So what do you think? Could a Canadian market get and sustain an NFL team? I heard on the fan (sports radio station in toronto) that Paul Godfrey (i think thats his name) was trying to push for a team in Toronto. BTW he was the guy who got the jays for Toronto in the 70's. I heard to buy a team its 1 billion american. If a Canadian market got a team would the whole country support it or just that market? Would this spell the end of the CFL? Could they both co-exist? Would you want one in Canada?

Well, the only Canadian city that could sustain a NFL team would be Toronto. Torontonians have been wanting a NFL team for a long time now. The reason I don't see Canada's other biggest cities being able to sustain a team are the Vancouver Grizzlies which was created the same year the Raptors was created (I think) which now moved to Memphis due to the lack of fans, and the Montreal Expos which also left Montreal for the same reason.

I think the success of the team financially would depend on the team's success on the field. If the team does good, then people will come out to see them. If they suck, then people won't care for them anymore and the team will probably head back to the US. And if it's only one Canadian city getting a NFL team, then the CFL will obviously survive being mostly the people in the market will support the team. To be honest I really don't know if Canada should get a team...

And if Paul Godfrey does buy a team, I hope it's not the Arizona cardinals... :(

Well it wouldnt be Arizona because they are building a new stadium I beleive. LA would get a NFL team long before Toronto does also. Could the Toronto market handle it?? I dont see why not, its one of the largest markets in NA and all the current teams do reasonably well.

Keep the NFL out of Canada.........if the NFL comes to Canada, we can all kiss our beloved (and better) CFL goodbye.

Of course there is. Toronto would obviously be the best choice. Upwards of 7-8million people are within reasonable driving distance to attend a game.

Torontonians have been wanting a NFL team for a long time now.

not this one... I'm not a huge fan of football but I'd much rather the CFL stay in Toronto than bring in an NFL team (because let's face it - chances are there is only room for one league).

The Argos would have to move or die before NFL comes here. But when and if it does, oh boy, say welcome to the NFL! At the moment, it's the only city with that much population and drawing power, and fans of football too.

A NFL is probably the only league that can survive in Canada in many cities. It has the best economic system to help small market teams, and if a Canadian city were to join the NFL it would be a small market team... population wise theres plenty cities, but i dont think the NFL as a whole is keen on expanding outside the United States in the near future, many obstacles in the way... LA is priority number one, and i think Mexico City would be favoured first if the NFL decided to expand into another country.

A NFL is probably the only league that can survive in Canada in many cities. It has the best economic system to help small market teams, and if a Canadian city were to join the NFL it would be a small market team... population wise theres plenty cities, but i dont think the NFL as a whole is keen on expanding outside the United States in the near future, many obstacles in the way... LA is priority number one, and i think Mexico City would be favoured first if the NFL decided to expand into another country.

well put

which now moved to Memphis due to the lack of fans

absolutely false. The Vancouver Grizzlies had a lot of fan support. But the Canadian dollar, the lack of recognizable stars to help merchandise, etc etc made the grizzlies a losing venture.

Toronto could support an NFL team but I sure hope it never happens. It will be a big hit on the CFL and the Argo's would go broke. CFL is the CANADIAN league. NFL is for the US....let's leave it that way

It could but theres no way that it will. It would threaten the CFL which is very important to this country.

I don't see Canada's other biggest cities being able to sustain a team are the Vancouver Grizzlies which was created the same year the Raptors was created (I think) which now moved to Memphis due to the lack of fans
The Grizz didn't have a lack of fans untill they started to really really suck and where controlled entirely by Americans. They first played to sell out croweds and at one point were as popular as the Canucks. If they played as good as they are now in Memphis we would still have them. I don't see or even want the NFL to come to Vancouver or any other part of Canada.

If a Canadian market got a team would the whole country support it or just that market?

No. Just like now only basicly just Ontario supports the Jays Raptors, Leafs and Argos. In Vancouver everything baseball is Mariners and alot of people are apathetic about the NBA basicly just playoffs are mentioned.

the NFL is the only professional sports league that doesn't grade their teams on the 'market' (size of area). case in point... green bay.

it wouldn't matter where to have the NFL franchise located.

right now there's a football phenom in quebec where collegiate games are the hottest ticket, the east coast, especially halifax has a history of supportive crowds for football games. let's not get into the prarie cities/towns were CFL franchises exist, the NFL would see those types of fans with the passion that's comparible to a greenbay or phillie crowd. then there's going to a buffalo bills game where almost a quarter of the fans are from the Toronto area.

If Toronto gets an NFL team then move the Argos to one of Toronto’s suburb. Let Mississauga and Scarborough duke it out to get the rights to have a team.

If Toronto gets an NFL team then move the Argos to one of Toronto’s suburb. Let Mississauga and Scarborough duke it out to get the rights to have a team.
If the Argos do move into the suburbs, then it would probably go to Vaughan, where they proposed a soccer stadium for the youth championships to take place of the cancelled stadium at York U. But if they do move to the 'burbs, then I see them losing a lot of fans.

But either way, I don't see anything like that happening soon.

Toronto not having a CFL team = BAD. The city is already seen to be very similer to an American city by many Canadians, not having the CFL we might as well move the boarder.

the argos wouldn't relocate. nor will Toronto be any more american influenced than any other canadian city, it will just show that there is more interest here in toronto than any other canadian location.

also, the CFL and the NFL are 2 very different leagues and different markets. no matter what, if you're a football fan you will enjoy the fact that football will be available another 2 months of the year.

having an NFL team in toronto wouldn't comprimise the argos, in fact it might help re-launch grassroot football progams in the area since the league does a good job supporting the amateur game, then the argos can concentrate putting better talent on the field.

