Durban Sandshark Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Very convincingly too. Seems only fitting for the city to have hosted the most Grey Cups have the Argos win it all this year. Plus, Justin Bieber got booed during the Grey Cup halftime performance. Wasn't he the anchor (and last) artist to perform? He's surely got a lot of haters, even back in Canada--he thanked them specifically exactly a week ago to the Grey Cup at the American Music Awards. On a side note, his "Baby" video that he did with Ludacris got surpassed by PSY's "Gangnam Style" video from his official channel as the most watched YouTube video ever Saturday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvLE6WLGhRw I'll come back tomorrow with more and that Ottawa return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted November 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 I since decided to delay my thoughts on Ottawa's re-entry and other CFL stuff until next week, when I'll have more time to gather my thoughts on them. I will say this: not only is the CFL coming but Ottawa will also get its first ever pro basketball franchise next year in the NBL Canada (another topic). 8+ minutes of highlights from the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto in which the Argos largely dominated Calgary. NBC Sports Network used the TSN/RDS feed for its US broadcast as noted here. Both TSN and RDS coverage of the game earned a 5.8 million Canadian TV viewers up from 4.6 million last year. but still down from the 2009 and 2008 record audiences. I think having Toronto winning and it was the 100th involved certainly had a lot to do with that ratings boost with the English viewership higher than in French on RDS with the Als out. Much of the Sirius XM Grey Cup Halftime Show with Marianas Trench, Carla Rae Jepsen, and Justin Bieber. Will have to get to the legendary Gordon Lightfoot next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 A morsel on Ottawa's re-entry from Wikipedia: The 2013 CFL Expansion Draft will be a proposed three-round CFL draft tentatively scheduled for December 12, 2013 which is designed to assign players from existing CFL teams to the new Ottawa team. The structure of the draft was announced on January 19, 2011, which described one round for selecting import players and two rounds for selecting non-import players. Additionally, if the Ottawa franchise begins play in 2014, they will be given the last pick in each of the first four rounds of the 2013 CFL Draft and the first pick in every round of the 2014 CFL Draft. Ottawa will select three players from each of the 8 CFL existing teams or a total of 24 players. Ottawa will select eight import players and 16 non-import players with QBs, kickers, and punters eligible within their respective import/non-import categories. Ottawa will be able to select a maximum of two quarterbacks and one kicker/punter, but they may not select any of these three players from the same team. Mark Cohon, the CFL commissioner, will resolve any dispute related to player eligibility for the Expansion Draft process. Construction has already begun at Landsdowne Park/Ottawa Civic Centre starting with the north and south stands since October with the Ottawa City Council approved 21-3 for its redevelopment, seen as the last major hurdle before Ottawa's CFL return. From December 6-12, the CFL opened fan voting on what the new Ottawa franchise will be called at www.nameourteam.com. Initially, it was speculated that the team will be called the Ottawa Rush, but that was since quickly debunked. Says it will be unique and won't be called the Roughriders or the Renegades. But its colors will be red, black, and white like several of Ottawa's sports teams--Senators, 67s, Fury (NASL), the Carleton University Ravens, and maybe its new NBL Canada franchise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intoronto Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Interesting. The stadium looks to be delayed but it has to be ready for 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord David Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I'd love to see CFL expand. Proper this time, not that failed CFL USA experiment. Bring in new teams for Quebec, Moncton, Halifax, to supplement the return of Ottawa. 12 teams, can we expand to 16? Add Victoria, London, Windsor and maybe another Atlantic based team? Or is that too much? Is it possible for the likes of say Toronto to have another team? For domestic rivalry like NYC has with it's professional sports? Can Montreal or Vancouver do the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intoronto Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I'd love to see CFL expand. Proper this time, not that failed CFL USA experiment. Bring in new teams for Quebec, Moncton, Halifax, to supplement the return of Ottawa. 