Get Set For The 2024 CFL Season

By Chris Lawton

Finally. After the long wait comes the excitement of the 2024 CFL season kicking off this upcoming weekend. For CFL fans the wait can seem like a long one. After all, it’s 5 and half months since the 2023 Grey Cup game was played. From the moment the Montreal Alouettes lifted the venerable old trophy CFL stalwarts started 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.

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We may have had announcements, like Touchdown Pacific, negotiation lists released, the 2024 CFL Draft, and Canadian Football Hall of Fame announcement to keep us interested. 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.

This year that starts with a Grey Cup rematch as the champion Alouettes visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who they vanquished in the championship game last time out.

The following night the Hamilton Tiger-Cats face the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. The opening week of the 2024 season will also see the Saskatchewan Roughriders facing the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium on June the 8th  in Corey Mace’s first game as Roughriders head coach. The Toronto Argonauts will round things out as they entertain the B.C. Lions at BMO Field on June the 9th Sunday (midnight UK time).

Ottawa Redblacks fans must wait another week to see their team in action. After an opening-week bye they will host Winnipeg on June the 13th. Every team will also of course be excited to make their home debuts for the season. Perhaps none more so than Montreal who will hoist the Grey Cup banner in their home opener in Week 3 of the season, and the Lions who are having their home kick-off preceded by a concert from 50 Cent and who have sold a ton of tickets for this ‘event’ game.

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.

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If you are new, we’ve got you covered too with this guide 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 111th 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 pretty 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? Oh boy, yes, it is!

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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