Welcome focus on field for CFL as season opens in Calgary

It's a welcomed change for Randy Ambrosie.

For the first time in a while, the CFL commissioner can concentrate solely on the start of a regular season and not the immediate future of one of its franchises. In fact, with the sale of the Montreal Alouettes in March to businessman Pierre Karl Peladeau, the league seems to be on very solid ground given the quality of its nine ownership groups.

What's more, the CFL and its players are in the second season of a seven-year collective bargaining agreement. And the league enters the first year of its American television deal with CBS Sports Network.

The CFL's broadcast agreement with TSN and RDS — reportedly worth $50 million annually — runs through the 2026 season.

"My strongest feeling is just how excited I am about what's in front of us," Ambrosie said. "Everywhere I look, I see positive and I'm excited."

The season opens Thursday night with the B.C. Lions visiting the Calgary Stampeders.

But despite Ambrosie's optimism there are concerns, most notably attendance. And that's important as ticket sales account for a significant portion of a CFL franchise's overall revenue.

According to the league, it averaged 21,792 spectators per game last season, down from 22,917 in 2019 before the global pandemic hit and forced the cancellation of the 2020 season.

Winnipeg averaged a CFL-high 28,641 fans per game, the first time it led the league in attendance. That helped the community-owned franchise post a $4.9-million profit in 2022.

Saskatchewan, another community-owned franchise, reported a $3.9-million profit last season despite the Riders (6-12) missing the CFL playoffs while hosting the Grey Cup game. The club's average attendance was 27,431 but that's down from 30,723 in 2019 and