Damien Cox - Argos v TFC

[AngeloV]

This is the difference in how the 2 teams are covered. The very first ever playoff game for TFC in its entire history was played last week in front of an announced crowd of 21,000 well short of a sellout. Really meaning that 18,000 were in the seats. However this was never discussed in any of the media story's. It was reported as a very vocal crowd. Now, we all know if the Argos had a playoff game with announced crowd of 21,000 that would be the lead of any media report. A disappointing crowd of only 21,000 were in attendance, then we would also get that's" most of that crowd dressed as empty seats comment". We all recall the home opener in which the Argos fell 1800 short of a sellout and that was the story, not being the first Argo game played at BMO.. Interesting that MR Cox's also did not comment on the thousands of free tickets that we're given to Rogers employees for this last game either. If Bell did that for a Argo playoff game, you just know that would find its way into the story.

Well said!!

[Argo]

This is the difference in how the 2 teams are covered. The very first ever playoff game for TFC in its entire history was played last week in front of an announced crowd of 21,000 well short of a sellout. Really meaning that 18,000 were in the seats. However this was never discussed in any of the media story's. It was reported as a very vocal crowd. Now, we all know if the Argos had a playoff game with announced crowd of 21,000 that would be the lead of any media report. A disappointing crowd of only 21,000 were in attendance, then we would also get that's" most of that crowd dressed as empty seats comment". We all recall the home opener in which the Argos fell 1800 short of a sellout and that was the story, not being the first Argo game played at BMO.. Interesting that MR Cox's also did not comment on the thousands of free tickets that we're given to Rogers employees for this last game either. If Bell did that for a Argo playoff game, you just know that would find its way into the story.

Quite so. It is difficult in this world to be ethical, to have integrity, to shun hypocrisy. It is easy to be a panderer, a saboteur, a liar, a con artist.

[RB957]

Damien Cox is human gutterfilth IMO. An anti Canadian loser, etc, etc.

That said I did attend a TFC game back in June/16, and I also took my 3 nephews to the Argo home opener.

The crowd energy was at a much higher level at the soccer game, and that pissed me off.

I will give the TFC fans their due, however to your point about Argo fans - the team didn't give them a whole lot to cheer about at home, winning only two games of nine. BUT..... the game against the Ti-Cats in September, the week after Labour Day was AMAZING. The vibe was so positive and the fan energy was outstanding. It was thrilling, and left me with a taste of what it could be like game in and game out if the team is competitive. Let's hope they make some positive changes for next year.

[BorisToronto]

I will give the TFC fans their due, however to your point about Argo fans - the team didn't give them a whole lot to cheer about at home, winning only two games of nine. BUT..... the game against the Ti-Cats in September, the week after Labour Day was AMAZING. The vibe was so positive and the fan energy was outstanding. It was thrilling, and left me with a taste of what it could be like game in and game out if the team is competitive. Let's hope they make some positive changes for next year.

That game was indeed electric and my personal highlight of this season. LeFevour was just fun to watch and it helped a lot that it was a W for us. Let's get more of that in the house. Shall we?

[LLB997]

mehhhhh, no biggie. Damien C@cks was understating the Argos for effect and most certainly overstating tfc. lets run a few things down here. I remember tfc fans claiming how a home playoff date would enthrall the whole city.....has this happened? neither playoff game has been a sellout and all ive been hearing in the sports media is Mcdavid v. Matthews for 3 days straight. I get no sense the city is even aware of the MLS playoffs. 200 thousand viewership for the playoffs..... this is Good??? He's compairing 2 minnows ....who cares. Damien was certainly just extending himself to insecure tfc fans. make no mistake, they are co tenants. And speaking of having no relevance at all. People read Damiens musings for FREE at Mcdonalds. Is this guy being paid in Mcnuggets?

[ardesh]

Its pretty obvious TFC is the fourth team in the city and its not even close. The big 4 are the Jays, Leafs, Raptors and Toronto Fc. Every other team is rather minor.

However, on a glimmer of hope

#CFLGameDay
1,567 Tweets

Is trending on Twitter today!

[Neely2005]

Its pretty obvious TFC is the fourth team in the city and its not even close. The big 4 are the Jays, Leafs, Raptors and Toronto Fc. Every other team is rather minor.

