Ticket prices.

[Fumblitis]

Is there any truth to this? A buddy of mine had an Argo fan tweet through his feed. It was stated that to sit between the 30's is 94 dollars a ticket on game day at the Rogers Center. Can anyone Yay or Nay that?

[Will]

You can see for yourself here that your friend is indeed telling the truth.

[Neely2005]

Is there any truth to this? A buddy of mine had an Argo fan tweet through his feed. It was stated that to sit between the 30's is 94 dollars a ticket on game day at the Rogers Center. Can anyone Yay or Nay that?

With all the Ticketmaster Fees it sounds plausible for Single Game Tickets. Here are the prices from the Ticketmaster Website:

PLATINUM SEATING
CA $106.55

GOLD SEATING
CA $95.25

SILVER SEATING
CA $72.65

BRONZE SEATING
CA $48.55

BLUE SEATING
CA $37.70
Prices subject to change.

Having said that there are a lot of ways to get cheaper tickets with all the deals and packages that the Argonauts offer.

[Downtownfan]

I think ticket pricing is the single biggest reason for the decline in attendance. When you factor all the other crap (terrible venue, traffic, price of parking, outrageous price of concessions, not a great in-game experience), people look at the price (and increases over the last few years) and say-- no way. This is particularly true for the Argos crowd that has been historically a big walk up crowd. People could always get pretty good seats last minute for pretty cheap.
Last year, Braley made a lot of money on the Eastern Final-- they opened fewer sections at a higher ticket price, and sold 35,000 seats. But that was an aberration in my view (Hamilton with no home venue), and following that "fewer seats sold at higher prices is better" model does not work in this market. You can see it in the fact that it is mostly the cheap sections that are sold well, while the rest are spotty, especially the most expensive platinum seats.
Unfortunately, if we do make the move to BMO, this will continue, but at least the venue will be much better in terms of sight lines/experience (thought still shitty for concessions, travel time, etc.).

[T-Bone]

I think ticket pricing is the single biggest reason for the decline in attendance.

With so many empty seats it can be hard for someone to justify paying for a ticket in a higher price range when you can just sit where you want right now.

Unfortunately, if we do make the move to BMO, this will continue, but at least the venue will be much better in terms of sight lines/experience (thought still shitty for concessions, travel time, etc.).

BMO Field Food & Beverage

[Neely2005]

BMO Field Food & Beverage

The prices still suck and most of the Beer Stands are cash only. At least you can pay by Credit or Debit Card at the Rogers Centre. Also the beer selection is worse at BMO Field IMO, and it's not great at the Rogers Centre to begin with.

[T-Bone]

The prices still suck and most of the Beer Stands are cash only. At least you can pay by Credit or Debit Card at the Rogers Centre. Also the beer selection is worse at BMO Field IMO, and it's not great at the Rogers Centre to begin with.

Concessions at any stadium are going to be pricey. BMO Field has comparable prices and way more variety compared to Rogers Centre despite what you think from your limited experience at the stadium.

[Will]

One thing I'll give MLSE credit for is that while, yes, the prices at the concessions at the ACC are ridiculous they aren't quite as bad as what they've become at Rogers I think and the variety and quality is a bit better IMO.

Teams are heavy into data analytics these days, essentially models showing attendance at price points and based on opponents, etc, something I bet the Argos don't do.

[Neely2005]

Concessions at any stadium are going to be pricey. BMO Field has comparable prices and way more variety despite what you think from your limited experience at the stadium.

I've been to 2 games at BMO Field and they do have some decent variety for food. Probably better than the Rogers Centre. Prices are probably a little better at the Rogers Centre though and you can bring in outside food to the Rogers Centre so that's a huge plus. Beer selection is better at the Rogers Centre. Payment options are also better at the Rogers Centre.

The Rogers Centre also has more and better restaurants near by.

[Will]

I've been to 2 games at BMO Field and they do have some decent variety for food. Probably better than the Rogers Centre. Prices are probably a little better at the Rogers Centre though and you can bring in outside food to the Rogers Centre so that's a huge plus. Beer selection is better at the Rogers Centre. Payment options are also better at the Rogers Centre.

