How Could the Coronavirus affect the Argos and the CFL

[jerrym]

Five MLB baseball players have already announced they will not play in 2020 because of Covid-19. Although the league circumstances and pay systems are different, one has to wonder if some CFL players will refuse to play in 2020 because of high risk to themselves or family members or simply deem it not worth the risk considering the much lower salary levels in the league.

Here is an up-to-date list of MLB players who have made the decision not to participate in the 2020 season:

• Mike Leake, Diamondbacks
• Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
• Joe Ross, Nationals
• Ian Desmond, Rockies
• Tyson Ross, free agent (per MLB Network's Jon Heyman)

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There are undoubtedly several, potential short- and long-term health and safety risks being taken by those involved in a 2020 season. Given that, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed on COVID-19 guidelines which include the allowance of high-risk players or players with high-risk families to opt-out on the 2020 season.
In MLB's plan, high-risk players who decide to opt-out would receive both their full salary and service time for the season. Players who have high-risk family members may also decide to opt-out, but MLB would leave it up to teams to make the decision of whether or not they would receive salary or service time. High-risk would include people who have heart disease, lung disease, cancer, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Coronavirus is commonly considered a respiratory illness, but many of those who have tested positive can experience a wide range of different symptoms, including possible effects on the heart.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/h...ave-opted-out/

[jerrym]

Just read that Brandon Banks, the CFL's 2019 MOP, is saying he doesn't think he will play if Hamilton is not a hub city.

The man known as Speedy B tweeted: Move on with life bro! U will be behind if you wait on them!!! Banks doesn’t want to wait on the three-down league making a decision, instead do it himself.

Following Banks’ tweet to Jefferson, a fan told Banks the CFL has spoken to the Ontario provincial government regarding the possibility of Hamilton being a hub for the league, if it finds a way to play games this year. The 32-year-old answered: If so I’ll come play! If not don’t think ima play this season … see ya in 2021.

Ontario Minister of Sport Lisa MacLeod has been in contact with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie about Hamilton being a hub for the CFL to potentially return to play in 2020. “Absolutely, they have discussed possibly going to Hamilton or the Burlington area and I don’t think any option is off the table. Right now we are working with them.”

https://3downnation.com/2020/07/01/c...-hamilton-hub/

[argolio]

Hamilton/Burlington hub? Wonder if that means some western cities have backed out.

Now that it's July, we should now be inside a month of knowing whether there will be a season.

[AngeloV]

Hamilton/Burlington hub? Wonder if that means some western cities have backed out.

Now that it's July, we should now be inside a month of knowing whether there will be a season.

Rod Pederson says he has reliable sources that tell him that it will be Winnipeg should there be a season. I still think they should try for Vancouver as it will allow them to go into December if need be and not have to deal with weather.

For the record, Dave Naylor say's Winnipeg is not a done deal if they play.

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl-focusing-on-w...play-1.1491782

[argolio]

According to Farhan Lalji:

Details emerging about @cfl initial proposal to @cflpa about a return to play for 2020. As expected, it includes:
-Shortened training camp
-Prorated salaries
-Reduced time between games
-Expanded practice rosters

All of this is based on approval from medical authorities a new CBA & goverment $ assistance. League wants an agreement in place by July 23rd. PA says they’re willing to consider CBA changes & extension, but don’t believe 3 weeks is a reasonable time to do that. Would prefer to focus on 2020 getting off the ground first.

I'm guessing they'll schedule nine games over every two-week segment, which would mean mid-week games. Not ideal, but easier to do with a shorter season and using a hub city.

[jerrym]

Ricky Ray doesn't think there will be a season for any football league during the rest of this year.

But what Ricky Ray doesn’t see is any professional football games being played this season.
“Not at the moment, no,” said the former Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts great, whose career completion percentage of 68.16 is tops on the list of all-time passers over the 40,000-yard mark in both the CFL and NFL. “We look at how things have gone with the initial shutdown and people staying at home, the numbers definitely started to decrease. And now that we’ve kind of opened back up, you see what’s happening again.
“You could go ahead and do it, I just don’t know if it’s worth it. I don’t know. It’s a tough question to ask, is it even worth it to bring the guys together and deal with all that stuff to play part of a season? Or just to say, hey, we don’t have a season this year.”

https://www.thetelegram.com/sports/f...season-469510/

[paulwoods13]

I'm guessing they'll schedule nine games over every two-week segment, which would mean mid-week games. Not ideal, but easier to do with a shorter season and using a hub city.

While I don't expect the league to be able to play this year, if they do manage it and end up with a six-game season, IMO it would be insane to do it over six weeks rather than seven. For the sake of one less week, the league would end up with an unpalatable schedule.

In a seven-week schedule, every team can play six games and get one bye week. One week would have three games instead of four, with three teams on a bye instead of one.

In a six-week schedule, three teams will get no bye at all (while six others get one, which is incredibly unfair), and three teams will have to play twice in one week (e.g. Wednesday and the following Sunday, on three days' rest, which is incredibly unfair, as Argo fans know). Why put teams through that to end up with one less week of game action? (I assume TSN would also prefer seven weeks of football over six.)

[AngeloV]

While I don't expect the league to be able to play this year, if they do manage it and end up with a six-game season, IMO it would be insane to do it over six weeks rather than seven. For the sake of one less week, the league would end up with an unpalatable schedule.

In a seven-week schedule, every team can play six games and get one bye week. One week would have three games instead of four, with three teams on a bye instead of one.

In a six-week schedule, three teams will get no bye at all (while six others get one, which is incredibly unfair), and three teams will have to play twice in one week (e.g. Wednesday and the following Sunday, on three days' rest, which is incredibly unfair, as Argo fans know). Why put teams through that to end up with one less week of game action? (I assume TSN would also prefer seven weeks of football over six.)

