BC Lions vs Calgary Stampeders; West Semi Final Gamethread

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

26,306 was the attendance yesterday according to the cfl.ca website.

Wow, does anyone have access to Stamps attendance history? That honestly may be the lowest attended game in decades, including regular season!

I know we've had a few 27k's over the past three years, but I don't know if I've ever seen under 27. And before the past three seasons we were rarely under 30k since I started watching in the 90's, so yeah, this may very well be the lowest attended game in our history, and for it to be a West semi final playoffs game and +10 weather.............my goodness.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Wow, does anyone have access to Stamps attendance history? That honestly may be the lowest attended game in decades, including regular season!

I know we've had a few 27k's over the past three years, but I don't know if I've ever seen under 27. And before the past three seasons we were rarely under 30k since I started watching in the 90's, so yeah, this may very well be the lowest attended game in our history, and for it to be a West semi final playoffs game and +10 weather.............my goodness.

https://stats.cfldb.ca/team/calgary-...endance/2015/#


It's definitely on the bottom end but it's not the worst, there are some 25kers in there from the 200s. In the 90s and 80s it was high-teens.

[dash_pinched]

It's not just in the stands jayswin, but on tv as well.

On the other hand, two consecutive years of ratings decreases is not a good trend. Ratings on TSN have dropped 23 per cent since 2013 and that kind of trend is often hard to reverse. There are about 165,000 people a game who've lost interest in two seasons and getting them back may not be easy.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh...151836213.html

[jayswin]

Oh wow, that's not good. I figured the lowered attendance were people like JiriHrdina who were still fans but would rather watch at home than support them in person, as you hear lots of people make similar commetns. So it looks like CFL really is faltering in a major way in this country.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Oh wow, that's not good. I figured the lowered attendance were people like JiriHrdina who were still fans but would rather watch at home than support them in person, as you hear lots of people make similar commetns. So it looks like CFL really is faltering in a major way in this country.

I watched the entire game. But overall the CFL product isn't great right now. There are, in my opinion, 2 good football teams in the entire league. The Red Blacks are nice story but they aren't up to the level of Edmonton/Calgary.
That game yesterday, while good for the Stamps, was a terrible one for the league. No drama.

The product feels very stale right now.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Oh wow, that's not good. I figured the lowered attendance were people like JiriHrdina who were still fans but would rather watch at home than support them in person, as you hear lots of people make similar commetns. So it looks like CFL really is faltering in a major way in this country.

I wonder how much of it was CFL faltering or other factors:

1) 3-15 Riders team. Losing the Saskatchewan Dispora ratings-wise is a big chunk of the audience right there. Despite being the self proclaimed 'best fans in the CFL' a lot of them stopped watching their games and other league games as well

2)The Blue Jays success. I found myself missing watching Stamps road games on TV this year because the Jays were on in important games down the stretch. I'm a big Stamps fan, but a chance at watching a playoff bound Jays team for the first time in 22 years was very compelling.

[dash_pinched]

I still enjoy CFL games (I attended the Grey Cup at BC Place with my daughter last November) and I'm very excited for the game against the Eskies next Sunday. However, I'm also part of the demographic that is likely driving the majority of attendance and viewership (i.e. in the 40 to 55 age category). My fear is that the CFL has lost a generation of Canadian football fans. I hope I'm wrong, but there are definitely signs that the league isn't attracting the young fans that it needs to stay healthy.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I watched the entire game. But overall the CFL product isn't great right now. There are, in my opinion, 2 good football teams in the entire league. The Red Blacks are nice story but they aren't up to the level of Edmonton/Calgary.
That game yesterday, while good for the Stamps, was a terrible one for the league. No drama.

The product feels very stale right now.

Agree. Without Messem's late game screen reception contributing YAC yards, BLM was en route to less than 200 yards passing. A lot of the Stamps wins this year were in games not unlike yesterday. The fact that BLM is the West's nominee for MOP, and that Burris at age 40 was able to look so relatively good this year is indicative of the poor Quarterbacking and tight defensive play that has stifled a lot of the usual excitement in the CFL product. The league was at it's best when most games among top teams featured a high scoring air show where taking a 4-point lead with 2 minutes left usually meant you scored too early and were likely to lose the game.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Oh wow, that's not good. I figured the lowered attendance were people like JiriHrdina who were still fans but would rather watch at home than support them in person, as you hear lots of people make similar commetns. So it looks like CFL really is faltering in a major way in this country.

