The CFL’s board of governors voted unanimously on Monday to approve a 14-game regular season starting on August 5, culminating in the 108th Grey Cup in Hamilton on December 12.
The news was received enthusiastically by CFL fans who missed out on a 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league had the option of self-funding a six-game bubble season in Winnipeg last year, but elected not to do so when they were unable to secure an interest-free loan from the federal government.
Here is a collection of the reaction from the CFL community.
The tension going into Monday’s vote was palpable. After not playing in 2020, some believed that a cancelled season in 2021 could mean the end of the league.
https://twitter.com/Dave_CHED/status/1404441775616315393
https://twitter.com/BBCANRyan/status/1404446735355682818
https://twitter.com/DannyAustin_9/status/1404252152302764035
Rumours swirled throughout the morning that the vote would proceed positively.
https://twitter.com/JDunk12/status/1404460959930929153
https://twitter.com/ArashMadani/status/1404458064280002564
https://twitter.com/TSNDaveNaylor/status/1404437852453228549
Canadian Football League Players’ Association president Solomon Elimimian encouraged all fans to tweet at their favourite CFL team urging them to vote ‘yes.’
https://twitter.com/SolomonE56/status/1403105022108323840
Canadian Football League Players’ Association vice-president John Bowman wanted the vote to be livestreamed on TSN. This didn’t happen, which felt like a missed opportunity.
https://twitter.com/7Bowman/status/1403357631243247616
The players were hoping for a positive result.
https://twitter.com/speedybanks87/status/1404411356556808203
https://twitter.com/ooh_Canada/status/1404479477267238913
https://twitter.com/jacobruby54/status/1404480527114149888
https://twitter.com/cfrey_23/status/1404437768877625347
We’re not entirely sure that the vote looked this way, but it’s pretty funny to think about.
https://twitter.com/MiltStegallTSN/status/1404459341659451394
It was tough for CFL fans to be patient as the meeting was underway. They’ve waited a long, long time since the 2019 Grey Cup.
https://twitter.com/kjc_2599/status/1404469473885622274
https://twitter.com/GinoGiannuzzi/status/1404475296108187649
https://twitter.com/IJustShotABeks/status/1404469796427681797
https://twitter.com/BJTheroux/status/1404475087164645381
https://twitter.com/TroyDurrell/status/1404470614480412674
When the news of a positive vote finally broke, people rejoiced.
https://twitter.com/BlueBfan/status/1404491655944749066
https://twitter.com/4413Cronin/status/1404492915599056897
https://twitter.com/TheSuperAJ/status/1404487787760472069
https://twitter.com/cfl_reddit/status/1404490244217610240
https://twitter.com/GreenZoneSK/status/1404487604419104774
https://twitter.com/coachsorrells/status/1404490793684025351
https://twitter.com/jacobruby54/status/1404489616133087234
https://twitter.com/Darren_Cameron/status/1404488164748693504
https://twitter.com/JohnDHodge/status/1404493414662615046
https://twitter.com/Bgillanders25/status/1404490330611781633
https://twitter.com/LucasBarrett9/status/1404488975381848065
https://twitter.com/CFL_News/status/1404491062119329792
https://twitter.com/CEdwardsTSN/status/1404488471092289545
https://twitter.com/chrishofley/status/1404492337364058115
https://twitter.com/JC_AbbottCFL/status/1404491573342081028
https://twitter.com/donnovanbennett/status/1404488952317370370
https://twitter.com/RedBlackGade/status/1404494537784016897
https://twitter.com/bigA204/status/1404490012826259456
https://twitter.com/DJHeerMusic/status/1404491662680678400
https://twitter.com/Dave_CHED/status/1404489310867394560
https://twitter.com/CramerMarni/status/1404492411657670656
https://twitter.com/GreggyDevynCJWW/status/1404490286080872454
If you want to get hyped for the 2021 CFL season, check out this video from the defending Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It gave us chills.
https://twitter.com/Wpg_BlueBombers/status/1404488273460928518
