If the NFL decided to expand north of the border, which Canadian cities could support a team?

Toronto seems like a given. Despite the struggles the Allouttes had in the 80s, I’m guessing Montreal could too, along with Vancouver.

Is that it?

There seems to be this unusual disconnect in the CFL where despite being bigger markets, those teams struggle in attendance while the much smaller prairie province teams—Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Calgary—do much better at the gate.

Remember Winnipeg, and Saskatchewan,are community owned. The Riders are structured like the Packers. Edmonton was also community owned until 2024, when it was taken private by Larry Thompson.

(09-19-2026 12:41 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the NFL decided to expand north of the border, which Canadian cities could support a team?

Toronto seems like a given. Despite the struggles the Allouttes had in the 80s, I’m guessing Montreal could too, along with Vancouver.

Is that it?

There seems to be this unusual disconnect in the CFL where despite being bigger markets, those teams struggle in attendance while the much smaller prairie province teams—Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Calgary—do much better at the gate.

Vancouver's metro population is only 2.6 million. They "could" support a team, but wouldn't do as well as similar size US metros like Austin.

Let’s say the NFL enters Toronto and only Toronto.

Obviously the Argonauts are toast. Hamilton might be just far enough away to still survive. Could the CFL carry on as an 8 team league without a Toronto club?

(09-22-2026 12:56 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Let’s say the NFL enters Toronto and only Toronto.

Obviously the Argonauts are toast. Hamilton might be just far enough away to still survive. Could the CFL carry on as an 8 team league without a Toronto club?

Why would they be toast? Their operational costs are miniscule in relationships with the NFL. Chad Kelly only makes $750K per year. He's one of the highest paid guys.

Millions more folks in Metro Toronto would pay for Leafs season tix over NFL and in addition to NFL. It's still a different country and you cannot use USA norms for pricing. Like any European pricing for 6-7 NFL games would be for that audience.

(09-22-2026 09:03 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  

(09-22-2026 12:56 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Let’s say the NFL enters Toronto and only Toronto.

Obviously the Argonauts are toast. Hamilton might be just far enough away to still survive. Could the CFL carry on as an 8 team league without a Toronto club?

Why would they be toast? Their operational costs are miniscule in relationships with the NFL. Chad Kelly only makes $750K per year. He's one of the highest paid guys.

Millions more folks in Metro Toronto would pay for Leafs season tix over NFL and in addition to NFL. It's still a different country and you cannot use USA norms for pricing. Like any European pricing for 6-7 NFL games would be for that audience.

I just don’t see a CFL team sharing a market with an NFL team being able to survive. All the attention is going to be on the NFL team and that’s who the casual band wagon audience will gravitate to. The CFL franchise might retain some diehard loyalists clinging to the team they love, but not in the numbers that it takes to pay the bills. I don’t see a situation where Toronto becomes Argonauts fans Fri/Sat and NFL fans on Sunday the way many parts of the US where bandwagon support for a collegiate team and the pro team. (In Ohio, it’s not too uncommon to see shirts declaring they are Buckeye fans on Saturday and Browns/Bengals/Steelers fans on Sunday.)

(09-22-2026 10:29 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(09-22-2026 09:03 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  

(09-22-2026 12:56 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Let’s say the NFL enters Toronto and only Toronto.

Obviously the Argonauts are toast. Hamilton might be just far enough away to still survive. Could the CFL carry on as an 8 team league without a Toronto club?

Why would they be toast? Their operational costs are miniscule in relationships with the NFL. Chad Kelly only makes $750K per year. He's one of the highest paid guys.

Millions more folks in Metro Toronto would pay for Leafs season tix over NFL and in addition to NFL. It's still a different country and you cannot use USA norms for pricing. Like any European pricing for 6-7 NFL games would be for that audience.

I just don’t see a CFL team sharing a market with an NFL team being able to survive. All the attention is going to be on the NFL team and that’s who the casual band wagon audience will gravitate to. The CFL franchise might retain some diehard loyalists clinging to the team they love, but not in the numbers that it takes to pay the bills. I don’t see a situation where Toronto becomes Argonauts fans Fri/Sat and NFL fans on Sunday the way many parts of the US where bandwagon support for a collegiate team and the pro team. (In Ohio, it’s not too uncommon to see shirts declaring they are Buckeye fans on Saturday and Browns/Bengals/Steelers fans on Sunday.)

There are a few Minor League Baseball teams within the MLB territory and survive (Gwinnett Braves, San Jose Giants, four teams around the Tampa Bay Rays, Frisco Roughriders, Sacramento RiverCats). The scale of business is much, much smaller so that can survive. It's a summer minor league and Canadian TV will air it. It is NOT a US sport, so don't look at it like/as a US sport.