12 teams, can we expand to 16? Add Victoria, London, Windsor and maybe another Atlantic based team? Or is that too much? Is it possible for the likes of say Toronto to have another team? For domestic rivalry like NYC has with it's professional sports? Can Montreal or Vancouver do the same? Adding a 10th team is the most realistic option at this point according to Cohon the commissioner of the CFL in his state of the Union address in November. I think Moncton will eventually get a team first before Halifax (some where in 2018) Halifax and Quebec will be the next two in the 2020's London, Windsor all seem like good ideas along with Victoria but are all small atm. An interesting idea was floated a while back for Windsor to use a Detroit stadium currently not being used. I'd always thought Saskatoon would be good because of the fan support in Regina/ Toronto's fan base is the worst in the CFL. It draws the least fans to a game and a second team would make that worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Does the 2015 Women's World Cup affect future CFL expansion? Moncton is one of the host cities and I would think expansion of the stadium is necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intoronto Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Does the 2015 Women's World Cup affect future CFL expansion? Moncton is one of the host cities and I would think expansion of the stadium is necessary. Its likely going to be temporary for the 2015 WC. Moncton has has hosted two sold out games in the past with the new stadium. IMO its about time and ownership. After Ottawa comes into the league the eyes will turn to Moncton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports had an interesting tweet: Part of Browns search will now include Bruce Arians and Marc Trestman. Don't know who else could be in mix yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted January 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Adding a 10th team is the most realistic option at this point according to Cohon the commissioner of the CFL in his state of the Union address in November. I think Moncton will eventually get a team first before Halifax (some where in 2018) Halifax and Quebec will be the next two in the 2020's London, Windsor all seem like good ideas along with Victoria but are all small atm. An interesting idea was floated a while back for Windsor to use a Detroit stadium currently not being used. I'd always thought Saskatoon would be good because of the fan support in Regina/ Toronto's fan base is the worst in the CFL. It draws the least fans to a game and a second team would make that worse. That will finally grant Atlantic Canada some reprsentation in the CFL to make things truly Canadian and perhaps use the Atlantic Schooners name. Moncton already has practice with CFL games there. But if Halifax comes in possibly for 2018, will Moncton have to share the franchise and divide the home schedule with Halifax? Or will Halifax get its own team in its own stadium? Not sure if Atlantic Canada can go for two CFL teams in the region just yet. Right now, the Montreal Alouettes got the whole province of Quebec on lock. But Cohon has so far not talked to the Als owner on the possible exclusivity in Quebec. Still, I would like to see Montreal get a provincial rival in Quebec City. Fears abound that Vanier Cup champs Laval will lose fans with the CFL's presence and consequent seating expansion on its stadium. Quebec City's top sports priority right now is building that new arena to lure the NHL back, which is very likely to happen. London should be good as the next Ontario city in after Ottawa comes back, but it's too small right now and give it around a decade for consideration. Ditto for Victoria. I was aware of the interesting idea using the Pontiac Silverdome for home games of the Windsor franchise to attract fans on both sides of the Detroit-Windsor border. The Silverdome was even considered for the proposed resurrection of the WHA with the Detroit Gladiators playing there, something the Silverdome had never done--hosting hockey. If there was massive success and demand for the Argos like with the Maple Leafs (if not the recent success now), we could see Toronto considered for a second CFL team like talk for a second NHL team based in Markham. Maybe it will play at Varsity Stadium, if not the SkyDome. Like to see Marc Trestman get a NFL coaching job having more than proved himself making a perrenial success with the Montreal Alouettes over the years. He was among the shortlist for the Miami (FL) Hurricanes and for Buffalo last couple of years. Why Trestman didn't get hired sooner down there, I think it's because the transition from a 110-yard game with bigger end zones and three downs and such to going into the big time NFL game is actually more difficult than people might imagine. Pressure to win is way bigger to succeed right away, for starters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intoronto Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 CFL = dying product in Toronto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted January 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 But we know Toronto is too important of a market to let it die out. Then again, Montreal went without CFL football for years from the mid-1980s to 1996. