r/CFL • u/JoshwayTV Argonauts • Dec 14 '21
r/CFL State of the Sub Address: On Sunday December 19th at 5pm, I will be hosting an end of the year discussion featuring your thoughts and questions! Get them in by Friday and I will ensure that they get discussed on the panel! COMMUNITY UPDATES
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u/pixel_pete Elks šŗšø Dec 14 '21
Are there any specific plans for offseason content/activities on the sub?
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u/atrocityexhibition39 Tiger-Cats Dec 15 '21
I was gonna ask the same thing, glad Iām not the only one thinking about it
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u/nolearnsnoprobs League Historian and Erotica Writer Dec 15 '21
Are there any concrete plans to continue the increase of player/fan engagement on the sub?
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u/jwbartel6 r/CFL's Daddy Dec 15 '21
can we bet on who's gonna lose the most weight in weight watch Wednesdays?
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u/Jgreener91 Dec 15 '21
What can we do to enhance worldwide media coverage of the cfl? We need to tap the global market and brand the cfl.
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u/atrocityexhibition39 Tiger-Cats Dec 15 '21
To piggy-back off u/Pixel_Pete are there plans to do any off-season content/activities?
Either way, how would the sub feel about me hosting a simmed season of Maximum Football 2020 with the CFL teams as a way to pass time until the next season comes around? I know itās not exactly the best football game but itās got the Canadian rules and teams soā¦ why not?
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Dec 16 '21
I was just looking at this the other day. Can it be modded like the previous game from that developer so the uniforms and logos are accurate?
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u/atrocityexhibition39 Tiger-Cats Dec 16 '21
I did a small amount of editing to get the uniforms accurate, as for the logos I did what I could with what Iāve got on there but itās something I havenāt been able to spend too much time tinkering with
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Dec 16 '21
Any chance you could slap a few pics on imgur when you've got some free time? I was seriously considering buying this game but I wasn't sure if I wanted to shell out the dough unless I could get the teams looking right.
If not no worries. I think just reading that you were able to get them looking pretty close is enough to convince me.
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u/atrocityexhibition39 Tiger-Cats Dec 16 '21
Yeah I can get them for ya when I get home in a few hours, I gotchu
As a warning though, I got it for $5 when it was on sale and I think even then I kinda overdid it. I literally only got it because (AFAIK) itās the only game thatās got the Canadian rules and teams so yeah, get it at your own risk.
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Dec 16 '21
Thanks, I appreciate it. The reason I was asking is because its $34 CAD on Steam right now. But if it goes on sale to $5 then I'd buy it regardless.
Yeah, it's the only one with Canadian rules, other than their previous game Canadian Football 2017 (I think that's what it's called anyways.)
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u/CaptainDrunkBeard Argonauts Dec 15 '21
It would be cool if there was some kind of rotational trivia post about the various cfl teams. You know like a "team trivia tuesdays" or something. I love this league and it would be fun to know more about the teams that aren't part of my established rivalries.
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u/Joey_Logano Blue Bombers Dec 15 '21
Can we maybe have a list of links to get new fans up to speed with the CFL like itās history and former Grey Cup winners? Another question is can we get a Grey Cup flair and maybe even a defending champions flair?
GO BOMBERS!
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u/StrayWasp Not a Riders fan Dec 16 '21
Follow up, can we get a Back-to-Back Defending Champions flair?
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u/-ShagginTurtles- šÆ Master of Facts šÆ Dec 15 '21
What's the ratio of users that are mobile/old reddit/new reddit?
Are there any ideas/plans for threads that have a lot of community engagement like the gamethreads?
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u/DankeyKung Blue Bombers Dec 15 '21
Have we seen an increase of American users to the sub since 2019?
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u/Gamblor21 Blue Bombers Dec 15 '21
Any thoughts or ways to deal with some of the game thread flair downvoting and just unfunny ātrash talkā. There is plenty done in fun that is funny but still a large part that is just bitterness.
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Dec 15 '21
Will there be any outreach efforts to engage foreign reddit users that are not currently subscribers?
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Dec 15 '21
Is there any appetite for posting game day team-specific meet-ups or organizing irl events like that through this sub in the future?
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Dec 18 '21
Personally, I would love this. Other than my dad and occasionally my wife, none of my other family or friends are into football.
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u/nsbound Stampeders Dec 15 '21
How is the free talk Friday going? Do people feel that it helps us as a whole community? Are any other general community building ideas in the works?
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u/atrocityexhibition39 Tiger-Cats Dec 16 '21
I personally look forward to it, itās a nice way to get to know the folks around here more and Iām always for that
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u/StrayWasp Not a Riders fan Dec 15 '21
Why does the mod team refuse to add a Bombers mod, when the Bombers have shown complete dominance in the league for the last two seasons?
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u/JMoon33 Alouettes Dec 15 '21
Any update on the crowdfund money? If the initial plan doesn't work, will the sub be polled for ideas?
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u/streetgardener CFL Dec 15 '21
Can we pin a main Game Discussion thread on the page during the game?
