The CFL will be playing three-down football for the 2022 season, according to TSN reporter Dave Naylor.
I believe four downs was discussed (as were a lot of things) but there was not enough momentum to move it beyond that stage, Naylor tweeted.
Other possible changes to the game still have to be studied and approved. All of these are about improving the three-down game.
It was reported in December that the league would be reviewing all aspects of its game, including the number of downs. Sportnet’s Arash Madani was the first to report that the CFL was receiving pressure from its data and technology partner Genius Sports to do away with the iconic three-down game.
Genius Sports is a sports data and technology company based in the United Kingdom. It owns a minority stake in the league’s new commercial arm, CFL Ventures, which allows it to profit off the revenue it is intended to help create.
The high-profile firm is set to provide everything from tailored marketing research to revolutionary new broadcast technologies, as well as spear-heading the CFL’s approach to legal sports gambling. However, the company denied in a statement that it had provided any input on game-play.
No matter the motivation, the report has created panic in the fan base and prompted several prominent CFL figures to vocally oppose the idea. Commissioner Randy Ambrosie has publicly addressed the report and attempted to dispel concerns, but his approach has left a lot to be desired and because of it how many downs the league plays with in 2023 is an open question.
