RichK wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 3:32 am
So I’m checking out at the grocery store today and the cashier, a big friendly guy mid-20s, tells me he loves my Argos hat. I say it’s fun to root for a team in this town that actually wins things, and he says yeah man, that’s why he became a fan last year!
He became a fan because the Argos are “winners”. He said he’s tired of following the Blue Jays who “don’t look like they even CARE about winning anymore.” We talked about Chad and the schedule and FA losses and finally exchanged a “Go Argos”. It felt nice I gotta say.
But this is what a sustained multi-year period of excellence — something the Argos haven’t had in 80 years — can do to a fan base, and we’re still in the early stages. Anybody else see signs of things slowly building?
Don't we all experience some sort of similar interaction every season? Not sure this is an actual evidence of a trend. Just a niche product will cause more discussion when seen by another consumer/fan. Like seeing a punk band t-shirt you don't always see. I work with teens, they all still crap on the CFL unfortunately.
I recently returned from Florida, and was out for ice cream one night. I wore an Argos t-shirt and got a "nice shirt" from an older gentleman. He was evidently a snowbird, but was there with someone who was presumably his grandson who was wearing a Blue Jays hat who said nothing about my t-shirt.
A isolated encounter with two people really means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but I don't doubt that the team is still having difficulty making in-roads with teenagers (or 20 somethings).
bluto wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 9:56 am
If ever there was a year to try to make some headway, this is it.
Best schedule ever. Returning champions. A QB, a LB and a GM who are marketable, recognizable faces of the franchise (ok, Chad may not be a great spokesman type all things considered, but he's a star player in the position where you need a star.)
Next year we are going to get the worst schedule ever (World Cup). So this has got to be the year to move the chains.
Earlier today someone saw my ARGO hat and mentioned he coached Matt Black in Track and Field....
Wish the ARGO's would consider to sell the first 5 rows in the upper East Deck for selected games right off the bat... .... like the EX game... Like mentioned above I think this is the year ... kind of worried about next year as well... but things do seem to be going in right direction... I bring people to the games often and they always have a good time.... Go ARRGOS !!!
IssuesMcgee wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 10:19 pm
The numbers don't lie. The Argos have seen a slow but steady increase in average attendance and TV views over the years. The powers that be gave the Argos a great schedule this season and decided it would be wise to give the team a 9th home game back.
I would like to see a stronger marketing effort from MLSE, but the issue isn't limited to raising awareness and generating hype. The Argos are unique in that they face a lot of animosity and downright hostility from a portion of their own city. The best way for MLSE to fix this is to use their vast media powers to slowly legitimize the Argos and the CFL in the eyes of the general public. This cannot be accomplished overnight.
So far, MLSE seems to be on the right track.
I'd like to know what kind of marketing efforts are being made by the Argos owners in the GTA ? (and since I don't live there to see/hear for myself)
Any Argo ads on electronic billboards in high traffic areas ? Radio or local TV ads ? Argos gear on display with a push for Argo/CFL watch parties in dozens & dozens of sports bars in the GTA ? Argo gear available in LOTS of stores ? Argos/CFL schedules available in high profile locations like Beer & LCBO locations or convienience stores ? Ads on public transit (buses & trains) ? Argo info/publicity/history booth or desks set-up at Leafs or Raptors games ?
IssuesMcgee wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 10:19 pm
The numbers don't lie. The Argos have seen a slow but steady increase in average attendance and TV views over the years. The powers that be gave the Argos a great schedule this season and decided it would be wise to give the team a 9th home game back.
I would like to see a stronger marketing effort from MLSE, but the issue isn't limited to raising awareness and generating hype. The Argos are unique in that they face a lot of animosity and downright hostility from a portion of their own city. The best way for MLSE to fix this is to use their vast media powers to slowly legitimize the Argos and the CFL in the eyes of the general public. This cannot be accomplished overnight.
So far, MLSE seems to be on the right track.
I'd like to know what kind of marketing efforts are being made by the Argos owners in the GTA ? (and since I don't live there to see/hear for myself)
Any Argo ads on electronic billboards in high traffic areas ? Radio or local TV ads ? Argos gear on display with a push for Argo/CFL watch parties in dozens & dozens of sports bars in the GTA ? Argo gear available in LOTS of stores ? Argos/CFL schedules available in high profile locations like Beer & LCBO locations or convienience stores ? Ads on public transit (buses & trains) ? Argo info/publicity/history booth or desks set-up at Leafs or Raptors games ?
While I agree with you, it's worth mentioning the Argos did have ads on the TTC around 2015 and that did absolutely nothing to move the needle.
IssuesMcgee wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 2:43 pm
They also had radio ads back then too. Epic superhero themed ones. Didn't help in the slightest.
So they tried a couple of ads for one season and determined it didn't do much? So what then - just give up ?
I'm talking long term, sustained ad / marketing blitz in many different areas or venues as I described above. But that might cost a few buck$ and of course the Argos owners are hurting financially so much. But hey - a couple of posts on Facebook otta do the trick.
IssuesMcgee wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 2:43 pm
They also had radio ads back then too. Epic superhero themed ones. Didn't help in the slightest.
So they tried a couple of ads for one season and determined it didn't do much? So what then - just give up ?
I'm talking long term, sustained ad / marketing blitz in many different areas or venues as I described above. But that might cost a few buck$ and of course the Argos owners are hurting financially so much. But hey - a couple of posts on Facebook otta do the trick.
"a few buck$" in this case meaning a sum greater than the sale value of the franchise.
IssuesMcgee wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 2:43 pm
They also had radio ads back then too. Epic superhero themed ones. Didn't help in the slightest.
So they tried a couple of ads for one season and determined it didn't do much? So what then - just give up ?
I'm talking long term, sustained ad / marketing blitz in many different areas or venues as I described above. But that might cost a few buck$ and of course the Argos owners are hurting financially so much. But hey - a couple of posts on Facebook otta do the trick.
"a few buck$" in this case meaning a sum greater than the sale value of the franchise.
Really ? - mind u, I'm not an advertising exec. or expert. So only multi/hundreds of millions dollar business these days can afford smart, applied advertising ? How much do electronic billboard ads in high traffic areas cost? - seems to me I've seen dinky little local businesses in these parts using that promotion trick. Sending a few employees around to canvas restaurant / sports bars & stores or to set up an Argo booth at Leaf and Raptors games would cost hundreds of thousand$ ?
bluto wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 4:29 pm
Yes, really.
A "long term sustained ad / marketing blitz in many different areas or venues" starts at 8 figures in our market.
Not that I don't want to believe you; I'd just like to see some even approx. costs & details on how that is even close to so. I'm not talking about Argos buying up a bunch of ads on the Super Bowl TV broadcast.
For example: around how much does a couple of electronic billboard ads cost for the 3 months leading up to the season? How much is an ad on the Go Train? How much would it cost to print up some (let's say 20 or 30 thousand) of those old little pocket style schedules and try to have them available at GTA Beer & LCBO and convenience stores? How much is MLSE going to charge the Argos to set up an Argo info booth on the Concourse of Leaf & Raptors games ? 8 figures ???
