Grey Cup: Argos slash ticket prices for the big game at BMO Field

The Toronto Argonauts are giving Canadian football fans a break.

The CFL club has reduced prices for this year’s Grey Cup game at BMO Field, with tickets starting at $89 and thousands more available for less than $150. Under previous pricing, the cheapest tickets were $169 and $199 and went up to $899.

Argos president Michael Copeland said Tuesday the adjustments will affect mostly the mid-range tickets for the Nov. 27 contest.

“Ultimately, we want the stadium to be full,” Copeland said. “We want people to understand how great it is to see a football game at BMO Field, especially one of the scale and excitement of the Grey Cup.

Copeland said the changes reflect a recognition by the Argos that Toronto’s sports landscape has been jampacked the past year. The NBA allstar game, deep playoff runs by the Raptors and Blue Jays and the World Cup of Hockey have all happened here this year.

The NHL Centennial Classic between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings will take place Jan. 1 at BMO Field, while the 2017 world junior hockey championship will be held jointly in Toronto and Montreal. And the Raptors tip off their regular season Oct. 26.

“When we originally set these ticket prices, we based it on our experience in operating Grey Cups, our understanding of the Toronto market and what similar events in the market were priced at,” Copeland said. “But we realize Toronto is in a very unique time right now, you can argue this is the busiest time for major sporting events, perhaps ever, in the city.

BMO Field’s Grey Cup seating ca- pacity will be expanded from 28,000 to roughly 35,000. Copeland said the contest is roughly half sold, with most of the higher- and lower-priced tickets having already been purchased. Copeland said the Argos will be contacting people who have already purchased tickets shortly to discuss the changes.

The 2016 season was to be an important one for the Argos. Not only did they have a new home stadium but were in their first year under the new ownership of Bell and Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

But Toronto has struggled, compiling a 5-11 record and finishing 2-7 at BMO Field. And the Argos face having to beat Calgary (14-1-1) and Edmonton (8-7) on the road to have any chance of making the CFL playoffs. Copeland admitted the Argos’ record hasn’t helped Grey Cup ticket sales.

“Everybody wants to see your hometown team in the game,” he said. “Now, we’re certainly still in the mix and we hope to be in the game at this point but if there was a little more confidence in our fan base about that, then I’d think that would certainly spur ticket sales on.”