CFL 2020 Season

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by TimB09

Dave Naylor, TSN's CFL insider, saying he's hearing that the July 25th game between the Riders and Argos will be played at St. Mary's University.

It's unfortunate for Toronto to lose the Rider visit to that city,

But on the plus note the CFL is pulling out all the stops to inject the best possibility of excitement for Pro Football to Halifax by bringing Rider Nation brand fan experience to the Maritimes. I wonder what the seating capacity will be for this game.
This may be the last ditch attempt to get support for the CFL in Atlantic Canada though

Originally Posted by q12

Here's a recent picture from this fall showing it's location from Downtown in the South end.


https://www.facebook.com/smuhalifax/...type=3&theater

Interesting prospective of Halifax south end in relation to the rest of the city ( I thought i'd bump this pic over to the new page ) ,
I'm surprised you can barely see downtown Halifax & the Citadel from that height even though it's so close, beautiful though

Even though it'll be an away game for both teams, but technically a Toronto home game...
Have the Riders turn it into not only a sporting event but also a big party, have a big act at half time, jet the Rider Cheerleaders to the game and show Halifax how to do the CFL right.

• Video Link

↓ oh nice, well make it the best event the Maritimes has ever seen & see if it draws interest into that Region getting a team of their own.

[EpicPonyTime]

Seating capacity for the stadium will be 10K, reportedly.

[q12]

Could be as high as 12,000

BARNES: CFL game in Halifax a taste and a test for the community

It could be 2023 before the Atlantic Schooners host Toronto and Saskatchewan in Halifax home games, so consider this summer’s offering just a taste and a test.

With some involvement and the hearty approval of Schooners Sports and Entertainment principals, who are still working feverishly on securing funding for a stadium deal, the Canadian Football League has scheduled a July 25th regular season game between the Argos and Riders at Saint Mary’s University, in Huskies Stadium.

The tilt will serve as something of a litmus test for the greater football appetite in Halifax. Will locals embrace the game? Will folks from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick travel to Halifax? Will fans make the longer trek from Regina and Toronto? Will people from non-CFL cities across Canada buy tickets to a game in Halifax because they plan to be in the Maritimes in late July, when the place is absolutely gorgeous?

Will Argos’ GM Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons shake the hand of every single fan in attendance?

Each one of those demographics will be counted on to play a role in supporting the Schooners franchise once, or rather if and when, it is up and running as an official member of the CFL.

So this game is much less a test of the stadium itself, because it in no way resembles the $100-million facility that SSE is hoping to build elsewhere in Halifax. Huskies Stadium is not by any means CFL ready today, but temporary stands will be brought in to ensure capacity for at least 10,000 people, more if there is sufficient demand. A 2005 CFL exhibition game there between the Argos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats drew 11,148, so a crowd in the 12,000 range wouldn’t be unexpected.

This tilt is an Argos’ home game, and they will presumably receive the lion’s share of proceeds. Given that Toronto drew crowds as low as 9,819 for Calgary and 10,368 for Ottawa at BMO Field last season, a gathering of 10,000-plus in Huskies Stadium is not much of a hardship for the Argos’ franchise. The 2019 version of Touchdown Atlantic, which featured the Argos and Alouettes in Moncton, was also a Toronto home game, and attendance was 10,126. It apparently drew a nice mix of Toronto, Montreal and local supporters.

However, the stands in Halifax might well be awash in a sea of green and white, so good on the Argos if they are indeed taking one for the team; the Schooners that is.

A CFL source said SSE will act as the local hosts for the event and principal Bruce Bowser will head up a steering committee whose responsibility is limited to building out a mini Grey Cup festival to be held downtown in conjunction with the game. Situated on pedestrian friendly Argyle Street, which is flush with outdoor dining spots and live music, the festival will include family friendly activities and displays, food and entertainment, as well as the rather legendary Riderville venue, where the odd Pilsener will be served, and spilled.

Word is the Riders will be coming to Halifax earlier than they would normally travel to a regular road game destination, to help whip up a football frenzy. The league is clearly trying to stack the deck in their favour, and that of SSE. Makes sense.

With Bowser out front on the committee, SSE maintains a valuable football presence in the community they hope to call home sooner than later. What’s more, it will also allow fellow SSE principal Anthony LeBlanc to concentrate on moving forward with the stadium deal funding.

