Semi-OT: Anyone watch the CFL game on NFLN tonight?

[TrueBeliever]

Tonight I clicked on the Canadian Football League game between Montreal and Saskatchewan and was surprised to find myself really getting into it. It was a high-scoring game (at least by NFL standards), and went into overtime with the score tied at 40-40. It was almost like the NFL and the Arena League had a baby.

I haven't seen any CFL games since I switched from cable to DirecTV, but I might watch some more if they're going to be on NFLN this year. Funny, I thought I was starting to lose interest in watching the foot-balling.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I've gotten into the CFL games I've seen as well, I really like how spread out the game is and wish I could watch more.

 

[jah]

I feel like following the CFL will tide me over until the NFL season starts...now if only I knew what team to follow...

Hmm...

Calgary! They have red uniforms

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

I feel like following the CFL will tide me over until the NFL season starts...now if only I knew what team to follow...

Hmm...

Calgary! They have red uniforms

No!!!! Follow the Blue Bombers

 

[Tunescribe]

Strange-looking stadiums up there; they don't look like pro stadiums on TV. And it looks like they don't sell out. Am I right to assume you can probably walk up and buy a ticket at the stadium day of game?

 

[dde901]

Strange-looking stadiums up there; they don't look like pro stadiums on TV. And it looks like they don't sell out. Am I right to assume you can probably walk up and buy a ticket at the stadium day of game?

To answer your question, the stadiums are much smaller. They range from 25,000 in Montreal to 65,000 in Edmonton. Most places you can buy a ticket game day, but particularily in Montreal and Regina (Saskatchewan) and Calgary (Calgary is Saskatchewan West) when they play the Riders, you better get them early because the last few years these are like gold. Calgary is approximately 38,000, Winnipeg 30,000, Hamilton is 30,000, Vancouver (this year is 25,000 in a temp stadium until the complete rennovations for the retractable roof on BC Place - 60,000, I think) Regina is 30,000 and Toronto is 55,000. There is likely to be 3 new stadiums in the next 5 years in Winnipeg (already started), Hamilton and Regina with all permanent seating expected to be between 30 and 40k I believe. The average attendence is over 30k a game, not NFL or NCAA numbers but not UFL either.

I was at the game you watched tonight on NFLN and it has been virtually sold out since the day single game tickets went on sale. Our preseason game was sold out and our next game on our labour day game is sold out.

 

[TrueBeliever]

Strange-looking stadiums up there; they don't look like pro stadiums on TV. And it looks like they don't sell out. Am I right to assume you can probably walk up and buy a ticket at the stadium day of game?

I was wondering that myself - at first I thought maybe it was a preseason game that they were playing at a college or even a high school stadium.

As for picking a team based on the uniforms, I'm torn. At first I liked Saskatchewan since they remind me of the Michigan State Spartans, but they also remind me of the Jets (at least in their 82-96 style). Montreal looked more like the Pats, which was a big part of my reasoning for making the Scottish Claymores my favorite NFL Europe team.

And dde901, maybe you can answer something else - I take it these stadiums are also used for soccer? I was trying to figure out what those painted squares on the field were. If so, is soccer any more popular than it is here in America?

 

[WhoaDirty]

I was wondering that myself - at first I thought maybe it was a preseason game that they were playing at a college or even a high school stadium.

And dde901, maybe you can answer something else - I take it these stadiums are also used for soccer? I was trying to figure out what those painted squares on the field were. If so, is soccer any more popular than it is here in America?

Was it the Rider game that looked like a preseason game from the stands, or the Calgary/Edmonton game? Given the team they have this year, Rider games will likely all be sold out. Plus the fans are kind of rabid. I compare them to Steeler fans because there are so many across the country and there are always tons of fans at other teams stadiums. At Calgary games (there are a lot of transplanted Saskatchewan residents living there), the Saskatchewan fans come close to equaling Calgary fans in the stands.

In regards to soccer, it's more popular in the US than here. That stadium is owned by the city, so I believe the soccer goal lines are painted there for the occasional high school games that get played there.

Also, in regards to the smaller stadiums, you have to remember that some of the cities that have CFL teams are not all that big. The Saskatchewan stadium is in Regina which has a population of around 200,000 and draws from an area of less than 1,000,000 residents total.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

The talent level of the CFL is unfortunately really poor lately.

There are 3 downs instead of 4, and the field is a bit bigger than an NFL field, so it really encourages spreading things out and passing the ball. Back in the day, there were some great CFL QBs like Warren Moon and Doug Flutie who really took advantage of those benefits. Jeff Garcia also played in the CFL.

I still prefer watching it over Arena Football though.

 

[dde901]

Soccer in Canada

I was wondering that myself - at first I thought maybe it was a preseason game that they were playing at a college or even a high school stadium.

As for picking a team based on the uniforms, I'm torn. At first I liked Saskatchewan since they remind me of the Michigan State Spartans, but they also remind me of the Jets (at least in their 82-96 style). Montreal looked more like the Pats, which was a big part of my reasoning for making the Scottish Claymores my favorite NFL Europe team.

