CFL/XFL Collaboration

[Mocha]

A couple more videos for everyone:

Blake Nill talking about the continued improvement/growth of USports, and that he hopes we don't lose the Canadian Game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRzyVLd-Au0

Jim Mullin talks about football in 2021 and mentions his quick chat with Ambrosie. (Sounds like Ambrosie is still too enamoured with the XFL, and is still not taking into account the impact to amatuer football and the bigger picture, and start reaching younger demographics with the partnership of Football Canada. This is the low hanging fruit to grow the game and bring in some more younger fans).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2fEht1iKw8

I'm quite excited by what's been happening at Football Canada with Jim Mullin in charge.

Has anyone here read or seen anything about the contents of or results from the national football summit they held last October (IIRC)? I recall reading several stories in the weeks leading up to it, but then nothing afterwards. Also, I seem to recall there was supposed to be part 2 to that summit sometime this spring, but I didn't hear anything more about that.

[Skinny G]

FOX & TSL

This may or may not have an impact but Fox agreed to a multi year deal with The Spring League as their main broadcast partner, along with having the option to purchase a stake in the league itself. Does that impact Fox’s consideration to put in the money on a TV deal for the XFL or CFL/XFL?

https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/...ramming-lineup

2/2

I guess we kind of called this out? TSL Owner is bringing back the USFL with Doug Flutie as a promotional lead. Fox Sports will be the official broadcaster of the USFL. Clearly TSL Owner and Fox had a plan, and this REALLY impacts the XFL IMO.

https://3downnation.com/2021/06/03/d...n-spring-2022/

That is now 3 other Spring Leagues (USFL, APL, Major League Football), and 4 if you include the TSL. Not sure if the TSL will be cancelled and focus will be put on the USFL instead.

[AngeloV]

I guess we kind of called this out? TSL Owner is bringing back the USFL with Doug Flutie as a promotional lead. Fox Sports will be the official broadcaster of the USFL. Clearly TSL Owner and Fox had a plan, and this REALLY impacts the XFL IMO.

https://3downnation.com/2021/06/03/d...n-spring-2022/

That is now 3 other Spring Leagues (USFL, APL, Major League Football), and 4 if you include the TSL. Not sure if the TSL will be cancelled and focus will be put on the USFL instead.

As someone that really hopes there is no CFL/XFL merger, I see this as good news. Competition down south for the XFL, with FOX committed to the rival league, I believe will mean the XFL will never re-start.

[Mocha]

As someone that really hopes there is no CFL/XFL merger, I see this as good news. Competition down south for the XFL, with FOX committed to the rival league, I believe will mean the XFL will never re-start.

Agreed.

And if, as I think is likely, the USFL is another one-and-done upstart league, it will just add more doubt about the chances a third XFL go round would be any different, thus scaring off potential investors.

[Shatto]

Though the details of the USFL spring league are still unknown, there are a few pieces of information that indicate, it is quite possible that it could have a better chance of success than the XFL. They have a well known football personality (Doug Flutie) as the face of the league. More importantly, Fox Sports is heavily involved and will serve as the official broadcaster of the league. Fox Sports has partial ownership in the USFL and therefore has a vested interest in seeing the league succeed, whereas the XFL does not have that same advantage. It is unlikely that 2 spring leagues will survive. This could spell the death knell of the XFL. CFL be aware.

[paulwoods13]

The Spring League might not have done everything required to grab the USFL name and trademarks:

https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/usfl...rm=&int_promo=

I find it a bit rich that a lot of CFL fans were so quick to dismiss the XFL as a twice-failed league that the CFL shouldn't waste time on, yet the minute someone pops up claiming to be the USFL (a brand that hasn't been active for 35 years), it's curtains for any other spring football venture.

[AngeloV]

The Spring League might not have done everything required to grab the USFL name and trademarks:

https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/usfl...rm=&int_promo=

I find it a bit rich that a lot of CFL fans were so quick to dismiss the XFL as a twice-failed league that the CFL shouldn't waste time on, yet the minute someone pops up claiming to be the USFL (a brand that hasn't been active for 35 years), it's curtains for any other spring football venture.

