2025-2026 Offseason thread

[bone]

I know you are a fan that doesn't like change when it comes to the CFL but staying status quo to please the small percentage of fans like yourself makes no sense. They have been doing that for way way too long and the lack of interest in the CFL is the result. That wasn't meant as a shot. Dedicated fans like yourself are awesome, there just isn't enough of fans like you anymore for the league to survive unfortunately without trying something else.

Here's a legit question. When does the CFL draw well ever lately? They don't draw great in June. People complain about July and August because they don't want to waste a weekend when they could be at their cabin. September can be OK depending on the weather. Then the crowds start to dwindle again in October because of hockey and the weather starting to turn. Then November can suck. So when is a good time for the CFL?

The way I look at it as a non hardcore fan is this. When am I most likely to go to a regular season game? In May or November? For me, it's May. May weather can be OK. My days of partying on May long are gone. Usually May long, we are cleaning up the yard, maybe de-winterizing the trailer because lots of time we go camping the last weekend in May somewhere close to RD, just to make sure everything in the trailer is working. So there is a pretty good chance I am home on May long, puttering around the yard so if it's nice, I might go. In early November, both my boys will be on hockey teams and probably have a game or 2 each Saturday and Sunday. So I won't be going to a game then. Then if the weather sucks, I am definitely not going.

I don't think there is a perfect time for the CFL but like I said, by moving the schedule up, you are at least not playing your championship game in late November when the weather could be awful. I used to go to many Grey Cups and for the majority of them, the weather was very cold.

I'm not really opposed to change. I didn't love all of the recent changes, but was willing to see how it goes with them.

I'm not against moving the schedule up. For me who goes to most games, I actually prefer the earlier start, I'm just not convinced based on recent evidence that earlier season games get more casual fans out to the stadium. Every year they seem to be creeping the start earlier and it's only gotten worse for early season attendance, but I'm also aware that this isn't necessarily a true cause and effect situation as other factors are likely at play. I hope I'm wrong on this one because of personal preference and I didn't mean to be critical of this change, just skeptical of it.

The playoff format change is moronic unless they add at least one more team in the next few years. If they ever got to 12 teams, it would be a great format.

[Sectionq]

How's the Alberta weather been this year for what would've been the start of.training camp with a May long weekend season opener? Victoria Day is May 24 in 2027, latest possible day for it. This year it's May 18 meaning rookie camp would have opened April 15 and main camp April 18 coinciding with 1st day of Stanley Cup playoffs. Elks and Stamps best keep the snowblowers and Herman Nelsons ready just in case for future early spring training camps.

I've attended every GC going back to 1983. I don't remember the last -20 GC. Snowed some wet snow in OTT in 2017. WPG was a cooler one. I think maybe -8 once the sun set. Those legendary truly bitter prairie ones really haven't happened for puahing 25 years.

Personally I've been on the record as saying the season already starts too soon. I know I'm in the minority in that regard. However out here on the left coast I think you'd find a lot of Lions fans hold the same opinion. Historically fall games in Vancouver have always drawn better than early summer games with the exception of Doman's home opener concerts.

You are right. Last week was awful, this week is really nice and supposed to be decent for a bit. I looked it up. In April 2025, the average daytime temperature in Edmonton was 13.3. 2024 it was 12-13, 2023 12. I looked it up. This year so far, the average has been a lot cooler. But according to the long range so far for Edmonton it's supposed to be mid teens or higher for the next few weeks at least. Now obviously things can change but it's a pretty good change it will be above zero or higher for the rest of April and into May. You can't say that for November typically.

[Sectionq]

I'm not really opposed to change. I didn't love all of the recent changes, but was willing to see how it goes with them.

I'm not against moving the schedule up. For me who goes to most games, I actually prefer the earlier start, I'm just not convinced based on recent evidence that earlier season games get more casual fans out to the stadium. Every year they seem to be creeping the start earlier and it's only gotten worse for early season attendance, but I'm also aware that this isn't necessarily a true cause and effect situation as other factors are likely at play. I hope I'm wrong on this one because of personal preference and I didn't mean to be critical of this change, just skeptical of it.

