Argos Stadium Update

[Treblecharger1]

The Argos would be responsbile for any repairs to the grass and would be on the hook for the costs of the renovation. They would be better to bulid their own stadium in which they control all revenue. At BMO they would be splitting revenue with MLSE.. in their own venue they will control Sponsorship, Tickets, Food, Parking can all of a sudden start using the facility for concerts etc.

[Treblecharger1]

BMO field is not used for concerts for the simple reason that it is a city owned buliding and they have to use unionized employees when putting events on. Toronto has a real need for a midsized concert venue between 20-30,000 fans. Molson Ampitheater has 16k and Rogers Centre is 55k

[mchesher03]

For the new stadium and Khalif Mitchell related discussion alone I am very interested in what will be said during the Town Hall next month.

[Midnight Blue]

Ruling out Downsview and the Portlands (both hard to get to {during rush-hour} on weekday games --- which we should have during July/August, since many people head up north during weekends), and ruling out Varsity (on the subway line, but no parking, and U of T plus local resident opposition), at least three possible previously unmentioned sites may be considered: a stadium somewhere else on the Exhibition grounds, such as west of Dufferin St., or east of the the present BMO stadium (both are parking lots, and are needed for parking during the annual Canadian National Exhibition -- around August 18 to Labour Day) though a stadium on either of these sites, would have to have at least three serious levels of underground parking.

Alternately, the third option would be a stadium on new re-claimed land on the lake, on Ontario Place, or on newly built-up land just beside/attached to, Ontario Place. And if a casino is built somewhere in this vicinity (Downtown Toronto), perhaps a stipulation might be a promise to build a multi-purpose, open air with some covered seating, grass Stadium, 60,000+, for Football and Soccer (as well as Cricket and Aussie Rules Football, and possibly NFL --- of which I'm not afraid of, as mentioned earlier in this thread, and maybe some concerts), using a portion of the Casino profits, in say 5-7-10 years.

Parts of the sides of this stadium (perhaps the corners) can be walled in with a heavy-duty plexi-glass-like removable material (attached to a vertical skeleton grid), to keep out late-autumn winds, allow summer breezes, and give a beautiful view of the lake, no matter what the season.

Parking would at one of the two present CNE lots, or at both, if the stadium is built on or adjacent to Ontario Place. A boat-load of buses can be rented/chartered from the TTC, to come from the Dufferin and Bathurst and Union subway stations, and let's not forget that the GO Train has a stop right at the CNE.

Furthermore, anywhere on the CNE grounds or at Ontario Place, or on new ground on the actual Lake (perhaps a stadium in the shape of an Argonaut boat), would have the advantage of having people driving into the city during weekday evening rush-hour (hence against the outgoing traffic flow). On weekends during September, October and November (playoffs), getting there would be even less of a hassle. Of course, if the Argos were the principal tenants or owners of such a hypothetical stadium, they could even play some games during July/August on weekends, which might work, even though many people head up north in the summer, as mentioned above. Just a few thoughts. But in several years, this situation will be much more poignant than these mere hypothetical musings. The time for serious thought on this matter, begins now.


To summarize : A portion of Casino profits = no new taxes/road tolls, plus an Argonaut Stadium in the near future.



Ka' Pla !

[jerrym]

I think the Animals summed it up best:

In this dirty old part of the city

Where the sun refused to shine

People tell me, there ain't no use in tryin' ...
We gotta get out of this place!
If it's the last thing we ever do ...
There's a better life for me and you ...
Somewhere, ... somehow, I know it
Believe me, ... I know it, you know it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUpBSvN1a50

[1argoholic]

Maybe Toronto Islands. What better place for the Argos to play. I just saw a clip on the Weather Network yeserday that there used to be a baseball park there where Babe Ruth hiot his first pro homerun. I may have heard that before but it was cool to hear again.

[Mulder]

Maybe Toronto Islands. What better place for the Argos to play. I just saw a clip on the Weather Network yeserday that there used to be a baseball park there where Babe Ruth hiot his first pro homerun. I may have heard that before but it was cool to hear again.

