Fewer Canadians are tuning into the Canadian Football League, with new data from the Angus Reid Institute showing national interest in the league has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade.

With the 112th Grey Cup set for Nov. 16 in Winnipeg, new survey data shows only 16 per cent of Canadians follow the CFL closely.

The championship game set on Sunday between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Montreal Alouettes will be the last played before a new set of rule changes begin to come into effect, including new field dimensions.

At a media conference in September, new league commissioner Stewart Johnston announced that changes will be instituted throughout the course of the next two seasons through a phased approach.

Some of the largest modifications will come in 2027 with goalposts being moved to the back of the end zone, the field being shorted from 110 to 100 yards and end zones becoming smaller – from 20 yards to 15.

READ MORE: CFL to shrink end zones, move goalposts in major game overhaul

According to the Angus Reid Institute, in both 2014 and 2018, 21 per cent of Canadians said they followed the CFL “closely or very closely.” In 2023, this number dropped to 17 per cent, and this year, fell to 16 per cent.

Angus Reid Institute.

In the survey, nearly half (47 per cent) who follow the CFL and 74 per cent who follow most closely shun the idea of moving more toward the American (NFL) style of football.

“That said, among those who are fringe followers, the split is much closer, with 38 per cent saying the CFL should remain as unique as it can, while 30 per cent would align more with NFL rules,” reads the survey.

“Many in this group are also unsure (31 per cent), suggesting that there may be a window to draw more interest with changes.”

Asked about recent changes to the play clock, the rouge and placement of the goal posts from the front to the back of the endzone, fans are generally more supportive than opposed.

The survey does note, however, there is not support for changing field sizes from 110 to 100 yards – Angus Reid found it is opposed by 64 per cent who follow the league very closely and half who follow it closely.