The playoff format change is moronic unless they add at least one more team in the next few years. If they ever got to 12 teams, it would be a great format.

Do you think the decrease in early season attendance actually as to do with the start moving up or just a general downturn of the league?

I personally just think it's the downturn of the league continuing as the core fan base keeps getting older year after year because realistically up until this season, what's changed about the league? Nothing. It's been the same league that it's been for decades. Same rules, same field size, same crappy coverage, same crappy website, lack of stats. It's the same thing. So why would new fans come when they didn't want to come before? I am not trying to be a jerk, I grew up with this league, my name is on a plaque on the wall at Commonwealth as a long term season ticket holder but nothing about the CFL has changed really. The only difference for me from when we used to go is my team has sucked really badly and been almost unwatchable.

If anything this year, I might actually pay more attention than I have been because of the rule changes. I want to see what happens with them.

[Looner]

How's the Alberta weather been this year for what would've been the start of.training camp with a May long weekend season opener? Victoria Day is May 24 in 2027, latest possible day for it. This year it's May 18 meaning rookie camp would have opened April 15 and main camp April 18 coinciding with 1st day of Stanley Cup playoffs. Elks and Stamps best keep the snowblowers and Herman Nelsons ready just in case for future early spring training camps.

I've attended every GC going back to 1983. I don't remember the last -20 GC. Snowed some wet snow in OTT in 2017. WPG was a cooler one. I think maybe -8 once the sun set. Those legendary truly bitter prairie ones really haven't happened for puahing 25 years.

Personally I've been on the record as saying the season already starts too soon. I know I'm in the minority in that regard. However out here on the left coast I think you'd find a lot of Lions fans hold the same opinion. Historically fall games in Vancouver have always drawn better than early summer games with the exception of Doman's home opener concerts.

The Elks are putting an inflatable dome over Clarke park so the weather won't be an issue for camp next year.

[bone]

Do you think the decrease in early season attendance actually as to do with the start moving up or just a general downturn of the league?

I personally just think it's the downturn of the league continuing as the core fan base keeps getting older year after year because realistically up until this season, what's changed about the league? Nothing. It's been the same league that it's been for decades. Same rules, same field size, same crappy coverage, same crappy website, lack of stats. It's the same thing. So why would new fans come when they didn't want to come before? I am not trying to be a jerk, I grew up with this league, my name is on a plaque on the wall at Commonwealth as a long term season ticket holder but nothing about the CFL has changed really. The only difference for me from when we used to go is my team has sucked really badly and been almost unwatchable.

If anything this year, I might actually pay more attention than I have been because of the rule changes. I want to see what happens with them.

I'm not certain of that, which is why I added that the comment that I'm was also aware that this isn't necessarily a true cause and effect situation as other factors are likely at play. As I also said, I hope I'm wrong on it because I personally like the earlier season start. Labour Day games could be massive now that it's going to be Week 17 (though gone is any real chance at looking at NFL cuts to supplement a team late in the year).

To be clear, I'm fine with testing out the early start to see what happens, most of my concern from today is the playoff change.

[Sectionq]

How's the Alberta weather been this year for what would've been the start of.training camp with a May long weekend season opener? Victoria Day is May 24 in 2027, latest possible day for it. This year it's May 18 meaning rookie camp would have opened April 15 and main camp April 18 coinciding with 1st day of Stanley Cup playoffs. Elks and Stamps best keep the snowblowers and Herman Nelsons ready just in case for future early spring training camps.

I've attended every GC going back to 1983. I don't remember the last -20 GC. Snowed some wet snow in OTT in 2017. WPG was a cooler one. I think maybe -8 once the sun set. Those legendary truly bitter prairie ones really haven't happened for puahing 25 years.

