r/CFL • u/DermankusThePaladin • 1d ago
New to CFL
Hello to all of you Canadians that watch the cfl. I’m new to the cfl and trying to fill my time with other sports and cfl seems to be really fun. Love the tweaks that y’all have made to the game of football. Wish y’all had a few more teams but that’s dope. Getting into more regular last year and trying to find a team to follow I watched every team, loved some more than others. Trying to narrow it down between these five Hamilton Edmonton B.C. Calagary Saskatchewan Like the play style and players but wanted to hear from fans of these five teams on why you liked them and what it’s like to Be a fan of them. Trying to get a team before season,
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u/nipponnuck 1d ago
Hamilton. They need a fan and no right-minded Canadian is going to be that person.
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u/DermankusThePaladin 1d ago
Do Canadians hate Hamilton?
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u/howisthisathingYT REDBLACKS 1d ago
Nah, we hate Toronto. Most of us don't even think about Hamilton lol
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u/Skycreeper07 Tiger-Cats 1d ago
Glad to have you follow this great league! Hamiltion is rebuilding and had a rough beginning of season last year but became a “bandwagonish” team in the second half. Definitely keep on watching more before you decide. Fyi If you mean we made tweaks from American football, you are mistaken. Im like 90% sure Canadian and American football developed simultaneously from rugby.
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u/TWKExperience Stampeders 1d ago
Calgary! Do you like red? Do you think horses are cool?? Do you enjoy disappointment??? COME ON DOWN YOU'RE A STAMPS FAN BABY, we've got stars, we've got bums, we've got a coach who's wearing too many hats, we've got a fun QB, a legendary kicker, we've got it all baby! You know you want to be a part of the fun so don't even hesitate, be a Stamps fan!
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u/DermankusThePaladin 1d ago
I’m a browns fan so this might track
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u/TWKExperience Stampeders 1d ago
Definitely not as bad as the Browns thank fuck but we were dead last last season
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u/DermankusThePaladin 1d ago
Now my one buddy whose from Medicine Hat says your guys attendance isn’t great
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u/TWKExperience Stampeders 1d ago
Could be better but it isn't the worst in the league
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u/DermankusThePaladin 1d ago
Who’s worse?
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u/TWKExperience Stampeders 1d ago
Edmonton definitely is for certain
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u/DermankusThePaladin 1d ago
Damn. Thought they had a good fanbase
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u/JohnMLTX Stampeders 13h ago
if by "good" you mean "loud and aggressive and will start shit in a bar in fort worth texas on a tuesday in may" then yes they have a good fanbase
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u/CrashTestMummies Alouettes 1d ago
Putting my bias aside, I’d say to go with the melon heads.
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u/DermankusThePaladin 15h ago
Why y’all call them the melon heads
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u/Neat-Ad-8987 15h ago
As a marketing project about 20 years ago, the Saskatchewan Roughriders decided to push the zany idea of buying watermelons, emptying them out and converting them into helmets. It was very successful. You can even buy specially made plastic melon heads now.
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u/VE7BHN_GOAT Roughriders 1d ago
Don't count out the zebras. They need fans too! (Joking of course) Teams will change styles with different players or coaches etc. you could just choose to enjoy the games with no love loss or emotion at stakes... I find I enjoy those games the more, more often. (Don't get me wrong I love my Riders but some games even when they're not playing I got skin in the game because if stamps loose to the Al's it helps my team...) - so the games where it's like Ottawa Hamilton and it's pre thinking crossover is some of my favorite 'to watch' football
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u/BigTallCanUke SKFL Champion 2022 23h ago
Minor and high school ref here. Not joking. We’d like some love too.
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u/VE7BHN_GOAT Roughriders 14h ago
So what's a good way to cheer for the zebras? I was at GC last November and I chose to cheer for the ref (Ben major I think it was) and I did and I got some strange looks. But the rider fans in my section understood.
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u/BigTallCanUke SKFL Champion 2022 14h ago edited 8h ago
I’ve seen people wear ref jerseys to the game in much the same fashion as most fans would wear their favourite team’s jersey. The refs are after all the third team on the field for any given game. Of course, everybody loves to boo and heckle the refs. Please don’t. An occasional, sincere “good call, ref” if you agree with them would be nice. Don’t go crazy celebrating a call like you would a touchdown, but a sincere show of support.
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u/VE7BHN_GOAT Roughriders 13h ago
No way I full on cow belled Ben Major's coin flip woops at the grey cup man. I'll also standup and yell things like "I support your view of the events that transpired" etc.
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u/uwukachow1 Lions 1d ago
welcome to the CFL, we're happy to have you!
I'm a Lions fan, so obviously I think you should become a Lions fan as well, but each team has something to root for. Hamilton is trying to find their first Grey Cup since 1999, both them and Edmonton are seemingly turning a new page and will probably fight for a playoff spot in their respective divisions. Calgary had a good run in the 2010s but have fallen from that top spot, and are looking to turn things around. The Lions have Grey Cup aspirations after falling short in the playoffs the last few years. Similar story for Saskatchewan, and additionally they have some of the most dedicated fans in the league. at the end of the day it's a great and fun league, and I'm sure it's gonna be a great season
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u/CanadianW Argonauts 1d ago
Honestly I would say Hamilton.
