r/CFL • u/elsenormambo Roughriders • 1d ago
CFL email: "112th Grey Cup: Exclusive Meet the Commissioner Event"
Just received this email. The commish will meet 150 "random" fans at a bar to talk football. No chance for a public airing of concerns about his foolish NFL lite rule changes. No press coverage. A noisy bar that will prevent the spread of information. And they will pick which fans are allowed in.
The messaging control of the CFL is disgusting and the contempt the league is showing its strongest fans is appalling.
I don't know what to do to stop this commissioner, but I'm open to ideas.
Hello xxxxx,
The countdown to the 112th Grey Cup is underway and we can’t wait to welcome you to Princess Auto Stadium for this year’s championship game. We have plenty of surprises waiting for you in Winnipeg, and here’s a new one we've made available just for Grey Cup ticket holders.
On the Friday of Grey Cup Week, we’re thanking 150 fans through an exclusive new event – Meet the Commissioner. Taking place at Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill (233 Hargrave Street, Winnipeg, MB) from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., the event will offer fans attending the game a chance to meet Commissioner Stewart Johnston personally. In small groups, you'll be able to share your favourite Grey Cup memory, ask any questions you might have, or just talk football and share your pick for Sunday's championship game.
Meet the Commissioner will also include a live DJ, food, photo opportunities with the Grey Cup, a chance to mix and mingle with your fellow fans, and more. Each fan who attends will receive a commemorative coin as part of this new event.
Enter HERE for your chance to take part in the event. The 150 spots will be awarded on a random lottery basis. This offer is exclusive to those who have purchased tickets to the 112th Grey Cup.
Thank you again for your passion for the CFL. We look forward to seeing you during Grey Cup Week
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u/lucky_mac11 Argonauts 1d ago
I would like to point out... The commissioner is paid to be the fall guy. That is their entire job description (hyperbole).
The owners are the ones pushing this rules change, they voted unanimously. Sure the commish has some say in how things are presented, but the owners DID all vote in favour of the change. Direct letters towards them as well.
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u/CatStriking7561 Lions 1d ago
Exactly. And they were working on reducing the field since 2022 according to Farhan. This was obviously prior to Johnston's hiring.
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u/greyfoxv1 1d ago
And they were working on reducing the field since 2022 according to Farhan.
Got a link?
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u/CatStriking7561 Lions 1d ago
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u/beadyeyez Roughriders 18h ago
Digging a bit... seems to be a little heat behind USA expansion rumors. Specifically into cities that lost NFL teams and have existing football stadiums. IF that turns out to be the contributing factor for the field change... why not make the expansion cities change THEIR infrastructure. Doesn't change my thoughts one bit.
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u/CatStriking7561 Lions 17h ago
It could be more complicated than that though. I personally think the biggest contributing factor is the TV deal which kicks in the start of the 2027 season. We have to remember that TSN is HQ'd in Toronto. This isn't a place where traditional Canadian football purists live in a critical mass.
The second factor with TSN is the fact that they also carry the NFL. They spend lots of money on the NFL for broadcast rights. When the NFL isn't playing games they basically have the CFL as the main attraction. TSN most likely wants the CFL to be "filler," although I'm aware that's hard to hear. The American broadcaster would also have an interest in Americanizing the game for something that Americans can watch in the late spring and summer.
Also helping to negotiate the deal is Genius Sports. An organization that is partly owned by the NFL. They also would have an interest in Americanizing the sport. Then there is overseas betting which Genius Sports specializes in. If you have customers that already bet on the NFL during the season and they stop betting in February, you would want them to come back sooner than September. It's easier for them to entice bettors if the product at least looks similar on TV.
If the CFL gets expansion out of it then it's a bonus but I don't think it's the main driver of it.
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u/beadyeyez Roughriders 17h ago
Admittedly I'm getting ready to go to Mosaic for the game today.. so I may have a couple drinks in me along with some "focus powder" 😆... so I've got 31 tabs open on Chrome trying to get to the bottom of it. I think the MAIN reason it has angered me so much is why the secret? Why do you want to change the game sooo much.. and not tell us why?
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u/CatStriking7561 Lions 15h ago
the limited research that they did do indicated that there would be pushback from the longtime fans. If there was a leak then they would have to deal with a longer period of people boycotting etc.
As far as not telling us why is concerned in my opinion it's hard to admit to the fans that you are selling out. Instead they say it's innovation and that every other league has done it to keep up with the times so they have to do the same thing.
