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Joborule · 03-17-2018, 01:25 PM

So there's been discussion before about whether the league should move the schedule up in order to have more summer games, as well have the important games played in warmer temperatures. The idea would be that more people would go to the games then, especially in the later part of the season.

So for fun I decided to compile the attendance for each team from last season, and see if there is much of a drop off from the earlier games compared to the later games. At the bottom is the season average for the teams' games. On the far right column, it's the average throughout the league on attendance for the home game number. This again, was for the purpose of seeing the attendance drop off. I also put in playoff numbers (that didn't count towards average) for teams that hosted games. These would've been in November.

Code:

Game #	CGY	TOR	WPG	MON	OTT	HAM	EDM	VAN	SSK	League Avg.
1	24,613	13,583	30,165	20,129	24,565	24,135	31,828	19,175	33,350	24,616
2	30,274	11,219	25,085	18,728	24,347	23,531	36,260	21,017	33,050	24,835
3	25,492	15,801	25,931	18,610	24,756	23,517	32,837	23,415	33,350	24,857
4	26,150	11,616	30,554	19,712	23,725	23,524	27,078	20,622	33,350	24,037
5	33,731	16,326	33,134	18,564	23,851	23,926	41,738	18,029	33,350	26,961
6	28,176	13,182	26,588	18,325	24,887	23,604	34,312	18,091	33,350	24,502
7	26,394	12,862	26,204	22,596	24,901	24,067	30,524	19,324	33,350	24,469
8	27,316	15,102	26,434	18,849	24,893	23,672	26,738	19,816	30,083	23,656
9	24,281	15,532	25,034	20,184	24,781	23,526	30,601	19,233	31,627	23,867
Playoff	30,116	24,929	27,244		24,107					
Average	27,381	13,914	27,681	19,522	24,523	23,722	32,435	19,858	32,762

So obviously this isn't a perfect format to draw conclusions from. It doesn't take into account when the games were played, the weather, team record, and the attendance figures itself may not necessarily mean who showed up to the game. And this is only off one season, rather than compilation of multiple years.

Either way, I found it interesting since it seems the attendance across the board didn't fluctuate as much as I thought it would. There are a few games that had noticeably bigger turnouts than others (rivalry game and labour day), but for games that would be in the fall (after game 6 usually), there's some that have turnouts that are similar or better than those in the summer. And the playoff games turnouts were good in relation to their regular season average. Again though, it doesn't take into account weather, which can have a significant impact on turnout. This was a warm November in Calgary for instance, and probably was one of the warmest western final here.

Looking at the numbers through, if the season was to be bumped up, would it actually make a difference in attendance? From last season alone not taking factors into consideration, maybe not. For Toronto and Montreal which have a high metro population, the summer numbers were actually fairly low, and actually had equal or better turnouts in the fall.

For Vancouver, they're the one team that had did have better attendance in the summer than in the fall, despite being in a dome venue. Although their dome has a retractable roof, which could have played a factor? The idea of being inside a concrete shell with no natural lighting could be viewed as a negative experience to the attendee?

I go back and forth on whether the league should bump up the schedule. On one hand, I feel the CFL should because along with more favorable weather conditions, it's less competition with the NFL since once that season begins my attention with the CFL is diminished. On the other hand though, winter is Canada, and having the season feature snow games is embracing what makes Canadian football. As well, U SPORTS season goes on from September-November, and if the CFL was to move the season up, how would it affect university football? I feel that U SPORTS season needs to be aligned with the CFL, and that wouldn't be possible since the season would be too short unless they're willing to push the season into the summer months when students aren't around, which isn't ideal I feel.

Apparently the CFL is pursuing a deal with the NFL Network, and if they get it, that would be the catalyst to move the season up. The CFL needs to go after the money so it seems that it's inevitable that it's gonna happen since if the opportunity is there, they gotta take it.

03-17-2018, 01:25 PM	#104
Joborule Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Exp:	So there's been discussion before about whether the league should move the schedule up in order to have more summer games, as well have the important games played in warmer temperatures. The idea would be that more people would go to the games then, especially in the later part of the season. So for fun I decided to compile the attendance for each team from last season, and see if there is much of a drop off from the earlier games compared to the later games. At the bottom is the season average for the teams' games. On the far right column, it's the average throughout the league on attendance for the home game number. This again, was for the purpose of seeing the attendance drop off. I also put in playoff numbers (that didn't count towards average) for teams that hosted games. These would've been in November. Code: Game # CGY TOR WPG MON OTT HAM EDM VAN SSK League Avg. 1 24,613 13,583 30,165 20,129 24,565 24,135 31,828 19,175 33,350 24,616 2 30,274 11,219 25,085 18,728 24,347 23,531 36,260 21,017 33,050 24,835 3 25,492 15,801 25,931 18,610 24,756 23,517 32,837 23,415 33,350 24,857 4 26,150 11,616 30,554 19,712 23,725 23,524 27,078 20,622 33,350 24,037 5 33,731 16,326 33,134 18,564 23,851 23,926 41,738 18,029 33,350 26,961 6 28,176 13,182 26,588 18,325 24,887 23,604 34,312 18,091 33,350 24,502 7 26,394 12,862 26,204 22,596 24,901 24,067 30,524 19,324 33,350 24,469 8 27,316 15,102 26,434 18,849 24,893 23,672 26,738 19,816 30,083 23,656 9 24,281 15,532 25,034 20,184 24,781 23,526 30,601 19,233 31,627 23,867 Playoff 30,116 24,929 27,244 24,107 Average 27,381 13,914 27,681 19,522 24,523 23,722 32,435 19,858 32,762 So obviously this isn't a perfect format to draw conclusions from. It doesn't take into account when the games were played, the weather, team record, and the attendance figures itself may not necessarily mean who showed up to the game. And this is only off one season, rather than compilation of multiple years. Either way, I found it interesting since it seems the attendance across the board didn't fluctuate as much as I thought it would. There are a few games that had noticeably bigger turnouts than others (rivalry game and labour day), but for games that would be in the fall (after game 6 usually), there's some that have turnouts that are similar or better than those in the summer. And the playoff games turnouts were good in relation to their regular season average. Again though, it doesn't take into account weather, which can have a significant impact on turnout. This was a warm November in Calgary for instance, and probably was one of the warmest western final here. Looking at the numbers through, if the season was to be bumped up, would it actually make a difference in attendance? From last season alone not taking factors into consideration, maybe not. For Toronto and Montreal which have a high metro population, the summer numbers were actually fairly low, and actually had equal or better turnouts in the fall. For Vancouver, they're the one team that had did have better attendance in the summer than in the fall, despite being in a dome venue. Although their dome has a retractable roof, which could have played a factor? The idea of being inside a concrete shell with no natural lighting could be viewed as a negative experience to the attendee? I go back and forth on whether the league should bump up the schedule. On one hand, I feel the CFL should because along with more favorable weather conditions, it's less competition with the NFL since once that season begins my attention with the CFL is diminished. On the other hand though, winter is Canada, and having the season feature snow games is embracing what makes Canadian football. As well, U SPORTS season goes on from September-November, and if the CFL was to move the season up, how would it affect university football? I feel that U SPORTS season needs to be aligned with the CFL, and that wouldn't be possible since the season would be too short unless they're willing to push the season into the summer months when students aren't around, which isn't ideal I feel. Apparently the CFL is pursuing a deal with the NFL Network, and if they get it, that would be the catalyst to move the season up. The CFL needs to go after the money so it seems that it's inevitable that it's gonna happen since if the opportunity is there, they gotta take it.