good. Only things Canada is good for are beer and hockey.

Really? Beer? Frankly, Canadian beer sucks. I grew up in Buffalo and Canadian beer had mystique at the time. However. once we could get microbrews anywhere etc, their beer (like Heineken or most other mass-produced beers) began to always taste awful. Sorry, Canadian beer is not even in my top 10 beer nationalities anymore.

They are good for hockey and I would put curling in there too. And they really know how to do cities well, but that's because they are much more socialist then the US and therefore do more central planning.

I would love to get the Bills out of Canada.

[better days]

Really? Beer? Frankly, Canadian beer sucks. I grew up in Buffalo and Canadian beer had mystique at the time. However. once we could get microbrews anywhere etc, their beer (like Heineken or most other mass-produced beers) began to always taste awful. Sorry, Canadian beer is not even in my top 10 beer nationalities anymore.

They are good for hockey and I would put curling in there too. And they really know how to do cities well, but that's because they are much more socialist then the US and therefore do more central planning.

I would love to get the Bills out of Canada.

Well I totally disagree about Canadian Beer. Just because a microbrew makes a SMALL amount of beer, that does not mean it is GOOD beer.

I will take a Molson Stock Ale over ANY micro brew beer myself.

[Mace]

I love Canada, and I love Toronto. I have no issue with us keeping our game a year and giving them a team because they'll need to pay us for market up the buttocks and fight their own league to make a go of it while paying us probably way more than what we get for a game a year to let them have a team and share network broadcasting regional revenue. The Toronto Whoever's will be about as good as any expansion team ever is, end up in our division, and essentially pay us to beat them twice a year until they start whaling the bejesus out of us, but will pay us for it anyway.

It's smooth until we are relocated to San Diego that left for LA, which will leave back for San Diego, as we relocate to LA and let us root for the Braves and Bills in Los Angeles under different names. It kind of gives you a reason to go to Los Angeles.

[better days]

I love Canada, and I love Toronto. I have no issue with us keeping our game a year and giving them a team because they'll need to pay us for market up the buttocks and fight their own league to make a go of it while paying us probably way more than what we get for a game a year to let them have a team and share network broadcasting regional revenue. The Toronto Whoever's will be about as good as any expansion team ever is, end up in our division, and essentially pay us to beat them twice a year until they start whaling the bejesus out of us, but will pay us for it anyway.

It's smooth until we are relocated to San Diego that left for LA, which will leave back for San Diego, as we relocate to LA and let us root for the Braves and Bills in Los Angeles under different names. It kind of gives you a reason to go to Los Angeles.

I was a Braves fan & there is no way in hell I would ever move to LA.

[Mace]

I was a Braves fan & there is no way in hell I would ever move to LA.

No no, you never want to move there, but it gives you something to do if you go there.

[TigerJ]

I'm certainly not advocating that the NFL put a team in Canada, where the obvious city to locate it would be Toronto, and I'd be devastated if it was the Bills. However, it doesn't matter a hill of beans if 40% of Canadians oppose it as long as they have enough fans to fill a stadium and watch them on TV.

[Mace]

if 40% of Canadians oppose it as long as they have enough fans to fill a stadium and watch them on TV.

Haha, good one.

[better days]

No no, you never want to move there, but it gives you something to do if you go there.

Not really. I haven't watched an NBA game since the Braves left Buffalo.

And If the Bills ever move from Buffalo, I will never watch an NFL game again.

I would put all my focus on the SEC, NCAA & Hockey.

[Mace]

Not really. I haven't watched an NBA game since the Braves left Buffalo.

And If the Bills ever move from Buffalo, I will never watch an NFL game again.

I would put all my focus on the SEC, NCAA & Hockey.

Then you aren't going to have much to do when you go to Los Angeles after the first weekend, and everyone ends up in Los Angeles sooner or later for some reason. But suit yourself, you'll see.

[OpIv37]

Not really. I haven't watched an NBA game since the Braves left Buffalo.

And If the Bills ever move from Buffalo, I will never watch an NFL game again.

I would put all my focus on the SEC, NCAA & Hockey.

The Braves left in '78. You're old enough to remember that?

Also, you missed out on Jordan.

[YardRat]

Ahhh, the good old days.

"Twooooo for McAdoooo!"
Ernie D getting called for 'carrying' unguarded and before crossing halfcourt.
Randy Smith, a local college product playing in The Show.
Gar Heard, Adrian Dantley, the McMillan 'brothers'.
Hating Boston (some things never change).

I miss the Braves.

[Historian]

My Dad had the Bank of Buffalo seats for a Braves-Celtics game.

First row, on the floor under the basket.

Dad took me for my 14th birthday.