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Proof positive that the new Ottawa's incoming CFL team will not be called the Rush: http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/12/21/ottawa-cfl-team-wont-be-called-rush But could the new Ottawa team be called the Rough Riders again, at least temporarily? Despite Saskatchewan's reservations now being the only CFL with that name albeit combined? http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/12/21/ottawa-rough-riders-could-make-annual-return-to-cfl Ottawa Red Blacks? Takes some getting used to. What's with this fascination with the nicknames beginning with the letter R in Ottawa's CFL history and prospects--like Rough Riders, Renegades, Rush, Rouges, Romans, Raftsmen, River Rats? But we definitely know the colors will be the typical Ottawa colors of red, black, and white. And will use the R letter as part of its logo. Rouges would be interesting in the sense it's one of the said colors and grant the bilingualism of English and French that Ottawa (and the nation of Canada) posesses as Canada's capital geographically and extends itself much into the French community. But Red Blacks are being eyed by Ottawa Sports and Entertainment. http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/01/13/ottawa-sports-and-entertainment-group-eyes-the-name-red-blacks-for-new-ottawa-cfl-team Tried but failed to get Wally Buono away from the BC Lions' GM job http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/01/03/bc-lions-gm-wally-buono-wont-take-top-job-with-ottawa-expansion-team Ivor Wynne Stadium demolition already underway with the Tiger-Cats having temporarily moved to Guelph University's Alumni Stadium for this year (with temporary seating expansion) before returning to the new Ivor Wynne Stadium next year: http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2012/12/17/hamilton-ivor-wynne-demolition.html Could we see the successor to the legendary Anthony Cavillo for Montreal's QB in McMaster's Kyle Quinlan? http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2012/12/21/montreal_alouettes_sign_mcmaster_kyle_quinlan/ Speaking of McMaster, they lost in the 48th Vanier Cup in Toronto that Grey Cup weekend to Laval 37-14 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZe9WlWe4YI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Posted January 16, 2013 Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 Mark Trestman to coach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 TORONTO -- The Canadian Football League and Bell Media’s TSN and RDS are proud to announce a broad new multi-platform broadcast agreement that extends their long-term partnership through to 2018. As part of the extension, TSN and RDS secure exclusive media rights to all CFL pre-season and regular season games, playoffs, and the Canadian icon that is the Grey Cup, as well as to the CFL Draft and CFL Combine. The CFL regular season broadcast schedule expands to 81 games next year in 2014 when the new Ottawa franchise joins the league. The CFL will also see additional games broadcast in French with more games being broadcast on RDS2. In addition to broadcast and digital rights, the deal includes exclusive radio rights to the Grey Cup for TSN and TEAM Radio stations. “This new agreement is a testament to the strength of today’s CFL, our tremendous partnership with TSN and RDS, and their important position in the marketplace as Canada’s sports leaders,” said Mark Cohon, the Commissioner of the CFL. “It’s a transformative deal, both for the growth of our league and its presentation. It’s an important component of our league’s bright future, along with great performances on the field, fan support in the stands, and new stadiums across the country.” “The CFL is one of Canada’s leading sports properties and has been one of the main audience drivers on the TSN and RDS schedule. We are extremely proud and honoured to have been a key partner in helping to make the CFL such an important part of the Canadian landscape,” said Phil King, President of CTV Programming and Sports. “TSN and RDS are committed to delivering the biggest events in sports to our subscribers and telling the country’s most compelling sports stories. The CFL delivers superbly on both fronts. All of us are looking forward to adding even more games in 2014 with the Ottawa franchise joining the league.” TSN has been broadcasting CFL games since 1986 and RDS has been a CFL broadcaster since 1989. In 2008, TSN and RDS became the exclusive broadcasters of the CFL and the Grey Cup. Since that time the networks have established new audience records for CFL broadcasts. Last year’s 100th Grey Cup game on TSN was the most watched ever on English-language television, averaging 5.4 million viewers through the historic telecast. Last year, TSN, RDS and Bell Media also