| CFL South America: A Surinam by Any Other Name Wouldn't Smell As Sweet- Part 1 |
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I have a dream, and it’s not one that’s going to require people coming together and living in perfect harmony. Nor will it require the reduction of harmful Greenhouse emissions over the next ten years. No, if anything it’s one that will help increase those emissions, because it’s going to put good old-fashioned, hardcore CFL butts back in the seats, spending money on piss weak beer and greasy hot dogs. We’re going to reach down and do something visionary, something ground-breaking and perhaps a touch ridiculous in the grand tradition of visionaries like Calvin Ayre, Vince McMahon and David Stern. We’re going to take the CFL to South America. I’m deadly serious here people, well, mostly. In the grand tradition of the XFL and NFL Europe as well as the growing recognition of European and Asian players into North American sports, we’re going to take advantage of the vast multi-cultural base that Canada has and ramp it up with the metaphorical version of a sporting twelve pack of Red Bull. Developmental leagues have always been the keys to helping build a talent base in a country. Just look at the club leagues for soccer all throughout Europe. With the success of the NBA’s D-League and the almost twenty year run of NFL Europe, it makes perfect sense for the CFL to reach out across the world in an attempt to broaden its fan base while at the same time, breaking historic new ground. If soccer can be as huge throughout the streets of South America, then why not Football? Sure it may take some time, some money and some interested parties but imagine it this way. Sacrificing French Guiana, as technically they are part of the European Union, you have a twelve team league that if marketed right, could develop legions of fans that would turn the CFL into an international product, as well as open you up to a new cash crop of players that could become the next Matt Dunigan, Lui Passaglia or Henry “Gizmo” Williams. Plus, with the South American penitent for shortening their athletes to one name, the marketing possibilities could be endless. One day kids will want to grow up to be Damondino, Lualdo or simply…Dave. In part 2 of this piece, we’ll look at the possible homes for these teams and the limitless possibilities that could come with investing not only in the business of football, but the future of the sport on a global scale.                |