Argos at BMO Field

[AngeloV]

Well If they play the games on Tuesday nights 20,000 would be more than enough. Weekend games 30,000. When Argos sold out the old Exibition Stadium that seated 33,000 the games were always on the weekend.

Except for the fact that from 1986-1988, the Argos drew fewer than 27,000 fans to a majority of their games (weekends included). I realize that the stadium was 55k capacity at the time, but the way I read your statement is that they would definitely fill a 30,000 seat stadium for weekend games. There is no (current) proof to support that theory.

[Neely2005]

Every other CFL franchise has a football stadium to play in, what's so different about Toronto? It's not like the costs are prohibitive, as BMO cost only $63 million to build. Even with the renovations BMO will still probably be the dumpiest stadium in the league, generating the lowest revenue streams for its CFL team.

I know Brunt said in his recent video that it makes no sense to build a 25,000-seat stadium for the Argos...but why not, it seems to make sense everywhere else? I think this is more of a reflection of the negative attitude much of the media has against the Argos and their 5th-place ranking in Toronto's sporting pecking order.

The main problem with the Argos is the small season-ticket base the team has to start from, by far the lowest in the CFL. But I wonder if other CFL teams had televised all their home games for 30 years with their stadium half empty, that that might have dwindled their season ticket base over time?

The Argos have a very strong walkup crowd, by far the biggest in the league, drawing more total fans than the Alouettes did in 2012. So the fans are there. I believe there will be a high demand for Argo tickets in an outdoor stadium with a natural grass field.

While it perhaps makes no sense for the Argos to build a stadium with Ticats visits in mind, but the reported 15,000 Oskee-wee-wees who were among the 36,000 at last years EDF, paid their ticket money directly into the Argos bank account. A very nice bonus for the owner who'd have to turn away all those fans at a renovated BMO.

Don't worry, if MLSE buys the Argonauts they'll just raise ticket prices to make up the difference. :-)

It seems to make sense everywhere else to build a 25,000-seat stadium for the CFL? Everywhere else?

For one thing, everywhere else does not have a similar-sized stadium in the same market to compete with for secondary use. For another, land costs are much higher in Toronto than elsewhere. For another, a $63M stadium would be a piece of crap that would not attract new fans; THF in Hamilton will cost more than twice that and I'm not at all convinced it will be anything other than bare bones. BMO is currently not great, and even with renos it won't be IGF2 (IGF cost more than $200M, I believe) but it will be a darn sight better than our current home on many levels.

And finally the big thing -- there is no one willing to fork over $150M or more to build a stadium that will be used 10 times a year. That's why this poll, and this discussion, is absurdly theoretical.

A lot of what sports fans discuss is theoretical.

[T-Bone]

Don't worry, if MLSE buys the Argonauts they'll just raise ticket prices to make up the difference. :-)

Or they could go to Rogers Centre for playoff games as already mentioned which is like what the Alouettes do. Well priced tickets helped fill the building for this event.

[Neely2005]

Or they could go to Rogers Centre for playoff games as already mentioned which is like what the Alouettes do. Well priced tickets helped fill the building for this event.

Yeah hopefully that's what they would do, especially given the weather in October and November. It sounds like Grey Cups would be at BMO Field though. (with expanded temporary seating)

[T-Bone]

It sounds like Grey Cups would be at BMO Field though. (with expanded temporary seating)

It's an option with the stadium expansion but not a must. When you are trying to sell a proposal you're going to list all the options.

[paulwoods13]

A lot of what sports fans discuss is theoretical.

Yes, but it usually has some basis in possibility, like "maybe we will sign such-and-such free agent." Speculating about how great a 30,000-seat football-only stadium would be is about as rooted in reality as speculating about how great it would be if David Braley bought us all 70-inch TVs to watch the games on.

[Neely2005]

Yes, but it usually has some basis in possibility, like "maybe we will sign such-and-such free agent." Speculating about how great a 30,000-seat football-only stadium would be is about as rooted in reality as speculating about how great it would be if David Braley bought us all 70-inch TVs to watch the games on.

Well judging by the Poll results most people think that 25,000 seats is to small. That seems like an interesting topic of discussion to me.

[paulwoods13]

Well judging by the Poll results most people think that 25,000 seats is to small. That seems like an interesting topic of discussion to me.

