B.C Lions owner Amar Doman hails Stewart Johnston’s vision for CFL growth

B.C. Lions owner Amar Doman has thrown his full support behind CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston, insisting the league chief is taking Canadian football “to a different level” despite growing backlash from fans.

Johnston, who took over as commissioner in April 2025, has become a divisive figure among supporters after introducing sweeping changes to the CFL, including major rule adjustments and an expanded playoff format. While boos have followed him in public appearances, Doman says the mood inside Board of Governors meetings could not be more different.

The Lions owner praised Johnston’s willingness to make difficult decisions, arguing that change is necessary for the league’s long-term survival.

Doman credited Johnston for acting decisively in his first year, pointing to bold structural reforms announced last September, including reducing the field length to 100 yards and moving goalposts to the back of the end zone. The commissioner later unveiled plans for an expanded postseason beginning in 2027, allowing eight of the league’s nine teams into the playoffs.

Though those changes sparked outrage among traditional supporters — with petitions launched and some fans cancelling season tickets — Doman believes resistance is inevitable whenever major reforms are introduced.

At BC Place, the backlash has been visible. Protest banners appeared during games, while the Lions reportedly lost dozens of season-ticket holders directly linked to frustration over the league’s direction. Even star quarterback Nathan Rourke publicly challenged Johnston, raising concerns about the CFL becoming too “Americanized.”

Doman, however, strongly rejected that criticism, insisting the commissioner is simply modernising the product rather than changing the identity of Canadian football.

One of Johnston’s biggest achievements in Doman’s eyes has been securing the CFL’s new media rights agreement. The commissioner recently finalised a six-year broadcast deal that keeps games on TSN while introducing weekly streaming coverage on DAZN beginning in 2027.

Many supporters criticised the move toward subscription-based streaming, but Doman described it as essential to attracting younger audiences and keeping the CFL relevant for decades to come.

Behind closed doors, Doman revealed that league governors unanimously supported Johnston’s vision and that the commissioner was hired specifically because of his willingness to embrace innovation.

According to the Lions owner, league officials already knew the direction they wanted to move in during the hiring process, with Johnston emerging as the candidate best suited to deliver immediate change.

With many of the commissioner’s early priorities already addressed and the CFL reportedly in stable financial shape, focus may now turn toward expansion.

Recent reports have suggested growing momentum behind a possible franchise in Quebec City, and while Doman remained cautious, he hinted that meaningful discussions are taking place with potential investors.

For now, Johnston remains a polarising figure among fans, but Doman made clear that league ownership remains firmly behind him — insisting the CFL will continue pushing forward with its long-term strategy regardless of criticism.