CFL 2023 season - Page 56

elly63 · #**1101** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 3:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

Argofans fan forum posting i saw this morning that over 26,000 sold for east final. Would be best Argos crowd since 2013 east final.

That would be great news and getting near a sellout, capacity for football (28k?) is less than soccer.

Hawrylyshyn · #**1102** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 4:37 PM**

Got tickets to the Grey Cup with the family

Disappointing the Cats aren't playing, but who knows when we'll be host again. Hoping for Winnipeg vs. Toronto and a Bomber win

elly63 · #**1103** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 5:15 PM**

Argos president Manning has plenty to be happy with, on and off the football field
Dan Ralph Canadian Press October 20, 2023

Toronto’s on-field success is impacting its fortunes off it. The Argos’ average attendance is 14,655, up significantly from 11,433 last year and 8,603 in 2021 when play resumed after the global pandemic forced the CFL to cancel the 2020 campaign.

“There’s a lot of positive momentum for the Argos right now,” Manning said in a wide-ranging interview. “With any organization, you obviously want to win on the field but when you do, you want to be able to capitalize on that.

“We’ve seen over the last two seasons just such a surge in popularity with our tickets, merchandise and TV viewership. It’s really exciting that things are progressing in the right way, both on and off the field.”

Manning said Toronto’s group-ticket sales are up 42 per cent over 2022 while season and single-game figures have both increased roughly 15 per cent. But he added Argos merchandise sales have increased 43 per cent, with the franchise leading the CFL in that category on a per-capita basis.

Toronto fans are reportedly spending over $7 per game on merchandise compared to $3-to-$5 on average across the CFL. It certainly hasn’t been hard to notice at home games the abundance of Argos fans donning first-year starter Chad Kelly’s No. 12 jersey.

“(Two) years ago I was at a game with my oldest son, John, and he said, ‘Dad, you know you have a problem when all the jerseys in the stadium are of your GM,”‘ Manning said in reference to the No. 31 current general manager Mike (Pinball) Clemons donned as a player. “It was an interesting observation.

“Now we have a legitimate star (in Kelly) and people are getting into it. The thing I always respect about the Argos is we have this diehard group of fans that’s followed this team for decades, but what we’re starting to see now is new fans coming into the building and that’s what’s most exciting for us.”

Manning said Toronto’s television viewership is up a whopping 164 per cent in the crucial 25-to-54 age demographic within Ontario and 46 per cent nationally.

thurmas · #**1104** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

Argos president Manning has plenty to be happy with, on and off the football field
Dan Ralph Canadian Press October 20, 2023

Toronto’s on-field success is impacting its fortunes off it. The Argos’ average attendance is 14,655, up significantly from 11,433 last year and 8,603 in 2021 when play resumed after the global pandemic forced the CFL to cancel the 2020 campaign.

“There’s a lot of positive momentum for the Argos right now,” Manning said in a wide-ranging interview. “With any organization, you obviously want to win on the field but when you do, you want to be able to capitalize on that.

“We’ve seen over the last two seasons just such a surge in popularity with our tickets, merchandise and TV viewership. It’s really exciting that things are progressing in the right way, both on and off the field.”

Manning said Toronto’s group-ticket sales are up 42 per cent over 2022 while season and single-game figures have both increased roughly 15 per cent. But he added Argos merchandise sales have increased 43 per cent, with the franchise leading the CFL in that category on a per-capita basis.

Toronto fans are reportedly spending over $7 per game on merchandise compared to $3-to-$5 on average across the CFL. It certainly hasn’t been hard to notice at home games the abundance of Argos fans donning first-year starter Chad Kelly’s No. 12 jersey.

“(Two) years ago I was at a game with my oldest son, John, and he said, ‘Dad, you know you have a problem when all the jerseys in the stadium are of your GM,”‘ Manning said in reference to the No. 31 current general manager Mike (Pinball) Clemons donned as a player. “It was an interesting observation.

“Now we have a legitimate star (in Kelly) and people are getting into it. The thing I always respect about the Argos is we have this diehard group of fans that’s followed this team for decades, but what we’re starting to see now is new fans coming into the building and that’s what’s most exciting for us.”

Manning said Toronto’s television viewership is up a whopping 164 per cent in the crucial 25-to-54 age demographic within Ontario and 46 per cent nationally.

Good to hear the baby blue unis they brought on this year I really like and seem to be popular in merch sales.

elly63 · #**1105** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 5:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

Good to hear the baby blue unis they brought on this year I really like and seem to be popular in merch sales.

IMO, the Argos do have really nice merch.

thurmas · #**1106** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 10:17 PM**

Wow Alouettes destroying Argos 24-3 right now. I think Argos 16-2 season and resting Kelly and others 5 weeks ago vs the Bombers hurt them as its so hard to stay sharp when you have things locked up so early in advance.

Coldrsx · #**1107** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 10:17 PM**

Not only destroying, but Toronto unable to put basic plays together.

Coldrsx · #**1108** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 10:36 PM**

Haha... this game has gone nuts.

