The Canadian Football League is enjoying the spotlight this week as the 112th Grey Cup Festival unfolds, featuring a television-friendly championship matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes this Sunday in Winnipeg.
Historic Grey Cup Matchup
This year's championship game promises compelling viewing for football fans across Canada. The Saskatchewan-Montreal showdowns of 2009 and 2010 remain the two most-watched Grey Cups in the TSN era, attracting over six million viewers each to Canada's iconic football event.
For the 2025 championship, league officials consider four million viewers a successful benchmark, with the competitive game at newly renamed Princess Auto Stadium providing strong potential to reach that audience. Winnipeg, the host city, continues to demonstrate its status as one of Canada's most engaged markets for three-down football.
Women's Sports Momentum
While the CFL captures attention, women's professional sports are experiencing significant developments across multiple leagues. The business of women's sports saw several notable announcements this week, including Chicago being awarded the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
Media events are building excitement for the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent, two expansion franchises set to begin play in the Professional Women's Hockey League on November 21. Additionally, the Northern Super League confirmed its inaugural championship game will feature Toronto AFC against Vancouver Rise this weekend.
The most substantial women's sports story emerged from the National Women's Soccer League, where Atlanta will become the league's 17th franchise. The expansion fee of US$165 million sets a new record, demonstrating the remarkable growth of women's professional sports, particularly over the past five years.
Despite this progress, challenges remain. The WNBA is currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with a deadline of November 30. The women's sports market has been transformed by significant investment from respected sports leaders, including Mark Walter, managing partner of ownership groups governing both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Sports Betting Integrity Concerns
The sports world is grappling with troubling developments in the betting industry, particularly within the NBA and Major League Baseball. Both major men's sports leagues face serious allegations centered around props betting that raise questions about game integrity.
The NBA confronts a high-stakes crisis with a poker and props betting scandal involving more than 50 coaches and players, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat's Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones. These allegations cast a shadow over the future of proposition wagering across professional sports.
As the CFL celebrates its premier event, the broader sports landscape faces critical questions about maintaining integrity in an era of expanded sports betting. The contrasting stories of celebration in Canadian football and concern in the betting industry highlight the complex challenges facing modern professional sports.