However, on a glimmer of hope

#CFLGameDay
1,567 Tweets

Is trending on Twitter today!

Yeah the 30,000 people watching regular season TFC games certainly backs that statement up.

[R.J]

Yeah the 30,000 people watching regular season TFC games certainly backs that statement up.

And the fact that the two playoff games this season looked half empty on the east side. Announced sellout for the second same IIRC.

[Argo57]

Yeah the 30,000 people watching regular season TFC games certainly backs that statement up.

Not even worth responding Neely.

[Wobbler]

Its pretty obvious TFC is the fourth team in the city and its not even close. The big 4 are the Jays, Leafs, Raptors and Toronto Fc. Every other team is rather minor.

You *might* be right about TFC's status but unfortunately you're trolling instead of contributing. If you want to participate (meaningfully), please try harder.

[Neely2005]

And the fact that the two playoff games this season looked half empty on the east side. Announced sellout for the second same IIRC.

Plus Rogers and Bell gave away thousands of tickets to employees for free.

[1971GreyCup]

The media, the reason for this thread, will never be the same. Just look at the U.S. elections where the "fifth estate" are now just shills for corporate interests and don't even hide their allegiances.

[R.J]

Plus Rogers and Bell gave away thousands of tickets to employees for free.

And outside of BMO, and near Union as well.

[Neely2005]

And outside of BMO, and near Union as well.

Funny that no one in the media has mentioned that TFC is papering their playoff games and still can't sell out.

[Jayahre]

Wow. You mean TFC gets a full house for it's first winning playoff run in it's long decade of existence? Little early to make TFC the predominant #4 team if one has any lick of unbiased opinion.

And notice how he shows the TFC TV rating when compared to the Raptors but excluded the TV rating Argo games get? Cox knowingly is fudging that since he's no noob when it comes to the CFL. He just knew actually using the Argo TV numbers would bury his argument.

Had the Argos gone 12-4 and hosting a East Final and TFC again having a losing season. BMO would be sold out for the Argos playoff game and Cox would NOT be writing any articles about the Argos being #4 and TFC being nobodies.

They couldn't sell out the inaugural game at BMO back in June with thousands of Hamilton fans buying tickets, I doubt a 12 -4 season and hosting a playoff game would sell anywhere near 20k, unless they can host Hamilton. Two home games this year against Hamilton boosted the attendance, I'm sure it would have been much lower than the announced 16k average without the Ticat fans.

As for TFC, you have to give their fans credit, 28k noisy fans coming out on a cold sunday evening. But if you look at their fans they seem to be mainly young 20 somethings and don't really care about the cold or that's it's a Sunday night.

[Argoknot]

^We also have to give you credit for your TFC fan posts as slim at cfl.ca subtly jabbing anything CFL and praising anything TFC. Well done!

Also interesting that the Impact could sell 50k tickets maybe more and it is a great accomplishment (which it is) but if the Als did that the story would be why they were 10k short of a sellout and why couldn't they sellout a playoff game (reference opening game for Argos at BMO) Just wondering why there is this double standard but not surprising when the league is up against a mostly hostile Toronto media (save TSN) and some TFC and NFL fans that want to see the little league dead. Why the Argos/CFL threaten them is well beyond me.

[Argoknot]

And notice how he shows the TFC TV rating when compared to the Raptors but excluded the TV rating Argo games get? Cox knowingly is fudging that since he's no noob when it comes to the CFL. He just knew actually using the Argo TV numbers would bury his argument.

Had the Argos gone 12-4 and hosting a East Final and TFC again having a losing season. BMO would be sold out for the Argos playoff game and Cox would NOT be writing any articles about the Argos being #4 and TFC being nobodies.

