TORONTO — In a statement issued Wednesday by Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie, the league announced it plans to start the 2021 regular season in August, not June as originally scheduled.
“We will play CFL football in 2021,” says Ambrosie. “Our revised target date to start our regular season is August 5. To facilitate a 14-game season, for our players, fans and partners, we are re-scheduling the Grey Cup to December 12 in Hamilton, Ontario.
“I say ‘target date’ because our plans are subject to the state of Covid-19 across the country. A so-called ‘third wave’ in some provinces is forcing us today to postpone the start of our regular season, which had been scheduled for June 10,” he continues.
In order for the season to kick off on August 5, the CFL will need approval of its plans from public health officials across the country as well as permission from governments “to host a significant number of fans in the stands, in a significant number of venues at the start of the season, and in the rest of our venues soon after that, so a 2021 season is financially tenable for our clubs,” says Ambrosie.
“We are prepared to be creative as well as prudent. For example, if we are unable to host fans in the East because of Covid-19, we are prepared to start play in the West, provided eastern teams can return to their home provinces, and play in front of their fans, later in the season.
“To our players, fans and partners: thank you for your patience as well as your passion for our game. Thank you, all the frontline workers out there for all they’re doing for all of us. We look forward to keeping you posted on our progress and to kicking off another great season of CFL football on August 5.”
If a season goes ahead, this will be good news for rightsholder TSN, where the league is an important part of its summer and fall schedules and the league has already missed one whole season.
For Ambrosie’s full statement, please click here.
