Argos poised for Grey Cup run
Amidst all the recent talk of an NFL team moving to Toronto, the CFL's Argonauts have quietly taken first place in the East.
I know that, personally, it kind of snuck up on me. A lot of fans almost gave up on the team making the Grey Cup finals, a big deal this year for Argo's fans because it's being hosted at the Roger's Centre, as the team struggled out of the gate with a 2-6 record. Not exactly the numbers a fan who shelled out a minimum of $100 for a Grey Cup cheap-seat was hoping to see.
But those fans who stuck through the slump were able to watch a mid-season transformation that, as of writing this story, has the team in prime position to clinch first in the East.
The team, which has gone 8-1 since crushing the Ti-Cats 32-14 in early September, has what's been called the best defense in the league, and numbers-wise, that's most definitely true. Plus, with both Orlondo Steinauer and Byron Parker in the top three for interceptions, it often looks like the team is lead entirely by its defense.
On top of that, the Argo's win versus the Bombers pulled in over 40,000 fans to the Rogers Centre, which has a total capacity of just over 53,000 for football, pushing the seasons' average to over 30,000 people, the highest total since 1993.
For the Argos, the oldest professional sports team in North America, it's a big deal considering this year not only are they hosting the Grey Cup the first time since 1992, but they've already sold-out most sections of the stadium for the championship.
For the people who didn't get their tickets in advance though, that doesn't mean you won't be able to experience some of the atmosphere because in partnership with several large corporations, Toronto has pretty much designated the week leading up to the championship as ‘Grey Cup Week.' The Metro Convention Centre will play host to three-days of traditional ‘tailgate parties,' and on November 25, Grey Cup Day, both Bremner and Front St. flanking the north and south sides of the stadium, will be shut down for even more partying, which is assured to be entertaining no matter which teams make the final.
Either way you cut it, Toronto may not be celebrating a Stanley Cup or World Series win this year, but even if the Argonauts lose the Eastern final, the city is going to get a championship party one way or another.
I know that, personally, it kind of snuck up on me. A lot of fans almost gave up on the team making the Grey Cup finals, a big deal this year for Argo's fans because it's being hosted at the Roger's Centre, as the team struggled out of the gate with a 2-6 record. Not exactly the numbers a fan who shelled out a minimum of $100 for a Grey Cup cheap-seat was hoping to see.
But those fans who stuck through the slump were able to watch a mid-season transformation that, as of writing this story, has the team in prime position to clinch first in the East.
The team, which has gone 8-1 since crushing the Ti-Cats 32-14 in early September, has what's been called the best defense in the league, and numbers-wise, that's most definitely true. Plus, with both Orlondo Steinauer and Byron Parker in the top three for interceptions, it often looks like the team is lead entirely by its defense.
On top of that, the Argo's win versus the Bombers pulled in over 40,000 fans to the Rogers Centre, which has a total capacity of just over 53,000 for football, pushing the seasons' average to over 30,000 people, the highest total since 1993.
For the Argos, the oldest professional sports team in North America, it's a big deal considering this year not only are they hosting the Grey Cup the first time since 1992, but they've already sold-out most sections of the stadium for the championship.
For the people who didn't get their tickets in advance though, that doesn't mean you won't be able to experience some of the atmosphere because in partnership with several large corporations, Toronto has pretty much designated the week leading up to the championship as ‘Grey Cup Week.' The Metro Convention Centre will play host to three-days of traditional ‘tailgate parties,' and on November 25, Grey Cup Day, both Bremner and Front St. flanking the north and south sides of the stadium, will be shut down for even more partying, which is assured to be entertaining no matter which teams make the final.
Either way you cut it, Toronto may not be celebrating a Stanley Cup or World Series win this year, but even if the Argonauts lose the Eastern final, the city is going to get a championship party one way or another.
