Argos at BMO Field

[Neely2005]

It looks like the CFL may end up paying the money required to get the Argonauts into BMO Field:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/spo...urce=d-tiles-3

The article mentions $20 Million so I guess that the CFL is expecting Wynne to break her election promise to contribute $10 Million.

[AngeloV]

It looks like the CFL may end up paying the money required to get the Argonauts into BMO Field:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/spo...urce=d-tiles-3

The article mentions $20 Million so I guess that the CFL is expecting Wynne to break her election promise to contribute $10 Million.

I somehow doubt that it was an election promise. A promise like that would have lost her more votes than it would have gained her. I think it was also contingent on getting a similar amount from the other 2 levels of government.

[Invader]

The $20 million wasn't a quote from Cohon but the writer's conjecture. If the league is willing to contribute $20 million the Argos should build a brand-new stadium (how 'bout adding grandstands to their Downsview practice facility?)...perhaps in the suburbs with free land, ect. The remaining cost could be financed and paid back through facility fees. Then the Argos could generate similar revenue streams (naming rights, concessions, parking, sponsorships, concert revenue, ect.) to Hamilton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Regina, etc.

[dmont]

It looks like the CFL may end up paying the money required to get the Argonauts into BMO Field:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/spo...urce=d-tiles-3

The article mentions $20 Million so I guess that the CFL is expecting Wynne to break her election promise to contribute $10 Million.

It doesn't necessarily mean that the CFL is going to cover the shortfall, but that it will "help MLSE out" with it. To me, that sounds like the CFL leveraging levels of government to come up the funds.

[ArgoRavi]

It doesn't necessarily mean that the CFL is going to cover the shortfall, but that it will "help MLSE out" with it. To me, that sounds like the CFL leveraging levels of government to come up the funds.

The league is much better off trying to come up with the money on its own rather than trying to get it out of the federal or provincial governments. The current federal government has made it crystal clear that they won't be providing money for this venture.

[Neely2005]

ARGOS REMAIN IN BMO FIELD PLANS

BMO Field will once again be one of the best places to play in Major League Soccer, MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke said.
But that doesn’t mean expansion plans won’t include the Toronto Argonauts one day.


“That’s a commitment that is a legal obligation to the city and the province,” Leiweke said of the CFL possibly coming to BMO Field. “We will honour that commitment.”


MLSE will be hosting a ground-breaking ceremony of sorts on Tuesday as construction to upgrade BMO Field is already under way.
“If you want to see a testament to the growth of MLS, go look at what our stadium was when it opened to what it is today,” Leiweke said. “We’ve fallen so far behind it’s shocking.”

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/18...-on-tfc-issues

[T-Bone]

MLSE will be hosting a ground-breaking ceremony of sorts on Tuesday as construction to upgrade BMO Field is already under way.

They have invited TFC season ticket holders to BMO Field Tuesday for the ground-breaking ceremony. I assume we will get to the see the finalized renovation plans for stage one at least.

[gee]

Yes. And Seems like if they're going to spend a bunch of cash then maybe it would be better to spend it to retrofit a site like Lamport, which could accommodate a 22k horseshoe configuration and has opportunity for supplemental revenue streams available to the benefit of the team - naming rights, rights to develop small commercial on-site, etc. Don't bother worrying about accommodating Grey Cup because Skydome should still be available in the Bluejays offseason.

[T-Bone]

Yes. And Seems like if they're going to spend a bunch of cash then maybe it would be better to spend it to retrofit a site like Lamport, which could accommodate a 22k horseshoe configuration and has opportunity for supplemental revenue streams available to the benefit of the team - naming rights, rights to develop small commercial on-site, etc. Don't bother worrying about accommodating Grey Cup because Skydome should still be available in the Bluejays offseason.

When was the last time you were at Lamport Stadium?

[gee]

Long ago. But didn't Molson have a tree growing in the stands when Montreal moved back in?

[T-Bone]

Long ago. But didn't Molson have a tree growing in the stands when Montreal moved back in?

It would take a lot of work to bring Lamport Stadium up to spec. I'm pretty sure a tear down and rebuild would be the better option. Either way, where would the money come from to upgrade or rebuild it?

[Will]

Despite the tree, Molson Stadium was much closer to being a viable CFL stadium in 1998 than Lamport is right now.

[Neely2005]

Lamport is a dump. It's also to small and doesn't have any parking. It's also farther away from the GO Train and Highway than BMO Field is.

[Qman]

i heard that BMO is ending its sponsorship in 2016. New sponsor will have to come on board

[T-Bone]

i heard that BMO is ending its sponsorship in 2016. New sponsor will have to come on board

Jersey sponsorship according to this. However there is this from 2010 that says sponsorship ends at the conclusion of the 2016 season.

[Argo57]

Lamport is a dump. It's also to small and doesn't have any parking. It's also farther away from the GO Train and Highway than BMO Field is.

Last time I was on Lamport was 1981 for my brothers high school all-star football game and it was a total dump back then, can only imagine what condition it is in now.

[c33]

Lamport is a dump. It's also to small and doesn't have any parking. It's also farther away from the GO Train and Highway than BMO Field is.

And those are its good points.

[ArgoGabe22]

Some no name mayoral candidate in Mississauga is pushing for a new stadium in Mississauga near Steeles. http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/22...3be86750134c89

[argolio]

Some no name mayoral candidate in Mississauga is pushing for a new stadium in Mississauga near Steeles. http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/22...3be86750134c89

I'm assuming he has zero chance of winning, so not much of a story.

[argotom]

Not the craziest story I have heard, since the last one with a similar move to Oshawa.