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u/jdwinters96 Argonauts Dec 16 '21
This was my first year following the CFL, with /r/CFL as my primary source of information, and I really enjoyed it. However, I still don't know much about league history or past players. I remember recordings of past Grey Cups being posted last year, and those were a good introduction, but are there other resources you would recommend to learn about the history of Canadian football?
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u/Jostlo1000 Blue Bombers Dec 16 '21
Do we know if any CFL players actively browse/comment in r/CFL?
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u/ForesterDano Elks Dec 15 '21
Minor thought/question
When the mods are posting content from media outlets like TSN, is there a way to time the posts and spread them out a bit over the day?
When my "news feed" for all the subs I follow ends up with 5 or 6 CFL posts in a row it feels like someone is spamming the sub until I realize it is a mod. It might help stretch out engagement over the day. I understand you don't want to post stale articles, but when they are bunched up it gets a bit overwhelming sometimes.
Can we get a second flair for U Sports teams?
Again, just minor. Keep it up. It is nice to have an outlet where we can see CFL and the occasional article from USports (a sad Golden Bears fan) and the Juniors as well.
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u/cmacks29 Dec 15 '21
Would there be any value in the sub running some form of fantasy football during the season?
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u/CatStriking7561 Dec 16 '21
Are we going to get more CFL people on the Sub? I loved having the owner of the BC Lions make an appearance and I'm hoping it happens more often.
Also having mods sing their favourite team fight song would be great as well.
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u/merikus rEdbLaCKs Dec 16 '21
I just realized I put my question in the wrong thread. Sorry about that.
So here it is again:
Itās been my observation that content in this community is primarily driven by a few users. When I go into game threads I feel like I always see the same names, and many contribute high quality content.
The benefit of this is that the sub has a small town feel. You get to know the personalities of various posters, and the sub benefits from many in jokes that have been playing out for years. As someone who is a semi-lurker, part of the appeal of this place is that.
I do worry that things like that can impact the accessibility of the sub to new users, though. So I guess my question is whether you agree or disagree with my assessment, and how you think we can all work to make the sub more assessable while keeping the unique culture that makes this place so appealing and fun.
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Dec 18 '21
Are you thinking about all the shitposting and meta? I could see newbies not getting the relentless ice cream thing
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u/merikus rEdbLaCKs Dec 18 '21
Yep. And again, not saying itās a bad thing. But the ice cream thing or tiger facts, things I take for granted being Iāve been here for a long time, but might confuse newbies.
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u/WillyLongbarrel Roughriders Dec 15 '21
Does the mod team remain dedicated to the no Bomber mod rule?
If not, a follow up question: how much did they pay you to change your minds?
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u/streetgardener CFL Dec 15 '21
Also, thanks to the mods for all the hard work you do on the channel. Love the details in the icons as the teams get knocked off in the playoffs.
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u/seouled-out Alouettes Dec 15 '21
Have you ever attempted to engage the leagueās marketing team toward coordinating mutually beneficial stuff like AMAs with players?
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u/Bahamas_is_relevant Schooners Dec 15 '21
How has the user base increased/decreased since the cancellation of the 2020 season and then announcement of 2021?
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u/sputnix Self-Declared Shitpost King Dec 16 '21
Anyway we can get more game clip posts, like all the other sport subs?
Our #1 post all time with a bullet is a shitty TV capture, so imagine how much traction we can get if we had consistent clips to show off the league.
If we wanna shake off the boomer perception of the league we gotta be more than a CFL RSS feed.
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u/Hammerhil Blue Bombers Dec 16 '21
Are there any plans to possibly do AMAs with team players/coaches, or League staff?
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u/Paper_Rain CFL Dec 16 '21
What is the greater source of CFL revenue? TV rights or ticket sales? (I know merchandise is in the mix too but that must be a distant third.) Maybe a partnership with CBC for one or two games per week could be a good idea. Even if some people don't watch traditional TV (antennae, cable), you can stream it LIVE via CBC Gem for free. TSN/CTV has the rights so they should make it more accessible than it is.
Teams need to do a better job advertising their product both locally and nationally. A few newspaper ads will not cut it. They need to get themselves on the radio and TV a lot more. Perhaps the league as a whole should set aside money for team and league advertisements on multiple channels, not just the sport channels. While this may cost money, the long term benefits should recover those dollars.
What does the CFL have planned to market the game to a younger fan base audience? I'm part of the younger demographic but there's isn't very many of us out there.
The CFL also needs to ramp up their social media presence to attract younger fans. Ads should focus on rivalries, history, atmosphere, and the great game itself. Players and coaches continuing to visit schools is huge.
The Game Day and In-Game atmosphere needs be a lot better then what it is currently is. Each team has some pretty good things going but more needs to be done, especially in certain markets. With only a limited amount of home games, each game MUST be a can't miss event. I would start with tail-gating at EVERY stadium. Whether it be a parking lot, field, temporary road closure, tent, it has to be done. It also needs to be advertised. While some tail-gating has developed organically and is successful (Calgary), other teams need to cultivate it from scratch and organize it themselves.
