THURSDAY GREY CUP PHOTOS
For many, Thursday was Day 2 of Grey Cup Week here in Toronto. The hallowed trophy was on display in a ballroom at the Delta Toronto for the media day for both the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa RedBlacks. Here are some photos of what’s going on in Toronto …
As you can see by the CN Tower, fog and dreary conditions have settled in on Canada’s largest city. At the very least, it’s been above zero degrees with no snow …
You can’t say there’s NO signage. The Delta is the host hotel and went all out …
Right out front of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where the “action” is …
Sportsnet’s Arash Madani and Travis Lulay offer analysis …
C.C. chats with Calgary quarterback Andrew Buckley …
Two Grey Cup fixtures: Edmonton’s Bryan Hall and TSN’s Glen Suitor …
Stampeders Running Backs coach Marc Mueller, a proud Regina product who joined us on the SportsCage on Thursday …
Into the Convention Centre we go …
Grey Cup merchandise outlet …
Fans can pose for photos on the TSN set, and pretend to be TV anchors …
The SportsCage’s radio location, right in the middle of the big boys …
Argonauts defensive end Shawn Lemon joined us on air. Asked why requested a trade out of Saskatchewan, Lemon answered the same line as back in June … “You’d have to ask Chris Jones.”
Kate Petterson of TSN Radio joined us as well ..
Another Grey Cup tradition: the 620 CKRM Rider Pep Band performs live on the SportsCage …
The next several photos aren’t suitable for all audiences. This nice gal behind the counter of a downtown convenience store was one of the few in the area who was aware the Grey Cup is even on …
This newspaper ad has been making the rounds like wildfire … For $30 you could get a pizza, wings, Coke and TWO Grey Cup tickets. The CFL moved quickly to shut the promotion down, but the damage has already been done …
Keep in mind that these photos were from around 7:30 pm ET, and Riderville (the host party of the Saskatchewan Roughriders) had only been open for 2 1/2 hours …
Yikes.
My accountant Chris (left) was one of the Rider Priders in attendance at Riderville! Here he is with his gal Kaitlin and their friend Dwayne …
Rider greats Neal Hughes and Scott Gordon kick back in the Riderville VIP room. Hughes and Mike McCullough are the hosts for Riderville ..
And next door they weren’t exactly packing them in at the Atlantic Schooners party.
Everyone’s hoping things pick up on Friday!
SEE YOU ON THE RADIO AT 4:00
RP
@rodpedersen
And we need Toronto in this league, Why? They don't care.
May as well put the Grey Cup in Moncton. At least there would be some people there interested in partying. Three years ago all the parties were packed basically on Thursday, and Friday and Saturday were absolutely nuts. The party hopefully will pick up tomorrow, be sad if it doesn't at somewhat.
Ghost town…yikes
WOW… I SHOULD GET SOMEONE TO BID ON ON A SCHOONER JERSEY FOR ME!.. IF I CAN FIND SOMEONE TO GO TO THEIR ROOM. THOSE GUYS ARE GREAT!
Riderville GC team promotions on even par fan attendance with a Atlantic Schooners team that doesn't evan exist, huh? CFL on its last legs until Quebec City Aces, Atlantic Schooners, Saskatoon Blueberries granted football franchises to start play asap!
I remember working the 07 Grey Cup. One of the organizers said to us: thank you for being here. You and Winnipeg will make this a success. And we did! Hopefully stamps fans will too.
Hmm the engine that drives the cfl looks like it is out of gas…
I'm not shocked. Even the party venues are overcharging at the door and then $10 a beer.
No matter where the Grey Cup is there are so many volunteers who help put the week together. I hope Friday brings the big crowds in and starts the weekend off properly. When I think of the celebration in Regina three years ago, standing out in the -30 temps freezing in a lineup of hundreds of people waiting to get in the building I think it is sad that Toronto is struggling.
Tell me again why we need Toronto in the CFL.
Yeah, it's too bad that Toronto basically ignores the CFL and the Grey Cup. To Anon who thinks that a CFL team in Saskatoon is a good idea, give your head a shake. I live in Saskatoon but have lived in other parts of the province including Regina, and have been a lifelong Rider fan. I'm a season ticket holder and a shareholder and there is zero chance I would ever support a Saskatoon team. I'm pretty certain that you'd get the same answer from any Rider fan north of Chamberlain. Anyone who thinks Rider fans would switch allegiance to… Read more »
A Saskatoon football franchise/team would be a welcome addition to the CFL embracing it with open arms. Saskatoon/area (Edmonton, Loydminister, N.Battleford, Prince Albert, Rosetown, Humbolt, Matinsville, Yorkton, Meadow Lake, etc etc) ready willing able to support. As for anyone wanting to continue their financial support down south, that's their prerogative choice to do so. Lets go Saskatoon!
"Anyone who thinks Rider fans would switch allegiance to a Saskatoon-based team just doesn't know how deep green runs through the veins so people should just give it rest." Saskatoon Rider fans are Rider fans because they are the only team in the province. If "Riderville" and fan support have proven anything, it's that Saskatchewan fans are incredible homers (not that fans in other cities aren't, though). It would be rocky start to have a team open up in Saskatoon, for sure, but if there's any Western market that could support one, it would indeed be the 'toon. Yes, there… Read more »
I agree, Saskatoon will never have a CFL team and doesn't need one. GREEN IS THE COLOR so STOP BRINGING IT UP. The league could get off their A_S and put a team in eastern Canada (Maritimes)and I along with many others feel it would have tremendous support
$20 cover charge at per person at each teams door is ridiculous, how you supposed to promote the teams and the league in Toronto???
George Porge and Anon – it's great that you would support a Saskatoon franchise, but the vast majority just wouldn't switch their allegiance from supporting the Riders with over a hundred years of tradition and history…that isn't going to happen. If you really believe that then explain to me why most Rider fans who move out of province continue to support the Riders despite relocating to Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver etc? As well, there isn't an untapped younger fanbase in the province as the Riders have done a tremendous marketing job of reaching those fans already. For example, how many… Read more »
Times they be a changing. A Saskatoon CFL team would surely do better than the pathetic 4 grey cups the riders have in a 100 + year history. A Saskatoon franchise would be a sure bet to set high professional football operations standards accountable to its new fanbase dollar.
Why is that devout CFL basher Arash Madani even there?
He should be blacklisted for the negativity he broadcasts about our league.
$20 cover charge and over $10 a drink. Can I get a flight home today?
they're not doing the all-party-pass concept they did for the 2013 cup?
c'mon man!
1 ticket, pay once, circulate through the rooms.
It's the Argos and Toronto that is Detrimental to the future of the CFL
How is Saskatoon going to support the Rush, an NHL team and a CFL team? Will Saskatoon be able to panhandle enough government money to build a stadium?
Almost every CFL team is charging a separate $20 admission, not a affordable solution for fans, this grey cup event at convention centre is way smaller than past grey cups, and there's no signage or banners anywhere in the city promoting the grey cup, only in the vicinity of the festival area and delta hotel. Not where the city commuters are at union station or along Yonge st and even university ave. this is sad, Toronto does not deserve CFL. The Maple Laughs are a loseable hockey bunch who suck money from naive fans.