The Rogers Centre also has more and better restaurants near by.

You do raise a good point. People are probably a little more likelier to purchase food & drink at BMO due to its immediate surroundings rather than Rogers Centre. There are restaurants in Liberty Village, but not to the point of Rogers Centre.

However, might I suggest that the merits of concessions at BMO vs. Rogers Centre has little to do with the subject as presented by the OP.

[T-Bone]

You do raise a good point.

He doesn't raise a good point when it comes to beer selection. Rogers Centre has a bit of variety at the bar behind section 121 when it comes to cans. Outside of that it is pretty much Bud and Bud light draft everywhere else. BMO Field has a lot more variety when it comes to draft and cans. Plus they have bigger glasses at BMO Field, as a result the draft beer prices are cheaper by quantity than they are at Rogers Centre. What do I know though, I've only attended just over 100 games at BMO Field and well over 100 at Rogers Centre over the past 10 years.

[Downtownfan]

Yes, when I said concessions are shitty, I meant beer prices, which is admittedly bad at all venues, though some have better selection and purchasing options than others. Having been to BMO a number of times (though only one game this season, early on), the beer selection and pricing was just as shitty as every where else in the TO gouge-fest that is professional sports.
But I will say that the Argo crowds are a pretty spirited bunch, and if/when we get in there, the place will rock.

Again, however, I still think that the increase in prices has really turned off many season ticket holders, and many, many walk up fans.

[Will]

Attendance at Argo games has been trending downward since 2009 following two seasons where the team went 7-29. There was also a change in ownership. People point to price increases after the 2012 season as driving attendance downward even further, however it wasn't as if attendance was all that strong between 2010-2012. It was a bit better, but the average was around in the low 20,000's was it not?

[Neely2005]

He doesn't raise a good point when it comes to beer selection. Rogers Centre has a bit of variety at the bar behind section 121 when it comes to cans. Outside of that it is pretty much Bud and Bud light draft everywhere else. BMO Field has a lot more variety when it comes to draft and cans.

I usually only get cans (usually from the beer kiosk in Section 235, by the Bacardi Bar which apparently has more variety On Tap) and from my experiences the Rogers Centre has a better selection. At least I can get a can of Sleeman at the Rogers Centre, even if it is my least favorite type of Sleeman.

Attendance at Argo games has been trending downward since 2009 following two seasons where the team went 7-29. There was also a change in ownership. People point to price increases after the 2012 season as driving attendance downward even further, however it wasn't as if attendance was all that strong between 2010-2012. It was a bit better, but the average was around in the low 20,000's was it not?

It's down a few thousand from last season:

I know that it's only been 2 home games so far but the drop in attendance from 2013 is pretty alarming. Using the attendance figures from www.argonauts.ca you can see a drop of in the thousands. And this years schedule is much better than last years schedule. All of our games are on Friday, Saturday or Sunday except for one Tuesday game and one Thursday game which was the preseason game.

Also does anyone know if the Argonauts us 'Paid Attendance' or 'Actual Attendance' for their attendance figures? There were significantly less people there yesterday compared to the home opener against Saskatchewan but the attendance figures don't reflect that so I'm thinking that the Argonauts must use 'Paid Attendance' for their figures.


2013

Preseason: 6,204 (Varsity Stadium)

Game 1: 29,852
Game 2: 18,211
Game 3: 20,064
Game 4: 19,656
Game 5: 21,157
Game 6: 18,863
Game 7: 28,467
Game 8: 18,478
Game 9: 22,589

Playoff Game: 35,418

Average Rogers Centre Attendance: 23,276

Average Regular Season Rogers Centre Attendance: 21,926

http://argonauts.ca/schedule/year/2013/7


2014

Preseason: 5,216 (Varsity Stadium)

Game 1: 17,758
Game 2: 16,102
Game 3: 18,106
Game 4: 18,283
Game 5: 16,276
Game 6: 17,811
Game 7: 16,834
Game 8: 19,258
Game 9:

Playoff Game:

Average Rogers Centre Attendance:

Average Regular Season Rogers Centre Attendance:

http://argonauts.ca/schedule/year/2014/7



* I will update the attendance throughout the season.

