2000

The League enters the new millennium on a continued upward curve. League attendance is up for the second straight year gaining 5.6% over the previous season as 1,718,312 fans filed through the turnstiles during the regular season. Television ratings rose dramatically as TSN's grew by a 17.9% increase over the '98 season. The CFL had another excellent season on the whole in 2000. Television ratings and attendance both rose dramatically over the 1999 season. Acting Commissioner & Chairman John Tory and President & COO Jeff Giles both stepped down from their respective positions. Michael R. Lysko was named as the tenth Commissioner of the CFL on November 1. Calgary hosted an extremely successful week of Grey Cup festivities culminating with another classic finish to the game.

2001

Many new corporate partners were brought on board, buying into the "less is more" philosophy. Television ratings grew again in 2001, especially in the key 18-34 category where TSN saw a growth of 55%, while RDS' grew by an astounding 116%. The CFL suspended it's Week 11 games due to the Sept. 11 tragedies. The CFL officially returned to the city of Ottawa on October 16. A group led by Brad Watters secured the Ottawa Renegades as well as the 2004 Grey Cup. The 89th Grey Cup took place in Montreal with incredible success, marked by the second largest attendance in history at 65,255. The CFL moved offices in December to a downtown Toronto location on Wellington St. East after 10 years on Eglinton.

2002

The Board of Governors unanimously decided on March 19 to relieve Michael Lysko of his duties as Commissioner. In accordance with the constitution, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. David Braley became the acting Commissioner. On April 29, Paul Tagliabue became the first NFL Commissioner in history to visit the CFL Head Office. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers returned to the West Division. The Ottawa Renegades play their first regular season game ever on June 28 at Frank Clair Stadium. The CFL and CFLPA agreed to a new CBA on Oct. 16. TSN reported a 27% increase in viewership over 50 games. Tom E. Wright was introduced as the 11th Commissioner in CFL history on November 23. The Grey Cup attracted more than 60,000 fans for a record 2nd consecutive year. CBC announced a record TV audience of more than 5.2 million viewers nationally for the Grey Cup game.

2003

A new 5-year television deal with TSN and CBC was announced on February 27. Seventy-seven games broadcast on TSN and CBC, most in League history. League introduces new specialty weekends including Canada Day Bash, Labour Day Classic and Gridiron Thanksgiving. CFL.ca launches new Website in July. The League office assumes control of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club on July 29. Chairman of the Board, Paul Robson, is appointed as interim Operations Manager. Receiver is appointed July 30. League office assumes control of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football franchise on August 15. Alan Ford is appointed as interim Operations Manager. CFL announces sale of Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club to Bob Young on October 7. CFL announces sale of Toronto Argonauts Football Club to Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon on November 5. TSN achieves second highest viewership average in League history. League realizes its second straight attendance increase (+2%) in as many seasons, more than two million fans filed into CFL stadiums. Grey Cup TV audience reaches 4.4 million Canadian homes. CFL signs long-term partnerships with Reebok, Rogers and Sun Microsystems.

2004

George Black appointed as new Director of Officiating (replacing Neil Payne who retired in February 2004). The League, through its partnership with Sun Microsystems, launched real-time in-game statistics entry with live play-by-play and scoring offered on CFL.ca. The CFL announced its partnership with FSN and launched a player-based and team-based game for 2004 season on June 2. The CFL also launched its first ever online kids section - the Dare CFL KidsZone. CFL embarked on a new international broadcast agreement with Trajectory Sports & Media Group, which delivered Canadian football to more than 50 million households across 176 countries. More than 2.2 million fans took in CFL games, an 8% increase over 2003. U.S. television coverage resulted in the largest international broadcast distribution of the 92nd Grey Cup in Ottawa, available to more than 55 million television households. CFL post-season crowds set new playoff attendance record of 181,717.

2005

New ownership group led by former player John Forzani takes over the Calgary Stampeders. Ottawa Renegades also announce new ownership group led by Bill Smith and Bernie Glieberman. First ever CFL game is played in Halifax, Nova Scotia as the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats play to a 16-16 draw at Huskie Stadium. For only the second time ever, a Grey Cup was decided in overtime as the Edmonton Eskimos defeated the Montreal Alouettes 38-35 at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, B.C.