CFL-Als' Stern and Cecchini open to XFL talks about growing game

[4th&long]

Good article... we are getting more from the CFL side than the XFL side

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/foot ... owing-game

>> Montreal's co-owner and team president say emphasis is not on a merger, but rather on ways CFL can better promote its league and engage fans.

While Cecchini said it’s too early to speculate about a merger between the leagues. Stern, who has a vested financial stake in the Als along with Sid Spiegel, said a merger could be broached only if it made sense for both leagues.

“The CFL has been around a long time and has an avid group of fans,” Stern said. “But it most certainly needs help, as COVID-19 pointed out.”<<

Here's where the rubber meets the road - if its just talks on promotion, why would the XFL have to "pause" 2020? DG/RBC/Rk are not getting asked any tough questions, the CFL people are.

I still think the XFL needs CFL's FB management experience. But at some point someone needs to pointedly ask - is DG/RBC/Rk willing to finance the XFL?

[laxtreme56]

The CFL is being asked the tough questions as they've been around for 60+ years and the XFL is just a few executives on a zoom call currently. The fact that CFL owners are putting their faith in Redbird and the XFL braintrust is telling, it shows they know they've tapped out the Canadian market with their brand. Ratings have fallen from 800k ten years ago to just over 520k now.Attendance has dropped 8 straight years in a row and one of their biggest sponsors, and Grey Cup presenter, Shaw, was just bought out and apparently dropped their CFL sponsorship.

Danny Garcia did say a lucrative television contract was needed to have the XFL kick off, what she didn't specify was an American TV contract It's possible with TSN's ratings and expansion clauses they could turn that $50 million deal into $80-100 million by year 2 of a CFL/XFL merged league. This is exactly what MLS is doing by courting Liga MX right now into a super league. There's only so many times over an 18 game season fans can watch the TI-Cats take on the Argos and from an XFL perspective it's 6-8 teams that have no history, legacy, or generational fans. However, the sky is the limit in both countries if they work together. If they go at it alone, the glass ceiling is undoubtedly smaller and one or both leagues will likely be dead and buried in 3 years time.

[4th&long]

The CFL is being asked the tough questions as they've been around for 60+ years and the XFL is just a few executives on a zoom call currently. The fact that CFL owners are putting their faith in Redbird and the XFL braintrust is telling, it shows they know they've tapped out the Canadian market with their brand. Ratings have fallen from 800k ten years ago to just over 520k now.Attendance has dropped 8 straight years in a row and one of their biggest sponsors, and Grey Cup presenter, Shaw, was just bought out and apparently dropped their CFL sponsorship.

Danny Garcia did say a lucrative television contract was needed to have the XFL kick off, what she didn't specify was an American TV contract It's possible with TSN's ratings and expansion clauses they could turn that $50 million deal into $80-100 million by year 2 of a CFL/XFL merged league. This is exactly what MLS is doing by courting Liga MX right now into a super league. There's only so many times over an 18 game season fans can watch the TI-Cats take on the Argos and from an XFL perspective it's 6-8 teams that have no history, legacy, or generational fans. However, the sky is the limit in both countries if they work together. If they go at it alone, the glass ceiling is undoubtedly smaller and one or both leagues will likely be dead and buried in 3 years time.

Perhaps. But Canadian media will not be using kid gloves on XFL forever. Sooner or later they will ask them tough questions. The Rock is worth $320mm, an impressive amount but not enough to fund the XFL. RBC answers to investors, they won't invest willy nilly without a clear path to a return. The 2020 pause announcement was a real kick in the balz.

What was the point in buying the XFL to put in on hold 2 straight years after just 5 games played? Does it really have value, why not start another league?

I'd really like to see the ownership group questioned at length.