The Argos at BMO Field: The Story Continues

Yesterday the news broke that the plan to renovate/expand BMO Field is going to have to go forward without the inclusion of the Toronto Argonauts.

The reason for this is that the federal government has not signed off on providing a portion of the funds that Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (the owners of TFC and the company that will fund most of the BMO Field renovations) has requested to help complete this project. The reason for this? The Conservative Party of Canada has made it a policy not to help fund stadium projects that are not associated to University programs.

For a guy who loves sports, this policy is actually something I really like. I think there is way too much public money dished out to the private sector when it comes to sports. Plus, MLSE isn't exactly cash poor.

That said, the renovations of BMO Field must go on to be able to host the rugby 7s tournament portion of the Pan-Am games and MLSE has gotten the construction plans re-drawn. The new set of plans do not account for moving the north our south end of the stadium which means that pitch at BMO will not be long enough to fit a CFL size field.

This also puts the Argos in a tough spot. Not only are they back to having to find a new home before 2017 (when Rogers has told them they will not be renewing the least at the Rogers Centre so they can install a permanent grass baseball only field) but now they do not have a perspective buyer. Their current owner, David Braley also owns the B.C. Lions and purchased the Argos in an attempt to keep the team from folding back in 2010 when the previous owners just gave up and walked away from the team.

A third factor comes into play here as well. With the passing of Ralph Wilson recently, the Buffalo Bills are up for sale. The idea that someone in MLSE (most likely Larry Tanenbaum) wants to purchase the team and move them to Toronto has been floating around for quite some time. The NFL has made it very clear that they do not want an NFL team in Toronto to be the death of the Argonauts and they would prefer that the owner of an NFL team in Toronto also own the Argos.

With what has transpired over the past 24 hours the question is: did something about a potential purchase of the Bills fall through? Is that why MLSE is no longer willing to try and incorporate the Argos as part of BMO Field?

My opinions have been made on this blog before. Frankly, as a TFC fan first and foremost, I'm happy. I don't want to see the grass removed from BMO. If we didn't have grass here I'm confidant that Bradley and Defoe would not have even considered a transfer to Toronto. I also love the CFL and the Argos so I don't want to see them go, I just don't see BMO as a proper home for gridiron football.

I think for the Argos to come up with an ideal solution it's time to look to York University. The subway line is going to be going that far north, the team is already holding pre-season at the campus, the university could raise their program's profile in CIA and although I have heard a few opinions say it's not possible, there may even be a way to convert the track and field stadium currently being built on site (for the 2015 Pan-Am Games) in facility that could house the Argos. Another option might be to look just north of BMO in Liberty Village. Lamport Stadium and the south side parking lot may be just big enough to put up a 25,000 seat stadium. Granted it probably couldn't be expanded for larger events like the Grey Cup but it still might work.

Either way, the Argos need to look elsewhere and if they want government funding they should probably consider teaming up with a school.

The Argos to Move to BMO?

Could the Double Blue Come to BMO?

I need to say one thing first.
I love Canadian football. When people start talking about how "it's not as good as the NFL" I'm the first to explain that the CFL comes from the rugby roots and that it's actually much more "pure" than the NFL version is (at least in terms of to sport of football evolving from ruby). I still like the NFL but I feel the CFL is a more entertaining game.

The Toronto Argonauts are, and always have been, my team in the CFL. From my early teens when Pinball and Flutie were kicking butt to the surprise season of 2004 to the resurgence of the team the past couple of seasons.

That said the Argos DO NOT belong at BMO field.
In order to accommodate the Argos you would need to:

A) Essentially demolish a whole side of the stadium and rebuild it further out (I assume the east stands).You will also need to do the same with the north or south end to make the field longer.

B) The field will need to go back to turf. Tim Leiweke mentioned that currently BMO holds rugby matches and that Stubhub Stadium in LA also held football games. That's fine but not comparable. Those are once, maybe twice a year type of events. The CFL is a full 18 game season (9 home games) which run at the same time as MLS does. Not to mention any games that the Canadian national soccer teams may play. That's a lot of wear and tear on the grass.

C) Add more seating. It's too small. BMO holds 22 thousand. Outside of 8 seasons since 1959 the Argos average attendance has been higher than 22 thousand. It doesn't make sense to be moving to a smaller stadium!!!

Honestly, it drives me crazy. Yes the Roger's Centre is too big for the Argos (It's too big for the Jays too for that matter) and the likelihood of replacing the dome seems very small as Rogers has been putting money into upgrading it but I just don't think BMO is a fit for the Argos.
I realize that the Argos need something smaller than the Roger's Centre. I also would like to see an outdoor stadium for the Argos maybe something that seats 35 thousand and can expand for Grey Cup games or big CIS games but that's not the point. The point is that the Argos do not belong in BMO Field.