2016 Grey Cup @ BMO Field

[Neely2005]

????
I have no trouble taking the Lakeshore East GO train to BMO Field.
And the two times I've driven down from Scarborough, I've had no problem getting there or parking ($15 max).

My understanding is that you have to transfer trains at Union Station from the Lakeshore East line.

You're lucky then, we came down for all 10 games and had to fight terrible traffic on the DVP, Gardiner and Lakeshore for 9 of the 10 games. After the Calgary game the northbound DVP got closed while we were on it. Fun times.

[Mightygoose]

My understanding is that you have to transfer trains at Union Station from the Lakeshore East line.

You're lucky then, we came down for all 10 games and had to fight terrible traffic on the DVP, Gardiner and Lakeshore for 9 of the 10 games. After the Calgary game the northbound DVP got closed while we were on it. Fun times.

The Lakeshore East line does go right through. There is about a 10 minute stop at Union since it's the main hub. But yes, it would be less seamless for those coming from the other 5 lines.

[paulwoods13]

There's also the 509 Queen's Quay streetcar, which loops from Union Station to Exhibition Place.

[1971GreyCup]

It and the new version of Lansdowne Park are the only current stadiums I haven't been to, so my statement is partly out of ignorance. IGF does look great on TV but we also know it is a pain in the ass to get to and in the middle of a university campus, not exactly conducive to pre-game partying.

In cities where the CFL is still a big deal, transit makes so much sense. We've been lucky to attend a couple of season games and the 103rd Grey Cup at IGF. Apart from the first season, we didn't find IGF's location a problem at all. Winnipeg provides extra, dedicated bus service to/from IGF across the city. Transit is free with game tickets. Rows of buses were waiting for us at the end of the game.

We took this transit from a downtown hotel and found it far superior to driving the DVP or training on GO transit. GO Transit from Whitby >$20.00 each. I still recall when the Argos drew 50,000 fans to Exhibition Stadium and we'd head to Kingsway and Islington and ride a full TTC Express bus to the game.

Plenty of on site events at IGF too.

The downside of IGF is that the concourse was designed for half the capacity. It is impossible to move around to eat or drink when there's a full house. I don't think BMO Field has that problem, but will find out when 30,000 at the 104th Grey Cup.

IMO Landowners Park has the ideal location, transit and local pubs and bars in the CFL. Kudos to the team that brought the RedBlacks back and showing the rest of the CFL the recipe to success.

[PullTogether73]

My understanding is that you have to transfer trains at Union Station from the Lakeshore East line.

You're lucky then, we came down for all 10 games and had to fight terrible traffic on the DVP, Gardiner and Lakeshore for 9 of the 10 games. After the Calgary game the northbound DVP got closed while we were on it. Fun times.

Interesting.
I can definitely see the traffic issue on the DVP (There's always traffic on the DVP - sigh.). Fortunately, I don't have to use that.
But I haven't had problems on the Gardiner/Lakeshore portions. And finding affordable parking was easy the two times I drove.
I may actually drive to all games next season for the convenience of not being tied to the GO Train schedule.

[AngeloV]

Interesting.
I can definitely see the traffic issue on the DVP (There's always traffic on the DVP - sigh.). Fortunately, I don't have to use that.
But I haven't had problems on the Gardiner/Lakeshore portions. And finding affordable parking was easy the two times I drove.
I may actually drive to all games next season for the convenience of not being tied to the GO Train schedule.

I come down from Thornhill, and have no issues on the DVP. It's busy over the 401, but I usually take Leslie st all the way to Eglinton and then get on the DVP. To get to Lamport parking lot takes me about 45 minutes in total (maybe an hour for a weeknight game).

[1971GreyCup]

I was thinking today that the 70th Toronto Grey Cup weather wasn't dissimilar to todays weather. I was there with my father on Sunday, November 28, 1982. For those who were there and remember, it was bitter cold, rainy and windy. I think the new configuration of BMO Field with an East and West stands are vulnerable to that particular horizontal rain off the lake.

[Shipyard]

If people want to ensure a good experience, do not sit in the temporary bleachers low slope, poor sightlines and not covered or in Argozone seats in endzone (roof is too high to do anything).

move to good middle-row middle-section upper deck seats (some of which are still cheaper than the endzone seating), if you can afford it upper lower bowl where i am.

[AngeloV]

move to good middle-row middle-section upper deck seats (some of which are still cheaper than the endzone seating), if you can afford it upper lower bowl where i am.

That's one thing I can't figure out. Why is endzone seating more expensive than some sideling seating? I sit in 227 row 18 (first row of the cheapest seats in the house). I'm at the 10 yard line with a great view, and pay $100 bucks less than the endzone seats. When I was a kid, I sat endzone at CNE because that's what you got for $0.99 from A&P. When I first sat side endzone (next to the old baseball broadcast area) it was night and day how much more of the game you can see. IMO, endzone should always be the cheapest seats in the house.

[Will]

Getting to BMO on the weekends isn't a problem via vehicle. I either go 427 S or DVP S and take the Gardiner appropriately. I usually park (like Angelo) at either Lamport Stadium or the lot at Atlantic and Liberty.

Surprisingly, getting to BMO on weekdays from my work near the airport isn't bad either. It helps to be going against traffic I guess.

