The Grey Cup, Canada's largest professional sporting event, has been celebrated since 1909. This year's championship will be broadcast in more than 160 countries. Toronto last hosted the Grey Cup in 1992 when Calgary defeated Winnipeg 24-10.
Some contend Toronto fans have outgrown the CFL, opting for the game played stateside.
"I think there's a bit of NFL snobbery. The fan base is more NFL here," said one football enthusiast in Toronto.
CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon surprised fans by announcing -- on the eve of Grey Cup weekend -- the NFL's expansion into Canada is inevitable.
"In the off season, we will be talking more about can we solidify an ongoing relationship with the NFL, but it's a complicated thing," Cohon said during a news conference this week.
Die-hard fans believe an NFL expansion could kill the CFL, which currently consist of eight teams.
CFL fan George Hitzroth, 87, has been to 61 Grey Cup championships.
He believes the NFL has a lot to offer, but not when it comes to the game's fundamentals.
"What the NFL has is great players and great promotion, but the game sucks. It's a terrible game," he told CTV News.
Fiacco said he has "mixed emotions" about NFL prospects in Canada and is mainly worried about the dilution of the league.
"Not all fans are going to be able to enjoy an NFL game. It's a very pricey ticket and it's not affordable," he said.
Despite the lack of enthusiasm, plans are already in the works for the NFL's Buffalo Bills to play some games in Toronto starting next season.
With reports from CTV's John Vennavally-Rao and Galit Solomon.
P1 P2
CTV.ca News Staff
Posted at 2007/11/24 18:44:56
CTV Home .Top Stories .World .Canada .Entertainment .Health .Sports & Business
© 2010 CTVglobemedia. All Rights Reserved.