I agree, but I think Argolio's scenario was prior to knowledge of a possible 6 game schedule. With an 8 game schedule in Winnipeg starting perhaps in mid September, Argolio's scenario makes sense. You can't go into December in the prairies.

[paulwoods13]

I agree, but I think Argolio's scenario was prior to knowledge of a possible 6 game schedule. With an 8 game schedule in Winnipeg starting perhaps in mid September, Argolio's scenario makes sense. You can't go into December in the prairies.

Eight-game schedule can be done in nine weeks with everyone getting one bye week -- playing nine games every two weeks would again save only one week vs. the usual four games per week. If they started the weekend of Sept. 17-20, the Grey Cup would be played Dec. 6, which shouldn't be a significant barrier, weather-wise. 1991 GC was played in minus-30 on Nov. 24. Besides, Argos will be hosting the Grey Cup if this season gets played.

[AngeloV]

Eight-game schedule can be done in nine weeks with everyone getting one bye week -- playing nine games every two weeks would again save only one week vs. the usual four games per week. If they started the weekend of Sept. 17-20, the Grey Cup would be played Dec. 6, which shouldn't be a significant barrier, weather-wise. 1991 GC was played in minus-30 on Nov. 24. Besides, Argos will be hosting the Grey Cup if this season gets played.

Assuming of course the Grey Cup would be somewhere other than the hub city.

It's too bad if they do have a season and choose Winnipeg as the hub. Hamilton which has so many Universities within an hour drive, to me would be a better choice.

[argolio]

Eight-game schedule can be done in nine weeks with everyone getting one bye week -- playing nine games every two weeks would again save only one week vs. the usual four games per week. If they started the weekend of Sept. 17-20, the Grey Cup would be played Dec. 6, which shouldn't be a significant barrier, weather-wise. 1991 GC was played in minus-30 on Nov. 24. Besides, Argos will be hosting the Grey Cup if this season gets played.

My thinking about eliminating byes was that they'd be pressed for time to get in as many games as possible. No doubt they're considering multiple scheduling options.

I'm not sure the league has an appetite for an outdoor December Grey Cup. On the other hand, the NHL will likely not start its 20-21 season until January, which would give the CFL some extra exposure in November and December.

[jerrym]

Thanks to Covid-19, the CFL is looking at a six game regular season with 8 teams in the playoffs as a possible option. With all the talent that they have added, surely the Argos could meet this low postseason bar.

[argolio]

At this point, I'll take any schedule.

[ArgoGabe22]

This might be the year to reintroduce a two game series for the playoffs. Keep it interesting

[paulwoods13]

I don't think weather is a major factor in this. Players can play in cold conditions, and it will be surprising if fans are in the stands. And cold weather can come at any time on the Prairies after Labour Day.

[Mightygoose]

CFL submits revised financial request.

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl-submits-finan...ment-1.1494145

Funds if approved to cover player and operation costs. Owners will cover other expenses including losses. Ask will be about 42.5 million.

This request is also endorsed by the PA as instructed to earlier by the finance committee.

[Rich]

CFL submits revised financial request.

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl-submits-finan...ment-1.1494145

Funds if approved to cover player and operation costs. Owners will cover other expenses including losses. Ask will be about 42.5 million.

This request is also endorsed by the PA as instructed to earlier by the finance committee.

The Feds will spend many times more than $42.5M — in each province — in efforts to kickstart the economy. This is a relatively small and low-risk ask. I am becoming more and more confident we’ll be watching the Argonauts play this year.

The key is the hub city concept. A hub city is like a mini-stimulus package for an entire region. Jason Kenney said the NHL West hub in Edmonton would generate “tens of millions” for the Alberta economy, and the CFL hub would be bigger with more personnel than the NHL West hub.

Feeding well over 1,000 extra people every day for 3.5 months would be a huge boost to any region’s food supply and distribution system, not to mention all the extra cleaning, hospitality and security jobs that would be created. And how much could the Feds get back in GST from all this extra business?

They’re going to spend this money anyway on some kind of stimulus. Why not on one that saves a national sports institution at the same time? I can’t see it not happening.

[Bosco]

The Feds will spend many times more than $42.5M — in each province — in efforts to kickstart the economy. This is a relatively small and low-risk ask. I am becoming more and more confident we’ll be watching the Argonauts play this year.

The key is the hub city concept. A hub city is like a mini-stimulus package for an entire region. Jason Kenney said the NHL West hub in Edmonton would generate “tens of millions” for the Alberta economy, and the CFL hub would be bigger with more personnel than the NHL West hub.

Feeding well over 1,000 extra people every day for 3.5 months would be a huge boost to any region’s food supply and distribution system, not to mention all the extra cleaning, hospitality and security jobs that would be created. And how much could the Feds get back in GST from all this extra business?

They’re going to spend this money anyway on some kind of stimulus. Why not on one that saves a national sports institution at the same time? I can’t see it not happening.

Yea, no...

https://globalnews.ca/news/7165865/c...onton-toronto/

[Rich]

Yea, no...

https://globalnews.ca/news/7165865/c...onton-toronto/

No, yeah, nobody said a boost worth tens of millions of dollars to a provincial economy would be a panacea. But it will help.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/nhl-c...-242c6909b7ce/

[doubleblue]

No, yeah, nobody said a boost worth tens of millions of dollars to a provincial economy would be a panacea. But it will help.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/nhl-c...-242c6909b7ce/

Don't see how with the present conditions that would boost tourism. Too many restrictions. Isn't there still border restrictions from province to province still in effect? Let alone the Canadian/US border.