With Rookie Camps getting underway Wednesday, it's time to talk about the 2026 CFL season!

The name change definitely chased some fans away but I don't think they would return if the name was changed back

8 minutes ago, blue85gold said:

There is just no reason to name a sports team after an ethnic group or race unless that team is predominately run by said ethnic group or race which has never been the case for Edmonton (or really any North American sports franchise). In particular when the government of the country where the team resides tried to systemically eliminate the ethnic group or race.

Blaming the name change on fan turn out is a sorry excuse.

They could change the name of the bombers to the Blue Bowlers and it wouldn't make a lick of difference on attendance.

Yep. People can cry about tradition when using the name change as a primary reason their attendance sucks but Edmonton also had a tradition of winning. Get back to that and the fans will follow. Calling your team Grey Cup champions is so much better than Eskimoes, Elks or any other team name.

57 minutes ago, blue85gold said:

They could change the name of the bombers to the Blue Bowlers and it wouldn't make a lick of difference on attendance.

After all the recent Grey Cup losses and coming so close to sweet victory..... can we rename ourselves the Blue Ballers?

51 minutes ago, Atomic said:

The name change definitely chased some fans away but I don't think they would return if the name was changed back

Any ream in any league has to be respectable. the rider fans started staying away in droves when shivers brought in good players, but who had a steady parade to the defendant's box and had their names in the news for all the wrong reasons. Losing is one thing, but losing badly while whining and throwing tantrums is another.

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

After all the recent Grey Cup losses and coming so close to sweet victory..... can we rename ourselves the Blue Ballers?

Blue Ballers??? ...that sounds sexually discriminatory and wouldn't go over with the fairer sex...You could try floating that name change but I would watch out for a quick kick to the gonads.............................................Speaking of quick kicks....when the hell was the last one tried by by any team in this league

Edited June 22Jun 22 by Stickem

People pretending the name change didn’t play a role are delusional. It’s not the only reason, of course losing plays a role and a much older cfl fan base who is aging out also plays a role. But pretending the name change didn’t matter when thousands of Eskimos fans complained loudly and still do is crazy. Might not matter to the bomber fan or rider fan but it matters to the Edmonton fan. Every market Is unique and different. What works in Winnipeg won’t work elsewhere and what works elsewhere might not work here. Edmonton? A large portion of the fan base is not happy with the name change. If our name was forced to change because a bunch of white dudes decided it’s offensive, ppl would be pissed here also

Edited June 23Jun 23 by Goalie

13 hours ago, ShyGuy said:

Blaming the name change is just so hilariously lazy I'm not sure how to take it seriously.

In the last 20 years and Elks have won 8 playoff games and only hosted 3.

They had 22 straight home losses around the pandemic and have failed to account for changes in recreational spending due to all the geopolitical events that have happened the last 6 years.

They've had years of uninspiring play and low community engagement from all reports.

But no, a bunch of old white dudes got their feelings hurt by a name change so that's why attendance is so low.

Just win baby and the fans will come back

You know, to this point we've had a decent discussion without any name calling or race baiting. Yes, of course the losing seasons as well as bad management & coaching had a lot to do with the collapse of the fanbase. But what do you think will get the attention of the former fans who've left to give the team a second chance? Bring the name back.

Edited June 23Jun 23 by SpeedFlex27

On 2026-06-20 at 5:34 PM, Goalie said:

Shocking. Move the season up and only Winnipeg is full. Football is a warm weather summer sport here. Kids still in school, thought we tried this b4 and it failed. It’s failing again.

i remember 10 years ago when Mark Cohon said the "CFL owned November". He was right but Randy Ambrosie we sure gave that up.

Was the Eskimo's name not originally approved and blessed by the actual Inuit people and taken as a sense of pride by them and they fully backed it?....I believe that or something along those lines was the case...The change wasn't coming from opposition and outrage from the Inuit but the snowflake white leadership who always want some kind of cause

I after done playing football played in some world championships for Fastball on a team where we had affliated Native Canadian players as well as played on a few All Native ran Clubs where you could have 3 non native players...Right from their mouths they said all his B.S about saying they were "Indian" was offensive and not politically correct and had to be First Nations People....Or Ishanawabee..etc was a crock to them...several said "I am an effin Indian" so what's the issue??