McAdoo was stretching fivefeet in front of me, talking to Coach Ramsey. They both signed my program. Ernie D was hurt and refused to give me an autograph.

I wore my yellow corduroy leisure suit, and saw myself on the news!

I too, gave up basketball after the Braves left, other than an occasional Laker-Celtics game 7.

[better days]

The Braves left in '78. You're old enough to remember that?

Also, you missed out on Jordan.

Yeah, I am old enough to remember that.

I am an OLD fart. 63 years old.

I did see Jordan HIGHLIGHTS on ESPN all the time.

[gebobs]

Ahhh, the good old days.

"Twooooo for McAdoooo!"
Ernie D getting called for 'carrying' unguarded and before crossing halfcourt.
Randy Smith, a local college product playing in The Show.
Gar Heard, Adrian Dantley, the McMillan 'brothers'.
Hating Boston (some things never change).

I miss the Braves.

And Dale Schleuter. Don't forget Dale Schleuter.

[Turf]

Ahhh, the good old days.

"Twooooo for McAdoooo!"
Ernie D getting called for 'carrying' unguarded and before crossing halfcourt.
Randy Smith, a local college product playing in The Show.
Gar Heard, Adrian Dantley, the McMillan 'brothers'.
Hating Boston (some things never change).

I miss the Braves.

Yeah I miss the Braves, quit basketball when they left.
I saw those guys beat the Celtics at the Aud one day, I never thought a basketball game could be so much fun. I turned around, they were gone. ****ing Brown.

[jdaltroy5]

Really? Beer? Frankly, Canadian beer sucks. I grew up in Buffalo and Canadian beer had mystique at the time. However. once we could get microbrews anywhere etc, their beer (like Heineken or most other mass-produced beers) began to always taste awful. Sorry, Canadian beer is not even in my top 10 beer nationalities anymore.

They are good for hockey and I would put curling in there too. And they really know how to do cities well, but that's because they are much more socialist then the US and therefore do more central planning.

I would love to get the Bills out of Canada.The reason you think Canadian beer sucks is because we keep all the good stuff up here and only send out Molson and Labatt.

[better days]

The reason you think Canadian beer sucks is because we keep all the good stuff up here and only send out Molson and Labatt.

The crap Molson & Labatts at that. Not the GOOD Molson & Labatts.

When I lived in Buffalo I would pick up two cases of Molson Stock Ale every time I went to Canada because it is not available in the USA.

[jdaltroy5]

The crap Molson & Labatts at that. Not the GOOD Molson & Labatts.

When I lived in Buffalo I would pick up two cases of Molson Stock Ale every time I went to Canada because it is not available in the USA.That's funny, it's like every time I'm in the states, I drink Coors original.

It's not particularly unique or distinguishable (or good for that matter), but you can't get it in Canada, so I always buy it.

[ticatfan]

The best way the NFL can make more money is to expand the season and maybe push the league to 36 teams and push the schedule to 18 games.Teams need to be North American based. (Mexico City / LA / San Antonio Maybe/ Toronto or Vancouver.

The NFL also needs to address union issues and player safety issues. If they bought up the CFL, changed the rules to normal football, and used it as a development league (Like NFL Europe) they can get their global footprint without negatively impacting the game from a US Fan's prospective.

Eliminate half the preseason to make up the 2 weeks and add a 2nd bye week for teams to heal and rest up. Bye weeks also help the NFL schedule all those goofy Thursday games without exposing players to extra injury risk due to fatigue.

The season / Super Bowl moves into February for TV sweeps - Big win for broadcasters


Put 8 teams in Canada, 8 Teams in Europe and have the NFL Supply them with players. Win win for everyone. Union gets more jobs, marginal players who need more preseason get to playing timeYou should win idiot of the year for that post.

[better days]

That's funny, it's like every time I'm in the states, I drink Coors original.

It's not particularly unique or distinguishable (or good for that matter), but you can't get it in Canada, so I always buy it.

There was a time you couldn't get Coors East of the Rockies.

I suppose Coors is better than some Micro brew beers, But I would take ANY beer in Canada (not the exported to America crap) over it any day.

[YardRat]

Jordan did a lot in helping ruin the NBA.

[starrymessenger]

I'm Canadian and i am fully supportive of NFL franchises in the big 3 - Toronto, Montreal (Montreal has great football fans) and Vancouver.
Is the NFL a good product?
300 million Americans say yes.
They can't all be wrong.
So how can you blame NFL management for having dreams of international expansion for the sport. That is the future, if the sport is to grow. You simply cannot ignore or deny the potential upside. It is mind boggling.
The long term objective from a sports entertainment and marketing perspective has to be to have American football compete with soccer and baseball on the world stage. As with any industry if you stop growing and "mature", even if it is, as is often the case, as a major cash cow, you are basically the equivalent in financial terms of a fixed income security.
That is not the American way. America is more enterprising than that.
That's why it is the # 1 most important and productive economy in the world.

