The world's second richest American Football competition, the CFL is a great alternative to anyone who has had their fill of NFL, or for football fans who find themselves north of the border. Featuring teams from all over Canada and running from June through November, the CFL is also a great chance to watch the game outside the NFL season. Book CFL tickets with StubHub today.
Background for CFL tickets holders
The CFL may be the little brother to the NFL, but Canada's major football competition is no pushover. Currently featuring sides from Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto in the East Division, and Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg in the West Division, there's no finer football on offer during the northern hemisphere summer.
The league is structured in slightly differently to the NFL. In Canada, each of the nine teams plays the other teams twice, as well as two "divisional games" against opponents in their division. The top team then goes through to the play offs, while the second and third placed teams fight it out in the Divisional Semi-Final. In total, fans can buy CFL tickets for 81 matches, so there's plenty of choice available.
At the end of the season (usually in November), fans can also head to the Grey Cup - the CFL's grand final. First staged in 1909, the Grey Cup long predates the league itself, which was founded in 1958. At the game itself, expect spectacular entertainment and a buzzing atmosphere generated by crowds of 30,000 or more spectators.
Great matches in the history of the CFL
Canadian football has seen some incredible match-ups over the years, and fans heading to CFL matches can expect more in the future. 1954's Grey Cup Final is reckoned to be the most exciting of all. Trailing in the last moments of the game, Edmonton's Jackie Parker picked up a fumble and ran it 90 yards for a game winning touchdown, as the unfancied Albertans won 26-25.
Then came the 1980s, when CFL witnessed some remarkable occasions. 1981 was a classic, with the Edmonton Eskimos coming from 20-1 down to beat Ottawa. 1987 may have been even better. In that match missed field goals were returned 115 yards as the teams racked up 800 yards of total offense, and the game was won for Edmonton by a dramatic 49 yard field goal.
1994 was another highlight, for different reasons. In an effort to boost the game, the CFL included several American sides. Baltimore reached the final against Vancouver, who pipped them 26-23 in the Grey Cup - a major coup for Canadian football.
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