If the Elk were to say eff it and go back to Eskimo they would prob gain back fans as opposed to lose any...the only squawking will come from the luny ****** who like to complain about anything and everything and have a "cause"...sure maybe some sponsor's will initially pull out, but others will fill the void and with the TV money the next 5 yrs coming in it being what it will be...wouldnt make a lick if difference in a negative way for the bottom line

Enjoy my Tuesday quasi political rant 😁😉🤣

6 minutes ago, Booch said:

Was the Eskimo's name not originally approved and blessed by the actual Inuit people and taken as a sense of pride by them and they fully backed it?....I believe that or something along those lines was the case...The change wasn't coming from opposition and outrage from the Inuit but the snowflake white leadership who always want some kind of cause

I after done playing football played in some world championships for Fastball on a team where we had affliated Native Canadian players as well as played on a few All Native ran Clubs where you could have 3 non native players...Right from their mouths they said all his B.S about saying they were "Indian" was offensive and not politically correct and had to be First Nations People....Or Ishanawabee..etc was a crock to them...several said "I am an effin Indian" so what's the issue??

If the Elk were to say eff it and go back to Eskimo they would prob gain back fans as opposed to lose any...the only squawking will come from the luny ****** who like to complain about anything and everything and have a "cause"...sure maybe some sponsor's will initially pull out, but others will fill the void and with the TV money the next 5 yrs coming in it being what it will be...wouldnt make a lick if difference in a negative way for the bottom line

Enjoy my Tuesday quasi political rant 😁😉🤣

I don't know why people are saying this was a woke white people decision. There very clearly was pushback from some people in the Inuit community. There absolutely were some who had no problem with it but you're never going to get 100% agreement on something like this.

These articles talks about both sides - it was hurtful for some in that community while others voiced support for it. Should be noted that some of the support was because what a football team calls themselves isn't high on their priority list.

'Emotional and happy': Some Inuit reflect on Edmonton CFL team's name change | CBC News

'We have far more pressing issues,' says Inuk who backs Edmonton Eskimos name | CBC News

The Inuit couldn't make the decision; therefore, it was a white people's decision. Some Inuit were happy. Some weren't. Some white folks were happy. Some weren't.

It's 2026 and we don't use cultures as nicknames for our entertainment. Jesus Christ Almighty...

11 hours ago, Goalie said:

People pretending the name change didn’t play a role are delusional. It’s not the only reason, of course losing plays a role and a much older cfl fan base who is aging out also plays a role. But pretending the name change didn’t matter when thousands of Eskimos fans complained loudly and still do is crazy. Might not matter to the bomber fan or rider fan but it matters to the Edmonton fan. Every market Is unique and different. What works in Winnipeg won’t work elsewhere and what works elsewhere might not work here. Edmonton? A large portion of the fan base is not happy with the name change. If our name was forced to change because a bunch of white dudes decided it’s offensive, ppl would be pissed here also

they set a record for consecutive home losses, that is what cost thousands of fans. Fans complaining doesn't mean fans don't show up.

20 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's 2026 and we don't use cultures as nicknames for our entertainment. Jesus Christ Almighty...

Yes my son?

27 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's 2026 and we don't use cultures as nicknames for our entertainment. Jesus Christ Almighty...

22 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's 2026 and we don't use cultures as nicknames for our entertainment. Jesus Christ Almighty...

Not using a nickname doesn't change anything, except making people feel like they're doing something positive.

2 hours ago, Booch said:

Was the Eskimo's name not originally approved and blessed by the actual Inuit people and taken as a sense of pride by them and they fully backed it?....I believe that or something along those lines was the case...The change wasn't coming from opposition and outrage from the Inuit but the snowflake white leadership who always want some kind of cause

I after done playing football played in some world championships for Fastball on a team where we had affliated Native Canadian players as well as played on a few All Native ran Clubs where you could have 3 non native players...Right from their mouths they said all his B.S about saying they were "Indian" was offensive and not politically correct and had to be First Nations People....Or Ishanawabee..etc was a crock to them...several said "I am an effin Indian" so what's the issue??

If the Elk were to say eff it and go back to Eskimo they would prob gain back fans as opposed to lose any...the only squawking will come from the luny ****** who like to complain about anything and everything and have a "cause"...sure maybe some sponsor's will initially pull out, but others will fill the void and with the TV money the next 5 yrs coming in it being what it will be...wouldnt make a lick if difference in a negative way for the bottom line

Enjoy my Tuesday quasi political rant 😁😉🤣

If the elks/Eskimos had a personable GM and coach and were winning or at least playing exciting games, we would not be talking about this at all.

