I suspect for every fan they gain by going to BMO they will lose an equal amount of fans to the combination of worse location and lack of climate control.....after, perhaps, an initial bump. Just a gut feel.
could be, yeah. I mean, one always gets a new stadium bump and if word gets out the vibe is better, that will help. As for weather...I dunno. Football fans are hardy sorts. People go to outdoor games in other CFL cities, almost all of which have worse weather than here (not to mention Buffalo, Green Bay and other northern NFL cities). That's a toughie to calculate. We're a city of softies, arguably.
(Worth mentioning in the location discussion is that the Jays played at the Ex for years and the distance from downtown [which has shrunk considerably since 1998] was the least of its issues. November weather, however....)
In order, the argos under Sokolowski and Cynamon looked at (in conjunction with the CSA) the Ex...then Varsity....then York. Declaring each the perfect spot and then (when it seemed they had to put money in) moving on and ended back at the Dome. Another option worth considering (if money is to be put into a stadium for/by the Argos) is what could a similar amount of money do to/for the Pan Am track stadium at York.
right, well, I guess that WOULD have been their stadium. But what advantages does York have over BMO at this point? It'll have a subway, eventually, I guess. It's not the worst idea but clearly the Argos ownership is the elephant in the room, which you tacitly acknowledge in terms of who'll pay for a new stadium (or renovations). Clearly the idea is that MLSE is big enough to take on the team and make the renovations. Whether they want to (and for how much to Brailey) is clearly the sticking point.
Like I said, I don't care about TFC. Clearly there are die hards out there worried about what this will do to their treasured field (which has been around for hardly any time at all and hosted not a single soccer game of consequence. Hardly any GOALS of consequence, far as I can tell).
Their biggest problem at the Dome is control over schedule.....a problem that is only slightly better at BMO.
That's their second-biggest problem. To get back on thread, they might have dawdled along at Rogers Centre forever but now the baseball grass is forcing the issue. The Jays own the stadium and they don't want the Argos there. I feel kind of sorry for the Argos who are a storied franchise etc. They probably deserve better but the market it is what it is and, FWIW, I don't know that they have a better option than BMO and I don't know where they'll end up if that deal falls through.
In terms of BASEBALL, I hope they figure out the grass thing soon. I don't hate the Rogers Centre as much as some do but I think putting grass in there will be the biggest improvement they can make without replacing the stadium.