Don’t ask TFC fans… They seem to think that sharing a football (gridiron, rugby, association) stadium can only be done in the manner it was done in New York several years ago. The New York Redbull rented Giants Stadium and the New York Giants could only provide them with a synthetic field with permanent NFL markings… It did look very unprofessional however the blame laid solely at the feet of the Redbull for not having found a proper venue or providing themselves with a substitute surface to play on. That has since been rectified and the Redbull play at their own soccer-specific stadium.
What this camp of TFC supporters fail to realize is that the New York Redbull situation was the exception and not the rule. Football, baseball and soccer teams have a long history of sharing stadiums and fields across North America… The Argos and Blue Jays share a surface. The Whitecaps and Lions share a surface. Soccer and football are also conducted on a shared surface in Edmonton.
Those fields are all synthetic and marked with washable paint. A crew of one or two with a pressure washer scrub scrub the field green and presto… the Whitecaps and BC Lions live in peace in the same stadium. Similar processes are used at Rogers Centre and a countless other shared venues on both natural and synthetic surfaces.
Don’t ask TFC fans to seek out examples of shared venues in their own league though… The Whitecaps are far more competitive and at this point boast a much better attendance than TFC anyhow.
ExPat wrote:
As for Toronto - that's open to debate.
Agree open to debate without a gridiron NFL type specific stadium. But Toronto is up there with the LA's, ok a tad lower but much higher than a city like San Antonio IMHO. What they need to do is build somehow a football stadium in Toronto and the NFL will come calling, the city is just too important on the NA scale compared with what's out there in terms of more or less local international flavoured cities, that are big. What Portland compared with Toronto? That's a joke. Buffalo is a joke as well except it has an NFL team. The new lease in Buffalo and upgrades to RW Stadium will buy them time but if Toronto moves on a stadiium for football, I don't see how Buffalo can stay in the game in this region. MLSE is interested in the Argos, it's not rocket science as to why. They must compete with Rogers if Rogers starts talking new baseball stadium seriously, that will put a blow in MLSE, not a fatal blow of course, but a severe blow.
BMO is natural turf I believe. BC Place, like Rogers Centre is fieldturf. I suspect it would be like converting the RC from baseball to football except in this case it would be converting the surface from soccer to football.
[u]Argonauts' CEO Chris Rudge says MLSE would be 'excellent owner'[/u]
Toronto Sun
“I can’t speak for the other parties. I guess I would say that I’m not surprised that the rumours would be circulating. There’s a confluence of circumstances … (that) adds gas to the fire,? Rudge said Wednesday, in a telephone interview.
Those circumstances include David Braley, who also owns the CFL’s B.C. Lions, looking to sell the club.
The Argos are also looking for a new playground. There were discussions about using MLSE’s football field and soccer practice facilities at Downsview this spring, although that remains in limbo.
In that discussion, the use of BMO Field always comes up.
“It doesn’t make sense,? said Rudge, “this is a (facility) built with public money and yet we still have the Argonauts playing at the Rogers Centre.?
With BMO operated by MLSE for its soccer team, there is an obvious synergy.
Then there are MLSE’s media interests. While the Argos have problems getting fans through the turnstiles, the league is still a big TV draw.
“As leaders of pro teams, we discuss things all the time,? said Rudge. “If there was interest by MLSE, they would be an excellent owner. With their involvement in the sports business and media business, it would be a natural fit … it wouldn’t be uncommon for us to talk.?
There has been talk in Toronto between the City and Argo Owners and potential owners about new stadium ideas nothing concrete yet but some ideas and locations include Downsview Park 401 and Allan Road area, Vaughn near Canada's Wonderland,
West End near Mississauga and the QEW and Go Train route, any new stadium would have to be in the 65,000 plus range for an NFL team with a smaller bowl lower level of 20,000 to accommodate the Argo's average game attendance.
I posted an interview with argos' president, Chris Rudge, on tsn 1050, where he claims brailey is looking to build the argos a new stadium in either mississauga, Markham or Vaughan.
You can use the search feature to find it. It's a couple months old now.
One of the main stories on the TSN website tonight is about MLSE looking at upgrading BMO Field and part of that discussion includes the possibility of upsizing the field area to be able to include room for a CFL field. In other words a new home for the Argos. http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=431233
Can’t see how they could renovate BMO, but I guess the “experts” will look at the possibility of sliding end zone seats, push them back for the CFL and out for TFC. As they said in the article Rugby was played at BMO and they played on real grass.
The Argos are looking at signing another 5 year lease with the RC so nothing will happen soon.
Unless you’ve read the wording of the Argos contract with Rogers, you don’t know that. I doubt very much Rogers would have any problems with the Argos moving their regular season games at BMO. They would still likely play their labour day games and playoff games at RC. This is a win/win.
as a ticat fan I'd love MLSE to buy thye Argo's. Anything they touch the team turns to dust and becomes obsolete, I can see the argos finishing last each year under their regime.
As for the NFL coming to Toronto, it won't happen. I'm going to bet there's about 3 american cities in line first LA being one of them and Im also willing to bet LA would get a second team before toronto. Also I would bet London England would get a team first. Yes London england. The NFL and the Bills are probably more than happy to let Rogers and the City of Toronto to keep paying out the a$$ for Bills in Toronto series that never sells out becausre the Bills are terrible and the tickets are overpriced. The only people that think the NFL will come to TO on a permanent basis is the media and NFL fans in Toronto that don't know much. Probably the same people that think Tebow is coming to the CFL. pretty sure only the media thinks it will happen.
LA, San Antonio, Austin, Birmingham or Mobile just to name a few. Even if those cities are smaller they are football mad and would easily fit well in where the NFL is going with smaller venues and bigger media and TV money.
Can’t see how they could renovate BMO, but I guess the “experts” will look at the possibility of sliding end zone seats, push them back for the CFL and out for TFC. As they said in the article Rugby was played at BMO and they played on real grass.
The Argos are looking at signing another 5 year lease with the RC so nothing will happen soon.
Unless you've read the wording of the Argos contract with Rogers, you don't know that. I doubt very much Rogers would have any problems with the Argos moving their regular season games at BMO. They would still likely play their labour day games and playoff games at RC. This is a win/win.
I don't understand? all I said was "the Argos are signing a new 5 year deal with Rogers" ????? that was mentioned in the Sun so I assume that Rogers is letting them stay and the Argos are serious about staying at Rogers.
If the city/MLSE/TFC and the Argos agreed to a rebuild of BMO then it would probably take 5 years (approvals, re-build etc) Don't understand why RC would give them a 5 year deal if they are looking at the RC becoming baseball specifc .
If the RC becomes baseball specific then the Argos won't be playing Labour Day games there.