[osmo]

Demographics play a big role in the shifts against the CFL. The major cities with more diverse populations are more into soccer and for local youth, the CFL did a disservice with its old silly blackout rules which kept a whole generation of youth from being able to watch local CFL games on TV. In the major markers like BC and Toronto the stadiums were never going to be full aside from playoff games and thus you would go a whole season with very little TV presence from local CFL teams.

MLS meanwhile has provided a venue where folks can experience a realistic soccer experience with the horns, flags, beer, and chants. Evreyone knows MLS is second tier soccer but it's the closest you'll get to the real deal and they still being over quality (maybe past thier prime) players. They also do a good job running promotional tours that bring over top flight teams for North American tours and exhibition games.

The CFL just needs to accept it's reality of a gate and TV league and work to maximize both. A team in KW playing in a modest but nice 17k stadium would do well and would add more content to boost TV numbers for example. Forget about dog town Toronto, which can't be saved. CFL should be shoring up it's business model so that smaller markets can join the league. Big cities in Vaughn, Mississauga, etc that would benefit in having a Pro team with the cities name on it as means to step out of Toronto's shadows. There is enough of a corporate base in every GTA city where they could easily sustain themselves with a modest but nice facility.

CFL brass let's me down, example, why didn't the hold TSN to the fire to have a back to back games on Canada day? The whole sports landscape to yourself on Canada's 150th, no better way to boost and promote the game. The Sask Wpg game would of sold out on a random Tuesday night in September. Such low hanging fruit that the league and TSN grabbed at versus going hard for a truly once in a generation type event.