Four downs, moving hash marks, fan engagement topics as Randy Ambrosie visits Regina

Randy Ambrosie is focused on the future of the CFL.

But what that looks like is still being debated.

The CFL commissioner spoke to a few dozen Saskatchewan Roughriders fans on Thursday as he continues his tour across Canada dubbed Randy’s Road Trip.

Ambrosie touched on a number of subjects — from the CFL’s partnership with Genius Sports and how it will help them reach a different type of fan, Canadian football development and possible rule changes, including on if moving to four downs was on the table.

Here are a few of the highlights from Ambrosie’s Regina roundtable.

Is the league considering four downs?

Before one man asked his question, he started with a statement that was met with cheers: Don’t move to four downs.

A few questions later, a woman asked the question that has been on people’s minds: Is the CFL actually considering moving to four downs?

Ambrosie responded that there isn’t some sort of secret organization or group trying to attack the CFL game and that there is a group of talented people trying to come together and make the game faster, more exciting and more thrilling. Ambrosie said they’re looking at a variety of things that could help them accomplish that.

“We want the fastest, most fun, entertaining football game in the world,” Ambrosie told the Green Zone on Thursday. “We want this game to rock. We want people to come whether they are in the stadium or watching it digitally or on TV, we want them to leave exhausted because they have seen fun, fast and entertaining football.”

“He never officially said no, or never, or no way but I also don’t think he is in a place where the game is on the table and it’s taking what you want and leave me what you’re willing to keep,” said Heather Hand.

“You cannot call it a CFL game, a CFL league if it’s a four-down league. I have nothing against four-down football, (but) I grew up watching three-down football. That’s my football.”

“If I was going to read between the lines, everything is on the table, but I don’t take that to mean that they are looking at pushing it through,” added Clint Sheehan. “I sensed that’s what the fans who were asking the questions were afraid of — that it was being slipped through secretly in the back door. I didn’t get that impression but I do think they are considering it.”

Moving hash marks is on the table

One of the things the league is looking at is moving the left and right hash marks closer together, a move that had some fans intrigued.

“It really makes a lot of sense because when you’re on the short side of the field, you can’t really run any plays there. We know from watching the CFL that passes to the wide side end up being pick-sixes which are exciting but it makes the game choppy,” Sheehan said.

Ambrosie said the idea behind the move is ensuring both sides of the field are viable options for offences no matter where the ball is spotted between the hash marks.

Ambrosie says the change does have the support of some of the coaches in the league and Riders head coach Craig Dickenson also believed it could be a good move for offences.

Fan engagement survey reveals four findings

Ambrosie said that the league surveyed 1,200 sports fans across Canada recently — a mixture of fans of the CFL and those who are not.

He said it came back with four key findings.

One of those was fans want to see talented players on the field and stay with teams longer. They want to feel a connection to a player and wear their jerseys without having to worry if they will sign with another team almost every year.

Ambrosie said another thing fans want to see is more action in games — higher scoring and tight games late. He used an example about how more fans want to see a game that’s 49-49 with one minute left rather than 19-19.

The survey also showed fans want the game to flow smoothly with more first downs and fewer two-and-outs — something that has been on the rise in recent seasons.

And finally, the survey showed that people value their time and want to see games finished within a reasonable time period.

Reaching a new generation of fans

Ambrosie admitted the league needs to do a better job when it comes to reaching a younger fan base. He pointed out people he talks to say that while they are CFL fans, their nieces and nephews aren’t or their kids don’t want to go to the games.

He said that is the point of these meetings they are having is to grow the game and make things bigger and stronger in the years to come so that many generations can enjoy the CFL.

Part of the CFL’s plan to do that could lie with their relationship with Genius Sports.

In December, the CFL announced it had partnered with Genius Sports — a data, technology, and commercial company — which will provide a range of different tech for the league to use.

“It’s helping us deliver customized reach to sports fans. It’s about finding the next sports fans and servicing our existing, passionate fans but looking forward to how do we reach that next community of fans,” Ambrosie said.

Ambrosie said the partnership will help the league when it comes to the sports betting industry, something he says could get more eyes on the product. Ambrosie said people who place bets on games are more likely to tune into a game to see the result.

Ambrosie also said the partnership will see Genius Sports install cameras in CFL stadiums that will allow them to collect analytical data, such as how fast a player is running.

Ambrosie added the technology will allow them to have more graphics and a better presentation to games, giving them the ability to do something similar to what the NFL does with their Nickelodeon broadcasts.

“I often wonder why the NFL has such a good production and I think (becoming more digital) is part of it and I think it’s time we start doing it too,” said Ray Lalonde.