My guess at a couple of factors:

1. Injuries this season deprived the league of star power. Backup QB battles mean less interest.

2. Gong show in Toronto - The Argos home game situation this season was an embarrasment to the league. How many "home" games did the argos play on the road this season?

10 "Home" games locations: Varsity Stadium (UofT), Fort MacMurry, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre, Ottawa, Hamilton, Hamilton, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre

So, 5/10 in thier preferred field.

3. Saskatchewan was awful - By quite a bit the biggest draw for TV, was terrible all season. TV ratings, and road attendances probably hurt from this.

4. Overall lack of quality teams. Most teams wer mediocre, or worse.

Most of those factors could be better next year.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I wonder how much of it was CFL faltering or other factors:

1) 3-15 Riders team. Losing the Saskatchewan Dispora ratings-wise is a big chunk of the audience right there. Despite being the self proclaimed 'best fans in the CFL' a lot of them stopped watching their games and other league games as well

2)The Blue Jays success. I found myself missing watching Stamps road games on TV this year because the Jays were on in important games down the stretch. I'm a big Stamps fan, but a chance at watching a playoff bound Jays team for the first time in 22 years was very compelling.

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

My guess at a couple of factors:

1. Injuries this season deprived the league of star power. Backup QB battles mean less interest.

2. Gong show in Toronto - The Argos home game situation this season was an embarrasment to the league. How many "home" games did the argos play on the road this season?

10 "Home" games locations: Varsity Stadium (UofT), Fort MacMurry, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre, Ottawa, Hamilton, Hamilton, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre

So, 5/10 in thier preferred field.

3. Saskatchewan was awful - By quite a bit the biggest draw for TV, was terrible all season. TV ratings, and road attendances probably hurt from this.

4. Overall lack of quality teams. Most teams wer mediocre, or worse.

Most of those factors could be better next year.

For sure, but you guys are talking about this season, however that article seems to indicate drastic TV drops since 2013.

On the other hand, two consecutive years of ratings decreases is not a good trend. Ratings on TSN have dropped 23 per cent since 2013 and that kind of trend is often hard to reverse. There are about 165,000 people a game who've lost interest in two seasons and getting them back may not be easy

It seems popularity is on a steady downward trajectory, rather than a one season dip.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by jayswin

For sure, but you guys are talking about this season, however that article seems to indicate drastic TV drops since 2013.

I believe the problems I mentioned in my post are not new this season - they have been growing problems for a few years. A gradual that appears to be a suddenly - but isn't.

[TheAlpineOracle]

I'm a longtime season ticket holder, and I think this year will be my last. I used to get amped for the games, watch the road games religiously, and even watched most games not involving the Stampeders on TSN. I've been to the Grey Cup and use to drive up to Edmonton with some buddies every time the Stamps played there.

I'd like to say it's because i'm getting older and have more responsibilities in my life, but I really don't think that's it. I simply just don't care anymore. Am I spoiled from having a team at the top of the standing for the past 8 years or so? Probably, but I'm just not entertained anymore. The quality of the league has dropped so far the games aren't worth watching. It's not just the quality of the players either, the officials play a big part. The officiating is nothing short of horrendous, and the new rules have absolutely ruined the flow of the game. This league is a shadow of it's former self. I also think TSN plays a big part in that. Terrible game times, Thursday night games, and the same stale broadcast year after year. I had to force myself to use my tickets and go to the game yesterday. The only reason I did is that I like the atmosphere of a live sporting event much better than watching it on tv. Truth be told, I would have prepared to be sitting on my couch watching the NFL flipping the channel to TSN for a few minutes here and there to keep up with the Stamps score once I got there and saw a half empty stadium and an opponent that Calgary could have beaten with one hand tied behind their back.

This league is in big trouble league wide in my opinion. The CFL's core fan base are old, and they aren't making any in roads with the new generation. I'm 33 years old and I can count on one hand the amount of my friends and colleagues that even watch a game on the tv let alone be willing to spend money on it. Often times one of our group will miss a game for some reason, and I can't even give the extra ticket away to someone.