[starrymessenger]

The crap Molson & Labatts at that. Not the GOOD Molson & Labatts.

When I lived in Buffalo I would pick up two cases of Molson Stock Ale every time I went to Canada because it is not available in the USA.

if you like beer forget American or Canadian - buy Belgian, Leffe of Duvel.

[better days]

I'm Canadian and i am fully supportive of NFL franchises in the big 3 - Toronto, Montreal (Montreal has great football fans) and Vancouver.
Is the NFL a good product?
300 million Americans say yes.
They can't all be wrong.
So how can you blame NFL management for having dreams of international expansion for the sport. That is the future, if the sport is to grow. You simply cannot ignore or deny the potential upside. It is mind boggling.
The long term objective from a sports entertainment and marketing perspective has to be to have American football compete with soccer and baseball on the world stage. As with any industry if you stop growing and "mature", even if it is, as is often the case, as a major cash cow, you are basically the equivalent in financial terms of a fixed income security.
That is not the American way. America is more enterprising than that.
That's why it is the # 1 most important and productive economy in the world.

So should English Premier Soccer expand to the United States & Canada as well?

I would say NO.

And I also say American Football is an AMERICAN Sport that belongs in AMERICA.

NOT in Canada or Europe.

[better days]

if you like beer forget American or Canadian - buy Belgian, Leffe of Duvel.

Any beer IMPORTED to America has to meet American standards. It is NOT as good as the beer you can get in Canada

even if imported from Canada or Belgium.

[starrymessenger]

Any beer IMPORTED to America has to meet American standards. It is NOT as good as the beer you can get in Canada

even if imported from Canada or Belgium.
i meant buy it when next in Canada. We get the real deal Belgian beer here.

[starrymessenger]

So should English Premier Soccer expand to the United States & Canada as well?

I would say NO.

And I also say American Football is an AMERICAN Sport that belongs in AMERICA.

NOT in Canada or Europe.

Along side America's enterprising spirit there has always been a strong current of isolationism, so your attitude is hardly without precedent.
IMO any great sport should be played wherever the local population will adequately support it.
Not saying that league expansion internationally would be easy to do, and now might not be the right time, but considering the potential payoff, you should not rule it out or condemn those who seriously consider it.

[WagonCircler]

I just want to say that Canadian beer is totally RAD and American beer totally sucks.

Regards,
1985


PS: If you're judging beer and your standard is Molson and Labatt's, be it from US, Canada or Mars, you really have zero credibility on the subject.

[better days]

i meant buy it when next in Canada. We get the real deal Belgian beer here.

My brother In-law works for the State Dept & is Stationed in Belgium right now.

I will have to ask him to bring me some when he comes to visit.

[ticatfan]

I'm Canadian and i am fully supportive of NFL franchises in the big 3 - Toronto, Montreal (Montreal has great football fans) and Vancouver.
Is the NFL a good product?
300 million Americans say yes.
They can't all be wrong.
So how can you blame NFL management for having dreams of international expansion for the sport. That is the future, if the sport is to grow. You simply cannot ignore or deny the potential upside. It is mind boggling.
The long term objective from a sports entertainment and marketing perspective has to be to have American football compete with soccer and baseball on the world stage. As with any industry if you stop growing and "mature", even if it is, as is often the case, as a major cash cow, you are basically the equivalent in financial terms of a fixed income security.
That is not the American way. America is more enterprising than that.
That's why it is the # 1 most important and productive economy in the world.Then move to america. And on the way out don't forget the saying ''to big to fail'' The NFL can go to far and ruin itself. Soon only the elite will be able to afford to go to games.

[starrymessenger]

Then move to america. And on the way out don't forget the saying ''to big to fail'' The NFL can go to far and ruin itself. Soon only the elite will be able to afford to go to games.

I don't have to move to America. I already live there (as in North America).
More importantly I share a largely common culture with other North Americans, including, but not limited to, our 300 million neighbours to the south.
Listen, I well remember Garney Henley, John Barrow, Bernie Faloney, Paul Dekker, Hal Patterson (while in Hamilton) and, oh yeah, Cookie Gilchrist, just to name a few Ticats since I gather you are a fan of that team.
They were exceptional players who in their prime could have succeeded in the NFL.
There was then far greater parity between the leagues, partly because pro recruiting was much more haphazard than even it is today. Remember that the Steelers were able to scoop up John Stallworth because they were the only team with a scout who was familiar with the talent in the smaller black colleges.
Today the CFL is definitely a minor league. There is a place for minor league professional football but why not have both.
i would rather drive a Porsche than a Toyota Corolla, but that is just me I guess.