Same title for Pinball since Bell and Tanenbaum bought the team, I can't recall what his title s under Braley. As for Copeland and Moore, they're still involved for now, but I doubt we see them stick around for 2019.
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Did moving the season earlier come up at all? I don't remember it being discussed.
Just a little late with this, but Ambrosie talked about a possible schedule format if the league goes to ten teams. His idea is to play each division opponent three times (12 games in total) and six against the other division. That goes even further than my proposal (10 games in the division, 8 vs the other). Ambrosie's plan would cut down on travel costs (which he mentioned), and would likely eliminate any possibility of a crossover.
In any case, it seems he's no fan of a balanced schedule.
It sounds interesting. I would like to see this happen for one season as a trial basis.
So there would be teams we don't see in our building for as many as 26 months. Imagine if the Stampeders had Doug Flutie at the peak of his career and we didn't get to see him in Toronto. But we did get to see an awful Alouettes team twice. And counting preseason and postseason, we could play one or even two teams five times.
Obviously I'm not a fan of this concept. As a fan I'd like to see every team at least once, which is possible in a nine- or 10-team league.
I love the unbalanced schedule idea. If you were to play each team twice, then there really is no reason to have divisions.
One year I recall, we played the Cats 3 weeks in a row after two pre-seasons and the season opener. 3 additional games happened over the season. It was a little too much, however there were only 7 other teams. It was actually a little embarrassing when someone would ask who the Argos were playing this week and sure enough it happened to be the Cats, again. I would prefer to see every team in our home. Should be possible with 9 games. Sure, there would be cost savings otherwise, but nothing substantial for a professional league. Since the teams have adopted road trips (staying a week between games), they would be eliminating what, 3 more flights/stays?
This was the way is was up until the end of the 1980 season. When the powerful Eskimos came to Toronto in 1978 and 1980, it was a real treat as they would not make that trip every season.
I like the unbalanced schedule myself as it seems like CFL teams' best draws are against divisional rivals.
Familiarity breeds contempt. My preference is for a full interlocking schedule. And keep the crossover. That way only the best teams make the post season based on straight up competition. If the East remains weak (likely as they have the expansion team) than they will only put 2 team's in the playoffs. I don't want to play Hamilton 4 times because the rivalry will get watered down. Team's already travel so the budgets are already in place.
You wouldn't play anyone 4 times. Commissioners suggestion was to play divisional teams 3 times each, and 6 games in total vs the other division. The CFL thrived when the teams played their own division more often than the other. IMO, it makes a lot of sense to do it. Not to mention, more games within reasonable travel range for the visiting team, IMO would mean bigger crowds.
With pre season and playoffs you might play one team 5 times. I'm just thinking from a marketing standpoint in Toronto would it be easier to sell tickets and make an event out of playing each team once at home. For example we could play Hamilton on Labour Day and thanksgiving making those must see in person and on TV.
I don't agree with all of Ambrosie's positions, but he has a better job of listening to fans than any other commissioner.