The Broncos in action against the Okanagan Sun in Kelowna last season (Image Credit: Jim Motokado)

By Chad Klassen

BCFC FOOTBALL

Broncos looking at shortened season, more Interior games to reduce travel

Apr 13, 2020 | 4:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — Broncos GM Jan Antons has put more work into scheduling a potential 2020 season than he has ever before assembling a junior football team.

Antons, who is also a board member with the Canadian Junior Football League, has been part of the planning process in discussing how the season should unfold.

“What we’re looking at right now is how the season would look like without spring camps,” Antons told CFJC Today. “So that would mean we would go right into main camp. Season usually starts in the middle of July with main camp. The first game’s at the end of July, so everything right now still looks on track for that.”

But when it comes to the unknowns around COVID-19, all cards are on the table. The B.C. Football Conference has discussed the idea of reducing the regular season from 10 to six games.

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“The BCFC has a couple advantages. They actually play more games than all the other conferences. In the BCFC, you play 10 games, whereas the other ones play about six. So there is some moving around that (can) be done,” said Antons. “The other advantage the BCFC has is it has two bye weeks, so we could potentially can those bye weeks and push our season back by another two weeks.”

Antons says the conference has also talked about changing the structure of the schedule to save on time and money travelling. It might see the Broncos play more games this season against the Okanagan Sun.

A revised BCFC schedule could see the Broncos play more games against the Okanagan Sun in an abbreviated season (Image Credit: Jim Motokado)

“So what that might look like, and again it’s not decided, some of the Lower Mainland teams are going to play or the Island teams play or the Interior teams play, and then they come together later on in the season,” said Antons.

The final option, which is not on the table at this point, is cancelling the season. But Antons says the Broncos would take a hit financially.

As it is right now, businesses in Kamloops struggling through the pandemic are sponsors and may not be in a position to contribute. The team will be dealing with a smaller budget in 2020, going from its usual $150,000 a year allotment to $110,000.

“We usually already struggle with getting funding from sponsors, so cancelling the season would mean a season without income,” said Antons. “Yes, it’s a season without expenditures, but you always have to pay bills, so we need the money to come in.”