CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston says league won't abandon Canadian identity as it pursues expansion
Johnston says Quebec City is the leading contender for a 10th franchise, and a new playoff format arrives in 2027.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calgary is hosting the 113th Grey Cup on Sunday at McMahon Stadium, kickoff 5 p.m. Alberta time, on TSN and CTV.
At the Grey Cup's Friday meet-the-press sessions at the BMO Centre, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston, CFLPA president Solomon Elimimian and CFLPA executive director David Mackie spoke.
Johnston said: "We will continue to think big about our future. Not recklessly, not by walking away from the things that make Canadian football distinctly ours, but by refusing to put limits on what this league can become."
His priorities are getting more young Canadians playing football, reaching younger audiences through social media, digital content and player access, league expansion, modernizing the game through rule changes and presentation, broadcasting deals and platforms such as YouTube, and celebrating the players, communities and culture of Canadian football. Quebec City is the leading contender for the 10th franchise and is in discussions with a prospective ownership group.
The school flag football program targets more than 5,000 educators and one million students by the end of its fifth year. The league and clubs are adding $4.6 million to amateur football. New broadcasting agreements were reached with Bell Media and The Zone. A new playoff format arrives in 2027, along with an earlier season start.
Canada's women's flag football team won the world championship in August, and the men's team took bronze. Both teams qualified for the 2028 Olympics. Twenty CFL players were invited to the men's national team's first professional player training camp.
The CFLPA's remarks on player pay and opportunities were not included in the material, and no figures were given for either.
