CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie On How Talks Started, Working With The XFL

Justin Dunk of 3DownNation caught up with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie to talk about this week’s announcement. They talk about how the conversation between the leagues got started and where things are moving forward.

Randy Ambrosie On How Talks Started

“We ended up having this conversation with the ownership group at the XFL and it started a conversation which was really just explaining what we were trying to do here, what they were trying to do and somewhere in all of that, we ended up having reaching a point where we said, you know, we think there is a lot of common vision, there’s a lot of common DNA.

What we really wanted to do today was not have those discussions in the shadows. We wanted to have a more transparent conversation recognizing that our league belongs to the fans. It belongs to all of us, all the stakeholders, the players, and everyone.

So let’s have a conversation that’s more out in the open.”

Ambrosie On The Purpose of This Weeks Announcement

“Rather than bringing a baked cake to the party, we’re just going to talk about building a cake.

We are putting no expectations on this other than to highly energized groups that see value in what each other does. And how might we help grow the game of football together and collaborate.

Ambrosie On If the Agreement Is About Money

“We’re not doing this out of a sense of desperation. We’re doing this because we see it as an opportunity. That is the fundamental orientation we’re taking into this is we’re not doing this because we have a blind panic.

We doing this because we feel good about talking with them(XFL), about collaborating to grow the game of football. And starting on that very positive footing is a really good thing.

Ambrosie On If This Announcement Will Effect the 2021 CFL Season

“No. In fact, one of the bedrock principles of what we’re working on today is that we’re going to do everything we can to get back on the field.

That is our focus. We want to play a 2021 season, want to get our players back on the field. We want to get our fans back in the stands. We’re obviously watching the vaccine rollout very carefully. We’re talking with public health officials about health and safety protocols.”

The overwhelming theme from the CFL commissioner’s conversation is that both leagues are talking, thats it. The announcement today was letting everyone know the CFL is talking to the XFL and both sides are collaborating.

Whatever may come of it could be truly groundbreaking in the world of sports and football.

At this point, neither side knows or will let alone saying anything. They both agree on one thing. For The Love Of Football, that is what brought them together.

You can listen to the full conversation here.