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Frequently Asked Questions about Schedules

The FAQ was recently reorganized with the addition of the Rosters topic and the shuffling of some questions. If you can't find your question on this page, please check the Rosters page.

1. When is the CFL schedule released? When does the CFL schedule come out?#

   Based on recent history, expect the schedule to be released in February. The schedule has been published in February the past six years (Feb. 28 in 2007, Feb. 21 in 2008, Feb. 3 in 2009, Feb. 1 in 2010, Feb. 18 in 2011 and Feb. 17 in 2012). Expect delays in the schedule release date over the next few years as the task of scheduling games has become more complicated with the number of teams renovating and building new stadiums adding to stadium availability issues that already exist in Toronto as well as television requirements.

2. Where can I get a CFL or team schedule? Is the CFL schedule available in iCal or Google Calendar format?#

   Check out the schedules page which provides a number of resources and links for the CFL schedule, including iCal format or printable league and team schedules. Printed schedules are also usually available from team ticket offices by training camp each year.

3. Which CFL games are televised? Where can I get a television schedule for my team? Are CFL pre-season games televised?#

   In Canada, all regular season and playoff games are televised on TSN through the end of the 2012 season (TSN also holds an option for the 2013 season). Check the schedules page for complete and team schedules with the knowledge that all games are televised on TSN in Canada subject to local blackouts. For finding the broadcasters of CFL games in the US, please see the CFL's US and International Broadcaster schedule.

   In 2011, TSN announced it was televising 7 of 8 pre-season games on TSN or TSN2. Prior to 2011 CFL pre-season games have not been televised nationally with two exceptions: a game in Portland, Oregon in 1992 and a game in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2005, both by TSN. There was the opportunity for televised coverage of a team's home games in local and regional markets, as in Hamilton and Saskatchewan in 2010.

4. What is the blackout policy of the CFL? What CFL games are blacked out? Can I get my team's blackout schedule for the season?#

   A report from 2006 (when the new contract was signed) indicates that blackouts are controlled at the league level and requires the league to lift the blackout on a minimum number of games each year. Article VI of the CFL Constitution outlines the television and blackout policy. By its wording, it appears that a base price for lifting blackouts in each market is determined each year by the board along with the total number of home game blackouts to be permitted in a season. A portion of rights fees is then used to compensate teams for lifting blackouts (thus theoretically creating higher television ratings). Reinterpreting this article, the pool allowed teams to blackout two games in 2009, meaning the pool size was 56 games. Blackout decisions revert to the league if 90% of tickets are sold 24 hours prior to the game start. It is the opinion of Eskimos CEO Rick LeLacheur that this is the last television rights agreement to have blackout stipulations for the CFL. Since TSN beguan broadcasting games in High Definition in 2007, HD broadcasts have not been affected by blackouts.

   The Constitution does not hold the whole story it appears, as this mailbag question (see last question) to Drew Edwards from April 2010 (an article that also references these restrictions) indicates that each team can black out 5 games per season except for Toronto and Hamilton which can black out a maximum of 2 games. Yet Terry Jones says in Aug. 2010 the Eskimos can choose to black out one game per season. In 2011, the BC Lions are contemplating blackouts for their return to a renovated BC Place stadium.

   Blackouts are not determined prior to the season and published with team schedules. Teams use blackouts as a tool to maintain ticket sales. The CFL is a gate-driven league and their television contract would need to increase by over four times for each team to generate the same amount of revenue from broadcasts as they do from ticket sales.

   The policy for the past 20 years at least has been that playoff games are not blacked out. I believe the Grey Cup has not been blacked out since it was first televised.

   The previous agreement (2002 through 2007), if I remember correctly, required teams to lift at least two blackouts per season.

5. How many games in the CFL season? How long is the CFL season? How many games does a CFL team play in the regular season? When did the amount of CFL regular season games increase? When did full interlocking play begin?#

   The CFL currently plays 18 games per team in the regular season, nine games each at home and away. With eight teams this equates to 72 total games per season for the league. The season takes approximately 6 months from June 1 to the last Sunday of November, with 1 month for training camp/pre-season, 19-20 weeks for the regular season and 3 weeks for the playoffs and Grey Cup championship.

   In a nine-team circuit (1986, 1993, 1996, 2002-2005) there was 81 games per season, 108 games in a 12-team loop (1994), and 117 games when there was 13 teams (1995), all with an 18-game schedule.

   The CFL increased the amount of regular season games from 16 to 18 in 1986. A 16 game regular season schedule was in place from 1974 to 1985. During this time a four game pre-season schedule was used. The pre-season schedule was reduced to two games per team with the introduction of the expanded 18 game regular season schedule and is in use today.

   Prior to 1974 the Eastern Conference played only 14 regular season games while the Western Conference played 16, a practice they began in 1952.

   Full interlocking play began in 1981. Partial interlocking play did not begin until 1961. Prior to that, east-west cross-country play occurred only in the pre-season. For example, the BC Lions franchise debut at home occurred against the Montreal Alouettes on August 11, 1954.

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