44 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's 2026 and we don't use cultFures as nicknames for our entertainment. Jesus Christ Almighty...

Like "the Boston Celtics"? Or "the Fighting Irish"? Or "the Great Caucasians"?-Ok, I made the last one up.

21 minutes ago, Tracker said:

If the elks/Eskimos had a personable GM and coach and were winning or at least playing exciting games, we would not be talking about this at all.

Like "the Boston Celtics"? Or "the Fighting Irish"? Or "the Great Caucasians"?-Ok, I made the last one up.

they may come in thursday and wax our hineys too...watching our defence much of last...and so far this...sure guys gotta settle in and all but Ceresna is a vet...we have one new guy in secondary and a DE is a DE ...not much to settle in other than are u good enough, so this time to gel crap is an excuse more than anything..we running exact same philosophy..use a lot of undersized guys, and smack dab in middle 2 linebackers who arent cutting it...Rankin may just have a heyday and the will be winning there way to 3-0 as we look up from the cellar by end of this week...and have to face the facts that we wont change a lick cause we were successful 5 yrs ago now

We dont have the adequate skill on offense across the board to win shoot out after shoot out...we likely could....But Smuggo chooses not to and would prefer to bumble around using excessive inadequate Canadians cause he has a Canadian Flag rammed up his backside and thinks he's proving a point of some kind...and he's not

I feel like losing, poor facilities, poor game day experiences and poor marketing have more to do with the Elk's decline in attendance than a name change.

As for the other part, times change, societies evolve. We've decided to not name teams using pejorative racial terms. Hell, many of us likely called people or things gay growing up but would never do that now.

It will be interesting to see what happens with attendance in Edmonton now that they have a legit team, they pulled off a cardiac kids win against the best team in the East, and they have the most exciting player in the CFL as of Week 2.

jeez, I am not looking forward to seeing Rankin in space against our linebackers.

Hopefully the Elks get some nice weather for their next few home games. Elks - Als sure looked like a nice game to watch from home.

Edited June 23Jun 23 by johnzo

48 minutes ago, johnzo said:

It will be interesting to see what happens with attendance in Edmonton now that they have a legit team, they pulled off a cardiac kids win against the best team in the East, and they have the most exciting player in the CFL as of Week 2.

jeez, I am not looking forward to seeing Rankin in space against our linebackers.

Hopefully the Elks get some nice weather for their next few home games. Elks - Als sure looked like a nice game to watch from home.

Good point. I’m not sold on their turn around, but I think they are and will be respectable at least.

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Good point. I’m not sold on their turn around, but I think they are and will be respectable at least.

if our defence shows no progress from last 2 games, and we cant contain the FAJ like we couldn't contain the VAJ...And Rankin plays...well like Rankin...and we rotate excessively again where guys don't know their left from their right again...Edm will put up 30+ on us and own T.O.P....you can almost take that to the bank sadly...I am more than willing to be proven wrong and eat crow and you all have free range to let me have it verbally...I wont be offended as in end of the day I want us to be successful and win

That being said I am not sharpening my knife and fork to prepare to choke down any crow until I see a reason to, and some advancement and still more change in how we roll things out.

5 hours ago, johnzo said:

It will be interesting to see what happens with attendance in Edmonton now that they have a legit team, they pulled off a cardiac kids win against the best team in the East, and they have the most exciting player in the CFL as of Week 2.

jeez, I am not looking forward to seeing Rankin in space against our linebackers.

Hopefully the Elks get some nice weather for their next few home games. Elks - Als sure looked like a nice game to watch from home.

Edmonton and district are on water conservation measures- no lawn watering, car washes, showers or flushing of yellow water. Rain would be most welcome, even if it aftects CFL games.

yeah based on the first couple games, I am not optimistic that our D has an answer for Rankin .... but I would much rather have a seat at the crow buffet than be right about that.

16 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Edmonton and district are on water conservation measures- no lawn watering, car washes, showers or flushing of yellow water. Rain would be most welcome, even if it aftects CFL games.

Correction it was a flood alert due to 100+mm rain in 3 days with ground already saturated. The warning was to let the drainage network catch up. All good here now.