CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie has definitively stated he’s taken a salary reduction amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to 3DownNation insider Justin Dunk, since Ambrosie was hired in July 2017, he’s been collecting around $750,000 per year, and bonus incentives could increase his annual earnings to approximately $1 million.
Ambrosie wrote in an open letter:
Our focus also goes far beyond whether we play in the fall. We are committed to taking actions that not only allow us to weather the COVID-19 storm, but also ensure we have a foundation to renew, reinforce and one day continue the growth of the CFL. It was reported this week that non-player football operations across the league have been asked to cut their budgets by 20 per cent. We know this is tough on our very dedicated coaches, general managers and scouts.
But we all must show leadership at this time. That’s why I and every member of our league’s executive team voluntarily took pay cuts of at least 20 per cent back in April. There have also been pay cuts, reductions in hours and even layoffs across the nine CFL clubs as well as the league office since the pandemic struck. We continue to look for more efficiencies and opportunities to overcome the challenges of COVID-19. We are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to controlling costs and creatively looking for revenue.
General managers, scouts, coaches and football operations staffers were upset a salary cut came down on them without ramifications for those in power positions throughout the league. Ambrosie clearly heard the criticism and responded to it.
