The Unknown History of John Candy and the CFL's ill-fated expansion into the U.S | CBC Sports

In the latest episode of The Unknown History, we see how the iconic actor helped save the league by taking it south of the border.
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[@waynemclean1799]

Great time to be a Argonauts fan. Candy and family sat behind me in Ottawa, great guy. I had a Rocket jersey. CFL forever ❤

[@SeaBaker44]

Funny thing is I collected all flags from that time # game pro grames!

[@Mo-MuttMusic]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I remember when the CFL expanded here in the United States. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular (and sports fan)

[@aresee8208]

Watched the Grey Cups in Vancouver 1994 and Regina in 1995. Go Stallions!

[@hectorlopez1069]

John candy was a fan of football and hockey, Canada's most famous sports.

[@CarolYannes]

Thank you for the video. I was on vacation in Maryland in ‘95 and stopped at Municipal Stadium and bought Stallions’s memorabilia. Thank you John Candy for giving the CFL your all. I hope you’re Resting In Peace. Someone else made this comment, why not have American games on Thursdays?

[@mrterp04]

Typically it’s tough to get people to go to an upstart sports league anytime other than the weekend

[@henryjones6957]

I just discovered CFL because of the ELF, the new european league. , they were talking about it. In Europe the CFL is not famous at all, but now I watch it and I love it! There should be some kind of campaign to interest more people for the CFL. together with the ELF it makes a great summer football season. NFL is for the winter :)

[@TheJhn924]

Interesting story on how to do things wrong. When FedEx founder Fred Smith was in the process of forming the Memphis Mad Dogs, the league sent him documents overnight by UPS... Yikes.

[@janellemaynait]

Wow😂

[@higgy04]

2:57 - Behind Wayne Gretzky, 'Marlene DIetrich. Our silent partner.' - John Candy

[@t.b.g.504]

RIP John Candy.

[@peterkastellanos7475]

Exciting and worrisome at the same time Nevertheless American expansion saved the CFL the Franchise fees where in the millions

[@TheJhn924]

Not sure the league really received all that much of any expansion monies. I seem to remember there was a down payment with annual payments for 5 years... which never came to be. I think the exception was Las Vegas which sold shares in the club and raised their entire franchise fee which was discounted... plus some operating capital. The Shreveport Pirates were owned by the Gleiberman's in exchange for relinquishing their ownership in the Ottawa franchise... so there was no franchise fee in the traditional sense.

[@peterkastellanos7475]

@@TheJhn924 Okay , good to know , Happy the CFL still made it threw a very bad time Thx for the insight

[@higgy04]

I don't think the expansion fees saved the Ottawa Rough Riders. They folded after the 1996 season. Then again, they did have an invisible owner (Chicago restauranteur Horn Chen) who, if he is still around, owns the rights to the Rough Rider property.

[@peterkastellanos7475]

@@higgy04 Just very glad we still have the CFL Better rules and bigger field make it very unique compared to the NFl

[@theodoreking8468]

@@higgy04 Horn Chen died Dec 7, 2015. Saskatchewan Roughriders blocked the REDBLACKS from using the Rough Rider name so they have more say in the matter.

[@kenny9356]

I'm American and I find the CFL better then the nfl it's a fast game GO BOMBERS

[@SeanCain98]

As a American it could’ve work if they changed their name to the North America Football League (NAFL ) and I like the CFL rules and field sizes more.

[@petermozuraitis5219]

That’s tough because the CFL IS the longest standing league in North America, older than any professional league by decades. So there’s certainly pride in not changing the name

[@theodoreking8468]

@@petermozuraitis5219 I don't think they needed to change the name but they could have de-emphasized it. CFL logo with an American flag for down south. CFL logo with the Maple leaf in Canada. More marketing would have helped. I talked with a fellow from Alabama. He told me people down there thought all the players were Canadian because of the name of the league.

[@OptimusShepherd]

nah man you don't call canadian bacon "north american bacon" it's just to distinguish the rules.

[@KangaKucha]

Well it was worth the go, especially money wise, but it failed in 96 and before 2000, No-Fun League had to bail the CFL out to get advantages like frist player choices (AusFL would too ish) But considering CFL has to do with what is left over, it still does an amazing job at pulling off a great amazing sport to watch 😊 Hence why I say CFL/Canadian Football is the most underrated professional league/sport in the ENTRIE WORLD! It must do what it came to get the global to know, as well as the globe needs to pay attention or lose out.