Ah yes, the 21 voters. I sure hope the powers that be are listening.

[Neely2005]

Ah yes, the 21 voters. I sure hope the powers that be are listening.

21 Voters in 1 day on a website that has 74 Active Members.


Argo Fans Statistics
Threads 2,276 Posts 42,323 Members 352 Active Members 74

[paulwoods13]

21 Voters in 1 day on a website that has 74 Active Members.


Argo Fans Statistics
Threads 2,276 Posts 42,323 Members 352 Active Members 74

OK, pretty impressive I guess?

[Neely2005]

OK, pretty impressive I guess?

I'm just saying that it's an interesting subject to discuss.

[argolio]

If they end up turning people away at the box office every game for a year or two, they could always expand it again.

[Argocister]

I was listening to Chris Rudge on with Hogan tonight. He stated that doing all the economic number crunching 25-27000 stadium is ideal for this part of the country... if not most CFL stadiums. Let it create the ideal and attractive experience for fans ..... then in the future , if needed, we can expand.

[Neely2005]

If they end up turning people away at the box office every game for a year or two, they could always expand it again.

Apparently they can't expand BMO Field (after this expansion) because the Exhibition Place board doesn't want the stadium footprint made any bigger because of the surrounding buildings.

[T-Bone]

Apparently they can't expand BMO Field (after this expansion) because the Exhibition Place board doesn't want the stadium footprint made any bigger because of the surrounding buildings.

I agree, I don't think BMO Field will be expanded further after this expansion. Like I said earlier, I don't see anyone else building a stadium that can accommodate the Argos though. So the way I see it is, BMO Field vs. homelessness after 2017 that would most likely lead to the team folding are the two options right now. I'll take BMO Field.

[rdavies]

I was listening to Chris Rudge on with Hogan tonight. He stated that doing all the economic number crunching 25-27000 stadium is ideal for this part of the country... if not most CFL stadiums. Let it create the ideal and attractive experience for fans ..... then in the future , if needed, we can expand.

TSN 1050: Game Night: Chris Rudge - March 11th
March 11, 2014

Toronto Argos CEO, Chris Rudge joined Game Night to give the latest on the Argos potential move to BMO Field and their search for a practice facility.

[Neely2005]

I agree, I don't think BMO Field will be expanded further after this expansion. Like I said earlier, I don't see anyone else building a stadium that can accommodate the Argos though. So the way I see it is, BMO Field vs. homelessness after 2017 that would most likely lead to the team folding are the two options right now. I'll take BMO Field.

Yeah I really don't like the location or the size of BMO Field but it's certainly better than the alternative.

I was really hoping that Braley would build a new stadium in Vaughan, Richmond Hill or Markham but I understand why he would be hesitant to do that given the costs.


MLSE: City pushing to move Argos to BMO Field:

http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hal..._field.bb.html

[T-Bone]

I was really hoping that Braley would build a new stadium in Vaughan, Richmond Hill or Markham but I understand why he would be hesitant to do that given the costs.

Like I said early, I'm pretty sure Braley was bluffing. Outside of Braley the only other person talking about a stadium for the Argos was Ford and no one else chimed in as far as I can remember.

MLSE: City pushing to move Argos to BMO Field

Again I said this before, I got the sense from Leiweke that it was the city forcing this on MLSE. Before I wouldn't have thought the Argos would be able to move in to BMO Field with out being owned by MLSE but that has changed now. It appears the Argos moving in to BMO Field and MLSE ownership are separate issues.

[Neely2005]

Like I said early, I'm pretty sure Braley was bluffing. Outside of Braley the only other person talking about a stadium for the Argos was Ford and no one else chimed in as far as I can remember.


Again I said this before, I got the sense from Leiweke that it was the city forcing this on MLSE. Before I wouldn't have thought the Argos would be able to move in to BMO Field with out being owned by MLSE but that has changed now. It appears the Argos moving in to BMO Field and MLSE ownership are separate issues.

Yeah it certainly does seem like MLSE and BMO Field are 2 separate issues. I wonder if MLSE is getting cold feet about buying the Argonauts?

[rdavies]

Just a headsup, looks like the winning bid for the new 33k stadium for Regina will be announced Friday. Time to start a new poll how it should be 55k