A recent survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute reveals a decline in overall interest in the CFL among Canadians, with only 16% closely or very closely following the league in 2025 compared to 21% in 2014 and 2018. The survey, conducted from October 7-11, coincides with the upcoming Grey Cup match between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes.
The poll indicates that dedicated CFL followers are in favor of maintaining the league’s distinctiveness from the American game. On the other hand, less-engaged fans seem divided, with 61% of those not closely following and 53% of casual followers uncertain or preferring alignment with the NFL.
The CFL recently announced rule changes effective next season, eliminating the possibility of winning games with a rouge and implementing a 35-second play clock reset. Additionally, team benches will be relocated to opposite sides of the field for easier substitutions. More significant alterations are planned for 2027, including a reduction of field size to 100 yards, shrinking end zones to 15 yards, and moving goalposts to the back of the end zone.
While some fans expressed opposition to the field changes, others, like Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, view them as necessary modernizations rather than attempts to Americanize the game. Player reactions varied, with B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke criticizing the changes as “garbage” for lack of player consultation, while Montreal Alouettes linebacker Tyrice Beverette and Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Jameer Thurman expressed differing levels of acceptance towards the upcoming modifications.
The Canadian Research Insights Council has noted that online surveys like this one cannot be assigned a margin of error due to their non-random sampling method.