2021 CFL and Argo Attendance

[jerrym]

Here are the numbers on CFL attendance by team, with concerning numbers (understandably because of Covid) for a number of teams, including, of course, the Argos.

2021 CFL Regular Season Team Attendance Summary

League Average	22,608.3	66.58%	N/A	22,608.3	66.58%	N/A
12,526.0 BC	45.55%	-10,082.3	23,126.3	74.08%	+518.0
24,297.0 Calgary	68.15%	+1,688.7	28,149.5	63.52%	+5,541.2
29,637.0 Edmonton	53.29%	+7,028.7	21,769.5	68.95%	-838.8
15,000.0 Hamilton	61.73%	-7,608.3	20,226.8	69.27%	-2,381.6
14,753.0 Montreal	62.97%	-7,855.3	20,438.3	52.89%	-2,170.0
15,000.0 Ottawa	60.84%	-7,608.3	23,804.3	61.32%	+1,196.0
30,490.0 Sask.	91.42%	+7,881.7	33,234.0	100.64%	+10,625.7
9,784.0 Toronto	36.24%	-12,824.3	20,354.7	65.68%	-2,253.6
26,889.8 Winnipeg	81.43%	+4,281.4	21,420.5	70.99%	-1,187.8

https://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/attendance/2021/

[Mocha]

Sadly, I think 10,000 is about what the Argos are going to attract for the foreseeable future. But I believe/hope we'll see the numbers increase in both BC and Montreal over the next few years with new ownership and better teams in place.

[ArgoGabe22]

I’m worried that Covid isn’t the definitive reason and that those numbers are here to stay.

[Topshelf]

TFC played in front of friends and family tonight. I think MLSE assumed there would be some huge demand for fans to return, and really missed the market.
Part of it is the media/govt has everyone so focused still on staying home. This season, fans wise, is a write off. Fo us on the on field product, figure out how to market the stars, maybe try some new concepts, then aim for 25k next year. Also, treat those that do show up this year a bit better. Show some appreciation.

[ArgoRavi]

We are still in the midst of this pandemic. I wouldn't read much into attendance figures this season. Having said that, I am actually surprised that the league average is this high.

[AngeloV]

We are still in the midst of this pandemic. I wouldn't read much into attendance figures this season. Having said that, I am actually surprised that the league average is this high.

You must have missed the news Ravi. The pandemic was declared over in the Prairies back in July.

[AngeloV]

TFC played in front of friends and family tonight.

With that team's payroll, MLSE must be losing a boat load of money on that entity this year.

[Antwon]

With that team's payroll, MLSE must be losing a boat load of money on that entity this year.

And they say there was 7,900 in attendance!

[AngeloV]

And they say there was 7,900 in attendance!

I think their payroll is $24M USD. With no major TV money coming in (3M per team) and most of your revenue coming in CAD, that is some big losses. If things don't change regarding either salaries or influx of revenue, that league will be in trouble once they tap out of expansion fee money.

[ArgoRavi]

I heard that the Jays had 12k last night so the Argos' attendance isn't exactly out of line right now with what other Toronto pro sports teams are getting.

[Shatto]

It is not unusual to read negative media reports about the future of the CFL and particularly the Argos. If I'm not mistaken, it has even been implied that MLSE might be tiring of losing money on the Argos. Yet, TFC, a far greater money losing enterprise, seems to escape the same type of speculation. With a player budget more than five times greater than the Argo's and dismally small Canadian TV numbers, the solid attendance figures for the team, has been their one financial bright spot. With the latest TFC attendance some two thousand under the Argo's latest game numbers, will we start to see similar speculation about the demise of TFC? (said with tongue in cheek)

Let me state I have been a soccer fan from the time, when I was a youngster, my father took me to Premier League games and I want to see TFC be successful. I realize there are hurdles to overcome, but it would be nice to see the future of the CFL and the Argos painted in a more positive light by the media, at least once in a while.

