2020 was a tough year for sports – while some leagues like the NFL and the NBA surged through the COVID-19 pandemic, fans of Canadian football weren’t as lucky. Although we got a taste of football with preseason events such as the Free Agency and the Draft, the early cancellation of the CFL season has led to a year of idleness, both for the players and the fans.
It’s been a tricky time for everyone involved in the league – players have been plagued with job and financial insecurity, and many have had to seek alternative employment. League officials and team staff have also had their work cut out for them, trying to survive the year while looking ahead to the future and trying to plan for any future uncertainty. For the fans, the impact has been different – while we don’t depend on the CFL in the way that players, staff and officials do, the emotional connection we have to the game has meant that 2020 has felt incomplete without Canadian football.
This isn’t to say that – as sports fans – we’re nothing without the CFL. For us, life goes on whether or not the players are on the field. For me personally, I’ve moved from Indonesia (my home for 4 years) back to Scotland, have begun university in St Andrews and have got a job in social care in Glasgow. So it’s been a productive year, to say the least. That being said, I’ve missed the excitement and stability that the CFL brings to my life – having games to watch, news to read and articles to write was an important part of my life which the coronavirus took away.
But I’m not bitter! As the saying goes, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” And boy, has there ever been a lot of absence this year as far as Canadian football is concerned! But for as much as we’ve moped and pined for the CFL to return, there’s been a positive side to the cancellation of the 2020 season. This past year has really made all of us appreciate how special the CFL is and has made us really think about the importance of the league in ways we’ve never done before. Throughout 2020, I’ve seen massive outpourings of love and appreciation for this great game, a testament to the fact that the strong and vibrant community around the CFL will persevere even when the league itself is out on hold. It’s this passion that has got me really excited about the return of the CFL – I truly believe that, after the time we’ve had to reflect, Canadian football will return energised and stronger. But let’s not beat around the bush – we’re a small league, and we’ve been hit hard by this pandemic. This upcoming season (assuming it is still able to go ahead) will likely be a strange one, and there will likely be changes resulting from boardroom cuts. However, if the CFL, an almost 100% gate-driven league, can weather a lost season, than it can make it through this coming year whatever challenges it faces.
Competitive Canadian football has been around for nearly 150 years, and teams have been competing fo the Grey Cup since 1909. This is a historical game that has persevered through history because of its loyal fan-base, and 2020 has been a perfect reminder of that fact. With that being said, it’s time to look forward, and as the Free Agency begins again it’s time for teams to start preparing for the season they’ve been waiting over a year for. As a writer, I’m excited to get my creative juices flowing again; as a fan, I can’t wait to hunker down after a long day’s work and watch the game. So here’s to a fabulous 2021 in the CFL, and if history is any indicator then we should have many more incredible seasons of Canadian football to come in the future.
Any reflections on 2020, dreams for 2021 or general thoughts on the CFL? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter at @olivereastwd.
The End Zone 
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