Get Set For The CFL Labour Day Classics

By Chris Lawton

It is time! After the long wait comes the excitement of the 2025 CFL season kicking off this upcoming weekend. For this we are calling it only slightly tongue in cheek the Canadian Funball League. Because that is exactly what we think the CFL is here at Touchdown Towers CFL Wing, – fun! The 3 Down game is built for exciting, open play with what we would argue is a much better set of special teams rules and a much higher chance of seeing a close finish.

Due to the rules of the Canadian game the phrase ‘no lead is safe’ has entered the lexicon of Canadian Football fans and been proven to be right on plenty of occasions. As noted above this is a 3-down game – which means more possessions and a greater passing focus usually. Add in the ability to score a single point without a touchdown preceding it and games can be tight at the close. Between June and August last year for example, 72% of games were decided in the last 3 minutes of regulation play. In fact throughout 2024 there were plenty of exciting finishes, and CFL fans will be hoping for more in 2025.

The excitement is building. The 2025 season kickoff comes on Friday the 6th of June at 2am UK time  as the Ottawa RedBlacks travel to the Saskatchewan Roughriders to get things going. Which means CFL fans can stop asking tongue in cheek, ‘Is it June Yet?’ A rallying cry heard year on year as we await the next CFL season and all the excitement that will bring.

It has been a long 5 and half months since the 2024 Grey Cup game which saw the Toronto Argonauts lift the beloved trophy for the second time in three years.  Since then we have had moments like the 2025 CFL Draft, The CFL going to camp, rule changes, and team specific news like Snoop Dogg doing a kickoff concert with the BC Lions. But nothing hits home like the players hitting the field. So now camps are over, and we have had the last pre-season games have been played, attention turns to kick-off weekend.

After Saskatchewan hosts Ottawa in the opener we will have the battle of the last two champions as the Toronto Argonauts head to Montreal the following day to face the Montreal Alouettes who won it all in 2023. Next up will be the Sunday midnight (UK time) game where the Hamilton Tiger-Cats face the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. Rounding things out the last game of the weekend will see the Edmonton Elks travel to face the BC Lions.

Fans of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who have appeared in five consecutive Grey Cup contests, winning two, must wait another week to see their team in action. After an opening-week bye they will play host to the BC Lions. Doubtless every fan base believes they have a chance to do great things. Every team is 0-0 right now and we don’t know who will overperform and underperform to expectations. Which means every team will be eager to kick start their season and want to make their home debuts. Not least the Argos who will hoist a record 19th Grey Cup winners banner at BMO field in Week 2.

If you are an NFL fan or college football fan who is looking for a summer football fix then look no further! The CFL has elite level players, recognisable college brand players, and is a wide open and exciting game, with great special teams plays, a pass-oriented style of attack on a wider, longer field and has a wonderfully warm and welcoming online community.

If you are new, we’ve got you covered too with this guide to the teams. to help you pick which team is right for you. Also, you need to know how to watch. CFL+ the leagues’ own streaming service will broadcast the entire 2024 regular season, the Grey Cup Playoffs and the 112th Grey Cup. For each of these games there will be a 48-hour window of availability following the conclusion of the game. So, you can watch the games at a time that is reasonable for you. And, let’s face it, you can probably easily avoid the results if you don’t check CFL based sites. To get the streaming service you just sign up with an email address an access is free. Sounds like the perfect time to dip your toes in the uncharted waters of 3 down football for newbies to me!

For the long-term fans, let’s get ready to rock! Every season brings its own stories and excitements and as ever it will be fun to watch them all unfold. Is it June yet? It certainly is – let’s enjoy it together!

CHRIS LAWTON

CFL ANALYST

Chris originally started following the NFL with the ‘first wave’ of fans when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1980’s. He has been a keen supporter of the Miami Dolphins since 1983. Chris first encountered the CFL in 2016 and instantly fell in love with the Canadian game. He has been writing about the CFL 2017. Chris has a degree in history, postgraduate degree in librarianship and can be found on twitter as @CFLfanUK

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