[Ron]

Cats offer to season seat renewals

PLACE A 50% DEPOSIT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN HUNDREDS OF GREY CUP GAME TICKETS + INVITE TO VIP PREGAME PARTY EXCLUSIVELY FOR SEASON SEAT HOLDERSThe Tiger-Cats and Coors Banquet are throwing an exclusive, invite-only pregame party at the historic Liberty Grand in Liberty Village on Grey Cup Sunday for several hundred season seat holders and VIP guests, and you could be there!

The Ticats unveiled their plans for Ticats Takeover during the 104th Grey Cup Weekend in Toronto, highlighted by Tiger-Cats Takeover Gameday, presented by Coors Banquet. The invite-only VIP party will feature the re-creation of the Tim Hortons Field experience, including key characteristics of the Tiger-Cats game day including The Steamwhistle, Coors Banquet Bar, Ticats TV Live, Uproar Drumline, Ticats Cheerleaders, and mascots. Great food and drink specials will also be available throughout the party.
Want to win a pair of Grey Cup tickets and VIP passes for Tiger-Cats Takeover Gameday, presented by Coors Banquet? Hundreds are available! All you have to do is place at minimum a 50% depositon your 2017 Ticats season seats by Wednesday, November 23. Three hundred Tiger-Cats Takeover VIP packages are available to be won.

[ArgoZ]

The Cats always have great events to keep their fans and especially ST engaged. It makes it very hard not to renew, when your constantly in the know and excited about the upcoming season. While the Argos have them beat as far as official tailgate and I would even say pre-game fun, there's much to learn from them.

[Will]

The Cats always have great events to keep their fans and especially ST engaged. It makes it very hard not to renew, when your constantly in the know and excited about the upcoming season. While the Argos have them beat as far as official tailgate and I would even say pre-game fun, there's much to learn from them.

As a STH of both, the Argos take precedence so I need to see what the Argos do (if anything) with their prices before I renew in Hamilton.

As for the tailgate in Hamilton, I preferred the old Scott Park site opposed to the current former Dominion Glass site.

[argonaut11xx]

Kudo's to Bryce at the Argonauts, made switching my 199.00 endzone seats to much better seating for the same price soooo easy. I did have to re-purchase the tickets, and am waiting for my refund from ticketsmaster, but its only 7-10 days.

As someone said earlier in this thread, I sure hope we don't get weather like in 1982, nice until halftime then it rained so hard the guys in the cheap seats were building an Arc.

[1971GreyCup]

Kudo's to Bryce at the Argonauts, made switching my 199.00 endzone seats to much better seating for the same price soooo easy. I did have to re-purchase the tickets, and am waiting for my refund from ticketsmaster, but its only 7-10 days.

As someone said earlier in this thread, I sure hope we don't get weather like in 1982, nice until halftime then it rained so hard the guys in the cheap seats were building an Arc.

The former Premier of Ontario Bill Davis I still with us. He will probably pass on this Grey Cup, because in 1982 he decided that Grey Cups in Ontario should be played indoors and that governments should ensure that. I believe he spent $570 million in 1989 to this ($966 million in 2016 dollars).

[AngeloV]

The former Premier of Ontario Bill Davis I still with us. He will probably pass on this Grey Cup, because in 1982 he decided that Grey Cups in Ontario should be played indoors and that governments should ensure that. I believe he spent $570 million in 1989 to this ($966 million in 2016 dollars).

There was some serious arm twisting from then Metro chairman and all around a-hole Paul Godfrey back then. I still remember him starting up a "we want a dome" chant at the rally the city threw the Argos after the loss in '82. Many (myself included) believe it was all a smoke screen so that he can attempt to fulfill his dream of bringing an NFL team to the city.

[Will]

There was some serious arm twisting from then Metro chairman and all around a-hole Paul Godfrey back then. I still remember him starting up a "we want a dome" chant at the rally the city threw the Argos after the loss in '82. Many (myself included) believe it was all a smoke screen so that he can attempt to fulfill his dream of bringing an NFL team to the city.

While I have no doubt that Godfrey was motivated by the "NFL dream" it should be noted that domed/multipurpose stadiums were all the rage at that time. SkyDome ended up being the last of those "cookie cutter" ballparks which were rendered obsolete when Camden Yards opened in 1992.

[1971GreyCup]

I just had the displeasure of watching the 1989 classic "The Opening of the SkyDome, A Celebration." Alan Thicke, et al

https://youtu.be/UHJH2eJOtjg

Great choreography! Four Argos dancing and signing "No more tackling in the rain, no more mud in my face, playing in the dome."

[Golden Fleece]

While I have no doubt that Godfrey was motivated by the "NFL dream" it should be noted that domed/multipurpose stadiums were all the rage at that time. SkyDome ended up being the last of those "cookie cutter" ballparks which were rendered obsolete when Camden Yards opened in 1992.

I know what you mean. SkyDome got 8th Wonder of the World hype for exactly 3 years. Camden Yards was the harbinger, but it was hard to notice during back to back World Series and sold out stadiums. After the baseball strike killed baseball interest the dome looked obsolete.

[vanhalen26]

The Argos don't learn. Got the tailgate email where they are jacking up the price to $40 to tailgate and $10 just to visit the pregame walk up party.

Comparatively, the ti-cats are showing their STH some love with 100's of free GC tix ... not a huge surprise when you see the number of $600 seats left on Ticketmaster - they have to go somewhere as no one is buying them. Also renting the liberty can't come cheap.

I feel let down as a season seat holder, especially when I see what Hamilton is doing.

I enjoyed the games I attended but lost money on the games I couldn't make - but having perks like the ticats are offering would help me feel better about the losses I took. I'll renew for another year but if things stay the same I'm done.