AH Challenge: CFL is a serious Competitor with the NFL

Do you watch American Football


  • Total voters
    34

Rocano

Banned
Now back in the 50's Several Great American Players went to the CFL and were very good. And nowadays They still take Great Players every now and than but what if theywere serious Competitors with the NFL? Make it happen.
 
CFL=NFL

For this to happen, the first thing that would have to happen is that the Colts blow out the Giants in the 58 NFL title, making it anticlimactic, thus the NFL doesn't have a popularity increase at that time. Second, have Lamar Hunt get a majority share in the Chicago Cardinals, move them to Dallas, and name them the Texans(which I address in my series about the lack of the AFL). Then, the NFL doesn't expand for several years, the owners get tight-fisted, and some big college stars go to the CFL to make more money, like Lance Alworth and Otis Taylor. Then, some wealthy American businessmen find a way to buy CFL teams, take more college talent away from the NFL, and force a merger by the Mid 70's. The new league is called the North American Football League, and the teams that join are the Edmonton Eskimos, Montreal Alouettes, B.C. Lions, and Toronto Argonauts.
 
Also there was some game played where a the allstars of each league played against each other. First half was played by Canadian rules and the Americans were up by like one then once they switched to American Rules they ran away with it. Have the Canadians win that, could change things
 
HA...another old TL...

CFL-USA​

1992: With the success of an exhibition game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders held in Portland Oregon the CFL begins to seriously consider expanding into the United States to increase its popularity and boost league revenues. Recognizing that this is not going to be an easy task, an unofficial “American Expansion Commission” is formed to evaluate and plan an expansion into the US. During this time the CFL enters into talks with the owners of two franchises formerly within the failing World League of American Football. These owners, Fred Anderson and Larry J Benson would eventually see their teams admitted to the CFL in the 1993 season as the Sacramento Gold Miners and the San Antonio Texans.

1993:
Though this year officially marks the beginning of the CFL-USA, it remains relatively unknown in the United States due to the failure of the CFL to net any major television contracts. Despite some close calls that nearly caused both the Sacramento Gold Miners and the San Antonio Texans to fold prior to the season, both managed to solve their respective difficulties and participate. Though Sacramento would in fact win more games during its first CFL season, it would be overshadowed by San Antonio’s come from behind playoff run. Placed in the anaemic Eastern Division, San Antonio failed to win a game until the last few weeks of the season. Winning 6 straight games, the Texans took 4th place in the east and went on to compete in the semi finals against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Though they lost that game, the winning streak brought considerable attention to the team and raised the standing of the league in the United States.

This would prove to be key as in December the American Broadcasting Giant CBS lost its NFL broadcast rights to the FOX network, becoming the only “Big Four” network without rights to NFL broadcasts.

1994: Having been unable to garner any American Television contracts in 1993, the CFL began talks with CBS for an American television contract. Citing the performance of the San Antonio Texans in the 1993 season, the CFL executives succeeded in convincing CBS to sign a provisional 1 year contract with the CFL. This television contract would provide a major boon to the expanding CFL which would add 3 new teams to the league that year. The Baltimore Stallions (the initial choice of the name “Colts” was changed after CFL execs pointed out potential legal difficulties), the Las Vegas Posse, and the Shreveport Pirates would all play their first games in 1994 and generate some excitement despite their overall poor performance.

1994 would also mark the first time that 2 American teams participated in the post season. Sacramento would squeak into the post season in last place and win their first playoff game before losing to the BC. Lions while the Baltimore Stallions would win all their post season games to compete for the Grey Cup, losing a close game to the BC Lions. Both of these playoff runs would garner considerable excitement in the United States resulting in decent ratings for CBS. As a result it was decided that CBS would extend their contract with the CFL for another 2 years.

1995: The admission of 3 new American teams (Birmingham, Memphis, and Orlando) to the CFL would lead to the reorganization of the League into North and South Divisions. This year would mark another landmark year for the CFL as their ratings continued to rise due to shrewd scheduling of games (thus ensuring limited competition) and local owners being instructed to “Draft Local” ensuring many players from local colleges were given spots in the nascent franchises. Though nowhere near as profitable as it’s NFL broadcasts, the CFL was generating enough revenue for CBS for it to be considered a viable alternative. Meanwhile during this time the CFL began entering into talks with the NFL which was interested in having the CFL become a spring developmental league much like the original WLAF was intended to be. Negotiations would continue for the rest of the year before an agreement was eventually settled upon in late November.