I'd personally would like much rather go to a Roughnecks game than a Stamps game. I never would have said that 5 years ago.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

My guess at a couple of factors:

1. Injuries this season deprived the league of star power. Backup QB battles mean less interest.

2. Gong show in Toronto - The Argos home game situation this season was an embarrasment to the league. How many "home" games did the argos play on the road this season?

10 "Home" games locations: Varsity Stadium (UofT), Fort MacMurry, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre, Ottawa, Hamilton, Hamilton, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre

So, 5/10 in thier preferred field.

3. Saskatchewan was awful - By quite a bit the biggest draw for TV, was terrible all season. TV ratings, and road attendances probably hurt from this.

4. Overall lack of quality teams. Most teams wer mediocre, or worse.

Most of those factors could be better next year.

I don't think the quality of the teams and injuries will be any better next year. If you look at the NFL, they are now taking all the type of players that made the CFL great. Also, from a quality/injury perspective, the new collective bargaining agreement has left little time for coaches to practice with the players and develop game plans. Hard to improve quality with that, and injuries are a direct result.

[troutman]

The CFL is really lacking elite passing QBs.

[TheAlpineOracle]

If the CFL wants a short term fix to improve the game they need to reduce (or get rid of) the Canadian Ratio. It would dramatically increase the talent, and thus the product being sold to the consumer.

Some people won't like that suggestion and say the ratio is necessary to keep Canadians playing the game at the grass route level, but I call BS on that. There's not many Canadian kids that play football growing up with the end goal of playing in the CFL, or start watching it simply because their are Canadian athletes in the league. Kids play in this country because they like the sport or have had it pushed on to them by their football loving parents. Having 4 less Jabari Arthurs or Eric Frasers on the field isn't going to change that.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Oh wow, that's not good. I figured the lowered attendance were people like JiriHrdina who were still fans but would rather watch at home than support them in person, as you hear lots of people make similar commetns. So it looks like CFL really is faltering in a major way in this country.

You only need to look to this thread to see the lack of interest. Not even 100 posts with close to half talking about attendance.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I know for fact the CFL and CFLPA are well aware of the lack of interest in the league in the under 40 crowd. They are working together to try and market the league to the youth of today and make it exciting to bring back the crowds. It's too bad as I really believe that the CFL is a superior game to the American version

I think one thing that gets overlooked is that when the NFL expanded the practice roster a few years ago that all of a sudden a lot of guys who would be some of the better players up here were sitting around being wasted on practice rosters for the paycheque.

[jayswin]

I think their attempt to get better at calling penalties really hurt the flow of the game, even more so than anything else, and when you combine that with the exciting air game and quick point switches seemingly gone and you've got a completely different viewing experiences than four years ago.

Over the past couple seasons my viewing experience with others has basically been a a couple hours of;

"We have a flag on the play"

*Audible sigh from the people watching

*big exciting pass for a touchdown

"We have a flag on the play

*Audible sigh

"The play is under review, and we have three flags on the play"

*Audible sigh

[jayswin]

The one poster nailed it too, CFL used to be a game of quick lead changes to the point where you could almost routinely watch a touchdown in the late stages of the game to take the lead and go "Ohhh, I hope that works out, you're leaving them a full minute to counter!!!".

Games were just more exciting for any number of reasons, and yes, I think parity is a huge one too. It used to be the West that was strong as hell year in and year out, and then you'd have the Alouettes and one other team each season in the east. Now it's just a big clump of mediocrity with the Stamps and Esks battling it out, with no real storylines.

[tvp2003]

QB depth/health is the biggest change in the last decade. Before you could hang your hat on guys like Burris, Ray, Calvillo, Dickenson, McManus, etc all playing the whole season, year in, year out. How many teams had to play third and fourth stringers this year? With absolutely no CFL experience? I think only Calgary and Ottawa had their QB's stay healthy all year -- it's no surprise that scoring is down and games are not exciting to watch. The star power simply isn't there at the marquee position; nobody is excited to watch Rakeem Cato versus Jonathan Jennings.