Is the Eastern Final the most important game in the history of the franchise?

**Will** · 11-07-2017, 08:23 AM

For off-field purposes assuming that they can get a good crowd out with a good chunk of casuals?

**Scooter McCray** · 11-07-2017, 09:57 AM

I wouldn't say it is the most important for the franchise. I would say it is the most important for the current executives. I would like to know what they are doing other than relying on their loyal fan base to seĺl more tickets.

**Mightygoose** · 11-07-2017, 10:03 AM

I would only say, it's the most important so far. But I agree with the above, this will be a big measuring stick for this management group.

As far as what they're doing. Lemon was on CP-24 yesterday and Wilder was on the Social so they're using Bell's resources and programs aiming for outside of the core audience. Lemon was on Boom 97.3 (also owned by Bell) earlier today. Seeing lots of TV spots on TSN outside of CFL telecasts so there's definitely a push happening.

**RB957** · 11-07-2017, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Mightygoose

I would only say, it's the most important so far. But I agree with the above, this will be a big measuring stick for this management group.

As far as what they're doing. Lemon was on CP-24 yesterday and Wilder was on the Social so they're using Bell's resources and programs aiming for outside of the core audience. Lemon was on Boom 97.3 (also owned by Bell) earlier today. Seeing lots of TV spots on TSN outside of CFL telecasts so there's definitely a push happening.

It is important because it's the East Division final, so I would hope that there would be a push happening. The problem is if the stadium doesn't look full, that's all you're going to hear or read about, regardless about how good the football game itself is. It seems like some members of the media are like vultures, circling around hoping to find a carcass to pick at. I for one, hope the place is rocking and we make it to the Grey Cup, and then cap off a remarkable comeback year by bringing the Cup back to T.O. That will be a story worth talking about. See you on the 19th.

**ArgoGabe22** · 11-07-2017, 12:25 PM

Couldn't one ask this same question before the 2012 Grey Cup? And look at how that turned out going forward in 2013.

**R.J** · 11-07-2017, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Couldn't one ask this same question before the 2012 Grey Cup? And look at how that turned out going forward in 2013.

I thought the same thing.

**Neely2005** · 11-07-2017, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Mightygoose

I would only say, it's the most important so far. But I agree with the above, this will be a big measuring stick for this management group.

As far as what they're doing. Lemon was on CP-24 yesterday and Wilder was on the Social so they're using Bell's resources and programs aiming for outside of the core audience. Lemon was on Boom 97.3 (also owned by Bell) earlier today. Seeing lots of TV spots on TSN outside of CFL telecasts so there's definitely a push happening.

They've also been running advertisements on TV, Radio, Facebook and the Internet.

**Tau Ceti** · 11-07-2017, 08:49 PM

Team is being very aggressive remarketing online, which is a smart way to spend ad money.

Ticketing suggested today they're pacing better than the 2016 opener -- 24,800 or just shy of a sellout. It's still early so the trend could change but that's really encouraging news.

**Neely2005** · 11-07-2017, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Tau Ceti

Team is being very aggressive remarketing online, which is a smart way to spend ad money.

Ticketing suggested today they're pacing better than the 2016 opener -- 24,800 or just shy of a sellout. It's still early so the trend could change but that's really encouraging news.

That's excellent news! Is 27,000 a sellout?

**Tau Ceti** · 11-07-2017, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Neely2005

That's excellent news! Is 27,000 a sellout?

According to CFLDB it's 27,000, which I tend to trust the most.

Wiki and other places still list official figures of 25,000 for CFL and 30,000 for soccer but 27,000 was widely reported around the time of the opener in 2016. Given that we've never flirted with the number I guess it's never needed to be asked...

**Topshelf** · 11-07-2017, 10:11 PM

Its irrelevant. They'll paper the house if needed, they wont want the embarassment of an empty east side for a conference final.
They can give the seats to youth clubs, etc, maybe even give them away at pizza pizza.
Internally it is a measuring stick though, its too easy and conveneint to make TFC comparisons. Both clubs will play within weeks, both a conference final.
I think it'll be a record crowd for the argos at BMO, 27 or 28. But it means nothing. Next year will be the same discussion. We stress far too much about the crowds, the team isnt moving, the Argos will never fold. So why worry if there are 30,000 fans or 3,000?

**Tau Ceti** · 11-07-2017, 10:31 PM

There's no indication whatsoever that the current ownership is papering anything. If lying were their game plan then they wouldn't have announced the lowest attendance averages in the team's modern history each of the last two seasons. What they've been doing is announcing honest to God actuals while eliminating papering. If you'd actually talked to ticketing yourself (I suspect you haven't) then you'd find that tickets are a little harder to come by than a slice of pizza right now.

**Neely2005** · 11-08-2017, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Topshelf

Its irrelevant. They'll paper the house if needed, they wont want the embarassment of an empty east side for a conference final.
They can give the seats to youth clubs, etc, maybe even give them away at pizza pizza.
Internally it is a measuring stick though, its too easy and conveneint to make TFC comparisons. Both clubs will play within weeks, both a conference final.
I think it'll be a record crowd for the argos at BMO, 27 or 28. But it means nothing. Next year will be the same discussion. We stress far too much about the crowds, the team isnt moving, the Argos will never fold. So why worry if there are 30,000 fans or 3,000?

They've never papered the house at BMO Field, not even for the first game ever against Hamilton or the Grey Cup. Why would they start now?

**DoubleBlue_Red** · 11-08-2017, 08:15 AM

Weather is going to be a huge factor.

**Scooter McCray** · 11-08-2017, 08:55 AM

I was speaking with my ticket rep yesterday and 3000 tickets have been sold. They are selling 1000 per day. That should get us to about the season average of 14000. And since the Argos have been such a hot ticket the braintrust decided to raise pricing for the playoffs. Copeland must really want a sellout.

**ArgoGabe22** · 11-08-2017, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Scooter McCray

. And since the Argos have been such a hot ticket the braintrust decided to raise pricing for the playoffs. Copeland must really want a sellout.

I read tickets are priced low, starting at only $19.

**Mightygoose** · 11-08-2017, 09:36 AM

On ticketmaster the 19.00 tickets are alresdy sold out.

For clarification, did the rep say 3000 sold to date? That's very low.

Or did he mean 3000 sold since the Argos clinched first and the date was set?

**paulwoods13** · 11-08-2017, 10:05 AM

I'm fairly sure there are more than 3,000 season tickets, and those were all "sold" (ie included in our ticket packages) months ago. So if the sales rep said 3,000, it likely means new sales over and above STs. Mind you, this board has had a bad experience with comments attributed to sales reps. :-(