TORONTO — It wasn’t enough to immediately end Randy Ambrosie’s tenure as CFL commissioner, but it was clear the writing was on the wall.

Ambrose announced on Saturday that he will retire from his post sometime in 2025 after his successor has been chosen. Ambrosie became the 14th commissioner of the CFL on July 5, 2017, succeeding Jeffrey Orridge.

His seven-plus year tenure is the second-longest ever behind the late Jake Gaudaur (1968-1984).

Ambrosie’s decision was surprising given last year, during his annual Gray Cup speech, Ambrosie was adamant that he had no immediate plans to step down. It was widely understood that the 61-year-old from Winnipeg – a former CFL offensive lineman with Calgary, Toronto and Edmonton from 1985 to 1993 – would remain on the job at least through the ’26 season, when the broadcast contracts of leagues have expired.

But league sources said earlier this month, the league’s board of governors voted on Ambrose’s future. They said seven or more teams had to vote in favor of removing Ambrosie for it to become official.

That didn’t happen. But according to sources, the vote was still 5-4 in favor, a clear indication that Ambrosie did not have the board’s full support.

And a big reason for that, according to sources, was that the league’s distributions — the money the league distributes to its teams through partnerships and sponsorships — fell short of the governors’ expectations.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not publicly disclosed details of the management vote. Ambrosie declined to comment when asked about Saturday’s vote.

Calgary Stampeders president Jay McNeil said earlier this week that he felt Ambrosie did well in the role.

“Randy is definitely a great ambassador for this league and he’s done a good job in some pretty tough times,” McNeil said. “When you look at his tenure, he’s been dealing with fires his entire tenure as commissioner, including the pandemic, which is incredibly difficult.”

With Ambrosie ready to step down, the big question remains who will succeed him. Whoever does will be faced with reaching a new broadcasting agreement, and shortly after that, the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the CFL Players Association may be reopened.

McNeil said the next CFL commissioner will need to know more than football.

“They have to have a strong business background because that’s what it’s all about as we go into our 2027 negotiations and look to grow,” McNeil said. “We are not the only team looking to increase their ticket base.

“We all are. Having a strong business background will be important.”

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-Donna Spencer in Calgary contributed to this report.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 31, 2024.