Randy Ambrosie insists CFL is ‘full throttle’ on plans for complete 2021 season
Over the course of the last year, CFL fans have bemoaned a lack of discernable movement or open communication on the prospect of a 2021 season.
Worry not, because CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie broke his silence on Thursday to insist that, just like a souped up Harley, plans for the upcoming season are ‘full throttle’.
“We’re going to play a full season. But we’re also going to have the ability to be flexible and that’s the other side of this. You have to be adaptable and flexible according to whatever circumstances come our way,” Ambrosie told Postmedia’s Dan Barnes.
“So we are full throttle on our plans for a full season but every element of every dimension of the plan is being reviewed through the lens of how will we be able to adapt to the circumstances that we find at the time when decisions need to be made.”
Beyond motorcycle metaphors, little else has been made public about the CFL’s evolving strategy for 2021.
The CFL unveiled its 2021 schedule back in November but has yet to indicate the likelihood of it going forward as planned. The pre-season is scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 23, while the regular season is slated to get underway on Thursday, June 10.
Ambrosie has promised plenty of football in 2021, but a delayed start to the season to better match the vaccination timeline laid out by the federal government remains on the table.
“We are still very hopeful that the vaccine rollout will accelerate,” said Ambrosie. “We hang on the announcements being made by government officials and health care officials. We are listening and watching and talking with great intensity to all levels of government to get their take on the status of the vaccine rollout because we do know that it’s going to play a major role in getting all of us back to a more normal existence.”
The league started meeting with its players’ association this past week to begin developing a return-to-play plan for 2021.
An internal CFL Players’ Association memo obtained by 3DownNation insider John Hodge stated:
“Our goal remains clear: to play a safe, healthy, 18 game regular season of Canadian Football in 2021.”
Until the CFL season is gassed up and fully loaded, you can bet CFL fans will continue to hold their breath about the future of the three down league.
