Game Thread: Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts

[paulwoods13]

I'm certainly no fan of Ticketmaster, but I doubt its strategy for releasing tickets is done without direction/oversight from MLSE.

[IssuesMcgee]

I'm certainly no fan of Ticketmaster, but I doubt its strategy for releasing tickets is done without direction/oversight from MLSE.

Sure that's fine, but it's still a problem. What if I were a casual sports fan who has a significant other who is into the Argos, and I wanted to buy that person some tickets for their birthday, because I was planning ahead? I would have logged on three weeks ago, concluded that the game was pretty much sold out with no tickets available in my price range, and would have moved on to something else.

I almost couldn't get two extra people to the game because of this.

[ArgoRavi]

Forty Creek Quadruple Header is in the books. Argos with a win, "Its not how, it's how many". Ottawa wasn't able to push the ball down field or run the ball. I was skeptical about Greg Quick being hired as DC, but not anymore. Darkangelo & Pickett are great together. Argos ran the ball well against the team with the worst run defense....yet Kelly still threw for over 400 yards. Key plays were made resulting in a win. 7-6 while only having 3 home games is nothing short of incredible. With this win, Ottawa can't catch the Argos in the standings & like against Hamilton, secure the season series.

The Argos' magic number to clinch a home playoff berth is a mere 2 - any combination of Toronto wins and Hamilton losses equalling 2 means the Argos will, at a minimum, host the East semi-final at BMO Field.

[paulwoods13]

I'm certainly no fan of Ticketmaster, but I doubt its strategy for releasing tickets is done without direction/oversight from MLSE.

Sure that's fine, but it's still a problem. What if I were a casual sports fan who has a significant other who is into the Argos, and I wanted to buy that person some tickets for their birthday, because I was planning ahead? I would have logged on three weeks ago, concluded that the game was pretty much sold out with no tickets available in my price range, and would have moved on to something else.

I almost couldn't get two extra people to the game because of this.

I agree 100% it's a problem. My point is that the blameworthy party is very likely MLSE, not Ticketmaster.

[AngeloV]

Forty Creek Quadruple Header is in the books. Argos with a win, "Its not how, it's how many". Ottawa wasn't able to push the ball down field or run the ball. I was skeptical about Greg Quick being hired as DC, but not anymore. Darkangelo & Pickett are great together. Argos ran the ball well against the team with the worst run defense....yet Kelly still threw for over 400 yards. Key plays were made resulting in a win. 7-6 while only having 3 home games is nothing short of incredible. With this win, Ottawa can't catch the Argos in the standings & like against Hamilton, secure the season series.

The Argos' magic number to clinch a home playoff berth is a mere 2 - any combination of Toronto wins and Hamilton losses equalling 2 means the Argos will, at a minimum, host the East semi-final at BMO Field.

I know the odds aren’t great, but I hope Argos and Ti-Cats both run the table to finish the season and avoid a crossover. I don’t care for the west or their fans.

[ARGO57]

Forty Creek Quadruple Header is in the books. Argos with a win, "Its not how, it's how many". Ottawa wasn't able to push the ball down field or run the ball. I was skeptical about Greg Quick being hired as DC, but not anymore. Darkangelo & Pickett are great together. Argos ran the ball well against the team with the worst run defense....yet Kelly still threw for over 400 yards. Key plays were made resulting in a win. 7-6 while only having 3 home games is nothing short of incredible. With this win, Ottawa can't catch the Argos in the standings & like against Hamilton, secure the season series.

The Argos' magic number to clinch a home playoff berth is a mere 2 - any combination of Toronto wins and Hamilton losses equalling 2 means the Argos will, at a minimum, host the East semi-final at BMO Field.

I know the odds aren’t great, but I hope Argos and Ti-Cats both run the table to finish the season and avoid a crossover. I don’t care for the west or their fans.

Agreed, an all west Grey Cup game wouldn’t interest me in the slightest.

