The CFL canceled the 2020 season, the league announced Monday.

commissioner Randy Ambrosie said: “Our league governors decided today it is in the best long-term interests of the CFL to concentrate on the future. We are absolutely committed to 2021, to the future of our league, and the pursuit of our vision of a bigger, stronger, more global CFL.”

The league lobbied the Canadian government for financial assistance over the past few months amid the coronavirus pandemic, and its request for a $30-million interest-free loan was reportedly denied recently.

The CFL’s 2020 season was originally scheduled to begin on June 11 before being postponed to a later date.

Ambrosie said in May that the league planned to potentially put together a shortened campaign starting in September, but those plans fell through without financial assistance as the league would have to host a season with no fans in the stands, losing its No. 1 source of revenue.

The Grey Cup has been played every year since 1919. The 108th edition of the game would have been determined by a “win and host” model under the CFL’s shortened schedule. Hamilton and Regina, Saskatchewan, are currently set to host the season finale in 2021 and 2022, respectively.