The ongoing pandemic is, without a doubt, the most calamitous thing to happen to sports in recent history.
With almost every league in the world being put to a halt, the sports economy is feeling the hit. In Canada, the CFL has emerged as one of the few organizations with a clear plan.
Recently, they released a lengthy press release, in which they detailed plans for the imminent future.
General Projections
The league’s official stance pertaining to a potential return to play is now known. It seems that the regular season won’t start earlier than September. The main reason for this is the fact that several provinces have officially banned sporting events until September 1st.
This particular announcement was the most highly awaited one, as several journalists floated around the idea of late July games being a possibility.
As for the format of the 2020 season, nobody is certain about what might happen. Some epidemiologists have suggested having a no-fans period in the beginning, with the gradual introduction of spectators and social distancing rules.
It’s interesting that the CFL used the term ‘financial viability’ when elaborating on whether they’ll play with fans or not. According to Onlinegambling24.com this can be a sign of a potential tug-of-war between the government and the league, as a lack of gate receipts will put a dent in even the most financially stable squads.
Grey Cup and Touchdown Atlantic Changes
In terms of economic impact, the hardest punch the CFL had to sustain was the cancellation of the Grey Cup and the Grey Cup Festival. Known as perhaps the most entertaining part of the season, these festivities would have brought a lot of revenue to Saskatchewan.
Instead, the Roughriders have been awarded the 2022 Grey Cup. If the CFL returns to play, there might be a Grey Cup in December, but nobody is certain about what might happen until then. Another solution is that the finalist with the better record is to host the game.
As for the 2021 Grey Cup, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats remain as the host, which will be their first instance of hosting the grand finale of the season.
Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax has also been cancelled, with refunds soon to come. The event was a sellout.
All in all, the CFL reacted to the pandemic with clever rescheduling and positive messages. Other leagues on the North American continent can learn a thing or two from them.
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