Can Toronto support and NFL team? This has become a hot topic of debate since the so-called invasion of the Buffalo Bills coming to Toronto to play eight games over the next five years.
Toronto is the richest city in the great white north, and with a population of five million in its greater metro area the answer is yes; Toronto can support an NFL team. But one question lingers for how long? Toronto fans can be a funny sort when it comes to sports other then hockey. Football however has had a long standing tradition in Toronto. The Argonauts of the Canadian Football League are the oldest professional sports team in North America having its roots going back to 1873. But the Argos fell to the championship curse. Having not won a championship in over 30 years the Argos won the Grey Cup (Canada's version of the Super bowl) in 1983. Over 250,000 fans stormed the streets of Toronto to celebrate the win. Prior to their win in 1983 it was nothing to see 50,000 fans at an Argos game. After the win the fan based dwindled and the Argos were averaging just 30,000 per game.
Then came Hollywood; In 1991 Bruce McNall, John Candy and Wayne Gretzkey bought the ailing franchise and brought some life back to the CFL. With the signing of Rocket Ishmail to a multimillion dollar contract, Argo fever hit the city with a fury. It was a Cinderella season for the team, taking them all the way to win their second championship in 8 years. But again the Championship curse fell upon the team and the Argos face near bankruptcy after dwindling ticket sales and a general interest of CFL football seem to fall off the radar map. Today the Argos have new ownership are making a profit and they do average over 30,000 per game, but it is a far cry from the average of 50,000 they enjoyed back in their hey day. However three down football has a renewed interest in Canada enjoying increased attendance and very high television ratings, even beating the NFL in overall viewer ship.
That takes us to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays become the toast of the town in the 1990's winning back to back World Series. Excitement rained through the city and the rest of the country and over 500,000 fans jammed the streets of Toronto and throughout the country to celebrate
But they too seem to have fallen to the championship curse. The Blue Jays of today average just 29,000 per game.
So if the NFL takes a foothold in Toronto, will the team sell out? At first yes, an NFL will jam pack the Rogers Centre. But how long with the novelty last in a town were hockey is king? The Rogers Centre is not suited for NFL football with its capacity of 53,000 falling short of the 65,000 min required by the NFL. There is also no hope in site of building an NFL style stadium north of the 49th parallel anytime soon.
And with that in mind how long with fans be willing to pay the jacked up prices for tickets? At $270 average ticket price and NFL team in Toronto may soon see many empty seats which is something the NFL frowns upon. As well there is speculation that an NFL team in Toronto would spell the end of the CFL. Are Canadians willing to let over 100 years of tradition go out the window just to appease one cities thirsty appetite?
BC Senator Larry Campbell is introducing a bill to essentially make it illegal for a foreign football league to operate in Canada. This bill has little chance of passing, but it does convey the general feeling of three down football fans. Don't be fooling yourself by thinking the Canadians will embrace NFL football with open arms, if it means losing their favourite team. Yes NFL football has a strong following in Canada but the majority of Canadians still prefer their version of the gridiron game.