Word is LeBlanc has had productive discussions with the Nova Scotia government, talking about options for provincial involvement in the building of a stadium, but SSE has yet to present a formal proposal to the province.

SSE has secured a pledge of $20 million from Halifax Regional Municipality, payable on substantial completion of stadium construction. It was a crucial piece of financial backing and will be leveraged as SSE needs to tap the province, perhaps the federal government, and a lending institution to flesh out the remaining $80 million required to build their vision.

The stadium and the franchise is obviously years from coming to fruition, and in the meantime, the CFL is wise to continue leaving a footprint in the Maritimes each season. It was also necessary to move this game away from Moncton, where a Touchdown Atlantic game has been played five times.

Though they will be Atlantic Canada’s team, their home will be in Halifax and they need to grow their local presence.

dbarnes@postmedia.com

twitter.com/sportsdanbarnes

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...-the-community

[EpicPonyTime]

It's smart of the CFL to try and turn the game into a mini Grey Cup. Last year's game went over like a wet fart in terms of hype in the community. I imagine this is going to be the first exposure to the CFL for a lot of Haligonians - whether it be the game itself or the fandom surrounding it - and they need to pull out all the stops to make it a success.

[q12]

Montreal's Percival Molson Memorial Stadium at Huskies Stadium at SMU:



Current Huskies Stadium:

[esquire]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

It's smart of the CFL to try and turn the game into a mini Grey Cup. Last year's game went over like a wet fart in terms of hype in the community. I imagine this is going to be the first exposure to the CFL for a lot of Haligonians - whether it be the game itself or the fandom surrounding it - and they need to pull out all the stops to make it a success.

Charge a reasonable price and it can be successful. Getting stupid with pricing a la last year's Touchdown Atlantic or the Raiders preseason game in Winnipeg is a good way to kill the buzz completely.

[thurmas]

Molson stadium is not a modern facility that teams want too replicate as it cannot even fit seats with backs on them. A TD field, BMO or Tim Hortons Field type stadium is what would be suitable for a Halifax expansion club.

[q12]

• Video Link

[thurmas]

Bombers just re-signed Collaros as their QB on a new 2 year deal through the 2021 season. Guess the only place left for Nichols is in Toronto now.

https://3downnation.com/2020/01/27/b...zach-collaros/

[thurmas]

According to sources, Zach Collaros' two-year deal pays him under $500,000 per year. Which, considering the price tag for No. 1 QBs, is reasonable, even with his injury history (not to mention he won the Bombers a GC).


From Jeff Hamilton

[esquire]

Good move by the Bombers. Taking Nichols wouldn't have been a terrible move either but it seems to me that there is more upside with Collaros, as last season's playoffs demonstrated.

[TimB09]

Originally Posted by thurmas

Bombers just re-signed Collaros as their QB on a new 2 year deal through the 2021 season. Guess the only place left for Nichols is in Toronto now.

https://3downnation.com/2020/01/27/b...zach-collaros/

Outside chance on Ottawa too if Arbuckle doesn't re-sign there.

[25grapes]

^ Farhan Lalji says the word in Ottawa is that the Redblacks have no immediate plans to bring Nichols in suggesting that contract talks with Arbuckle are getting serious. I guess Toronto is just going to take who ever is left?

[esquire]

Toronto is shaping up to be the basketcase team this season...

[25grapes]

I get the same sense, contrast to everything Montreal is doing.

[esquire]

Montreal is improving at a quick pace... if Adams continues to improve along last season's trajectory they could give Hamilton all they can handle in a fight for first.

[Harrison]

Eskies signed Trevor Harris to a contract extension through the 2022 season. Great to see some stability with the QB.

[25grapes]

With Nichols signing in Toronto it seems as though the Argos have descent enough depth at QB. I liked what I saw from Bethel-Thompson last year at times, may just not have the pedigree to be a #1. Aside from seeing if Arbuckle can be a long-term #1 it seems as if each team in the league has a legitimate #1 since 2012?

[esquire]

MBT on his own would have been very risky IMO, but having Nichols there to smooth the transition will help. Unfortunately for them, the Argos granted a request for a release from SJ Green.

[thurmas]

Bombers re-sign Willie Jefferson to 2 year contract. Argos roster looks very thin right now I feel bad for Nichols having to go to a market where no one cares and where the team's talent leaves a lot to be desired right now.

https://3downnation.com/2020/02/10/b...with-winnipeg/