embarked on a critically-acclaimed original documentary series, ENGRAVED ON A NATION, focusing on how the Grey Cup has become such an intrinsic part of Canadian heritage. TSN and RDS’ current agreement with the CFL expires at the end of the 2013 season. http://www.cfl.ca/article/cfl-and-tsn-announce-new-broadcast-deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Ottawa's new CFL franchise will be called the RedBlacks (Rouge et Noir in French) with a stylized white R (a nod to the Rough Riders' classic R) on a black saw blade. http://news.sportslogos.net/2013/05/30/ottawa-cfl-team-will-be-the-redblacks-logos-here/ As far as CFL expansion is concerned, I don't think we will witness any further CFL expansion after Ottawa like going to Moncton/Halifax, London, and Quebec City until after the next CFL TV deal with TSN/RDS is struck, starting from 2019. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted June 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2013 NBC Sports Network and ESPN2 will televise CFL games this year in the US http://fangsbites.com/2013/06/canadian-football-league-to-air-on-nbcsn-and-espn2-in-2013/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ofan Posted June 19, 2013 Report Share Posted June 19, 2013 ESPN2??? Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted June 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Like the black sawblade with the stylized white R and the red circle, a nod to the timber cut in the Upper Ottawa Valley. But not really som much the name of RedBlacks (Rouge Et Noir). Would've liked the Rough Riders name to return but can't legally happen. Rapids was my choice. Does honor the rich heritage of them and the short-lived Renegades. Because this is Ottawa, English and French are used in the presentation. It's like Pittsburgh with its notable teams sporting black and yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted November 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Apologies for not making this more frequent. Hope to make up for that this week as we rapidly approach Grey Cup weekend in Regina. We're now at the CFL Divisional Championship stage. The Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats face each other in what surely will be one of the more memorable chapters in their bitter rivalry. Out west lies with the Saskatchewan Roughriders having an entire province behind them facing the Calgary Stampeders and the hope of being the being the home team at Mosiac Stadium at Taylor Field. Been noticing controversial and embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford wearing the Argos jersey lately, especially in his vulgar rants like live on the CBC on Wednesday? When Toronto goes, will he end up going. I hear the Argos are disassociating themselves from even with his support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted November 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 We know have our 101st CFL Grey Cup teams in the heart of Riderville on Sunday with the home provincial team Saskatchewan Roughriders facing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Mosiac Stadium at Taylor Field. Saskatchewan roll to the CFL West title over at Calgary's McMahon Stadium. Last time it held there was a decade ago in 2003, when Edmonton beat Montreal 22-17. Saskatchewan last won the Grey Cup back in 2007 in Toronto over Winnipeg. This will be the final time the Grey Cup will be held in Regina until at least the Mosaic Stadium renovations make it more modern all over in 2017. Since we're talking about serious CFL stadium renovations and makeovers, funny that Hamilton is one step away from touching the Grey Cup for the first time since 1999 currently is playing at Guelph University's Alumni Stadium on an interim basis as their actual home is being modernized from the Ivor Wynne Stadium to becoming Tim Horton's Field next year (seen some graphics, looks real nice), the same timeframe when the Ottawa Redblacks start play at the all-new and improved Frank Clair Stadium (and Ottawa Civic Centre) at the newly refurbrished Lansdowne Park that's part of Ottawa's urban renewal project. CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon certainly is pleased with the robust growth and development of the CFL's state of the game all around with the new stadiums, strong sponsorships, social media likes, higher TV viewership, and bountiful TV contracts making the league awash in cash. Moncton was a success too in the Touchdown In The Atlantic, further paving the way for an eventual CFL expansion team pending upon a new TV deal. http://www.cfl.ca/article/cohons-state-of-the-league-looking-at-todays-cfl Montreal and Calgary cleaned up the CFL Awards during Grey Cup Week, especially Calgary RB Jon Cornish http://www.cfl.ca/page/gibsons http://www.cfl.ca/article/doubling-up-cornish-cleans-up-at-player-awards Too lazy to write it all. But get your CFL 101st Grey Festival Week events info here: http://101greycupfestival.ca/ For this year's