Argos to host Roughriders in Halifax on July 25 2020

[R.J]

Hearing the @CFL will announce tomorrow that the July 25th game between the @sskroughriders and @TorontoArgos will be played at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. #CFL #Schooners

— David William Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) January 22, 2020

The July 25th game will be the first regular season @CFL game ever played in Halifax.

— David William Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) January 22, 2020

Huskies Stadium seats about 2,000, but can supposedly seat around 9,000-11,000 with temp stands. IIRC, the League will operate this game, as opposed to SSE.

[AngeloV]

Well, at least the Argos will have 1 home game where they are guaranteed not to lose money this year.

[Mightygoose]

Expandable to 10K seats. Probably can't fit anymore in there

https://www.tsn.ca/mini-grey-cup-fes...ifax-1.1431753

Apparently, the average ticket price will be $50. Better than last year where the original had a starting price of $65. Looks like some people have learned lessons.

I may want to make the trek myself....but I'm too cheap for all of other travel expenses....lol

[Neely2005]

Heard on the radio that they're adding 6000 Temporary Seats to bring the Capacity to 10,000.

[Will]

Well, at least the Argos will have 1 home game where they are guaranteed not to lose money this year.

The Argos have 8 home games and 10 away games this year.

It'll be anything but neutral.

[AngeloV]

The Argos have 8 home games and 10 away games this year.

It'll be anything but neutral.

No disagreement here. Would have preferred BC or Calgary as the opponent. But I still GET why it’s the Argos “hosting”.

[Neely2005]

Well, at least the Argos will have 1 home game where they are guaranteed not to lose money this year.

Doesn't the new TV Contract already put teams at break even?

[AngeloV]

Doesn't the new TV Contract already put teams at break even?

Really? Is that serious question? TV contract pays teams around 5-6M each. OPerations run teams 15-18M or so. They basically cover the Salary cap of which doesn't include players on injury lists, coaches, managers, rent, advertisement, travel. Saskatchewan being a publicly owned team has to put all the numbers out there. In 2017, their operations were at 14.9M (not including any amortization costs towards their stadium, strictly football operations). In 2020 I'm sure that number has gone up.

["Issues"Mcgee]

Let's hope our team is somewhat fixed by then so we can give the Haligonians their money's worth.

[doubleblue]

Really? Is that serious question? TV contract pays teams around 5-6M each. OPerations run teams 15-18M or so. They basically cover the Salary cap of which doesn't include players on injury lists, coaches, managers, rent, advertisement, travel. Saskatchewan being a publicly owned team has to put all the numbers out there. In 2017, their operations were at 14.9M (not including any amortization costs towards their stadium, strictly football operations). In 2020 I'm sure that number has gone up.

I can remember Prime Time Sports Bob McCowan having a former exec of the Argos named Cooper (I think that was his name) on his show talking about the Argos several years ago. I remember him telling McCowan that if he had the concessions, parking etc. the break even point would be about 16,000 tickets sold per game. The Argos didn't have the concessions at the Dome, but MLSE would have them now at BMO, but I don't know what their deal is for parking at the Ex. So is that 16,000 still in the ball park for break even now? Don't know of course. TV revenue has gone up and they have the concessions. I have to think the 5 Saturday 7:00 pm starts will help put more butts in the East stands especially in the hot summer months. That along with a more competitive team maybe we can turn the corner this year.

[AngeloV]

I can remember Prime Time Sports Bob McCowan having a former exec of the Argos named Cooper (I think that was his name) on his show talking about the Argos several years ago. I remember him telling McCowan that if he had the concessions, parking etc. the break even point would be about 16,000 tickets sold per game. The Argos didn't have the concessions at the Dome, but MLSE would have them now at BMO, but I don't know what their deal is for parking at the Ex. So is that 16,000 still in the ball park for break even now? Don't know of course. TV revenue has gone up and they have the concessions. I have to think the 5 Saturday 7:00 pm starts will help put more butts in the East stands especially in the hot summer months. That along with a more competitive team maybe we can turn the corner this year.

With the current low ticket prices the team has, I would guess they would have to at least come close to their current 18k or so capacity to break even. I think they acknowledge they will not turn a profit for a long time. Furthermore, I always thought of Brian Cooper as a king of BS. He learned well from Bruce McNall.

[bannedforlife]

With the current low ticket prices the team has, I would guess they would have to at least come close to their current 18k or so capacity to break even. I think they acknowledge they will not turn a profit for a long time. Furthermore, I always thought of Brian Cooper as a king of BS. He learned well from Bruce McNall.

Noted CFL fan Arash Madani said on PTS a couple of years ago that the breakeven point for the Argos was 18k

[AngeloV]

Noted CFL fan Arash Madani said on PTS a couple of years ago that the breakeven point for the Argos was 18k

I didn't know that (probably because I haven't listened to PTS in at least 10 years). That was just my guess based on the configuration they decided upon when closing the upper east side.

[Godfather]

With the argos under the MLSE umbrella, and playing in an MLSE operated stadium, the cost of running the team should drop as team operations can already be done by the MLSE infrastructure already in place. Revenues can also go up as the argos play in a shared stadium with other mlse owned teams so sponsorships and stadium advertising can be bundled to also include the argos. Remember, while the argos draw poorly, the TV audience is good, which allows for higher stadium naming rights.

So 18K for breakeven seems reasonable.

Argos need a competitive, exciting team to watch. They need to sponsor and invest in minor/hs/univ football in the GTA. Kids who play football will pay to watch football when they grow up. That's the only way you can build a niche in the crowded Toronto sports market.