Sportsnet’s Arash Madani reports that CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie has grown unhappy with internal league discussions leaking into the public.
According to Madani, Ambrosie has threatened teams and staff members with fines up to $25,000 if it’s discovered that they’ve shared information with the media.
Recently the commissioner has grown upset with details of general manager and presidents meetings plus his presentation to the board of governors reaching the masses. It was Madani who reported details regarding Ambrosie’s business plan for the future of the CFL.
“Ambrosie presented to the governors on what his plan is for the future and, from what I’ve been told, that business plan is effectively very similar to the one that was presented 18 months ago. This look to the future for if the league comes back is essentially a tweaked business plan,” Madani said on The Rod Pedersen Show.
“There is very little in it that addressed COVID, very little on the social justice issues, very little on the XFL, which just made their announcement and the entire long-term strategy is tied to international growth. What I was also told is there isn’t much of a plan right now if there isn’t butts in seats.”
Madani confirmed a report from 3DownNation‘s Justin Dunk that seven of the nine CFL general managers are against the global initiative, referencing an unrelated video conference call last month. While the dissent among GMs has grown, Madani pointed to support from the presidents and CEOs in another video conference as the reason why it is still being pushed.
Ambrosie has made few media appearances since the league voted to cancel its 2020 season and he doesn’t want the behind the scenes going on to become known publicly.