[Antwon]

It is not unusual to read negative media reports about the future of the CFL and particularly the Argos. If I'm not mistaken, it has even been implied that MLSE might be tiring of losing money on the Argos. Yet, TFC, a far greater money losing enterprise, seems to escape the same type of speculation. With a player budget more than five times greater than the Argo's and dismally small Canadian TV numbers, the solid attendance figures for the team, has been their one financial bright spot. With the latest TFC attendance some two thousand under the Argo's latest game numbers, will we start to see similar speculation about the demise of TFC? (said with tongue in cheek)

I recently read an article on MLS(Forbes I believe) that clearly explained MLS recent success has been inflated based on the high expansion fees they've been dividing up. Now that they've drained that well, the pressure is on the next US TV contract. If it's not significantly for more money, most teams will be losing significant amount of money.

[AngeloV]

I recently read an article on MLS(Forbes I believe) that clearly explained MLS recent success has been inflated based on the high expansion fees they've been dividing up. Now that they've drained that well, the pressure is on the next US TV contract. If it's not significantly for more money, most teams will be losing significant amount of money.

Exact point I was making. If the TV contract isn't for let's say 3 or 4 times what they got this time around, they league will have to significantly reduce players salaries, and the top players would then look to leave.

[ArgoGabe22]

9,866
9,702
7,758
6,788

Last four home games for the Argos.

[AngeloV]

9,866
9,702
7,758
6,788

Last four home games for the Argos.

I expected a really small crowd last night. Hopefully they can get about 10k or more for the BC game on Oct 30.

I still think that going forward, the Argos should look at playing Sunday afternoon home games up until Labour day yearly. TSN should have no problem with it as it won't cut into their NFL coverage before the NFL season starts.

[paulwoods13]

9,866
9,702
7,758
6,788

Last four home games for the Argos.

Obviously this is hugely concerning. The Lions are a terrible draw traditionally, as is Edmonton, which is also on a frickin' Tuesday evening. I think we need to see how much impact COVID has on Leafs and Raptors attendance before drawing any firm conclusions, but on the evidence to date, the struggle to make this team viable just keeps getting harder.

[Joe Barnes]

Obviously this is hugely concerning. The Lions are a terrible draw traditionally, as is Edmonton, which is also on a frickin' Tuesday evening. I think we need to see how much impact COVID has on Leafs and Raptors attendance before drawing any firm conclusions, but on the evidence to date, the struggle to make this team viable just keeps getting harder.

TFC has been drawing crowds of only 5 to 7 thousand lately, as well. Granted, they are having a terrible season, but they usually have crowds of at least 20 thousand. Up until Covid, the situation, as I understood it, was that while the Argos struggled to draw crowds to BMO, they had good TV numbers whereas TFC had terrible TV numbers but packed the place. Right now, the Argos are outdrawing TFC at the gate and, I assume, on TV as well, even with these paltry numbers! MLSE has to be concerned. You could blame these low numbers on fans hesitancy due to Covid, but the Jays had no issues drawing people during their recent run.

[paulwoods13]

I'm pretty confident MLSE is equally worried about Argo and TFC attendance. I think they will ride out the remainder of the seasons and compare against Leafs and Raptors before reaching hard conclusions. But there is one big difference that I think should worry all Argo fans -- TFC could, in theory, be sold for nine figures (i.e. $100M or more), a massive increase over what MLSE paid for it. That valuation might or might not be based on false assumptions about the long-term viability and growth potential of soccer in North America, but for the past decade or more this has been an upward curve. The Argos could not be sold for nine figures, or even eight, IMO; nor could they bring a big return on MLSE's investment in any sale. (Not that I see any potential buyers waiting in the wings.)

[OV Argo]

I'm pretty confident MLSE is equally worried about Argo and TFC attendance. I think they will ride out the remainder of the seasons and compare against Leafs and Raptors before reaching hard conclusions. But there is one big difference that I think should worry all Argo fans -- TFC could, in theory, be sold for nine figures (i.e. $100M or more), a massive increase over what MLSE paid for it. That valuation might or might not be based on false assumptions about the long-term viability and growth potential of soccer in North America, but for the past decade or more this has been an upward curve. The Argos could not be sold for nine figures, or even eight, IMO; nor could they bring a big return on MLSE's investment in any sale. (Not that I see any potential buyers waiting in the wings.)

Yeah, but; did anybody see that guy who bought the BC Lions waiting in the wings ? Is he some sort of fool for buying a team with weak attendance and fan interest in the huge BC market ?

[ArgoRavi]

What has the marketing been like for the Argos this year in Toronto? Have there been any notable improvements from past years?