Commissioner Randy Ambrosie will make the play call as to whether the calendar allows a CFL season in 2020.
“I have been asked by our board of governors to make a recommendation on a drop dead date. I had a call earlier this week with our governors and they each took a few minutes to share their thoughts,” Ambrosie said on TSN 1290 radio in Winnipeg.
“It was made very clear that ultimately the decision is mine to make. I committed to them to reflect on there input, I’m going to be talking to the presidents in the days ahead and then I’ll make a recommendation.”
The earliest the CFL might return to play – for a shortened but meaningful season – is September due to COVID-19. The final decisions on whether games are played in 2020 will depend on what the Canadian governments and medical officials deem best for the safety of citizens and athletes across the country.
“In order to get there a few things have to come together for sure, we gotta answer some of the questions that are still unanswered. We have to know how would we bring players in? What would be the circumstances? Will we have a period of isolation if they cross borders to go to a training camp? Where should we play?
“There are some economic issues that are going to have to be resolved as well. If we’re going to play without fans, that takes a huge bite out of our revenue stream and that’s going to have a massive affect on our ability to play.”
If there is no season in 2020, it’s estimated the CFL could lose approximately $100 million. The CFL sent a memo to teams on a first and very limited phase of a return to training. It’s a small step towards potentially playing games amid the coronavirus crisis.
“I believe there’s a way through this. I don’t know exactly when we get back to play this season. but rest assured somehow, someway we’re going to fight through this and we’re going to live to see this league have unprecedented success in the future.”