Almost half of Canadian Football League fans are in favor of or support proposed adjustments to the league’s regulations, according to a recent national survey. However, nearly two-thirds of respondents believe that now is not the appropriate time to align the CFL more closely with the American game.
In September, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston unveiled a set of rule modifications scheduled to be gradually implemented over the next two years. Starting in 2026, the league will eliminate the practice of awarding a single point for field goal attempts, punts, or kickoffs that pass through or bounce out of the end zone. Additionally, a 35-second automatic play clock will replace the current system of allowing 20 seconds after officials signal a play.
By 2027, the playing fields will be reduced from 110 yards to 100 yards, end zones will shrink from 20 yards to 15 yards, and goalposts will be relocated from the goal line to the rear of the end zones.
A survey conducted by Winnipeg-based firm Probe Research polled 1,230 Canadian adults from October 6 to 14, revealing that 30% of participants were aware of the proposed rule changes. The study indicated that 11% of Canadians are active CFL fans who attend games or watch them on television, with an additional 29% occasionally tuning in for games or checking scores.
Among the surveyed casual and dedicated fans, 42% expressed support or partial support for the proposed rule alterations, while 20% opposed the changes. Thirty-seven percent remained neutral on the issue.
Opposition to the rule adjustments was notably higher, at 35%, in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers attract considerable live audiences. A supplementary survey, involving 448 Manitoba adults, reported even stronger opposition in the Prairie province, with 45% of respondents disapproving of the proposed changes.
Within the CFL-following demographic across Canada, the most significant backing, at 62%, was for the introduction of the new 35-second play clock. Additionally, 59% supported or accepted the elimination of awarding a single point for balls passing through the end zone.
The survey indicated slightly lower support for the other proposed changes, with 55% in favor of shortening the end zones to 15 yards, 54% supporting the relocation of goalposts to the back of the end zones, and 53% backing the reduction of the field to 100 yards.
Moreover, 64% of CFL followers agreed that the present moment is not ideal for adopting changes that would align the CFL more closely with the NFL, while 42% claimed they would stop watching the games if such changes were implemented.
According to the survey, 50% of CFL enthusiasts believe that the league is less captivating to watch than the NFL. However, 59% expressed that the proposed adjustments would enhance the excitement of the Canadian game.
Curtis Brown, a principal at Probe Research, highlighted the CFL’s delicate balance between honoring tradition and embracing innovation through rule modifications. The CFL declined to comment on the survey findings.
The national survey conducted by Probe Research utilized a national online survey provider, with the Manitoba subsample utilizing Probe’s proprietary online panel. Statistical weighting was applied to the sample to ensure representation across Canada’s population based on age, gender, and geographic location.