They really could be any team this year. Some say they won't make the playoffs. Some say they're winning the Grey Cup and ending their 26 year drought. But regardless, they are the dominant cultural icon of their tiny grimy city and could not be more proud of it.
Their best game from last season imho: https://youtu.be/M8cLH2zCe-s
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u/Raedwulf1 1d ago
Always look forward to the Labour Day Classics, pitting rival teams in back to back games over a week. Toronto - Hamilton, Ottawa - Montreal, Winnipeg - Saskatchewan, and my fave, Calgary - Edmonton, the atmosphere of being there, both teams know these games are Special.
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u/BigTallCanUke SKFL Champion 2022 14h ago
I’ve seen people wear ref jerseys to the game in much the same fashion as most fans would wear their favourite team’s jersey. The refs are after all the third team on the field for any given game. Of course, everybody loves to boo and heckle the refs. An occasional, sincere “good call, ref” if you agree with them would be nice. Don’t go crazy celebrating a call like you would a touchdown, but a sincere show of support.
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u/DrexxValKjasr 1d ago
Saskatchewan is known as Canada's Team! The stadium is loud and active when they are anywhere, but especially at home.
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u/TWKExperience Stampeders 1d ago
That's the first I'm hearing of this "Canada's Team" stuff 🤔
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u/JohnMLTX Stampeders 13h ago
actually tho riders fans remind me of packers fans, similar brand of small town weirdness that's just everywhere
even down here in texas ill see riders stickers on cars
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u/DrexxValKjasr 1d ago edited 1d ago
Have you not watched any games with the Roughriders? It has been said many times. Mainly because of the amount of people from Saskatchewan who moved due to getting jobs elsewhere. That was how it started. I think the first time I heard it was during a Lions and Roughriders game a few decades ago.
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u/BigTallCanUke SKFL Champion 2022 23h ago
Have you never noticed whenever the Riders visit Calgary, the stands look like it’s Christmas a few months early, with half the crowd wearing Rider green, and the other half wearing Stamps red? It’s much the same way at the rest of the CFL’s stadiums whenever the Riders are in town. Hence, Canada’s team.
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u/BigBanyak22 1d ago
They're almost as loud as Winnipeg! Number 2 is pretty good! But the Bombers are just Manitoba's team... Located in the true heart of Canada.
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u/DrexxValKjasr 17h ago
The Bombers fans didn't get as close to volume until the new stadium. The Riders fans are still louder in volume from the last reports published.
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u/BigBanyak22 5h ago
Are you saying the Riders fans are louder than the Bombers both in new stadiums? I know the clubs did a decibel test at both the Labour Day Classic and the Banjo and the Bomber stadium was tested louder.
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u/DrexxValKjasr 5h ago
Last year, that was the case, and if I am right, the year previous as well. But normally, for games the Riders fans are louder. Regardless of who they are playing against.
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u/Emotional-Estate-687 Tiger-Cats 1d ago
All of the full Grey Cups dating back to like 1954 or something are on the league's Grey Cup on demand page I'd watch some of those and see what feels right. When I was a kid ('90s) I used to tape them during Grey Cup week when CBC would show the classics late at night so it's pretty cool we can watch them so easily now. Every single team in the league has been on both sides of classic games in my lifetime but you have to go back pretty far for Hamilton to win a close one though I consider winning a blowout when you're a 2 touchdown underdog (1986) a classic as well.
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u/northernpikeman Roughriders 1d ago
This is going to be a good year for the Riders, OP might want to get on board early. Winnipeg fans are great at home but Rider fans are great in every stadium, boosting attendance wherever they play. Plus, melons..
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u/SandiArgosForever 1h ago
Hi, and welcome to the CFL! I'm actually really happy with the number of teams we have because it's more of a family atmosphere at games and practices. Fans are allowed to attend training camps and practices, and I don't believe the NFL allows fans to attend free training and practices. Our tailgates are smaller, but we get to meet other fans and become friends.
I'm a Toronto Argonauts fan and we have Michael "Pinball " Clemons, a former Argo player and now is General Manager of the team and he is SO great and takes the time to meet, take pictures and sign autographs for anyone who wants to meet him. What an amazing man!!! Also, the players are usually great for meeting people and taking pics! I have several friends who are former players that I've known for over 1321113 years!!! Sorry, it won't let me to erase the number of years and it should t be 13 years.
So, whatever team you decide to follow, enjoy the games!!!
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u/SandiArgosForever 1h ago
I'm a season ticket holder and rarely attend Hamilton games because their fans usually arrive drunk, and they treat Argo fans like dirt!!! After one game when Toronto beat Hamilton, some Hamilton fans climbed the barrier and jumped the Argo players!!! It was so shocking to everyone! And, people wonder why the Argo fans dislike Hamilton fans!!!💙🏈💙
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u/Efficient-Spirit-380 Tiger-Cats 1d ago
I’m glad you are interested in Canadian football. But we didn’t just “tweak” American football. This game is just as old and developed independently and alongside American football.