Jamie Nye: Testing price adds another hurdle to clear for CFL

If the CFL is going to play in 2021, the latest revelation about the expense for testing is a sign the league is going to have to get some sort of financial help from governments.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan already pledged seven figures in terms of relief for testing when Winnipeg and Regina were in the running to be a hub city for the league last year.

You’d have to think those governments would be willing to do it all over again for their respective teams. Both provinces are able to add the 100 or so tests a day. And depending on inventory of rapid testing, that could also be a help.

Now, will Ontario and Alberta be willing to spend that times three and times two respectively?

Randy Ambrosie has been adamant that the league return to play and will not be relying on government money like last year.

But when he admitted last week that the price tag for testing will be more than seven figures per team, you start to see why some help — even if it’s just eating the tab to handle the testing — would go a long way to jumping another major financial hurdle.