Almost half of Canadian Football League followers are in favor of proposed rule changes, according to a recent national survey. However, nearly two-thirds believe that altering the CFL to resemble the American football game is inappropriate at this time. In September, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston unveiled a set of rule adjustments scheduled for implementation over the next two years. By 2026, the league will discontinue awarding a single point for field goal attempts, punts, or kickoffs that go through or out of the end zone. Additionally, a 35-second automatic play clock will replace the current 20-second allowance after officials signal a play. The subsequent year will see the reduction of playing fields from 110 yards to 100 yards, end zones shrinking from 20 yards to 15 yards, and goalposts relocating from the goal line to the back of the end zones.
A survey conducted by Winnipeg firm Probe Research among 1,230 Canadian adults from October 6 to 14 revealed that 30 percent of respondents were aware of the proposed rule modifications. The poll indicated that 11 percent of Canadians are active CFL fans who attend games or watch them on TV, with an additional 29 percent occasionally tuning in or checking scores. Conversely, 60 percent of Canadians do not follow the CFL at all.
Among engaged and casual fans surveyed, 42 percent expressed support or partial support for the rule alterations, while 20 percent opposed them, and 37 percent had no opinion. Opposition to the changes was notably higher at 35 percent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers draw the largest live audiences in the league. A supplementary survey involving 448 Manitoba adults further highlighted strong opposition in the region, with 45 percent of participants disliking the proposed changes.
Respondents across Canada who follow the CFL mostly favored the new 35-second play clock, with 62 percent supporting it. Additionally, 59 percent approved of eliminating the award of a single point for the ball going through the end zone. The survey indicated slightly lower support for other proposed changes, with 55 percent in favor of shortening end zones to 15 yards, 54 percent for moving the goalposts to the back of the end zones, and 53 percent for reducing the field to 100 yards.
Moreover, 64 percent of CFL followers agreed that now is not the appropriate time for rule changes aligning the CFL with the NFL, whereas 42 percent stated they would cease watching if the adjustments were implemented. Half of CFL followers perceive the league as less interesting to watch than the NFL, but 59 percent believe that the proposed changes would enhance the Canadian game’s excitement.
Curtis Brown from Probe Research highlighted the delicate balance the CFL faces between tradition and innovation through rule modifications. He emphasized the challenge of attracting new audiences while retaining the loyalty of existing fans who view the CFL as a uniquely Canadian sport. The Canadian Football League did not provide comments on the survey findings.
The national survey by Probe Research was conducted using an online survey provider, while the Manitoba subsample was drawn from Probe’s proprietary online panel. Statistical weighting was applied to ensure the sample accurately represented Canada’s population based on age, gender, and geographic region.