Major difference is that the USFL has Fox's backing. XFL received zero TV money, and honestly, do you really believe there is going to be a TV war between 2 spring leagues? The point I was making is that if the USFL is backed by FOX, I don't see the XFL getting a TV contract period.

Having said all that, I never believed there was going to be a CFL/XFL merger to begin with. Nothing lines up. Single entity league vs individually owned teams. Time of year for the season being the 2 major points.

[Shatto]

AngeloV is quite right when he points out the XFL had no television money in the past and it doesn't look as if any is on the horizon. If a Fox Sports backed league is created, it automatically has a distinct advantage over the XFL. As Paul points out, the XFL is a twice failed league and investors will be wary if for no other reason than past failures often portent future failures.

Does anyone truly believe two spring leagues can be successful? If and admittedly it is still an uncertain if, another spring league, backed by a major broadcaster does become a reality, it will have a huge advantage over the XFL. It would appear to be a wise move for the CFL to disengage itself form the XFL, at least until the dust settles. Being tied to a three times failed league is not good optics.

[Mocha]

Well, the XFL talks seem to be over.

Anyone think they might resume after the CFL season, or was it an obvious non-starter to begin with?

[Skinny G]

Well, the XFL talks seem to be over.

Anyone thing they might resume after the CFL season, or was it an obvious non-starter to begin with?

Officially official

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/07/07/statem...regarding-xfl/

https://3downnation.com/2021/07/07/c...-arrangements/

Also, Edmonton came out and directly said they are pleased that these discussions have ended and that focus is back on the CFL!

https://3downnation.com/2021/07/07/e...fl-have-ended/

The league was sooo focused on this and didn't work on their own business planning, and potentially burned a lot of bridges along the way. It would be interesting to see reaction from folks like Jim Mullin and Football Canada, as well as USports and others.

Wonder if all other teams/owners will come out and say something, especially Montreal and Toronto who were apparently the 2 most focused on these talks, highly doubt it. But let's see.

[paulwoods13]

Well, the XFL talks seem to be over.

Anyone thing they might resume after the CFL season, or was it an obvious non-starter to begin with?

I personally don't believe we have heard the last of this. Even if discussions were still continuing, the league would have had to push it officially to the back burner to avoid the spectre of merger overshadowing the 2021 season. I don't think it is now any easier for MLSE to sell CFL football in this market than it was yesterday. I hope they can find a way to make it work so a "big bang" is not needed, but I'm not overly optimistic, given the challenges we have seen developing for years.

[Mocha]

I personally don't believe we have heard the last of this. Even if discussions were still continuing, the league would have had to push it officially to the back burner to avoid the spectre of merger overshadowing the 2021 season. I don't think it is now any easier for MLSE to sell CFL football in this market than it was yesterday. I hope they can find a way to make it work so a "big bang" is not needed, but I'm not overly optimistic, given the challenges we have seen developing for years.

Yeah, it would definitely make sense for the league to put the talks to rest while the season is ongoing. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens in the early months of 2022 to know if the talks will re-emerge.

I still think there's some room for a spring XFL played by teams with CFL affiliations to work, but I imagine the fate of the possibly re-born USFL could influence that.

[Wobbler]

I wasn't expecting anything to come out of this in 2021 unless the season was canceled. In that scenario I think we might have seen a plan for some sort of cooperative system in 2022.

Since 2021 is happening (whew!) the idea goes on the back burner. I imagine they'll stay in touch, but most likely nothing ever comes of it.

[Treblecharger1]

I personally don't believe we have heard the last of this. Even if discussions were still continuing, the league would have had to push it officially to the back burner to avoid the spectre of merger overshadowing the 2021 season. I don't think it is now any easier for MLSE to sell CFL football in this market than it was yesterday. I hope they can find a way to make it work so a "big bang" is not needed, but I'm not overly optimistic, given the challenges we have seen developing for years.