NHL, Canucks-Leafs/Sabres-Sens/Oilers-Isles/Flyers-Habs, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet-City: 2,200,000
NFL, Colts-Packers/Saints-Niners, Sunday, CTV: 848,000
NHL, Flames at Kings, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet: 678,000
NFL, Steelers-Ravens/Eagles-Giants/Lions-Vikes, Sunday, CTV: 670,000
CFL, Roughriders at Lions, Saturday, TSN: 582,000
NHL, Hockey Central, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet-City: 503,000
CFL, Argonauts at Eskimos, Saturday, TSN: 491,000
NHL, Jets at Rangers, Sunday, Sportsnet-360: 440,000
CFL, Blue Bombers at Redblacks, Saturday, TSN: 387,000
CFL, Alouettes at Tiger-Cats, Saturday, TSN: 364,000
NFL, Broncos at Raiders, Sunday, TSN: 316,000 (NBC audience not measured)
NBA, Kings at Raptors, Sunday, Sportsnet One: 244,000
MLS, TFC at NYC, Sunday, TSN: 221,000
NHL, Flames at Ducks, Sunday, Sportsnet One: 215,000
NHL, Oilers at Red Wings, Sunday, Sportsnet West: 212,000
MLS, Montreal at NY Red Bulls, Sunday, TSN: 181,000
Speed skating, Short-track World Cup, Saturday, CBC: 179,000
Figure skating, Rostelecom Cup, Saturday, CBC: 164,000
Figure skating, Rostelecom Cup, Sunday, CBC: 155,000
Soccer, Premier League games, Saturday, TSN: 118,000
Soccer, Watford at Liverpool, Saturday, TSN: 117,000
NHL, Jets at Red Wings, Friday, TSN Regional: 106,000
Soccer, Tottenham at Arsenal, Sunday, TSN: 105,000
Auto racing, NASCAR AAA Texas 500, Sunday, TSN 105,000

[ArgoGabe22]

With those numbers, I'm guessing Rod Black no longer does figure skating.

[mint83]

NHL, Canucks-Leafs/Sabres-Sens/Oilers-Isles/Flyers-Habs, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet-City: 2,200,000
NFL, Colts-Packers/Saints-Niners, Sunday, CTV: 848,000
NHL, Flames at Kings, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet: 678,000
NFL, Steelers-Ravens/Eagles-Giants/Lions-Vikes, Sunday, CTV: 670,000
CFL, Roughriders at Lions, Saturday, TSN: 582,000
NHL, Hockey Central, Saturday, CBC-Sportsnet-City: 503,000
CFL, Argonauts at Eskimos, Saturday, TSN: 491,000
NHL, Jets at Rangers, Sunday, Sportsnet-360: 440,000
CFL, Blue Bombers at Redblacks, Saturday, TSN: 387,000
CFL, Alouettes at Tiger-Cats, Saturday, TSN: 364,000
NFL, Broncos at Raiders, Sunday, TSN: 316,000 (NBC audience not measured)
NBA, Kings at Raptors, Sunday, Sportsnet One: 244,000
MLS, TFC at NYC, Sunday, TSN: 221,000
NHL, Flames at Ducks, Sunday, Sportsnet One: 215,000
NHL, Oilers at Red Wings, Sunday, Sportsnet West: 212,000
MLS, Montreal at NY Red Bulls, Sunday, TSN: 181,000
Speed skating, Short-track World Cup, Saturday, CBC: 179,000
Figure skating, Rostelecom Cup, Saturday, CBC: 164,000
Figure skating, Rostelecom Cup, Sunday, CBC: 155,000
Soccer, Premier League games, Saturday, TSN: 118,000
Soccer, Watford at Liverpool, Saturday, TSN: 117,000
NHL, Jets at Red Wings, Friday, TSN Regional: 106,000
Soccer, Tottenham at Arsenal, Sunday, TSN: 105,000
Auto racing, NASCAR AAA Texas 500, Sunday, TSN 105,000

Does anyone know what the overall CFL regular season TV rating average was in 2016 and how it compares to 2015?

......Same question for MLS.

[Argoknot]

^The Great Canadian Ratings Report: Labour Day produces classic TV audiences for CFL
Chris Zelkovich Eh Game 7 September, 2016

It's long been said that the CFL season doesn't really get started until Labour Day, which always made more than a few people wonder why so many fans bothered to show up those first two months.

Regardless, it's a long-standing belief and the CFL is certainly hoping that it bears out this season. If this year's Labour Day Classic schedule is any indication, the league is in for a big bounceback in its television numbers.

Prior to the first weekend in September, CFL ratings were showing some improvement: up 7 per cent overall and up an impressive 14 per cent in the much-valued 18-49 age bracket.

Until the top rated game of the season vs the Impact (pre September 18) that had over 100k, and the playoff game above, the TFC season average was an incredibly abysmal 38k. Looks like TSN is not renewing because of this.