[@dustinkennedy2238]

I want to play John in a movie about this!

[@josephtemple1667]

I'm not against the CFL expanding into the United States. But it needs to be done correctly, i.e. having teams in border or near-border states where there's some knowledge of Canadian culture. Examples would be Rochester, Portland, and a team in either VT or NH. Putting teams in places like Las Vegas, Shreveport, Memphis, etc.. was destined for failure. Of course, as this documentary explains, they were desperate for expansion fees and as long as the cheque cleared, they could care less.

[@MegaJustGeorge]

Joseph, my friend, I agree with you on this matter - should the CFL put new teams in the U.S., the teams must be in parts of the States where the people are knowledgeable and respectful toward Canadian culture; Upstate New York, Portland (OR) and Northern New England are very good location ideas, but a location in Michigan outside of Detroit, or Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee and Green Bay, may also work; even a team in Minnesota outside of the Twin Cities could also work.

[@trevinschaerr3732]

Honestly they should put one in Syracuse. The college team sucks and the Bills are several hours away, I think the people there would have enough room in their heart for a CFL team. Not sure how’d ya fit a CFL field in the Carrier Dome though.

[@marcpower4167]

They actually did play an exhibition game in the 1992 off-season in Portland to test the market, 17,000 fans showed up. It was considered a top candidate but no interested owners came forward

[@impulse_xs]

I’ve always thought Rochester,Erie, or Marquette would be good potential spots. All small market cities close to the Canadian border but not close enough to other big American sports markets. They’ve all got a very similar sports culture to Canada with college football and hockey being huge there. All three have large multi use college stadiums that could accommodate a CFL field. Burlington is a similar situation and could even be a potential spot since it’s like 2hrs away from Montreal.

[@matthewwelsh294]

Portland has no NFL team or top level college football team as well. Portland would be a prime city for the CFL

[@kevinramsey417]

I do know Baltimore was totally down for a CFL team (the Ravens didn't exist yet)

[@rockvilleraven]

If it weren't for the CFL, I doubt the NFL would have returned to Baltimore. If Modell didn't move, the Bengals were waiting in the Wings.

[@johnwelker6473]

It was fun going to the Stallions games

[@rockvilleraven]

@@johnwelker6473I only jumped on the Ravens bandwagon after the Stallions won the Grey Cup

[@hectorlopez1069]

Shame he got injured while playing football in Canada because he loved playing football.

[@erich84502b]

But the East Coast Hockey League came to the West of the Mississippi West of the Rockies

[@PatchAmis]

More of this!!!!!

[@rodneywaugh8535]

Baltimore was a city full of pissed off football fans.... Having the Colts ripped away from them still to this day people hate The Irsay family.... The CFL showed the NFL that they screwed up by having Baltimore without a team and in a big way!!!.... Had the Stallions/Colts/ CFL'ers not come along they still might not have a team there... They say everything in business is about time and location.... This proved that to be true!... And both leagues profited from it!

[@hectorlopez1069]

Its different playing football in the CFL. There's no 4th down, you get only 3rd down and you turned the ball over.

[@marcpower4167]

A few different rules too like no "fair catch" at kickoff, 20 yards of end zone. 1 pt for a missed field goal etc.

[@Jefff72]

How about the CFL doing a few preseason games in the US just to build interest for TV revenue? I would like to see the Bombers to play a preseason at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis which is before the Vikings kickoff. That is of course depending if a CFL field would even fit in it. There is a bond between Bombers & Vikings fans due to our connection to the late Bud Grant.

[@theodoreking8468]

Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, MN is a better fit for a CFL field. Smaller town but CFL played a TD Atlantic game in Wolfsville NS in 2022 so there's a precedent.

[@danielupsdell2697]

Not 1991 they came in 1993

[@TheJhn924]

True... although the plans were being put in place in '91 when the McNall, Gretzky, Candy ownership group came along.

[@theodoreking8468]

@@TheJhn924 yeah they had a neutral site game in Portland in 92. Should have gone to Columbus Ohio first. Put the season in two parts. 10 games Mid season championship, Canadian teams only for 8 games then Grey Cup. Then you don't have American teams playing in the fall.

