Darrell Davis: NBA, NHL bury CFL with non-stop buzz

The past three weeks should have served as a great lesson for the CFL.

Why? Because the CFL has been fighting a losing battle for exposure against the NBA and NHL, two professional sports leagues that completed their seasons in mid-June. To capitalize on the interest built by their championship series, the NBA and NHL quickly held their amateur drafts and free-agent frenzies. Sports fans haven’t stopped talking about basketball and hockey.

Compare this non-stop buzz to the CFL, which plays its Grey Cup game — the highlight of the season — in late November then promptly disappears for a couple months as the league and team staffs regroup for next season. CFL contracts expire in February, long after the season ends, so free agency has to create its own buzz. The CFL draft isn’t a huge event, but because it’s always changing dates and scheduled so far after the Grey Cup, none of that late-season excitement carries over.

Of course the CFL needs some down-time. Schedule it long after Grey Cup fever slows down.