Attendance issues in Montreal?

[KCargosfan]

If the Als suck, are there going to be attendance issues there?

They had 21,524 there tonight, which I wouldn't say is awful for their opener, but wouldn't say is good either.

[1argoholic]

YES!! Montreal fans bail on crap teams.

[ArgoRavi]

YES!! Montreal fans bail on crap teams.

To be fair, I don't think that is peculiar to Montreal fans. Other than hockey, Canadian sports fans are notoriously fickle IMO. Even the Riders would see their attendance decrease with even one poor season and it would decrease significantly with two or three in a row.

[argonaut11xx]

If the Als suck, are there going to be attendance issues there?

They had 21,524 there tonight, which I wouldn't say is awful for their opener, but wouldn't say is good either.

I bet thats a bigger crowd than the Argo's get for their first game at Skydome

[KCargosfan]

I bet thats a bigger crowd than the Argo's get for their first game at Skydome

I don't doubt that, but having two clubs with attendance issues is not good for the health of the league.

I was hoping the Als would have 22,500.

I hope Brandon Bridge becomes a star in this league, because that would be great for the CFL in general.

[Fumblitis]

To be fair, I don't think that is peculiar to Montreal fans. Other than hockey, Canadian sports fans are notoriously fickle IMO. Even the Riders would see their attendance decrease with even one poor season and it would decrease significantly with two or three in a row.

I say that every time I hear what a great fan base we have. A couple of 3-15/4-14 seasons and every second seat in the new stadium will have a wheat bale in it

[LLB997]

I don't doubt that, but having two clubs with attendance issues is not good for the health of the league.

I was hoping the Als would have 22,500.

I hope Brandon Bridge becomes a star in this league, because that would be great for the CFL in general.

really? 21,500 is poor attendance but 22,500 is a number to shoot for?

the stadium looked full, Thursday night not quite the weekend. 21,500 is decent. I'll be happy if Argos get 21,500 for he home opener.

[ArgoZ]

I bet thats a bigger crowd than the Argo's get for their first game at Skydome

That's an interesting over/under scenario. If the Argos put together a decent road trip, combined with a bigger profile and the more positive vibe lately in the city, plus Sask always draws well, we might see more than 21 for our opener.

[R.J]

really? 21,500 is poor attendance but 22,500 is a number to shoot for?

the stadium looked full, Thursday night not quite the weekend. 21,500 is decent. I'll be happy if Argos get 21,500 for he home opener.

I would have to agree. Actually I'm a little surprised that the Als announced attendance was only 21,524, it looked packed, usually there's empty corner sections up top. While Montreal attendance should be a concern (considering last seasons attendance including that horribly attended playoff game), I'm not ready to put them in the same category as the Argos.

[gilthethrill]

Looked like a great atmosphere there last night. Stands looked pretty full too.

[Fumblitis]

Looked like a great atmosphere there last night. Stands looked pretty full too.

An 18-35 aged looking crowd unlike anti CFLers point out.

[gilthethrill]

An 18-35 aged looking crowd unlike anti CFLers point out.

I should not say this as it may upset the mods, but I could not help but notice numerous attractive young ladies in the stadium.

[Argo57]

To be fair, I don't think that is peculiar to Montreal fans. Other than hockey, Canadian sports fans are notoriously fickle IMO. Even the Riders would see their attendance decrease with even one poor season and it would decrease significantly with two or three in a row.

Montreal fans have always supported a winner and won't put up with mediocrity for long, they have been spoiled with Calvillo and the gang for many years.

[OV Argo]

Montreal fans have always supported a winner and won't put up with mediocrity for long, they have been spoiled with Calvillo and the gang for many years.

Plus that old stadium, while quaint and a nice atmosphere and all, is getting old to Montreal fans who have been going there for years now; give them a nice new 35K stadium somewhere in the city and they would be SRO there for some time IMO - until they starting losing lots anyways - which they might do this year - Higgins is clueless as a CFL HC but he has good company there anyways.

I don't doubt that, but having two clubs with attendance issues is not good for the health of the league.

I was hoping the Als would have 22,500.

I hope Brandon Bridge becomes a star in this league, because that would be great for the CFL in general.

Be very interesting to see if they give him some starts and let him develop for a time with the injuries to Crompton ( a stiff anyways IMO) and LeFevour; not so sure - wouldn't be surprised to see them air-lift in some CFL experienced QB (too bad the Argos grabbed that superstar MacPherson) or bring Marsh off the injury list to start.

[ArgoRavi]

Be very interesting to see if they give him some starts and let him develop for a time with the injuries to Crompton ( a stiff anyways IMO) and LeFevour; not so sure - wouldn't be surprised to see them air-lift in some CFL experienced QB (too bad the Argos grabbed that superstar MacPherson) or bring Marsh off the injury list to start.

There is a fine line between letting him develop and ruining his confidence. I don't think that the Als have much choice but to start Bridge against Calgary next week but I also don't think that he is anywhere near ready to face Rich Stubler's defence and I don't think that any rookie QB fresh out of college would be.

[KCargosfan]

really? 21,500 is poor attendance but 22,500 is a number to shoot for?

the stadium looked full, Thursday night not quite the weekend. 21,500 is decent. I'll be happy if Argos get 21,500 for he home opener.

Yeah, really. I never said it was poor, but it certainly wasn't great (the number, the crowd itself and atmosphere was good) for an opener. And an average of 22,500 would be good for the Als.

I saw some empty pockets on TV. My point is, if the Als go to s**t, that number is going to dwindle into "not good at all" territory.

[ArgoRavi]

Yeah, really. I never said it was poor, but it certainly wasn't great (the number, the crowd itself and atmosphere was good) for an opener. And an average of 22,500 would be good for the Als.
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I saw some empty pockets on TV. My point is, if the Als go to s**t, that number is going to dwindle into "not good at all" territory.

I think that you can say that about any CFL city though.

[KCargosfan]

I think that you can say that about any CFL city though.

Right, but there's a difference between us and Montreal getting 16-17K and some other places having terrible seasons and getting 24K. BC may also have issues this year.

[hugoagogo]

Montreal had 20,018 at their home opener last year

[jerrym]

Once Montreal expanded the seating capacity from 20,000 to 24,000, the long sellout record halted. This is nothing new.