TD for Tor
Kickoff return for MTL
40yd pass for TD Tor

thurmas · #**1109** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 10:46 PM**

Argos attendance 26620 good job pinball too bad hasn't gone Argos way today but slowly rebuilding the fanbase post covid-19.

thurmas · #**1110** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 10:49 PM**

Hopefully this helps gives a kick start to the Alouettes fanbase and season ticket sales this winter after all the ownership drama around the team before Peledeau came in this year. Things look good for the league overall.

elly63 · #**1111** Posted **Nov 11, 2023, 11:08 PM**

I should have posted before the game but if you get a prediction wrong people will jump all over ya. It seems every time the Argos get a huge crowd at BMO they blow it. Always one step forward three steps back. That's why I guess I relate to the CFL, no big egos and salaries, just when you think you're ahead someone will pull the rug out from under ya.

Now for the positives, I thought both teams' uniforms looked great as did the broadcast. If there is a full house and the broadcast is directed well with lots of tight shots to show the emotion (and now audio) people will believe it's a big deal, something the NFL has known for half a century.

Justanothermember · #**1112** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 2:37 AM**

Bombers heading to Hamilton after a 13-24 win over the Lions.

West Division Champs four years in a row!

thurmas · #**1113** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 2:40 AM**

Bombers Alouettes Grey Cup I believe first time ever they have faced each other in the big dance? Should be a good one hopefully O'Shea and Walters can win 3rd cup and cement another Bombers dynasty.

thurmas · #**1114** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 2:49 AM**

Kudos to Richie Hall and his stifling Bombers defense. Also Collaros will be first QB in Grey Cup history to start 4 consecutive Grey Cups. Bombers just run top notch top to bottom.

craner · #**1115** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 7:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurmas

Wow Alouettes destroying Argos 24-3 right now. I think Argos 16-2 season and resting Kelly and others 5 weeks ago vs the Bombers hurt them as its so hard to stay sharp when you have things locked up so early in advance.

Yeah - resting players seldom seems to work out. I called this (well at least hoped for it) when the Argos rested Kelly in Winnipeg in the biggest showdown of the season weeks ago. I believe my words were “I hope this bites the Argos in the ass” - and it did. Stupid to rest a player with that many games to go, and was terrible for the league.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

Now for the positives, I thought both teams' uniforms looked great as did the broadcast. If there is a full house and the broadcast is directed well with lots of tight shots to show the emotion (and now audio) people will believe it's a big deal, something the NFL has known for half a century.

I agree the Als unis looked great but Toronto . . . Ugggh . . . I’m sorry but I’m just not a fan of powder blue uniforms. At least make the helmets dark blue.

I’m really happy for Montreal and hope they can take down the powerful Bombers in the GC - going to be a tough task though with that Bomber D-line.
I find it kind of amazing the Bombers and Als have never met in a GC - kind of neat.

Hope it’s a great week in The Hammer - let the festivities begin !!

craner · #**1116** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 7:34 AM**

Side bar question:
Someone mentioned BMO was being expanded to 45,000 for the WC - how will they do this, or more specifically, where will the temporary stands be added given those roofs over the endzone stands ?

elly63 · #**1117** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 11:48 AM**

See stadium thread post

elly63 · #**1118** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 12:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craner

I agree the Als unis looked great but Toronto . . . Ugggh . . . I’m sorry but I’m just not a fan of powder blue uniforms. At least make the helmets dark blue.

They're different, but I like them. I'm not keen on the oars (feathers) on the shoulders though. And I wish the Lions would stick with the orange instead of all the colours they use.

I wish I could explain it properly but the game reminded of the early colour TVs and cameras. It must have been RCA equipment, back then, but the colours seemed deeper, more vibrant. That's not my imagination that was a reality back then but I couldn't find an article to explain it. I'll keep looking, anyway the game looked good.

craner · #**1119** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 4:19 PM**

Thanks for the BMO expansion images elly - it really looks embarrassing.
I know Toronto had to be a host city - I get it, but man that looks amateur.
They should have figured out a way to place a temporary soccer field in Skydome.

megadude · #**1120** Posted **Nov 12, 2023, 4:32 PM**

I'd prefer the Dome be used just like when TFC hosted their first MLS Cup. It was cold that December day and I do believe it affected their performance because they were more skilled and dominated the game but lost on PKs. I firmly believe with a bigger crowd and climate controlled conditions they would have easily dispatched of Seattle. But BMO is their home and lots of people insisted they host there.

I can't recall if the Dome ever had natural grass for a game but I have been to a few soccer games including when Becks and the Galaxy visited for a CONCACAF CL game. Big crowd and great atmosphere for a dome.

I would love if the WC was there but I also have no problem with how BMO will look. As I've mentioned a few times on this forum, even though it's not my money, I don't like teams or governments wasting tens or hundreds of millions unnecessarily. I laugh at many grossly overinflated contracts for players/coaches/GMs for teams I have nothing to do with. When Russia hosted the WC they had one stadium in particular that looked funny with the temp. seating, but didn't bother me and wouldn't bother me if I were a resident of the city.

As for the Argos, they were 16-0 for games that Kelly played (injured early in first loss and didn't play second loss). You just knew they had to lay an egg at some point and there it was. It was like the 16-0 Pats that lost in the SB to the 10-6 Giants.