Golden Horseshoe rivalry kicks into high gear
Published on October 21, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
Toronto, Canada (October 21, 2004) â It's been five long years since the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats faced off in an East Division semi-final. Both organizations have come a long way since 1999. In fact, they've come a long way since 2003. Both teams have new ownership, renewed support from their fans and Grey Cup dreams on the horizon. Tonight the two teams will take a big step in determining which will have home field advantage.
New, committed and connected local ownership has brought a deep sense of pride and community back to both the historic Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Attendance has increased dramatically in both markets with Hamilton chalking up an average attendance of 27,834, almost doubling their 2003 average of 14,863. Down the QEW, Argo fans are heading to SkyDome in big numbers with home game attendance up 62 per cent (from 15,083 in 2003 to 24,391 in 2004) and are anticipating their largest home crowd since 1992 for tonight's match-up. With a new stadium at York University just around the corner, Argo fans have more than the team's on-field performance to cheer about. The performance of the two Golden Horseshoe clubs will help in pushing the League's attendance over the 2,000,000 mark this weekend.
The excitement in Ontario is not only evident at the turnstile. The two teams continue to produce exceptional television audiences in their home markets and across the country. This year's Labour Day Classic on CBC drew 818,000 viewers and peaked at near 1 million just prior to the end of the game. Tonight, fans can watch the action live on Wendy's CFL Football on TSN and can also now log on to watch CFL Live Play-by-Play on www.cfl.ca, a new online feature providing football enthusiasts around the world with an as it happens look at the game.
Tonight's game at SkyDome is a classic match-up between the two rival clubs. For Danny McManus, the game carries special significance. With just 87 yards remaining, Danny McManus, the League's Most Outstanding Player in 1999, is expected to surpass 50,000 passing yards joining Argo and opponent Damon Allen and former coach Ron Lancaster, the only other two players in the CFL to accomplish the feat.
In noting the significance of this game, Commissioner Tom Wright said, "The strength of ownership in Bob Young, Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon, the talent and commitment of their organizations and the undeniable passion of CFL fans in the Golden Horseshoe has led the renewed strength of our game. "
If the Toronto Argonauts win tonight's game they will clinch second place in the East Division, but if the Tiger-Cats claim victory they will into a tie with Toronto, leaving the final games of the season for the two clubs as deciding factors in their playoff positioning.
Canadian Football League Stories from October 21, 2004
- Inaugural Rona Cup to be awarded Saturday afternoon - Ottawa Renegades
- Golden Horseshoe rivalry kicks into high gear - CFL
- Alouettes, Renegades to play for RONA Cup - Montreal Alouettes
- Only one month left until Grey Cup 2004 - Ottawa Renegades
- Ticats Win Marketing Award - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
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