[@rockvilleraven]

@@theodoreking8468 There was one rumor that the CFL would put an expansion team in Windson, to try and get around the rules which would be supported by the fans in nearby Detriot.

[@theodoreking8468]

@@rockvilleraven I'd be okay with Windsor in the league one day. CFL would probably go to London first though lol

[@rockvilleraven]

@@theodoreking8468 The Detroit football market is already full with Michigan and Michigan State College football, the UFLs Michigan Panthers and the Detroit Lions.

[@KangaKucha]

Actual Sacramento/SA could have played in 96 but folded. In my opinion, should have merged with Ottawa as it might have keep it going for a while longer, not be out of seasons from 1997 to 2001.

[@daveyboy_]

It was an unfair situation because American teams were allowed to field a totally American roster. The CFL is still run by an old school bunch of guys . They could expand to Halifax and Quebec City. The past 10 years its been Quebec teams that won the Vanier cup.

[@glennmorrison7328]

I disagree with the consensus that that 3 downs is the main difference between the two leagues. It is the size of the field which in Canada grew out the influence of rugby. It was space that allowed Moon and Fluty to work their magic, that set free the recievers and running backs. And there were many more great names that could be mentioned besides the two names above.

[@Kongohh]

12 on field players vs 11, it's obviously not the same game. Now can you please pass the message Canada is ready for a major CFL expansion, not just Halifax but many more cities including Quebec City.

[@glennmorrison7328]

@@Kongohh yes, I've always indorsed the expansion the league to make it truely a coast to coast league.

[@Kongohh]

@@glennmorrison7328 definitely plus 9 teams doesn't do justice to the size of our country, I feel we'd need to atleast get to 18, Coast to coast... Feels like the people in charge think that Canada is located in Toronto 😐

[@theodoreking8468]

@@glennmorrison7328 Halifax is a dumpster fire. Montreal lost 5 million last year yet people think putting a team in a 14k stadium for 3 or 4 years until a stadium can be built is a good idea.

[@glennmorrison7328]

@@theodoreking8468 Montreal is a must for the CFL -- It has a great history & tradition in the CFL. The problem is with the Maritimes -- Halifax would be problematic considering the costs for stadiums, etc. What is viable is expansion south to the US. Many Americans like Canadian football & there's rumours of such a combined league.

[@mandospence]

We all know Doug Floutie saved the CFL.

[@ethanmx2]

Spicy Take: The most important CFL team in the last 40 years: The Sacramento Gold Miners.

[@mrterp04]

0:30 “the erAHHHH!!!”

[@georgeblangfordjr.1771]

Imagine Sacramento Republic FC want play top level outdoor pro ⚽ but not in MLS, but in the Canadian Premier League that would be a little bit weird and silly to have American West Coast team in 🇨🇦's Top Level outdoor pro ⚽ league. It would be like the 90's CFL US Expansion but in ⚽. Other American cities did not get MLS Teams like Detroit,Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tampa would play in the CPL.

[@razormc954]

Part of why the CFL's US expansion failed IMHO is they picked cities in states that largely already had exposure to the NFL or college football. Had the CFL focused on cities like Seattle, Detroit, etc

[@RealDaveTalk]

Both of those cities have successful, NFL franchise in the 90s . The Seahawks were on the client in the 90s put the Lions were popular in Detroit Barry Sanders. But they were a lousy team, despite making the playoffs.

[@marcpower4167]

Baltimore was a good move at the time. the fans were still mad about the colts moving and supported the Stallions out of spite to the NFL but once the Ravens came in, that was it. The problem with expanding to the US is the CFL plays a summer fall schedule. So towards the end they would have to compete against the NFL and college football. Now we also have the usfl and the xfl running in the spring and summer too. A LOT of competition.

[@matthewwelsh294]

Trade Seattle for Portland. Portland needs a football team asap

[@onknight]

It wasn't a necessary expansion. Larry Smith nearly ended the CFL

[@theodoreking8468]

BS. The league was on the brink of folding. if it wasn't for the small amount of money they got from expansion they would have died. Nordiques left Quebec in 95. Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona in 96. Obviously the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore in 96 as well. It was a terrible time for pro sports franchises.