The logistics of getting 20,000+ people off an island would be a nightmare.

[1argoholic]

The Argos could get a big old party boat. haha.

[Ballstothewall]

Maybe Toronto Islands. What better place for the Argos to play. I just saw a clip on the Weather Network yeserday that there used to be a baseball park there where Babe Ruth hiot his first pro homerun. I may have heard that before but it was cool to hear again.

Is this the reason you go diving ever year in lake Ont, hoping to find the Babe's home run ball Mark?

[1argoholic]

No ball but I did find Jimmy Hoffa.

[jerrym]

Senator Braley said in a radio interview during halftime of the Argos vs Lions game, that his construction company is currently checking out locations for a new Argos football-only stadium, 27,000 to 29,000 seats, to be located in north Toronto area, Marham or Mississauga, to be completed within 5 years.

Braley also said in the interview that they were working on getting a permanent practice field and were close to getting one this year when the deal fell through because the ownership of the property changed. When the Lions interviewer argued that the Argos were in desperate straits, Braley reminded him that when he attended his first Lions game as an owner, there was an announced crowd of 11,000 but only 8,000 fans in the seats. In his opinion the Argos were in a much better position now. He also noted that the Argos also plan to market the team to the different communities within the city, based on their demographics, citing the Italian community as one of the groups that would be targeted.

To our friend, Rocket: I am sure Braley is not doing all of this on his own and that Rudge is playing a major role in developing these plans.

[T-Bone]

Senator Braley said in a radio interview during halftime of the Argos vs Lions game, that his construction company is currently checking out locations for a new Argos football-only stadium, 27,000 to 29,000 seats, to be located in north Toronto area, Marham or Mississauga, to be completed within 5 years.

Glad to hear.

[Mulder]

Glad to hear.

Let the location speculation begin!

There's an empty plot of land between Neyagawa and Sixith Line that may interest one member!

[T-Bone]

Let the location speculation begin!

There's an empty plot of land between Neyagawa and Sixith Line that may interest one member!

I hope it will be with in City of Toronto boundaries.

[ArgoGabe22]

I hope it will be with in City of Toronto boundaries.

I would love if it were in Mississauga for obvious reasons but I think it has to be in Toronto as well. Mississauga & Markham would only be good for those who live in the area. Mississauga for instance has poor public transit and the roads are a mess. It would have to be near a GO station or near Kipling's TTC station. For Toronto the only question is where is there enough space to construct a stadium?

[Mulder]

Of course the issue of Stadium Funding. Ulgh!

Provincial/Federal Governments will probably fund 30% or less. This way they recover their costs though taxes on the construction of the stadium.

[T-Bone]

I would love if it were in Mississauga for obvious reasons but I think it has to be in Toronto as well. Mississauga & Markham would only be good for those who live in the area. Mississauga for instance has poor public transit and the roads are a mess. It would have to be near a GO station or near Kipling's TTC station. For Toronto the only question is where is there enough space to construct a stadium?

Here. Mr Barley is a Senator and it is Federal land. I think it would be a smart move.

[Mulder]

Here. Mr Barley is a Senator and it is Federal land. I think it would be a smart move.

It's honestly the best location going. In addition with GO Train station and future subway station. Have a train waiting there (or 2) after the game ends. One leaves 15 minutes after final whistle. Other one 30. And every 30 minute service on Lakeshore line now, means it makes much more sense

[1argoholic]

Sure I spent the first 40 years of my life in Mississauga and now there could be a stadium there. Haha. Hey I don't care just as long as it comes true. Having just bought a home near Peterborough I personally would hope for a stadium in Markham.

[AaronInToronto]

Land in north Toronto makes sense, but will kill the atmosphere unless you allow tailgating. There are no bars, nor any hotels nearby. This means fans all pre-party elsewhere, then simply show up at the stadium on buses and trains, watch the game and leave. Dockland is much better in my opinion.