A recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute indicates a decline in overall interest in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as the league gears up to implement new rules and field adjustments. The poll revealed that the proportion of Canadians closely following the CFL has decreased from 21% in 2014 and 2018 to 16% in 2025.
According to the survey conducted online from October 7-11, opinions among fans varied regarding aligning the CFL with American football. While avid followers favored maintaining the CFL’s distinctiveness, less-engaged fans were split, with a notable percentage unsure or preferring alignment with the NFL.
The CFL’s recent rule changes, announced on September 22, stirred a mix of reactions as the league aims to balance tradition and modernization. Starting next season, winning games with a rouge, a single point on a missed field goal, will no longer be possible. The play clock will also see a 35-second automatic reset, and team benches will be relocated for easier substitutions.
Notably, the most significant alterations are set for 2027, including shortening CFL fields from 110 to 100 yards, reducing end zones from 20 to 15 yards, and moving goalposts to the back of the end zone. The survey highlighted opposition to these field changes, particularly among avid fans.
While some players like B.C. Lions’ Nathan Rourke criticized the new rules, others such as Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Bo Levi Mitchell viewed them as a modernization effort rather than an Americanization of the game. Montreal Alouettes linebacker Tyrice Beverette and Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Jameer Thurman expressed differing views on the changes, with Thurman emphasizing that core elements of Canadian football remain intact.
The online survey results should be interpreted with caution as online surveys, per the Canadian Research Insights Council, cannot be assigned a margin of error due to non-random sampling methods.