The 1995 season would also be significant in that it would mark the first time an American team would win the Grey Cup Championship Game. By defeating the Calgary Stampeders the Baltimore Stallions would win the Grey Cup bringing considerable recognition to the league in the states and resulting in record ratings for CBS. Yet another PR boon would be the career of Birmingham QB Kurt Warner who despite being dropped by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers signed with the Birmingham Barracudas and led them to a winning season and forever enshrined them in the hearts of Alabamans. Warner’s excellent performance would give the CFL a much needed popularity boost as well as legitimizing it to a large degree.

1996: Known as “The Year of Changes” throughout the CFL the 1996 season would be substantially different as a result of the negotiations with the NFL. The first major change, and not an unforeseen one, was the renaming of the league to the NAFL to better reflect the presence of American Teams. This change would be echoed however by a major shift in the league’s schedule as it became the Spring Developmental League that the NFL had been attempting to establish. In addition many of the unique rules inherent within the former CFL were phased out for more “Americanized rules” to the dismay of the League’s Canadian fan base.

Finally 2 (Montreal, Los Angeles) new teams were admitted to the League bringing the total number of teams up to 18. The Season itself would be quite successful, benefitting from increased advertizing, lack of competition from the NFL and College, and gaining a reputation for exciting football. The Post Season would see the Grey Cup return to Canada as the Toronto Argonauts beat the San Antonio Texans in a pitched championship game in Birmingham.


Canadian Division
American Division
BC Lions
Baltimore Stallions​
Edmonton Eskimos
Memphis Mad Dogs​
Calgary Stampeders
Orlando Thunder​
Saskatchewan Rough Riders
Las Vegas Posse​
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Birmingham Barracudas​
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
San Antonio Texans​
Toronto Argonauts
Sacramento Gold Miners​
Montreal Allouettes
Shreveport Pirates​
Ottawa Renegades*
Los Angeles Dons​

*Renamed after the reorganization of the League
 
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HA...another old TL...

CFL-USA​

1992: With the success of an exhibition game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders held in Portland Oregon the CFL begins to seriously consider expanding into the United States to increase its popularity and boost league revenues. Recognizing that this is not going to be an easy task, an unofficial “American Expansion Commission” is formed to evaluate and plan an expansion into the US. During this time the CFL enters into talks with the owners of two franchises formerly within the failing World League of American Football. These owners, Fred Anderson and Larry J Benson would eventually see their teams admitted to the CFL in the 1993 season as the Sacramento Gold Miners and the San Antonio Texans.

1993:
Though this year officially marks the beginning of the CFL-USA, it remains relatively unknown in the United States due to the failure of the CFL to net any major television contracts. Despite some close calls that nearly caused both the Sacramento Gold Miners and the San Antonio Texans to fold prior to the season, both managed to solve their respective difficulties and participate. Though Sacramento would in fact win more games during its first CFL season, it would be overshadowed by San Antonio’s come from behind playoff run. Placed in the anaemic Eastern Division, San Antonio failed to win a game until the last few weeks of the season. Winning 6 straight games, the Texans took 4th place in the east and went on to compete in the semi finals against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Though they lost that game, the winning streak brought considerable attention to the team and raised the standing of the league in the United States.

This would prove to be key as in December the American Broadcasting Giant CBS lost its NFL broadcast rights to the FOX network, becoming the only “Big Four” network without rights to NFL broadcasts.

1994: Having been unable to garner any American Television contracts in 1993, the CFL began talks with CBS for an American television contract. Citing the performance of the San Antonio Texans in the 1993 season, the CFL executives succeeded in convincing CBS to sign a provisional 1 year contract with the CFL. This television contract would provide a major boon to the expanding CFL which would add 3 new teams to the league that year. The Baltimore Stallions (the initial choice of the name “Colts” was changed after CFL execs pointed out potential legal difficulties), the Las Vegas Posse, and the Shreveport Pirates would all play their first games in 1994 and generate some excitement despite their overall poor performance.

