Bill Manning Named New Argos President

[doubleblue]

Honestly I'm not terribly against it, when TFC started out the upper east stands didn't even exist, they created demand with the seats that they did have and did a great job at it. The 20k or so seats that would be left over if we tarped the upper east is a good starting point, use the lower east as a group area since the majority of STH seem to be on the west.

Tarped seats can look great if it's done right, you forget the fact that those are unsold seats and it makes for a better experience. Make the tarps pictures of past Argo players, if you do it wrong and make it more ad space or just a plain tarp it's terrible. I'd rather see tarps of Argo players and Cup winning years rather than the depressing sea of red seats we're normally treated to

Have you ever sat in the lower East side on a hot Sunny afternoon game in July or August?

[Shatto]

Have never sat in the lower east stands during hot sunny summer afternoons but have observed how uncomfortable it appears for those fans. If I had to sit in the east stands I would prefer to sit up higher as it gives a better view and potentially some shade. Tarping off the upper east stands seems like a short sighted move. Would much prefer to see some unique marketing strategies and promotions to increase attendance rather than simply camouflaging the problem.

[AngeloV]

Have you ever sat in the lower East side on a hot Sunny afternoon game in July or August?

I can sit in heat and sun all day and would have no issue with it. My only reasoning for sitting on the west side is that I have sensitivity with my eyes, and looking into the direction of the sun would make it difficult for me to see the plays clearly, even with shades on.

[doubleblue]

I can sit in heat and sun all day and would have no issue with it. My only reasoning for sitting on the west side is that I have sensitivity with my eyes, and looking into the direction of the sun would make it difficult for me to see the plays clearly, even with shades on.

Well we all have are reasons. Mine is that it's to .... hot.

[AngeloV]

Well we all have are reasons. Mine is that it's to .... hot.

LOL..yeah, I didn't mean to anything by it. Just saying that I love the heat.

[R.J]

Have you ever sat in the lower East side on a hot Sunny afternoon game in July or August?

TFC seems to have little issue selling those seats.

[Will]

TFC seems to have little issue selling those seats.

Yep

For the record, if the decision has been made then they have not informed STH on that side. I know there aren't many, but my parents sit on that side along with their neighbours.

[rdavies]

Just saying that I love the heat.

Me too, it's Canada for poop's sake. It's not like we're living in equatorial Africa, but to each his own. I'll bet a significant price reduction would fill those seats.

[AngeloV]

I'll bet a significant price reduction would fill those seats.

That is the first thing I would have done, rather than just tarp them off. I guess the possible issue is that if they were priced significantly lower than the seats on the west side, People may move over to save money on their tickets, and in the end, the team would get less revenue. I still think they should sell the upper east side as general admission seating at $20 a pop and don't make those seats available for ST or flex packs. Strictly sold on the week of the upcoming game, and find a sponsor like they used to with 7-11 or Dominion/Metro to sell vouchers for those seats.

[Scooter McCray]

That is the first thing I would have done, rather than just tarp them off. I guess the possible issue is that if they were priced significantly lower than the seats on the west side, People may move over to save money on their tickets, and in the end, the team would get less revenue. I still think they should sell the upper east side as general admission seating at $20 a pop and don't make those seats available for ST or flex packs. Strictly sold on the week of the upcoming game, and find a sponsor like they used to with 7-11 or Dominion/Metro to sell vouchers for those seats.

Bums in seats is most important. Sort of like getting rid of the blackout. Why would you not want to expose your product to the most people possible. Especially this season. The team is a defending champion, and will contend again with the roster the same or better across most positions. Why would you not want to expose people to an exciting day at BMO Field. The atmosphere full (Eastern Final & 2016 home opener) is much better than staring across at an empty half stadium. Fans need to experience that. I'm sure if they do they will want to come back. The ticket pricing is too high for the amount of demand in the city. They need to start lower, build the fanbase, make it a place to be and be seen, and gradually raise pricing from there. Tarping is a lazy way out. Like when a CEO takes over a company and fires a bunch of people to lower costs. It doesn't take too much creativity to do that.

[rdavies]

That is the first thing I would have done, rather than just tarp them off.

