The Canadian Football League has approached the Arena Football League about a partnership. The CFL approached AFL Commissioner Baker primarily because it had come to the CFL’s attention that the increasingly popular Arena League intends to expand into Canada at some point. And, since CFL commissioner John Tory isn’t sure they could lick their counterparts in the Arena League, they decided they’d like to join them.
"The challenge we would face with competing directly against the Arena League in Canada would not be a healthy scenario for the CFL. I think we’re much better off working with them." Source said the establishment of a Canadian Arena League, as an arm of the Arena Football League, also is a possibility.
Last month, it was reported the CFL had been approached by the fledgling Indoor Football League about a partnership, but it was revealed yesterday that the idea of an IFL merger was rejected and now the Canadians are fully focused on the Arena League. The major concerned was that the Arena League had actually patented their game, and specifically the [rebound] nets. The Arena League won an injunction in court and prevented the Indoor League from using the nets.
The NFL, which established a partnership with the CFL a few years ago, recently obtained an option to purchase 49.5 per cent of the entire Arena League. the CFL said approaching the Arena League was their own idea but he added that they did inform NFL executives and received their blessings.