[@hectorlopez1069]

To this day, NFL players go to Canada and play football over there.

[@rendragmedia]

Americans preferred their football, than Canadian football.

[@theodoreking8468]

as a whole yes. The CFL only needs to convert 1 percent of American football fans to stay alive and has done so successfully.

[@matthewwelsh294]

Why the CFL didn't put a team in Portland OR? No NFL or a major college football team. Very close to Canada

[@jeelsvealnerve1163]

No stadium and no owner. To make any expansion team work you need a patient and wealthy owner, a significant population, and time to build fan interest. The 1993-5 US expansion didn't include any of those in most cases. And the owners who did have money weren't willing to lose money on operations for even 3 years before caving in. As Lamar Hunt showed, it takes 5-10 years to build a following. If you aren't willing and able to make that commitment, you really can't create a new league (or teams in the case of the CFL).

[@productreviewproductions439]

Feels like the cfl is in as bad of a financial situation now as it was then

[@Kongohh]

Yup! the more things change, the more they stay the same! But I feel it's mostly because they're selling to canada a product built for usa and wonder why USA isn't interested in knockoff. We have to do better or well be the generation that lost a hundred year old league that witness the 1st and 2nd WW

[@TheJhn924]

Not even close... back then TV money was a fraction of what TSN pays the CFL now and there were legitimate concerns that one or more teams couldn't make payroll without the league stepping in. With the recent sale of the Alouettes, the league currently has no pending ownership or immediate financial crisis issues.

[@Kongohh]

@@TheJhn924 good hopefully we can start working on that major CFL expansion!!!! It's needed, 9 teams are simply not enough when you think teams make the playoffs for the numbers

[@theodoreking8468]

@@Kongohh Can't force CFL expansion. It has to be done carefully. Stadiums should be expandable to 25k at least. If they have a rich guy willing to spend the money great, if not then there's always America again 😉

[@Kongohh]

@@theodoreking8468 yes definitely should be carefully planned but I'm not much a fan of Us expansion, i feel league should stay in Canada and I think Western Canada and Quebec have been underestimated

[@eddiekulp1241]

CFL is a minor league.. allways will be . An NFL team spends more in one year than the entire CFL

[@theodoreking8468]

No one said that CFL isn't minor league. That has nothing to do with American expansion in the 90s.

[@MrRoscojones1]

In my opinion it’s a great time for the CFL to put A team in the States. What they could do is put the team in a city that’s been crapped on by the nfl. Like San Diego or St Louis. Putting a new team in any state close to the border would be a disaster because of the population. Plus who wouldn’t want to take a dip in the Pacific or play in a cooled dome. Plus with all of the people who turned away from the nfl after they put the names of felons on the jerseys.

[@RealDaveTalk]

The smart thing to do with the US expansions to have teams in non-NFL cities for most of them were college football except for Baltimore, which was one of the most successful ones. Before I became a Ravens fan and was a Cowboys favs at the time I did watch and went to a few Baltimore Stallions Games. But when Art Modell announced that he was moving his team to Baltimore, it was the end of the CFL’s run in Baltimore. The NFL made a big mistake of not getting in Baltimore The Expansion Tina, because they were the heavily favorites. Did you know that the city of Baltimore how does one for different football championships in different leagues. The Baltimore Colts NFL Championship in 1958-59, 1969 and Super Bowl V. The Baltimore Stars of the USFL in 1985 which was rumor that the NFL was going to pick up the Star to join the NFL. Baltimore CFL/Stallions Grey Cup in 1995 becoming the first and only America City to win the Grey Cup. The Current Ravens, Super Bowl 36 (2000) and Super Bowl 47 (2012)

[@theodoreking8468]

I wouldn't go that direction. I'd have any expansion team do regular season10 games from June to August. NBA had a successful in-season tournament. CFL could have a mid-season tournament. TD neutral site game could be the championship. Canadian teams would go on as normal. Obviously if the expansion team sells out every game you let them play in the fall, but that isn't likely to happen.

[@RealDaveTalk]

@@theodoreking8468 that wouldn’t work and I disagree with you

[@theodoreking8468]

@@RealDaveTalk you can disagree all you want but it would work perfectly.