CFL 2023 Regular Season Thread - GO STAMPS!

[dash_pinched]

There is going to be a lot of Riders fans at McMahon on Saturday...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1671617713528246272

[midniteowl]

Then let's do this!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

There is going to be a lot of Riders fans at McMahon on Saturday...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1671617713528246272

I mean I'll take that after the "less than a Flames sellout" home opener of 17k, but it's crazy how we went from a Riders game being a guaranteed 30k+ crowd to 25k fans at our best selling game being exciting after the last couple of years of lamenting sub 27k crowds, lol.

[Erick Estrada]

I imagine that's mostly Rider fans living in Alberta and less coming from Sask to watch the game compared to a decade ago as there are plenty of empty seats in Mosaic these days.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I mean I'll take that after the "less than a Flames sellout" home opener of 17k, but it's crazy how we went from a Riders game being a guaranteed 30k+ crowd to 25k fans at our best selling game being exciting after the last couple of years of lamenting sub 27k crowds, lol.

Yeah, if it's a close, exciting game combined with a Stamps win, it could be a real kick in the pants to encourage fans to attend more games at McMahon. If they can get 22K to 24K most games, I think that's okay (obviously, not great).

[The Familia]

CSEC really are terrible owners. Look at what Doman has done in BC and what Montreal's new owner is doing out there. BC had over 33,000 for their home opener and Montreal had over 21,000 which is a big improvement for them. Doman has brought in some big musical acts and is very active in the community. Montreal is starting to do the same. The league needs fresh, engaged owners who think outside of the box and get the community involved.

I truly believe that CSEC are the worst CFL owners other than MLSE in Toronto. Funny how the two CFL clubs owned by NHL teams are the worst run in the league. We have been blessed with competitive teams over the years, imagine how terrible the attendance would be if we didn't have Huff to keep steering the ship.

I don't think the CFL will die. The league has been here before and seems to always scratch and claw their way back. For the first time in history I think every team has stable ownership. if they can get the product itself back up to the exciting brand it has been known for, I think they will be OK. They also need more competent people running the league. Ambrose has been a disaster. Can we get mark Cohon back?!?!

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by The Familia

CSEC really are terrible owners. Look at what Doman has done in BC and what Montreal's new owner is doing out there. BC had over 33,000 for their home opener and Montreal had over 21,000 which is a big improvement for them. Doman has brought in some big musical acts and is very active in the community. Montreal is starting to do the same. The league needs fresh, engaged owners who think outside of the box and get the community involved.

I truly believe that CSEC are the worst CFL owners other than MLSE in Toronto. Funny how the two CFL clubs owned by NHL teams are the worst run in the league. We have been blessed with competitive teams over the years, imagine how terrible the attendance would be if we didn't have Huff to keep steering the ship.

I don't think the CFL will die. The league has been here before and seems to always scratch and claw their way back. For the first time in history I think every team has stable ownership. if they can get the product itself back up to the exciting brand it has been known for, I think they will be OK. They also need more competent people running the league. Ambrose has been a disaster. Can we get mark Cohon back?!?!

Even though he has the stench of his city on him, Victor Cui for Commish would be an absolutely perfect fit to take the league into the future. A creative, forward thinker is absolutely what the league needs.

[Erick Estrada]

I don't know if CSEC are terrible owners. They have held onto Huff and Dickenson and terrible owners usually botch that part of the business. I just think they are a bottom line ownership group that runs the business in a manner that they won't spend a penny more than they have to as maintain a base level of profitability. Also the stadium situation is extremely dire as it's become nearly impossible to convince Calgarians they need to spend an afternoon or evening in McMahon stadium especially if the weather isn't anything but perfect.

[MissTeeks]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1671945701906092032

Great

[dash_pinched]

Well, that's just terrific.

[Erick Estrada]

Not great when you consider he's Maier's guy in the offense as through two weeks he's the most targeted WR in the CFL. On the positive side Jake will be forced to spread the ball around more as Henry IMO was underutilized in the first two games.

[midniteowl]

BC had over 33,000 for their home opener

To be fair, BC's home opener was on a Sat, and Calgary was on a Thursday.

[Sainters7]

Yeah, I'm happy to finally have our first weekend game of the season now. First 2 games on weeknights, no bueno.

[Spurs]

I have the exact opposite view on CSEC and MLSE as owners. I think the fact the league is failing with owners like that is a terrible sign and that if we are saying that two of the biggest sports owners in the country for two of the most successful teams in the league under their ownership can't make it work then the league is screwed.

If we were back in the days of the Gleibermans, Feterik, Ryckman etc. where there were questions if they could cover the payroll, guys were getting jobs because they were the sons of owners, fans are encouraged to take their tops off by owners etc. those are all problems easy to fix.

MLSE and CESC ensure that the clubs have zero financial concern, are run by professionals and will have decisions made based on best practices not by crazy people with stupid agendas.

Calgary is in trouble not because of CESC, but because the league is not appealing to fans, putting money into the decaying stadium makes no sense because people don't want to come to the game great stadium or not. The owners have provided the Stamps with every chance to succeed by continuing to keep the best coach and GM in the league.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't BC artifically inflating their attendance numbers by having concerts before or after the games, something impossible to do in Calgary? New owners doesn't change that. Maybe we can hope that giving more free tickets to kids might help but that seems like a pretty long shot to fix what is wrong with the league.

The main problem this league has is a lack of talent. Talent is what will bring in fans to the games, talent will make the league exciting. if the top of the league QBs include names like Adams, Harris, Kelly you are in trouble, they aren't close to good enough to keep the few fans you have let alone attract new fans.

Until the talent issue is fixed I think all the other changes, like improving game day experience will have very little effect.

[Erick Estrada]

I just think it's a sign of the times as the CFL fan base is old and getting older every year. I'm not sure if kids in general love professional sports like past generations. Both of my boys play sports but neither are interested in following leagues. It makes sense that the weakest leagues will be hit hardest first and the CFL is one of the weaker professional sports leagues in North America. A few other factors is that with the massive player movement from year to year there's no attachment to players as why would any fan buy a player jersey in the CFL when that player is likely playing on a new team in a year or two? Throw in the fact that we may be in the worst era for QB talent and it's just bad news everywhere you look. All we can do is support it as best we can and enjoy it while it's still around.

[dash_pinched]

Good thing the command center wiped out that roughing the passer call on Collaros. I understand wanting to protect the QB, but there was nothing wrong with that tackle.

[dash_pinched]

BC leads 7-3 after the 1st quarter.

[dash_pinched]

The Lions defense is playing lights out tonight.

[dash_pinched]

This is really impressive considering BC is on a short week as well.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

This is really impressive considering BC is on a short week as well.

BC is also missing two of their best receivers in Rhymes and Hatcher.