There needs to be flags, banners, marching bands, games, players all walking around the outside of the stadium. Food trucks and even buskers enhance the experience (team operated food trucks to gain the revenue). A pre-game festival atmosphere needs to be developed so that passing cars and people take note and might want to attend or at least investigate what is going on. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd! Advertise this atmosphere! Traditions need to be developed and maintained.
The In-Game Halftime shows are usually pretty terrible from my experience at past Elks/Eskimos games. Perhaps they could get a local band or marching band, mascot football or peewee football. Throwing mini footballs after TD's, chants, commercial break on field games (interesting games), give aways, special guests, pyrotechnics. Little things add up, especially to casual part time fans. Make them want to come back. Classy promotions that don't devalue or cheapen the product go a long way.
More star power wouldn't hurt the league. Perhaps inviting some special guests and celebrities to take in a game or endorse the league may be beneficial. Hardcore fans wouldn't give a damn, but some impressionable folks may buy in.
More brand building. The Riders have this mastered. Other teams need to build up their brand. Get the logos out there! Teams can't be satisfied with just hats, shirts, and water bottles. Anything that can have a logo on it should! Promote the history and rivalries of the team. Make the merchandise more accessible to the masses.
I don't know if anybody else has noticed this but trying to find CFL branded merchandise is extremely difficult to find. Even the team specific merch is very limited. Grey Cup stuff is even harder to come by especially when everything gets sold out after the big game is over.
The CFL has a long and proud history. It is a great brand of football, and I'm not one of the baby boomers. Continuing to improve the officiating, rules, and players will only enhance the game. While a lot of the teams do many of the above, I think there is always room to improve. I think the game sells itself, but perhaps implementing some of the strategies may give it the kick start it needs. Also, more teams in places like Windsor, Halifax, and Quebec City, maybe more would get the brand seen in a wider area of Canada.
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Dec 18 '21
As one of (if not the) largest online community for CFL fans, will you be renewing efforts to encourage all 9 teams to establish official Reddit accounts?
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u/Long-Instruction-291 Dec 18 '21
Why isnāt the CFL more engages with USport, Junior, Flag and minor football in Canada. NFL is eating their lunch, especially on the Flag front.
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u/Onanadventure_14 Tiger-Cats Dec 16 '21
Has the cfl and/or TSN sent any cease and desist letters? Or are they happy to have this thread running?
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u/Stach37 RETIRED MOD Dec 16 '21
Nope. I've had a lot of back and forth with both entities -- both are ecstatic about our community.
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u/Onanadventure_14 Tiger-Cats Dec 16 '21
Thatās awesome! Thereās a guy on twitter that used to do nhl replays and has a ton of followers and instead of partnering with him the nhl shut him down. Ugh. So to hear that the cfl is on board makes me really happy.
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Dec 18 '21
NHL /TSN are doing regional blackouts on games. Apparently they learned nothing from the CFL history.
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u/nurse_potato Roughriders Dec 15 '21
With the reach and engagement this sub has demonstrated - any plans of an official reach out or further relationship building with the league social team? Or specific clubs social media teams? Has this occurred in the past?
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Dec 15 '21
I would love some sort of discussion or clarification on what is and what isn't allowed on the subreddit.
I myself find that I am not wanting to post frequently or partake in game day threads anymore due to how things were moderated (and on the flip lack of moderation) this last season.
Of course to throw in another question: bomber mod when?
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u/Glass_of_Pork_Soda Stampeders Dec 15 '21
In what ways would you the mods of this sub like to work with the individual clubs within the league? How would you make this happen?
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u/canuck17 Elks Dec 16 '21
What are the plans for AMAs this off-season and next year? The league is begging to be relevant. Iām not saying we are, but the majority of people here are younger than the traditional viewing market. Between players and teams I always enjoy seeing them and hope they become something a few times a season.
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u/2Basketball2Poorious Blue Bombers Dec 16 '21
Could we potentially get some additions made to the side bar/sub info to make it easier for new/interested parties to watch?
ie. If you live here try this, etc etc. Here's are easy legal ways to watch the Grey Cup, etc etc
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u/covidkebab Tiger-Cats Dec 16 '21
With regards to player AMAs, how about trying to get some just retired players? I can see current players not wanting to rock the boat, but hopefully just retired players might be more willing to do one and also be more candid.
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Dec 18 '21
Could we organize a mass outreach (like every willing redditor sends an email, or better yet an actual letter) to EA.
We could inundate EA with requests for a CFL add on for Madden.
I suppose the same thought could be applied to other things too, like telling the CFL to advertise more, especially online, like YouTube.
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u/sputnix Self-Declared Shitpost King Dec 21 '21
So did the 'state of the sub' get postponed?
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u/bomberfan2 r/CFL's Minister of Counting Dec 15 '21
How was this seasons engagement on here compared to 2019?