:) I don't think not having a CFL team means it's not Canadian. Ottawa didn't have one for years, what does that mean? Or how about Halifax and St. John's?

toronto could sustain it no problem..not sure about other cities, vancouver maybe...

:) I don't think not having a CFL team means it's not Canadian. Ottawa didn't have one for years, what does that mean? Or how about Halifax and St. John's?

The difference is that Toronto is the biggest city in Canada, if it doesnt have a CFL team it sends the message that they don't want to be apart of Canadian sporting culture. Halifax should and will have a team if they build a big enough stadium but St. John's couldn't support one.

If Toronto gets an NFL team then move the Argos to one of Toronto’s suburb. Let Mississauga and Scarborough duke it out to get the rights to have a team.

Since when is Scarborough a suburb of Toronto?

:bash:

Do I believe we can? Yes.
Do I believe we will? No.
Does Canada spend it's money wisely? No.
Can Canada spend it's money wisely? Yes.
Does Canada have massive ammounts of money that we can piss away on sports teams on TOP of everything else like the United States? Yes.
Will we? No.

Torontonians shouldn't hold their breath with respect to getting an NFL team anytime soon.

First off, the NFL has little to no desire for expansion right now. Why would they screw with their cash cow of a league?

If and when they do decide to expand, there are many cities in the US that could be looked at before they even consider going into Canada. LA doesn't even have a team!

Population actually has very little to do with it when you consider Green Bay's minimal population yet someone basically has to die for Joe Blo to get tickets ...

Ok, IMO, the CFL is great and im a huge fan of the argos
it would b a shame for us to loose them concidering that we won the grey cup last year
i think buffalo is where you'll have to go to see nfl action (not that far anyway) for @ least 15 years
and incase you guys never knew this - the CFL once expanded into the US and Baltimore once won the Grey cup
I like the football system the way it currently is, CFL in Canada - NFL in the US
Plus Buffalo'd prolly loose so much business if there was a NFL team in Toronto

^There were 7 different American CFL teams... not all at the same time though... Baltimore, Memphis, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Shreveport, San Antonio, and... I don't remember the last one... but hey I was only 9 years old at the time.


edit: i looked it up... birminham.

^and they're listed in the CFL Expansion thread.

no NFL please, CFL will do just fine.

Godfrey is a moron first and foremost anyone in the sports world knows this. Great guy but he is a dreamer. Toronto is not going to get a team anytime soon. Besides I am more than happy with the Argonauts and my Buffalo Bills. Toronto does not need an NFL team. Oh and to really prove my point that Toronto will never get an NFL team. The Leafs will win the Cup before Toronto lands a team.

(I am a Leafs fan but I can laugh at them)

Also I notice the Toronto posters are all for it, (besides me) and the Vancouver posters are all against it, saying it could never work in Toronto. This is very strange to Treebeard.

Sure Toronto could handle an NFL team, they have the population for it.

But I wouldn't want an NFL team in Canada though. Should be promoting the CFL not trying to kill it.

We're against this because we love the CFL, we don't want to see the franchise collapse.

Population isnt everything, if it was LA would have a team right now, no Canadian city has anything on LA in terms of population. The fact that its different when you put a team in another country, the exchange rate, the tv deals, selling the city to the current and upcoming players. You can sit there and say we can easily support it, but your gonna have to understand its much harder than you think. Its not going to happend for a long time, even if it does happend.

Some people claim Mexico City will get a team.. so much for that exchange rate theory eh...

the CFL is always gonna be a mickey mouse league, and rightly viewed as such. There's not a player in the CFL who wouldn't bolt for the NFL in a split second given the chance... sadly, precious few CFLers have the talent to make it to the NFL, they are all NFL rejects.
Toronto has more NFL season ticket holders than it does CFL season ticket holders. People would rather drive to Buffalo or Detroit to watch an NFL game, driving past 2 CFL stadiums to get there. That's the bottom line...

That may be true but CFL popularity in Toronto is on the rise
speaking of which - tommorow night is the home opener in toronto ( a rematch of last year's Grey Cup the Lions vs. the Argos)
i know im going - gonna b a sweet game

cant wait any1 else watchin?

which CFL team draws the biggest crowds?

2004:

team, games, total, avg
Edmonton Eskimos 9 351,284 39,032
Calgary Stampeders 9 273,608 30,401
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 9 250,675 27,853
British Columbia Lions 9 240,277 26,697
Toronto Argonauts 9 232,318 25,813
Saskatchewan Roughriders 9 223,049 24,783
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 9 217,966 24,218
Montreal Alouettes 9 214,918 23,880
Ottawa Renegades 9 207,449 23,050
TOTAL 81 2,211,544 27,303

Surprised Hamilton's so high, and Montréal's so low.

Surprised Hamilton's so high, and Montréal's so low.

For Hamilton you can thank him...

http://people.lulu.com/storage/users/16/1016/self/logo.jpg

Bob Young, new owner of the Tiger Cats. Almost every home game is sold out.

You guys know that the Dofasco TigerVision is the largest outdoor videoboard in the country?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/Aallen396/DCP_0850.jpg

Montreal is low because they have a stadium that can only hold 20,000 people. They want to get some cash from government to make the stadium better to hold around 25,000.

Toronto should be getting bigger crowds but remember, we play in the Roger's centre which has a capacity of over 50,000. And the regular attendance is around 20,000 the stadium just gives off that huge,empty stadium feel. Hamilton, Montreal, etc. have smaller stadiums that have that big crowds feel to it. That's why the Argos were pushing for a stadium at UofT and then at York U before pulling the plug on the stadium.

Toronto could easily if the Bills moved here

I would love to see the Edmonton figure up to 65,000 which is capacity for Commonwealth. But the average is not bad at 39,032 a game which is quite respectable.