[Will]

The question I meant to ask was whether Argo prices remained stable from 2010-2012 or whether they were increased as well.

[T-Bone]

I usually only get cans (usually from the beer kiosk in Section 235, by the Bacardi Bar which apparently has more variety On Tap) and from my experiences the Rogers Centre has a better selection. At least I can get a can of Sleeman at the Rogers Centre, even if it is my least favorite type of Sleeman.

Roger Centre has improved its beer selection over the past 5 years and I personally want to apologize that BMO Field didn't have your favorite Sleeman available. I can't guarantee Sleeman but I'm pretty sure BMO Field's beer selection will be changing next year now: Long-term deal makes Heineken the new Official Beer of MLS, starting in 2015

The question I meant to ask was whether Argo prices remained stable from 2010-2012 or whether they were increased as well.

This is what I've found:

Article from Oct 16, 2009: Argos slash ticket prices

2010

2011

2012

[Fumblitis]

I think ticket pricing is the single biggest reason for the decline in attendance. When you factor all the other crap (terrible venue, traffic, price of parking, outrageous price of concessions, not a great in-game experience), people look at the price (and increases over the last few years) and say-- no way. This is particularly true for the Argos crowd that has been historically a big walk up crowd. People could always get pretty good seats last minute for pretty cheap.
Last year, Braley made a lot of money on the Eastern Final-- they opened fewer sections at a higher ticket price, and sold 35,000 seats. But that was an aberration in my view (Hamilton with no home venue), and following that "fewer seats sold at higher prices is better" model does not work in this market. You can see it in the fact that it is mostly the cheap sections that are sold well, while the rest are spotty, especially the most expensive platinum seats.
Unfortunately, if we do make the move to BMO, this will continue, but at least the venue will be much better in terms of sight lines/experience (thought still shitty for concessions, travel time, etc.).

I agree no wonder the Argo games are so poorly attended. At Mosaic game day ticket prices (adult). Between the 50's: $75. 50-25 yard line. $68.50. 25-goal line. $59.00. And we bitch about that. I'm sure operating the Rogers center is pretty expensive to operate.

[Neely2005]

Roger Centre has improved its beer selection over the past 5 years and I personally want to apologize that BMO Field didn't have your favorite Sleeman available. I can't guarantee Sleeman but I'm pretty sure BMO Field's beer selection will be changing next year now: Long-term deal makes Heineken the new Official Beer of MLS, starting in 2015

Sleeman Draft isn't my favourite but it's the only beer that the Rogers Centre has that I like. They used to have Moosehead but they don't anymore. I wasn't able to find any beer that I like at BMO Field and adding Heineken certainly won't change that.

I agree no wonder the Argo games are so poorly attended. At Mosaic game day ticket prices (adult). Between the 50's: $75. 50-25 yard line. $68.50. 25-goal line. $59.00. And we bitch about that. I'm sure operating the Rogers center is pretty expensive to operate.

The Argonauts also offer many deals throughout the season. I believe that they just had a 2 game offer that got you a third game free. Also comparing prices in Saskatchewan to prices in downtown Toronto probably isn't the best comparison.

[Fumblitis]

The Argonauts also offer many deals throughout the season. I believe that they just had a 2 game offer that got you a third game free. Also comparing prices in Saskatchewan to prices in downtown Toronto probably isn't the best comparison.

No but a more important question is are those prices going to improve when the Argos move to BMO.

[Neely2005]

No but a more important question is are those prices going to improve when the Argos move to BMO.

Probably not. There are less seats to sell in BMO Field so I can't see the prices going down. And if MLSE buys the Argonauts I don't think that they'll lower the prices either.

It was also reported that since the City of Toronto owns BMO Field it costs more to stage an event there due to the unionized city workers.