How close is Windsor, Ont., to landing a regular season CFL game? | CBC News

With the Grey Cup now in the rearview mirror, some in Windsor, Ont., are hoping to grow the Canadian Football League (CFL) in the border city by hosting a regular season game.

Event coordinator and city councillor Renaldo Agostino is behind the push.

He says they’re targeting the 2026 season.

“It’s certainly on the radar,” said Agostino.

“And we’re looking at stadiums right now. Obviously, there’s two really great stadiums here.” 

What stadium?

Agostino says they’re strongly considering Acumen Stadium at St. Clair College and Alumni Stadium at the University of Windsor.

Acumen recently played host to a packed crowd at the national championship for the Canadian Junior Football League — where the hometown St. Clair College Saints defeated the Okanagan Sun.

“The electricity in that stadium was like nothing I’ve seen in a football stadium ever in the history of this city,” said Agostino. 

“The entire time I was there, I was just turned back and looking at the people. You could probably put a couple extra thousand people in there and really make it an event.”

Holy Names Catholic High School’s football coach says he’d choose the university’s field, even though he thinks one key element needs to be fixed.

“Their sound system’s terrible,” according to Dan Hogan.

“If we’re going to bring teams, and they’re in the national spotlight here, we’d have to make sure that that was corrected.”

“You get a headache after watching the games down there sometimes with their sound system, but there’s lots of room. I think that’s pretty cool with all the hill [space] and everything like that.”

As for the college, Hogan says they’re kind of “landlocked” and “restricted” in what they’re capable of doing — including parking.

“When you put 10,000 people in an area, you have to look at all kinds of different things, infrastructure and stuff like that. From a logistics standpoint, it’s something that’ll have to be a lot of work.”

This past season, the B.C. Lions played a home game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria, a city of roughly 100,000 people. 

That saw the local stadium — which normally held around 3,500 — expanded and upgraded to seat around 14,000 fans with box seating, a large temporary grandstand, and a new large scoreboard.

The league has tried neutral site games before, including in 2022 and 2023 in Nova Scotia

Hogan thinks it makes the most sense to include at least one Ontario team, if Windsor was to land the game, because fans would be more apt to travel to the border city.

“It would be a good party. Dog days of summer. Get something early. You know, early August, mid-August. I know our football community would rally around it, just like we did with the NFL draft party.”

The 2024 NFL Draft was held in Detroit in April. 

CFL leadership change plays a role

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie is set to retire now that the 2024 season has concluded.

Agostino says that plays a key role in how he continues to broach the idea of Windsor landing a regular season game.

“I’m certainly excited to keep the talks going. I think with the change in leadership, I want to say things have been paused on my front.”

“Over the next few months … I’m looking forward to meeting with the new commissioner.”

CBC business columnist Mark Harrison told Metro Morning that whoever ends up taking over the role needs to be a business person first and foremost — not just someone who understands football.

“They need to be somebody with a vision, a bigger vision of what this amazing league plays in the role of our country in its development.” 

According to Harrison, competition is fierce right now when it comes to sports and entertainment.

“I think there needs to be a visionary first, and I think they really need to double down in the corporate community. The priority the Canadian Football League needs to prioritize [is] Canada.”

Border city appetite?

Markets such as Windsor are exactly the type the CFL is looking to get its product in front of, according to sports reporter Justin Dunk.

“I have family from the Windsor area, so they’re big Detroit Lions fans in and around there because it’s so close just over the border,” said Dunk, the managing editor and contributor for 3DownNation.

WATCH | Honolulu Blue flew at Windsor City Hall earlier this year:

Honolulu Blue is flying in front of Windsor City Hall

“I think putting your product right in front of people helps draw interest and potentially get that younger generation interested in the Canadian Football League.”

Agostino says even with the American college influence — Michigan specifically — the Canadian rules and game are what youngsters are playing on this side of the border.

“More of our kids make it to the CFL than ever make it to the NFL. Our kids play three-down football in all high schools, in grade schools … and at the amateur level you’re seeing this momentum. I think it’s going to continue.”

If Windsor’s population continues to increase, Agostino thinks so will the chances of the city not just getting a CFL regular season game, but possibly a team of its own one day.

“What you see now is Canadian football carving out their own identity and market. This is the second best professional football league in the world.”