And dde901, maybe you can answer something else - I take it these stadiums are also used for soccer? I was trying to figure out what those painted squares on the field were. If so, is soccer any more popular than it is here in America?

The someone else posted that it is, I have no idea, I HATE soccer, most boring sport in the world. And the faking of injuries like guys have been "snipered" is disgusting. Soccer in the praires, is played by most kids (more than hockey even), but as far as a following of the big Euro teams, not so much. I would assume in regions like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver with larger ethnic background who are traditional soccer countries there is much more of a following.

Anyway, hope this answers your question.

I have to respectfully disagree about the huge tallent difference between the 2 leagues, there is a difference in tallent yes, but there is also a difference in body types/atheletes required because of the size of the field. Example is the linebacker. The prototypical CFL LB is smaller and many times one is a converted DB or safety because the larger field and the propensity this has to encourage the passing game. The coverback LBer many times is covering the 5th receiver or a the back leaking our of the backfield.

Just an aside, I am a huge Pats and will be here when TC and the regular season begins.

 

[ahmed]

Never really got into the CFL because of the 3 down system... don't like that. I like Montreal because they remind me of the Pats uniforms.

As the guy above said... in major cities, soccer is very popular. In Toronto, soccer is second to only Hockey in terms of attendance and loyalty. Every game is sold out although the stadium is small because they underestimated the popularity of the team by a LLLLLLOOOTTTT.

 

[TrueBeliever]

Was it the Rider game that looked like a preseason game from the stands, or the Calgary/Edmonton game? Given the team they have this year, Rider games will likely all be sold out.

I think you misunderstood - it wasn't that the stands weren't filled that made me think it was a preseason game; actually IIRC they were pretty much full. What I meant was it didn't really look like a pro team's stadium, at least not by NFL standards. The end zone seating sections looked like the kind you'd see at a college or high school stadium. But if the city isn't that big they probably didn't need a stadium that big either.

Also I knew there was one other major difference between the NFL and the CFL besides the 20-yard end zones, but I couldn't remember it until reading this thread - 3 downs instead of 4. That must make things interesting. (As you can tell, I wasn't paying that close of attention Thursday night. )

In regards to soccer, it's more popular in the US than here.

Wow. The way some countries make it sound, America is the only country in the world that doesn't foam at the mouth over soccer... so if you're saying it's even less popular in Canada, that's saying something.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I have always been a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan when it relates to the CFL

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Soccer in Canada

Just an aside, I am a huge Pats and will be here when TC and the regular season begins.

:welcome:

Looks like JSn has some competition for "Most intense Canadian Pats fan."

 

[upstater1]

I've seen several games in Edmonton. The stadium was pretty well packed, and it's big. There was a lot of goofy stuff going on, good atmosphere.

I've never been one to buy into this, we need a new modern stadium stuff. I don't detect any difference when I'm at games in new stadiums or old ones. The only reason why Foxboro Stadium was a giant hassle for me is that they packed people in. That was not a 55k stadium. People couldn't sit. But otherwise I go to Bills games and the stadium is perfectly fine.

Yesterday's soccer games were incredibly exciting and dramatic. It's ok to find soccer boring but if you tried to watch yesterday's games and found them boring it must mean you don't understand the sport.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

I have always been a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan when it relates to the CFL

A fan after my own heart. The Bombers had a great season opener last night coming back to dominate the Tiger Cats. A refreshing change from the regime that was in place last year.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

With regards to soccer support, there are just as many, if not more children (both boys and girls) registered for youth soccer in Canada then hockey. Hockey is an expensive sport to play. The reason soccer may not be as mainstream is also because of the climate. There are only a few places in the entire country where it can be played year round (outside).

 

[upstater1]

With regards to soccer support, there are just as many, if not more children (both boys and girls) registered for youth soccer in Canada then hockey. Hockey is an expensive sport to play. The reason soccer may not be as mainstream is also because of the climate. There are only a few places in the entire country where it can be played year round (outside).

This is the reason my kids play hockey (even though their parents played football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse and field hockey). I'm not a Buffalo native, but when you have 5 months of cold weather (November until end of March) your kids need to be active.

 

[MetalBleachers]

I don't get to follow the CFL much, but when I do I root for Montreal for two reasons: one, the city's proximity to NE, two, they had Robert Edwards on their team a few years ago...
Montreal Alouettes

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I've seen several games in Edmonton. The stadium was pretty well packed, and it's big. There was a lot of goofy stuff going on, good atmosphere.

I've never been one to buy into this, we need a new modern stadium stuff. I don't detect any difference when I'm at games in new stadiums or old ones. The only reason why Foxboro Stadium was a giant hassle for me is that they packed people in. That was not a 55k stadium. People couldn't sit. But otherwise I go to Bills games and the stadium is perfectly fine.

Yesterday's soccer games were incredibly exciting and dramatic. It's ok to find soccer boring but if you tried to watch yesterday's games and found them boring it must mean you don't understand the sport.

Speaking of which, anyone remember the bizarre rumor that the Patriots were going to play one of their home games in western Canada a couple of years ago?