The CFL is now searching for a new commissioner after the Canadian Football League’s board of governors voted not to renew Randy Ambroise’s contract on Saturday first reported by Sportsnet reporter Arash Madani. Ambroise’s tenure will end after the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver.
Madani added to the report saying “Ambrosie has been telling people today he’s out. Expect the league this evening to announce Ambrosie’s departure is official. Wouldn’t be surprised if at board level, a NO vote on a contract extension led to this. Something around the 5-4 range on a vote to not renew.”
Randy Ambroise became the 14th Commissioner of the CFL in 2017 replacing Jeffrey Orridge. The 61-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was the first Canadian-born Commissioner since Tom Wright. Ambroise is the fourth-longest-serving commissioner behind Jake Gaudaur, Sydney Halter, and Mark Cohon.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Randy for his leadership and for providing us with as much notice as possible of his intention to retire. His willingness to stay on until his successor is named will allow for a seamless and successful transition likely sometime in 2025,” said Scott Banda.
“Randy has shepherded the league through some very difficult challenges, including the pandemic and leadership changes at the team level. To meet those challenges and build a stronger brand with growing fandom, a new digital marketing strategy, effective ownership and leadership across the league, and rule and procedure changes that have delivered fun, fast, and entertaining football, is a positive legacy indeed. Randy has built the foundation on which the league can move to the next level.”
Randy Ambroise was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round (2nd pick) of the 1985 CFL Draft out of the University of Manitoba. He played three seasons in Calgary, two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, and finished his career playing five seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos where he was a member of the 1993 Grey Cup Championship team. He retired following the 1993 season.
“Working together, we have put the CFL on a much sounder foundation, with strong new owners, improved attendance, growing TV ratings, superbly fun and entertaining football, and noteworthy progress in our larger markets,” Ambrosie said.
“There is always more to be done, and I look forward to welcoming the next Commissioner who will seek to take our league to even greater heights. Until that person has been chosen and is ready to take over, I will continue to work hard on behalf of the CFL. When I do step aside sometime next year, I will do so with a profound sense of achievement, satisfaction, and gratitude. I want to thank our Governors, team presidents, players and coaches and staff, and our valued business partners. I especially want to thank our great fans from coast to coast, and particularly my wonderful wife Barb and our smart and beautiful daughters, for their support.”
After his CFL career ended, Ambroise was the secretary of the Canadian Football League’s Players’ Association (CFLPA). He oversaw the CFL expansion into the United States and fought against lowering the import ratio. In addition, Ambroise served as CEO of Accretive 360 Inc. from 2010 to 2012.
“My goal has always been to leave the league in better condition than I found it, and I am proud that the CFL has grown stronger in the past seven years,” Ambrosie said. “Serving as Commissioner is a tremendous honour. It is also a job that requires total dedication, seven days a week, almost 365 days a year. After more than seven years, I feel the time is right for a transition, once a successor is named, and I will do everything in my power to help the next Commissioner achieve even more. Until then, it is business as usual.”
