Canadian Football League in the United States facts for kids
The Canadian Football League (CFL) is a professional football league with teams in Canada. For a few years in the 1990s, the CFL tried to grow its audience by adding teams in the United States. This happened from the 1993 CFL season to the 1995 CFL season.
Canadian football is a bit different from American football, which is more common in the U.S. The first American team, the Sacramento Gold Miners, joined the CFL in 1993. More teams were added in 1994, and by 1995, there were five American teams. These teams played in a new South Division.
The Baltimore Stallions were the only American team to win the Grey Cup, which is the CFL's championship. They won it in 1995. However, most American teams lost money. There were also disagreements between the American and Canadian teams about rules and schedules. Because of these problems, the CFL went back to being only in Canada starting in the 1996 season.
Even before the expansion, the CFL had tried to reach U.S. fans. They played some games in the United States and tried to get their games on American TV. While the CFL's games on U.S. television were mostly on cable, they still attracted a good number of viewers.
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CFL Before U.S. Teams
Before 1993, the Canadian Football League always played only in Canada. Most other major sports leagues in North America have teams in both countries. However, Canadian and American football have different rules and field sizes. Also, the National Football League (NFL) and college football were very popular in the U.S. This made it seem unlikely that the CFL would expand there.
Old Games in the U.S.
Even though the CFL didn't have U.S. teams, some Canadian football games were played in the United States. The first of these was way back in 1909 in New York City. Back then, Canadian football was more like rugby.
Later, between 1951 and 1967, several exhibition games (practice games) were held in U.S. cities like Buffalo, Portland, and Seattle. These games often had crowds of 10,000 to 20,000 fans. In 1958, a regular season CFL game was played in Philadelphia. This is the only CFL game between two Canadian teams that counted in the standings to be played in the U.S.
CFL on American TV
The CFL has always wanted to attract American fans through television. In 1954, a league that later became part of the CFL had a deal with NBC to show games. In 1980, the new cable network ESPN started showing CFL games.
In 1982, when NFL players went on strike, NBC bought the rights to show CFL games. This was a big chance for the CFL to be seen by many American viewers. However, the games shown were not very exciting, and TV ratings were low. NBC soon stopped broadcasting the games.
CFL Expansion into the U.S.
Why the CFL Expanded
In the early 1990s, many Canadian CFL teams were having money problems. A big reason was that a company called Carling O'Keefe stopped its large TV sponsorship in 1987. This sponsorship had given the teams a lot of money. Without it, many teams struggled.
Most teams, except the Edmonton Eskimos, faced financial difficulties. Some had to ask fans for help to survive. New owners, who were more interested in making a profit, started to take over teams. These new owners pushed for the league to expand into the United States. They hoped that adding U.S. teams would bring in more money through expansion fees.
First U.S. Teams (1993)
In 1992, the CFL played a practice game in Portland, Oregon, to see if there was interest. Over 15,000 people attended. Many U.S. cities then applied to have a CFL team.
On January 13, 1993, the league approved two U.S. teams: the Sacramento Gold Miners and the San Antonio Texans. However, the San Antonio team had ownership problems and pulled out. So, the Gold Miners became the first U.S. team to join the CFL.
The Gold Miners played in the West Division and finished last with a 6–12 record. They played at Hornet Stadium and averaged about 17,000 fans per game.
More Teams Join (1994)
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In 1994, three more American teams joined: the Las Vegas Posse, the Baltimore CFL Colts, and the Shreveport Pirates. ESPN and ESPN2 started showing some CFL games in the U.S.
The Baltimore CFL Colts quickly became very popular. Their owner, Jim Speros, marketed the team as a return of the NFL's Baltimore Colts, who had left the city years earlier. The team played at Memorial Stadium, which was big enough for a Canadian football field.
Baltimore was the most successful U.S. team. They averaged over 37,000 fans in their first year. They had many experienced CFL players and a good coach. They finished second in their division and made it all the way to the 82nd Grey Cup game. They lost a close game to the BC Lions. Baltimore was also reported to have made a profit in their first year.
The Shreveport Pirates moved from Ottawa, Canada, to Shreveport, Louisiana. They had some local support but also many problems, including hot weather and money issues. They lost their first 14 games but improved at the end of the season. Their last home game drew over 32,000 fans.
The Gold Miners improved in their second season, finishing 9–8–1. However, their attendance dropped. The Las Vegas Posse struggled badly. They had very low attendance, sometimes only 2,350 fans per game. The team eventually stopped playing before the season ended.
Changes and New Teams (1995)
After the 1994 season, the Las Vegas Posse officially folded. The Sacramento Gold Miners moved to San Antonio, Texas, and became the San Antonio Texans. They played in the new Alamodome, which was a great indoor stadium for CFL games.
Two new teams joined for the 1995 season: the Memphis Mad Dogs and the Birmingham Barracudas. The Memphis team was owned by Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx, which was seen as a big step for the league.
For 1995, the CFL changed its divisions to North and South. The five American teams (Baltimore, Birmingham, Memphis, San Antonio, and Shreveport) were in the South Division. The eight Canadian teams were in the North. ESPN2 agreed to show over 20 regular season games and the playoffs.
The Birmingham Barracudas played at Legion Field. They had a good quarterback, Matt Dunigan. Their attendance was good at first, but it dropped a lot once the traditional American football season (college and NFL) started. The owner, Art Williams, said he lost at least $10 million that season.