Personally I've been on the record as saying the season already starts too soon. I know I'm in the minority in that regard. However out here on the left coast I think you'd find a lot of Lions fans hold the same opinion. Historically fall games in Vancouver have always drawn better than early summer games with the exception of Doman's home opener concerts.

No offense meant Hammer but I don't think the Lions fans are the ones that should be talking about weather concerns when it comes to the schedule. You guys play in a covered stadium. The only ones in the CFL. Sitting in an open air stadium in November if the wind is blowing and it's snowing isn't fun.

[adb]

Some major changes to the schedule and playoff structure announced for 2027. Remember how the CFL has been teased mercilessly for having three teams (or two, before the return of the RedBlacks) eliminated from the playoffs? Well, good news: now it's down to only one!

And the season will start on Victoria Day. Yikes!

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/cfl-a...begin-in-2027/

Man when I heard this I thought it sounded like an April Fool's prank but it's not April 1st. The league already gets made fun of for having 6 of 9 teams make the post season and now its 8 of 9. How can they say that the regular season now means more. I'm fine with the season starting early but having 8 of 9 teams make the playoffs makes the regular season just about meaningless IMO.

[bone]

Man when I heard this I thought it sounded like an April Fool's prank but it's not April 1st. The league already gets made fun of for having 6 of 9 teams make the post season and now its 8 of 9. How can they say that the regular season now means more. I'm fine with the season starting early but having 8 of 9 teams make the playoffs makes the regular season just about meaningless IMO.

As I think on this more, it doesn't make regular season meaningless. Finishing top 2 in a Division is still a big advantage, arguably bigger advantage than currently.

I'm also thinking that this may help expedite expansion if a prospective team owner knows their chances of a post-season game now increased by 50% with this change, it may speed up the process. It doesn't look nearly as ridiculous if the league expands to 10 or in a perfect world maybe 12 one day.

Earlier start to the season also might make the idea of US expansion more appealing if those owners are only competing with the NFL regular season for a few weeks and only at the most crucial part of the schedule where there's still a chance to maintain interest knowing your team has a shot of going for a championship. If you can crack into the US market with any kind of success, now your television potential increases exponentially.

[BeaverSports]

I'm not sure eight teams of nine making it is a good look, really. I suppose it may remove byes and there may be some competitive benefit for that though.

Seems like pretty silly marketing by the league, however, to let this out to overshadow draft day.

[BeaverSports]

Anyway, on to our picks. What do we know about them?

[EsksTMac]

I agree with moving the season up. Lots of people have been saying that for years.

8 teams have a chance to win the Grey Cup if they get hot and go on a run? Bizarre.

[Hammer24]

No offense meant Hammer but I don't think the Lions fans are the ones that should be talking about weather concerns when it comes to the schedule. You guys play in a covered stadium. The only ones in the CFL. Sitting in an open air stadium in November if the wind is blowing and it's snowing isn't fun.

None taken SQ. Going back to the days of Empire Lions fans have always prefered a schedule tilted towards post-LD games. Lionbackers have always been happiest when BC has more home games after LD than before. The covered stadium has been a double edged sword. Yes it keeps the rain away in the fall but it also can be a hot humid sweatbox in July & August.

[Hammer24]

Anyway, on to our picks. What do we know about them?

Holy crap. I got so rattled about this new playoff BS that I totally forgot the draft was happening.

[BeaverSports]

It looks like some good defensive depth early for the Elks from what 3DownNation is reporting. I like this Wesley Bailey gamble at 19. Sounds like he has a pretty high pedigree if he doesn't last on his NFL contract. Djabome provides some depth in the LB corps and he should be able to fill in for some of the losses like Brodrique and Schakel on special teams right away.

[Ti-Catfan89]

Djabome and Pace should provide good depth behind Dublanko.

If Bailey comes north, more depth behind Smith

You also took the fastest CB/S in the draft.