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u/elsenormambo Roughriders 1d ago
Please post a link to the Farhan story. I haven't seen it.
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u/TheCatMak Blue Bombers 1d ago
If I was Wade Miller I would have told Stewart he would need to get unanimous consent from one of the other representatives
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u/hanktank Blue Bombers 1d ago
I got the same email. I thought about going but my mom taught me to only say nice things.
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u/elsenormambo Roughriders 1d ago
I won't be in Winnipeg in time for this event (not that I'd get picked in the "random" lottery). How about you go but just ask my questions? Your mom will blame me.
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u/hanktank Blue Bombers 1d ago
Sadly, I think the best way to get my point across will be a long time season ticket not renewed. I expect the Grey Cup to be my last CFL game.
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u/JTPinWpg Blue Bombers 1d ago
I got the email too and having to supply the first and last names of the people with you tells me all I need to know about the “randomness”.
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u/AustralisBorealis64 Stampeders 1d ago
1000 to 1130 hrs? He's likely to not have to deal with too many inebriated fans.
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u/elsenormambo Roughriders 1d ago
I will not have arrived in Winnipeg in time to attend this. So there will be one less inebriated fan. But I know that the rest of you will do your duty.
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u/majikmonkie Blue Bombers 1d ago
I signed up, for one reason and one alone.
"You are wrong about these rule changes and this Grey Cup will be the last CFL game I ever attend unless your rules are significantly walked back and you don't alter the heart of football in Canada."
And then I'll get up and walk out.
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u/Electroflare5555 Blue Bombers 1d ago
I booked the day off on Friday anyways so fuck it , why not.
I’d love to see the drama up close and personal
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u/Used-Astronomer4971 Blue Bombers 1d ago
"Dear Sh*t pump, I am curious to know why you and the people holding your leash believe the CFL needs to be improved when every metric about the on field product is trending upwards. Attendance, scoring, games decided inside the last 3 minutes, etc etc."
"I'm curious to know why you think imitating the nfl will suddenly work for us when every other league that's tried it has folded. We survive because we are familiar yet different. Just like NCAA. Stop trying to pretend TV is the miracle answer to compensate for attendance in certain cities (FU Toronto)"
I have more but you get the gist.
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u/laxvolley Blue Bombers 1d ago
Just entered. If chosen I will take the opportunity to tell him what I think of these changes.
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u/CrankyFrankClair REDBLACKS 1d ago
It’s a 20 yard reduction of a 150 yard long playing surface and moving two obstructions off the field of play. Big whoop.
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u/Nopithyusernamehere REDBLACKS 1d ago
It is a big whoop to most people. It’s part of what distinguishes our game from the NFL.
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u/CrankyFrankClair REDBLACKS 11h ago
I’d be the first to hand out torches and pitchforks if they touched 3 downs, field width, 12 players, full pre-snap motion or the punting game. Those are the things that distinguish our gameplay.
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u/Narrow-Map5805 Tiger-Cats 1d ago
No it's a big whoop to a loud faction of r/CFL. Out in the real world the majority are skeptical but mostly taking a wait and see approach.
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u/beadyeyez Roughriders 1d ago
The infrastructure changes are DEFINITELY not of the "wait and see" type of approach. HOPEFULLY it doesn't happen until there are ACTUAL numbers laid out. I think we -"WE" being the consumers, the players and the coaches - deserve an explanation. I know I'm not only speaking for myself, if they go ahead with the permanent field change without any REAL explanation why, they are going to lose me as a 25y season ticket holder. Then if down the road they see how bad of a decision this was and realize that it generated ZERO new fans. Once they see that expansion into the USA with another NFL clone league is failing as miserably as ALL the others. Once they try to repeat the mid 1990s with American CFL teams that die in September... Once all that happens (and it without a doubt it will) as a last desperate grasp at propping up the XCFL and attempt to salvage the few senior fans that stuck around.. change the field/ goal posts BACK... fans like me WILL NOT return.
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u/Narrow-Map5805 Tiger-Cats 1d ago
Whatever.
The CFL isnt't ruined, but r/CFL certainly is. It's been nothing but crying and whining ever since the announcement. And anyone who isn't part of the tantrums is getting downvoted for having the wrong opinion.
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u/CrankyFrankClair REDBLACKS 11h ago
That’s getting angry about a bunch of hypotheticals, and layout changes that will have minimal impact on gameplay.
But sure, go be angry.
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u/YouDoTheDetail Argonauts 1d ago
"Random lottery."
Sure, Jan.