Edmonton Football Team or EE Football Team. We've seen a similar placeholder for the McGill University men's sports in Montréal, known as the Team.
The Edmonton CFL franchise aka Edmonton Football Team made the official announcement that the team was dropping the racist nickname the team has had.
There is no timetable for a new nickname. The Team will remain so through 2020.
We want the Elks to be the new nickname; other names out there are Empire and Energy. They would be better than the old ones but not as cool as Elks.
Washington NFL nickname switch should inspire a similar move from the Edmonton CFL team
2019 CFL Week 16 preview
Winnipeg has reportedly beat out Regina (Saskatchewan) and Calgary to be the hub city for the CFL bubble in 2020. Manitoba public health and safety officials still need to approve the deal.
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister stepped up with a $2.5 million offer to cover accommodations, transportation, and a number of costs. Saskatchewan offered $3 million afterward. Calgary also had a bid to be the hub city.
The CFL notes that a new collective bargaining agreement with the CFL Players Association needs to happen as well as significant federal government support.
The goal is to have some kind of training camp and start games in September. Still a long way to go.
The players will have the right to opt out of the 2020 season without penalty. Brandon Banks has said he won't wear a helmet until 2021. DaVaris Daniels gave CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie until July 3. James Wilder Jr. got a job and retired. Banks has some pull given his status as the 2019 most outstanding player.
If CFL plays in 2020, have all the games in the Maritimes
CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage
The 60-game schedule and Grey Cup would be in Winnipeg. This translates to each team playing 6 regular season games. Only a single CFL team would be eliminated.
The premise behind this is limited the extent of the bubble. Having a 8-game season allows every team to play each other. Having a regular season, even a 6-game season, will be embarrassing if 8 of the 9 teams make the playoffs. If the Argos are that eliminated team, the league will suffer embarrassment in the country's largest city.
With a 6-game season and an extra round of playoffs, that plan only cuts the bubble by a week. The NFL just eliminated its preseason. The CFL could do the same and get in an extra week or 2 for the regular season.
We see that NHL announcers are entering the bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. If the CFL announcers did the same, they might have to do other duties from within the bubble, such as Dustin Nielson's radio show in Edmonton or Gord Miller switching bubbles once NBCSN doesn't need him for Stanley Cup playoff duties.
photo credits: Edmonton Football Team; me
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