[Scooter McCray]

I'm certainly no fan of Ticketmaster, but I doubt its strategy for releasing tickets is done without direction/oversight from MLSE.

Sure that's fine, but it's still a problem. What if I were a casual sports fan who has a significant other who is into the Argos, and I wanted to buy that person some tickets for their birthday, because I was planning ahead? I would have logged on three weeks ago, concluded that the game was pretty much sold out with no tickets available in my price range, and would have moved on to something else.

I almost couldn't get two extra people to the game because of this.

I agree 100% it's a problem. My point is that the blameworthy party is very likely MLSE, not Ticketmaster.

Its bad enough MLSE and Rogers are an absentee owner. I did not know Ticketmaster directed by MLSE play these BS games. Hopefully there is someone out there who can relieve MLSE of the burden and hardship owning the Argos is for them.

[Scooter McCray]

Forty Creek Quadruple Header is in the books. Argos with a win, "Its not how, it's how many". Ottawa wasn't able to push the ball down field or run the ball. I was skeptical about Greg Quick being hired as DC, but not anymore. Darkangelo & Pickett are great together. Argos ran the ball well against the team with the worst run defense....yet Kelly still threw for over 400 yards. Key plays were made resulting in a win. 7-6 while only having 3 home games is nothing short of incredible. With this win, Ottawa can't catch the Argos in the standings & like against Hamilton, secure the season series.

The Argos' magic number to clinch a home playoff berth is a mere 2 - any combination of Toronto wins and Hamilton losses equalling 2 means the Argos will, at a minimum, host the East semi-final at BMO Field.

I know the odds aren’t great, but I hope Argos and Ti-Cats both run the table to finish the season and avoid a crossover. I don’t care for the west or their fans.

Thats a Hobbsian Choice...mouth breathers from Hamilton invading BMO FIELD or Pridervilles, Sandaled hippies from BC, or Banjo playing inbreds from Winnipeg. Other than Rider fans only Hamilton fans will travel though.

[shayman]

12,494 according to TSN.

Wasn't this the "Frosh" game? You can't just slap a label on a game and then do nothing and expect more people to show up. Its like Pride night, or Whatever night. If you dont then go to the Universities and Colleges and let them know its happening there never going to know.
There were no more people there than if no label was attached to the game.
If MLSE plan on remaining lazy owners just have 2 games during the CNE. At least you will draw 20,000.

I too was hoping for more from that promotion. I recall a heavily promoted Frosh game at Skydome long ago, where there must have been 8,000 students in attendance. Somehow the Argos had arranged for that game to be an official part of university orientation events - so you had huge colourful blocks of U of T, Ryerson, York, Humber etc students filling the lower bowl.

It was great, at least until halftime when they all left.

[Scooter McCray]

12,494 according to TSN.

Wasn't this the "Frosh" game? You can't just slap a label on a game and then do nothing and expect more people to show up. Its like Pride night, or Whatever night. If you dont then go to the Universities and Colleges and let them know its happening there never going to know.
There were no more people there than if no label was attached to the game.
If MLSE plan on remaining lazy owners just have 2 games during the CNE. At least you will draw 20,000.

I too was hoping for more from that promotion. I recall a heavily promoted Frosh game at Skydome long ago, where there must have been 8,000 students in attendance. Somehow the Argos had arranged for that game to be an official part of university orientation events - so you had huge colourful blocks of U of T, Ryerson, York, Humber etc students filling the lower bowl.

It was great, at least until halftime when they all left.

I remember those games as well Dictator. Just a little effort and the additional bums were in the seats. 12,000 yesterday indicates to me nothing was done except to let all existing Argo fans know that this game was the Frosh game. For a huge organization like Rogers who in the past have criticized the CFL as Bush league. They run their football team in a very bush league way. The funny thing is, the CFL is no longer small time. Big crowds at the 3 other games yesterday, new media deal coming, possibly 10th team coming. Rogers should get with the program or get out of the way.