Howard Sokolowski has admitted that the team never had more than 12,000 seasons tickets, Pelley has admitted on air that there were “quite a few giveaways”, though never stated an actual number. While there were a lot more butts in the seats, reportedly the Argos were losing $3 - 4 million at the time, and reportedly Braley was losing the same up until this past season.
with the argos now getting concession money, those 'freebees' can turn into money spent inside the stadium. i'd rather sit amongst people than empty seats.
I think one thing we will all agree on is that it would be great if every CFL city, NFL for that matter to promote football everywhere, had as football of a specific stadium as possible that doesn't dovetail on the backs of a baseball stadium as baseball will be the king pin of any multipurpose stadium simply because of the sheer number of games baseball plays. The only team in the CFL currently in this situation is Toronto while in the NFL I think Minnesota (getting a new one) and Oakland might be the only ones, not sure on that though.
It's time Toronto proves, if they really want to care about gridiron football, that they get a football specific stadium which for me would be at the very least a reconfigured BMO.
Better parking? I don’t know if you’ve ever been to a game at the Dome, but you’ll NEVER have a problem finding parking - - regardless of the sport, regardless if there’s another game happening at the ACC at the same time.
There’s no ends of parking lots along Front St, and if you prefer to park inside the Convention Centre always has available parking on game day.
If you’re a cheapskate trying to score free parking, you’re going to be disappointed. You’ll pay between $20 and $25 for a spot within a 5min walk to the Dome. But that’s no different than going to a game in Hamilton - - even if you park on some down-and-out’s front lawn, you’re going to have to pay the guy $20.
Parking is never a problem with the Dome.
I think Toronto has already proven with the Argos, Bills in Toronto series, and NCAA International Bowl that they don’t.
Do you have season tickets there?
If you’re not able to recognize what the reality is or if you choose to believe everything you hear, go right ahead.
The hollow threat about Rogers “not renewing the lease” for the Argos after 2017 is nothing more than lip service. The comical suggestion of natural grass is nothing more than a joke.
To help put things into a context you might comprehend, it’s like when the Bombers & their fans have proclaimed who their “QB of the Future”…
“Al Brink is the starting QB going forward”…(the Argos have starting to look for a new home because their lease at the Dome will not be renewed going forward) - - REALITY: not a chance.
“Joe Elliott is the future for the QB spot in Winnipeg”…(natural grass is the future playing surface in the Dome) - - REALITY: pretty much a physical impossibility with ZERO probability of success.
“Justin Doltz is the long term answer for the Bombers QB”…(dinkified BMO field is the long term answer for the Argos) - - REALITY: you’re grasping at anything now.
“Max Hall will be protected for the expansion draft because the Bombers are going to build around him as the QB”…(the Argos are going to build a new stadium on the outskirts of the GTA in the middle of a farmer’s field surrounded by a bunch of wilderness) - - REALITY: some people just can’t help themselves from falling for laughable fairy tale pipe dreams.
Do you know this for a fact ?
Because it sounds as though you’re in your own little reality.
Except Hamilton has free bus service on game days, you just show your ticket and the bus is free. In addition, free parking in Hamilton is only about a 10 minute walk (at least where I’ve parked in the past) and generally unless it’s within a block of the stadium, lawn parking is around $10 last I checked.
You are correct - - I deal in facts and reality.
FACT: The Dome has a concrete base under the existing field turf.
FACT: Grass does not grow on concrete. If you don’t believe me, lay some sod in your basement and see what happens.
REALITY: Grass will not grow in the Dome in its current state.
FACT: A drainage system will need to be installed in order to try and grow grass in the Dome.
FACT: A drainage system will be very expensive to install. Rogers estimate is $250M for the renovation.
REALITY: Choosing to renovate a 25yr old stadium or to build the equivalent of the best stadium in MLB is a no-brainer.
FACT: The Dome is among the most obsolete stadiums in MLB in terms of amenities and architecture.
FACT: The Dome is among the most modern stadiums in the CFL in terms of amenities and architecture.
REALITY: For the Argos & the CFL the Dome is more than adequate. For the Blue Jays & MLB it’s badly outdated.
When you acknowledge the facts, it’s pretty easy to see the reality of the situation.
My guess is Steve Milton knows much more than anyone on this board. I trust you take no offence Area_51:
Speaking of building, where the Ticats are way ahead of their rivals is in obtaining a new stadium. They will be back on the site of Ivor Wynne, Civic Stadium and the Fields at Scott Park in just over a year. In about three years, the Blue Jays will install natural grass at Rogers Centre, and the Argos will be tossed out of there for good.