Wasn't there a family promotion for the upper deck that did really well ($20? a seat) People were apparently saying it was too good a deal to refuse. Was that the Flutie game?

[gilthethrill]

Wasn't there a family promotion for the upper deck that did really well ($20? a seat) People were apparently saying it was too good a deal to refuse. Was that the Flutie game?

I believe it was. I was at the game that night sitting in the west seats of the upper deck. Lots of people in east upper deck on that cold evening.

[Argo57]

Have never sat in the lower east stands during hot sunny summer afternoons but have observed how uncomfortable it appears for those fans. If I had to sit in the east stands I would prefer to sit up higher as it gives a better view and potentially some shade. Tarping off the upper east stands seems like a short sighted move. Would much prefer to see some unique marketing strategies and promotions to increase attendance rather than simply camouflaging the problem.

We started on the east side in 2016 about 2/3rds towards the top and had zero relief from the sun and immediately moved to the west side.
Personally didn’t like baking in the sun but also found it hard to watch with the glare.

[Ron]

Considering the Argos intend one day to have full houses at full price. Steeply discounting an entire side of the house makes it tough if not impossible to raise prices to an equal level later. So obviously they are taking the approach to have the fans come to the ticket prices as the team popularity grows ... rather than getting a short term boost of $20 tickets now and pay for it for years later. (If you build it they will come) The way they did it last year was excellent. Offer deals but not guaranteed to be there later.

People are fast to complain that the Argos get treated like a minor league and then insist on sales methods used for minor leagues in this town.

Oh, and TFC seems to sell those east side seats ... but then today soccer fans seem far more hardy than CFL fans in this town.

[doubleblue]

Considering the Argos intend one day to have full houses at full price. Steeply discounting an entire side of the house makes it tough if not impossible to raise prices to an equal level later. So obviously they are taking the approach to have the fans come to the ticket prices as the team popularity grows ... rather than getting a short term boost of $20 tickets now and pay for it for years later. (If you build it they will come) The way they did it last year was excellent. Offer deals but not guaranteed to be there later.

People are fast to complain that the Argos get treated like a minor league and then insist on sales methods used for minor leagues in this town.

Oh, and TFC seems to sell those east side seats ... but then today soccer fans seem far more hardy than CFL fans in this town.

I don't follow TFC but aren't all or most of their games through the summer months at night?

[DoubleBlue_Red]

I don't follow TFC but aren't all or most of their games through the summer months at night?

Usually they are Saturday afternoons and some weeknights.

[Argo57]

Give it time, 35+ years of mostly crappy ownership won’t be erased overnight, the Argos are already getting more symbiotic exposure in the Toronto market than they have in years (as seen at the Raptors game last night).
As long as they keep producing an entertaining and competitive team I would expect good things to happen.

[jerrym]

Give it time, 35+ years of mostly crappy ownership won’t be erased overnight, the Argos are already getting more symbiotic exposure in the Toronto market than they have in years (as seen at the Raptors game last night).
As long as they keep producing an entertaining and competitive team I would expect good things to happen.

It would really help if the Argos put together several good seasons in a row so that new fans attracted after a Grey Cup don't soon see a nosedive in performance level a short time later, as has often happened after winning the seven Grey Cups from 1983 onwards.

[Rich]

It would really help if the Argos put together several good seasons in a row

How about ONE really good season? It's been over 20 years since this team has won at least 12 games in a season. Hasn't every other team done it at least once in that span? The three Cups are nice but they were all surprises. I'd like to see how the city would react if the Argonauts were having a dominant season.

[Shatto]

I recently read that BMO will have new grass field installed, somewhere between May 25 and June 23. What was of particular interest, was there was no mention of what was going to done to improve the atrocious end zone problem. The transition from grass to artificial turf has been a problem noted by several players. Also the quality of the artificial turf leaves much to be desired. Several players have complained about slipping while trying to cut.

There could be several solutions to this problem. Spend the money and upgrade the quality of the artificial turf in the end zones or use artificial turf for the whole field. Certainly the soccer people will object to artificial turf but the quality of artificial turf is being improved all the time and perhaps if the best turf available was to be used, they might learn to live with it.

While looking at the schedule, I notice there is still no date set for the home pre-season game. Wonder when we will get information regarding this situation.