Following the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) future rule changes announcement, some members of a local super-fan group were ready to give up their Hamilton Tiger-Cats season tickets in protest.
Those in opposition to the changes are afraid that they are a signal that their game will lose its uniqueness, and look “more American.”
“The people who play football, who have football knowledge, were not consulted about this,” said Nathan Rourke, Quarterback of the B.C. Lions. “Players weren’t consulted, coaches, management — nobody was consulted.”
“This is about modernizing the game,” said Bo Levi Mitchell, Quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. “What can we do to put a better product on the field? A product people want to watch that’s faster paced.”
The CFL announced changes to its rulebook, set to take effect in 2026 and 2027.
Things like putting teams on opposite sides of the field, or changes to the single point rouge rule.
But some of the changes have some fans questioning their loyalty and season ticket holder status.
One super-fan says the changes relating to shortening the end zone and moving the goal posts from the goal line to the back, is making the game look too much like the National Football League (NFL) south of the border.
“We have the field goal, uprights above the goal line, you have the 55 yard line — those are unique,” said Angelo Messina, a founding member of the Box J Boys super-fan group. “You have schools, universities, high schools that all have the fields designed for the CFL.”
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The Box J Boys is a CFL super-fan group 30 years in the making, dedicated to supporting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
One of its members reached out to CHCH News, claiming the group is considering revoking their season ticket holder status as a “last resort protest” to the CFL rule changes.
Another member spoke with CHCH News Wednesday, saying the group still loves the Ticats, but says the game doesn’t need to change.
“CFL fans are passionate about the game,” said Messina. “It’s becoming more exciting than basketball.”
The Concerned Fans of the CFL (CFCF) are calling on fans across the league — to any game they attend in person — in protest of these CFL rule changes, if they do wear league gear, they’re asking fans to block out the logo.
The group formed just after the news broke, and has over 1,600 signatures on a petition that they are circulating online.
They believe the CFL is a grassroots league that can stand on its own merits without needing to tailor itself to the NFL.
“We want to have a blackout effort in the stands, or take the logos on their shirts and black those out instead, just to show the league again, very visibly in the stands, these changes are going to have ramifications,” said Mathew Campbell, the leader of the CFCF.
The next game for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats is this Saturday against the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg.
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