[url=http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/3863687-ticats-and-argos-a-rivalry-for-the-ages/]http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/386 ... -the-ages/[/url]The RC is quite adequate for baseball since that's what it was built for with the sightlines and seating angles. The fact is it's one of the worst football stadiums in existence as any football tenant there is secondary to baseball and the sightlines and angles, for anyone who has decent vision, is poorer than baseball. It's so obvious, it's not funny. It's obvious anyone who questions this has a hidden agenda suggesting otherwise on this board or anywhere in the media, social or just a bloggy thing like this board is.
Example, it's so obvious:
as someone that just saw an argos came in rogers center two weeks ago, i can promise you ralph wilson stadium is a far better venue on many fronts.
i’m not sure why the bills are interested in expanding this arrangement when most real fans in toronto won’t see a game at the rogers center.
the stadium was built with baseball in mind first, it’s a horrible stadium to watch football in particularly if you’re over 5’9.
And another:
Rogers Centre is one of the worst places to watch football in that configuration as the seats were arranged with baseball in mind.
[url=http://www.operationsports.com/forums/pro-football/379810-oh-canada-bowl-bills-vs-jets.html]http://www.operationsports.com/forums/p ... -jets.html[/url]Again so obvious it's basically undeniable in any sense.
Thanks tips, have any more life lessons for me ?
No one has ever stated that the Skydome could grow grass in it’s current state, Beeston himself has stated multiple times that the dome would need a large scale renovation.
Beeston has already brought up the drainage system, plus new lighting system etc. He seems pretty firm that the renovation or a renovation of some type will occur. Beeston has also stated the dome in it’s current state only has 15 years left in it, so it’s either renovation or brand new facility, although absolutely no one has mentioned anywhere that Rogers is building a new baseball palace.
The dome has been obsolete as a baseball facility since Camden yards was built, not sure why this is even being brought up.
The dome is one of the most modern and adequate stadiums in the CFL ?
Because most people will tell you it’s one of the worst places to watch a football game.
BTW you haven’t provided any proof that Rogers isn’t giving the boot to the Argos.
If the dome has 15 years left, it will only have 11 or 12 by the time the argos leave.
It doesn't make sense to invest $250M in renovations for a structure that only has 11 years left in the jays' plans. Also, this renovation will restrict Rogers from renting the dome out on dates the blue jays are not playing.
I don't believe that this is anything more than an excuse to kick the argos out to the streets and making life difficult for them. Once the argos solidify plans to exit the skydome, the jays will go back on their plans to put grass into the skydome.
That was my original point
'51 went off about the grass.
Bc Place here in Vancouver is on of the worse stadiums also terrible sidelines, nobody there on a given night, and the roof only opens half way ( if you can call it opening a roof more like a sun roof) waist of money, lions need to get into a much smaller stadium, 35,000 seats like the new bombers stadium.
will not go to a game in there .
drummer god wrote: If the dome has 15 years left, it will only have 11 or 12 by the time the argos leave. It doesn't make sense to invest $250M in renovations for a structure that only has 11 years left in the jays' plansWell the The Ralph, stadium the Bills play in is getting around a $130 mill or so reno for a lease that is what around 9 years. I do think personally they will install grass. But time will tell on that one. I will admit though that it could be all part of a grand scheme in Toronto to get the Argos into BMO so the city can put money into the upgrade, maybe everyone, the city, MLSE and the Argos are in on a scheme of some sort here. :?
Never been to BC Place but it is first and foremost a football stadium and it does rain a lot in Vancouver. But I don’t know about the seating. Looks excellent on television though as a football stadium. Don’t they lower the roof for Whitecaps games? Couldn’t they do that for Lions games?
I really don't see what the problem is here. I love watching CFL football, weather its in Empire Stadium, a parking lot, Alumni Stadium, Skydome whatever!!!! The Skydome is unique its in own way and whenever I can watch the Ticats lay a beatdown on the blows @ SkyDome, I can't get enough of the place!
:rockin: its a great place to host Grey Cups too!BC Place was built for Expo 86, it’s a generic multipurpose stadium, it’s essentially Canada’s version of the Metrodome, not a football stadium first a foremost. It’s a multipurpose facility, wasn’t built with one thing in mind, it was built for a lot of uses.
The roof doesn’t lower for Whitecap games, they put up these tarps or whatever you want to call them, to “block” the upper level.
Sounds like BC fans have the same excuses as Argo fans.
I agree K/P, while I’m not a fan of the dome, it hasn’t stopped me from attending games there. I absolutely loathe tracks in football stadiums but have enjoyed the games I’ve seen at Commonwealth and Percival Molson (IMO the sight lines were a lot better at Molson though).
I enjoy games at BC Place I havent heard one person complain about the stadium since new renos were done, until now.