The Memphis Mad Dogs also struggled with attendance once the American football season began. Their stadium, the Liberty Bowl, had to be changed a lot to fit the Canadian game, and the end zones were very short. The team finished 9–9.
The Shreveport Pirates continued to struggle in 1995, finishing 5–13. Their owner also faced legal problems.
The San Antonio Texans found success on the field in 1995, finishing 12–6 and making the playoffs. They played well but lost to the Baltimore Stallions in the South Division final. Their attendance was similar to what the Gold Miners had in Sacramento.
The Baltimore franchise was officially named the "Baltimore Stallions." They had a fantastic season, winning 13 games in a row and finishing first in the South Division. They won the South Division final and then defeated the Calgary Stampeders 37–20 in the 1995 Grey Cup. The Stallions became the first and only American team to win the Grey Cup. They are remembered as one of the best CFL teams ever. Even though they won, their attendance did drop a bit in 1995.
End of the U.S. Experiment
Problems for the League
After three years, it was clear that most American fans were not very interested in Canadian football. The differences in rules, like three downs and the larger field, were not popular. The CFL also couldn't get a big TV deal in the U.S. The CFL season, which runs from July to November, meant American teams played in hot weather early on and then competed with high school, college, and NFL football later in the year.
There were also disagreements between the American and Canadian teams. American owners wanted rule changes and a different schedule. Canadian owners refused to make major changes to the rules or the league's name.
The American teams were losing a lot of money. In 1995 alone, U.S. teams lost over $20 million. The Birmingham Barracudas lost the most, about $10 million. Even the successful Baltimore Stallions lost money, though less than others.
Canadian teams were also having problems, especially with attendance. The league tried to get more season ticket sales. Some Canadian teams were in danger of folding or moving.
The Final Decision
The biggest blow to the CFL's U.S. expansion came on November 6, 1995. The owner of the NFL's Cleveland Browns announced he was moving his team to Baltimore. This meant the Baltimore Stallions, despite their success, would have to compete with an NFL team.
The Stallions' owners quickly realized they couldn't compete with an NFL team. Local support for the Stallions disappeared almost overnight. The Stallions played their last CFL game in the U.S. in the South Division Final.
Other American owners also decided to stop. The Birmingham Barracudas owner said his team would not play in Birmingham in 1996. The Memphis Mad Dogs folded, and the Shreveport Pirates also faced problems.
On February 2, 1996, the CFL officially closed all five American franchises. This brought the CFL's U.S. expansion to an end. At the same time, the former owner of the Baltimore Stallions was allowed to bring back the Montreal Alouettes team in Canada. Many of the Stallions' players and staff moved to Montreal.
What Happened Next
After the U.S. expansion ended, the CFL was back to being only in Canada. But the teams still faced financial problems. The league eventually got help from the NFL, which provided marketing assistance and a loan.
In the 2000s, the CFL became financially stable again. This was thanks to rules like a salary cap (a limit on how much teams can spend on players) and better TV deals in Canada. The league has since focused on its Canadian operations, including bringing a stable team back to Ottawa.
The return of the Montreal Alouettes was a major positive outcome of the American experiment. The Alouettes became a very successful team, winning three Grey Cups. The last active player who played for an American CFL team (Las Vegas) retired in 2013.
While some people still suggest the CFL could expand to the U.S. again, the league itself has shown little interest. The CFL remains focused on its Canadian teams and fans.
List of American CFL Teams
Teams That Played
| Team | City | Stadium | Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Gold Miners | Sacramento, California | Hornet Stadium | 1993–1994 |
| Las Vegas Posse | Whitney, Nevada | Sam Boyd Stadium | 1994 |
| Baltimore FC/ Baltimore Stallions |
Baltimore, Maryland | Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) | 1994–1995 |
| Shreveport Pirates | Shreveport, Louisiana | Independence Stadium | 1994–1995 |
| San Antonio Texans | San Antonio, Texas | Alamodome | 1995 |
| Birmingham Barracudas | Birmingham, Alabama | Legion Field | 1995 |
| Memphis Mad Dogs | Memphis, Tennessee | Liberty Bowl | 1995 |
Proposed Teams That Did Not Play
| Team | City | Stadium | Scheduled to begin play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee CFL team | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | County Stadium | 1995 |
| Mississippi CFL team | Jackson, Mississippi | Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium | 1995 |
| Miami Manatees | Miami, Florida | Miami Orange Bowl | 1996 |
| San Antonio Texans (1993) | San Marcos, Texas | Bobcat Stadium | 1993 |
| Shreveport Barracudas | Shreveport, Louisiana | Independence Stadium | 1996 |
CFL on American TV After Expansion
After the expansion era ended in 1997, the CFL was not on American television for several years. Later, the league made deals with other networks.
Since 2013, CFL games have been shown only on ESPN networks in the United States. These broadcasts are usually the same ones shown in Canada by TSN. In 2018, CFL games on ESPN averaged about 163,000 viewers in the U.S. This was about one-fifth of the total viewers in North America.
Images for kids
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Map showing CFL teams, including defunct U.S. teams.
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Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, home of the Baltimore Stallions.
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Overhead view of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis.
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Larry Ryckman, a Canadian CFL owner who supported U.S. expansion.
