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