Aftermath Canadian Football League in the United States

amongst canadian cfl owners, calgary stampeders head larry ryckman driving force behind american expansion. bruce mcnall in toronto, face dramatic fall.

the entire league once again based in canada 1996 cfl season, larry smith describing move retrenchment . did not stem troubles teams facing. no expansion fee revenue buoy them, 8 of 9 canadian teams lose money in 1996. rough riders disbanded @ end of season , stampeders declared bankruptcy after ryckman fined $250,000 stock manipulation alberta securities commission. after indictment of mcnall, ryckman second major architect of expansion run afoul of law.

other legal troubles left on in wake of expansion collapse. louisiana courts ordered gliebermans repay shreveport us$1 million interest; dispute centered on whether city had agreed share losses or lent money ownership group. art williams, enraged after discovering american owners had received discounts , extended payment periods on franchise fees, threatened litigation , @ first refused honour balance of matt dunigan s sizable contract before matter dragged through court.

the expansion fees significant legacy of expansion effort. smith claims us$14 $15 million brought in , saved league. more modest assessment suggests expansion saved stampeders , tiger-cats—both teams undeniably in distress during era—and other canadian teams able have maintain semblance of stability.

the post-expansion financial crisis elicit response nfl. end of 1996, speculation rampant if nfl placed franchise in toronto, mean end of cfl. instead, in exchange new player agreement between leagues, nfl provided cfl franchises marketing assistance , $3 million loan in 1997.

in 1999, world wrestling federation chairman vince mcmahon offered chance buy argonauts, , countered proposal buy entire league , have migrate south , owners refused. mcmahon instead partner nbc create xfl, place teams in birmingham, las vegas, , memphis @ same stadiums respective cfl franchises played. following massive losses, nbc , wwf shuttered xfl after 1 year.

the cfl re-gained relative stability in 2000s, enforcement of salary cap, stricter standards of ownership, , increasingly lucrative television contracts negotiated canadian networks. league has remained solely focused on canadian operations, expansion efforts focused on returning stable team ottawa. first attempt @ replacement rough riders, ottawa renegades, played 2002 2005; in last season, despite league resistance without other buyers, gliebermans purchased franchise, gave league, suspended prior 2006 season. after extended delay due stadium problems in ottawa, ottawa redblacks, own rough riders history , trademarks, launched in 2014 , have far been success under ownership of jeff hunt s consortium. further expansion has been limited one-off games such touchdown atlantic , northern kickoff in more distant canadian markets.

the re-establishment of montreal alouettes remains major legacy of american experiment. commissioner smith, under pressure cflpa , keen ensure montreal s new team grey cup contender outset, persuaded other 8 cfl teams permit expansion draft in alouettes allowed draft canadian players allow team remain competitive under more restrictive rule regime, finishing first season 12-6 , advancing eastern final. eventually, speros sell alouettes robert wetenhall, smith resigning commissioner become president of team. wetenhall s patient ownership, , move more intimate percival molson memorial stadium, returned team stability off field while steering 3 grey cups on field. longtime alouettes starting quarterback anthony calvillo last remaining active player played american cfl team (las vegas) upon retirement after 2013 season.

even after end of u.s. expansion, american investors continued involved cfl many years @ ownership level, notably in calgary , ottawa. end of first decade of 21st century, extant franchises except montreal had come under canadian ownership, leaving alouettes wetenhall league s american owner.

further u.s. expansion has been proposed informally however, league has expressed little interest in these proposals , u.s. expansion has not been formally explored. spectre of american cfl games has been used device satire , april fool s day jokes.