1994 would also mark the first time that 2 American teams participated in the post season. Sacramento would squeak into the post season in last place and win their first playoff game before losing to the BC. Lions while the Baltimore Stallions would win all their post season games to compete for the Grey Cup, losing a close game to the BC Lions. Both of these playoff runs would garner considerable excitement in the United States resulting in decent ratings for CBS. As a result it was decided that CBS would extend their contract with the CFL for another 2 years.

1995: The admission of 3 new American teams (Birmingham, Memphis, and Orlando) to the CFL would lead to the reorganization of the League into North and South Divisions. This year would mark another landmark year for the CFL as their ratings continued to rise due to shrewd scheduling of games (thus ensuring limited competition) and local owners being instructed to “Draft Local” ensuring many players from local colleges were given spots in the nascent franchises. Though nowhere near as profitable as it’s NFL broadcasts, the CFL was generating enough revenue for CBS for it to be considered a viable alternative. Meanwhile during this time the CFL began entering into talks with the NFL which was interested in having the CFL become a spring developmental league much like the original WLAF was intended to be. Negotiations would continue for the rest of the year before an agreement was eventually settled upon in late November.

The 1995 season would also be significant in that it would mark the first time an American team would win the Grey Cup Championship Game. By defeating the Calgary Stampeders the Baltimore Stallions would win the Grey Cup bringing considerable recognition to the league in the states and resulting in record ratings for CBS. Yet another PR boon would be the career of Birmingham QB Kurt Warner who despite being dropped by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers signed with the Birmingham Barracudas and led them to a winning season and forever enshrined them in the hearts of Alabamans. Warner’s excellent performance would give the CFL a much needed popularity boost as well as legitimizing it to a large degree.

1996: Known as “The Year of Changes” throughout the CFL the 1996 season would be substantially different as a result of the negotiations with the NFL. The first major change, and not an unforeseen one, was the renaming of the league to the NAFL to better reflect the presence of American Teams. This change would be echoed however by a major shift in the league’s schedule as it became the Spring Developmental League that the NFL had been attempting to establish. In addition many of the unique rules inherent within the former CFL were phased out for more “Americanized rules” to the dismay of the League’s Canadian fan base.

Finally 2 (Montreal, Los Angeles) new teams were admitted to the League bringing the total number of teams up to 18. The Season itself would be quite successful, benefitting from increased advertizing, lack of competition from the NFL and College, and gaining a reputation for exciting football. The Post Season would see the Grey Cup return to Canada as the Toronto Argonauts beat the San Antonio Texans in a pitched championship game in Birmingham.


Canadian Division
American Division
BC Lions
Baltimore Stallions​
Edmonton Eskimos
Memphis Mad Dogs​
Calgary Stampeders
Orlando Thunder​
Saskatchewan Rough Riders
Las Vegas Posse​
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Birmingham Barracudas​
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
San Antonio Texans​
Toronto Argonauts
Sacramento Gold Miners​
Montreal Allouettes
Shreveport Pirates​
Ottawa Renegades*
Los Angeles Dons​

*Renamed after the reorganization of the League

By the time the CFL expanded to American markets, the NFL was already the envy of the sporting world thanks to its TV money. Since the CFL's season starts earlier than the U.S. college and NFL football seasons do, the CFL's American teams did alright in the U.S. early. However, once the college and NFL seasons, i.e. "real football," started, U.S. CFL game attendance plunged. The only unqualified CFL success in the states was the Baltimore CFL Colts/Stallions. The fans still reeling from the NFL Colts leaving town in the middle of the night latched onto the team. In my opinion, the only time the CFL could've made a legitimate play against the NFL for football dominance was in the 1950s and early 1960s, before the NFL became the financial juggernaut it is today.
 
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If the CFL was a serious competitor, then I demand my Baltimore Stallions! I found them better an more interesting than the Alouettes (A Yank team that won the Grey Cup).
So having that said, my obvious POD is no Baltimore Ravens, and the Stallions continue to be a winning team. that will at least drum up regional interest. As for an earlier POD resulting in a national interest, I haven't a clue.
 
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