Grey Cup entertainment, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan's own Rolling Stone coverboys The Sheepdogs perform the pregame, well-known Canadian group Hedley is the halftime show, and rising star Serena Ryder performs O Canada. Grey Cup ref is Kim Murphy. TSN will send over (actually already there) Jock Climie, Matt Dunigan, Chris Cuthbert, Dave Randorf, Milt Stegall, Paul LaPolice, Chris Schultz, Chris Cuthbert, and Dave Suitor to cover it all. RDS will have on the French side Denis Casavant, Pierre Vercheval, Marc Labrecque, Mike Sutherland, and Claude Mailhot. NBC Sports Network will take the TSN simulcast feed here in the US. Next year's Grey Cup will be held in Vancouver's BC Place. Originally scheduled for Ottawa's Frank Clair Stadium on a conditional basis with Ottawa's return to CFL action but lawsuits and delays over the renovations now projected to be completed to June 2014 forced the switch to Vancouver even when the Redblacks begin play next year (CFL and the Redblacks mutually prefer hosting the Grey Cup within 3-4 years after establishing the franchise). Saskatchewan's hungry to win it all at home after losing to Montreal the last two times in heartbreaking fashion. They'll ride very well Sunday night over Hamilton, I think. Riderville will happily cheer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTHarner Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 The third year in a row that a team will be playing the Grey Cup on it's home field. Unlike the NFL where hosting the Super Bowl is usually the kiss of death for that team that season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ofan Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 The third year in a row that a team will be playing the Grey Cup on it's home field. Unlike the NFL where hosting the Super Bowl is usually the kiss of death for that team that season. Well with only 8 teams, the chances of it happening is much more likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTHarner Posted November 23, 2013 Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 Well of course. But out of 48 Super Bowls you would think it would happen at least once. The closest were the Rams (XIV-Pasadena) and 49ers (XIX-Stanford). Both were the host franchises but not in their actual home venue. Those good Dolphins teams of the early 70s somehow missed out on it even with Miami hosting it like every third year at the time. More recently the Saints and Colts have enjoyed consistent success, but the Colts had Manning's injury and the Saints were dealing with the fallout of Bounty-gate during the seasons they were the host. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted November 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 Might happen in the next couple of years with the 49ERS' new Levi Stadium, "The Field of Jeans", and hopefully for my Texans at Reliant Stadium (get your act together next year!). More likely with SF. Stunning that hasn't occured at least once. Just goes to show luck also plays a role here. Anyway, our good poster here Canadian Sports has brought forth the TSN/RDS press release on its CFL Grey Cup coverage for all of us to look at. In a by the numbers style: http://canadiansportsfan.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/101st-grey-cup-broadcast-facts-and-figures/ Press release on the 101st Grey Cup TSN/RDS broadcasting details. Too bad RDS isn't as extensive with that. It comes on at 4pm Canada/US CT. Think it has something to do with Montreal being eliminated in the East semis: http://canadiansportsfan.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/101st-grey-cup-on-tsn-and-rds/ Watermelon heads, Darren Dutchyshen's "extended family" from Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, and two different production crew for TSN's pre- and post-game shows. The 1989 Grey Cup between the Roughriders and Tiger-Cats in Toronto's then-brand new SkyDome, last time they faced each other in the Grey Cup, is viewed as the greatest Grey Cup game ever. 43-40. The intro to it from the CFN that was on Good Lookin' STV--with a Foster's Lager sponsorship! Highlights from that 1989 Grey Cup classic The Vanier Cup has a new broadcasting home with Rogers Sportsnet covering the CIS college football national championship, part of Rogers Sportsnet's six-year deal with the CIS. Coverage going on right now with two teams sportsing red and gold: defending champs Laval Rouge Et Or versus the Calgary Dinos. All at the Laval University Stadium in Quebec City. Never has the Vanier Cup coverage been this extensive! (Hopefully in the future Quebec City will get some CFL action to rival the Alouettes and thus have RDS coverage) http://canadiansportsfan.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/sportsnet-coverage-of-the-49th-vanier-cup/ Recap of everything early next week including the road to the Vanier Cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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