I agree with Paul, I think if the XFL launches in 2023 and is able to stay afloat a couple of seasons they will be back at the table.

[AngeloV]

I personally don't believe we have heard the last of this.

I believe we have Paul. I truly believe the CFL was using the XFL here and never intended on a merger of any type. As I have said earlier in this thread, I never believed this would happen. The schedules don't line up. XFL will not play opposite of the NFL, and the CFL would be ABSOLUTELY STUPID to start play a significant part of their season opposite the Stanley Cup playoffs. Add to that how do you merge a league with a single ownership entity vs one with each team having separate owners? It never made sense to me from the get go.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the XFL never starts up again.

[Skinny G]

Statement from the XFL:

“While our discussions with the CFL did not ultimately lead to a collaboration, the effort reinforced our belief and commitment to developing the XFL for international spring football. We look forward to seeing everyone for kickoff in spring of 2023.”

Based on the statement above from the XFL, how much information did the CFL give away about the CFL 2.0 Global initiative to the XFL? This initiative is a good one and the CFL has been the leader on this. But with their focus on the XFL, we saw the NFL expand it's own global initiatives, and now we see this comment from the XFL. Is the XFL trying to now undercut the CFL on the CFL global plan and partnerships via the International Alliance of Gridiron Football the CFL created?

The CFL has to get back to focusing on it's own plans, and fast and start rebuilding all the bridges that were burnt! Question now is, will this all impact Ambrosie staying on as Commissioner?

[OV Argo]

Last of XCFL or other such talks?

Never under-estimate the propensity of CFL deep thinkers / GOBs & BOGs to do whatever is best for their bottom lines and be willing to sell-out Canadian football (look at rosters now compared to the great CFL days of the 80s say); get rid of silly, quaint little Canadian rules like 3 downs, the rouge and the huge playing surface ? = no problem for GOBs & BOGs; and no more "ratio problem" cry-babying necessary from the usual suspects if they get rid of that "unfair" CFL roster rule.

[paulwoods13]

The CFL has to get back to focusing on it's own plans, and fast and start rebuilding all the bridges that were burnt!

Where are all these bridges that have been burnt? If you are talking about CIS and Football Canada, how have bridges been burnt? And even if they have, how would that have an impact on the CFL?

[Skinny G]

Where are all these bridges that have been burnt? If you are talking about CIS and Football Canada, how have bridges been burnt? And even if they have, how would that have an impact on the CFL?

The CFL needs to create a football infrastructure. If you can't realize that building from the ground up is key to the growth of any BUSINESS... then, this is the issue. People don't know business. Mullins came out and said that Ambrosie brushed him off since clearly he only cared about the XFL talks, what does that say? Plus, if Ambrosie didn't burn bridges, why would they have to put out a public statement on the matter instead of having direct conversations with the CFL.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/cfl/article...al-components/

Also, it's been called out that the CFL has let the NFL take over programs like flag football in areas of the country (instead of even partnering with the NFL). Well if the CFL is not connected with these institutions, it's funny when people ask why kids don't care about the CFL. Yet, go do some research on the work the Football Canada is doing, and the fact that the CFL isn't really involved with them, you would recognize the missed opportunities they have... you know... to market to new fans...

Another example, the CFL wasn't part of the Ontario Mega Clinic... oh, what area do they need to desperately grow in again? Toronto. But where were they?

So to think that working with USports, Junior Football, and Football Canada has no impact to the growth of the CFL brand and business, would show the lack of business knowledge out there. Heck, the CFL even said themselves, that they recognize the impact of grass roots football and how critical it is to the game and to the league.

[argolio]

The way I see it, the XFL as a new entity had the burden of showing that a CFL-XFL collaboration could benefit the CFL. The CFL concluded there would be no substantial benefits.

Another fly in the ointment is that The Spring League, which has been operating down south since 2017 as a limited developmental league, plans to rebrand as an updated USFL. The Spring League got games on the main Fox network in 2021 for the first time. At least one other startup is also planned for next year. Unless one of these neverending spring leagues can actually survive for more than five minutes, the CFL should just ignore them.