Toronto Stadium Questions

[Cribbs20]

OK, if Toronto is really going to do this right there should be no sign that any other team plays in Rogers Centre.

I would assume that the NFL won't dress the field like they did in London because these are Bills home games. I don't want to see any funny lines on the field that shouldn't be there or anything odd looking that looks like a NCAA football field that doubles as a soccer field.

Also, has anyone seen a game from Toronto? We had one pre-season game there during the Super Bowl era and obviously the Argo's play there. Do the seats come close enough to the field to make it look like a football stadium?

[thomps]

ummm....they only play baseball and football at the rogers centre and have seperate sets of turf for both sports....

ie they don`t play soccer at the rogers centre

[thomps]

the lower bowl is fine but it might be crappy viewing up top

[Cribbs20]

ummm....they only play baseball and football at the rogers centre and have seperate sets of turf for both sports....

ie they don`t play soccer at the rogers centre

Yeah, I know but I don't want to see the third base line running through the field of play or CFL hash marks alongside NFL hash marks or anything else like that.

That's what I meant.

[erak]

Toronto knows NFL football. Don't worry.

[Cribbs20]

Toronto knows NFL football. Don't worry.

I think you could be right, Toronto is a big sports city. I hope they do this the right way and make these truly Bills home games and not a sideshow.

If they take to the Bills the way they have to the Leafs it will be awesome.

[RPM]

This is the field from the International Bowl a few weeks ago

Rutgers vs Ball State

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/2185879984_e3bbc02a27.jpg?v=0

[rhinocoach]

trust me it's not the field you need to worry about.
try to turn onto spadina off of lakeshore lmfa.
you can smoke a joint but for the love of god don't get out of your car with an open beer bottle (can). where you gonna park anyway. a city parkinglot 2 blocks away goes for $10.00 on weekdays and $25.00 gameday can't wait to see what they charge for this fiasco.

[screenpass]

from what I read the Bills have literally leased these 2 games in '08 to a group in Toronto. The Bills get a set fee and the Toronto people run the game and can make as much profit as they can. So, I'm sure they may have advertising for other Canadian teams. As long as the field lay-out meets NFL standards I can't see a problem. Let's face it - - Pittsburgh's field was a disaster late in the season and I'm sure NFL officials didn't like that!

[Cribbs20]

This is the field from the International Bowl a few weeks ago

Rutgers vs Ball State

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/2185879984_e3bbc02a27.jpg?v=0

Thanks for the pic, I wish the stands were closer to the field. It has an "Ice Bowl" kind of look with all the open space.

The Giants and Jets are able to present a nice looking "home field" that they share so I hope it looks like a home game.

What kind of playing surface do they use? I'm sure it isn't Astroplay.

[RPM]

I believe it's called FieldTurf
I'm pretty positive it's the most expensive and safest artificial surface you can get

[Black Ice]

I think you could be right, Toronto is a big sports city. I hope they do this the right way and make these truly Bills home games and not a sideshow.

If they take to the Bills the way they have to the Leafs it will be awesome.

Toronto has big sports but, with the exception of the leafs, I'd hardly call them a sports city. Rich city, maybe. Big city, maybe. Sports city - certainly nowhere near being in the same league as Buffalo fanaticism!!

[Cribbs20]

Toronto has big sports but, with the exception of the leafs, I'd hardly call them a sports city. Rich city, maybe. Big city, maybe. Sports city - certainly nowhere near being in the same league as Buffalo fanaticism!!

Well, let's bring it up North a few times a year!!!

Actually I drive 3 1/2 hours each way to the Ralph and I have seasons so I'm sure people from Buffalo can handle a little border hopping to support the boys for one or two games a year.

[RPM]

Toronto has big sports but, with the exception of the leafs, I'd hardly call them a sports city. Rich city, maybe. Big city, maybe. Sports city - certainly nowhere near being in the same league as Buffalo fanaticism!!

Maple Leafs - no need to mention attendance is at 105% capacity
Raptors - 8th in NBA in attendance, 98% capacity
Blue Jays - drew 2,360,648 fans 60% capacity
Toronto FC - sold out every game over 20,000 per game 2nd in MLS
Toronto Rock - Always near the top in attendance in the NLL avg over 15,000

what the attendance like for the Bisons ? the Bandits ? the Blizzard ? the Sabres ?

yeah I guess we're not the sports city buffalo is...

[Big B]

They better paint a Bills symbol in the middle of the field, and write BILLS in each enzone. I expect to be watching a Bills home game when I turn on my TV. We better get some respect playing up there.

[RPM]

I'm sure it will done by any rules the NFL has pre-set for those type of things...
I don't see any problems having "BILLS" painted anywhere, but I doubt you'll see "BUFFALO" painted anywhere

I could be wrong, but this is my guess....

[bumbles247]

I'm sure the regular season games will be top notch, field wise, seeing how it will no doubt be internationally televised. The league probably wouldn't have approved the whole thing otherwise.

Preseason games are a different story. There could very well be shades of the lines from the Argos field showing through. Especially since the Argos won't be finished playing for the year.

[GoGoBills]

Maple Leafs - no need to mention attendance is at 105% capacity
Raptors - 8th in NBA in attendance, 98% capacity
Blue Jays - drew 2,360,648 fans 60% capacity
Toronto FC - sold out every game over 20,000 per game 2nd in MLS
Toronto Rock - Always near the top in attendance in the NLL avg over 15,000

what the attendance like for the Bisons ? the Bandits ? the Blizzard ? the Sabres ?

yeah I guess we're not the sports city buffalo is...

Go with the crowd atmosphere... Buffalo wins by far.

Leafs, could be cool but all corpo fans
FC, they're the exception... pretty cool... one year old team

[RPM]

maybe the NFL will test the larger field during pre-season

[GoGoBills]

They better paint a Bills symbol in the middle of the field, and write BILLS in each enzone. I expect to be watching a Bills home game when I turn on my TV. We better get some respect playing up there.

Oh please...

Have you seen the way the Canadian National Anthem was sung at a Las Vegas Posse (CFL expansion team) 's game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpXzASiXX8U

Don't worry, you won't experience any disrespect like that...

[RPM]

Go with the crowd atmosphere... Buffalo wins by far.

Leafs, could be cool but all corpo fans
FC, they're the exception... pretty cool... one year old team

what atmosphere ? apart from the Bills your venues are always half empty... except when the Sabres were in trouble, then people finally bought tickets...

when you go to a Leaf game in Buffalo, it's mostly Leaf fans anyways...
other than that the atmosphere is no different than anywhere else I have been or seen...
but hey it's your city so I understand how you feel your's is better...

[GoGoBills]

what atmosphere ? apart from the Bills your venues are always half empty... except when the Sabres were in trouble, then people finally bought tickets...

when you go to a Leaf game in Buffalo, it's mostly Leaf fans anyways...
other than that the atmosphere is no different than anywhere else I have been or seen...
but hey it's your city so I understand how you feel your's is better...

Leafs fan travel anywhere because they can't get tix in TO... the atmosphere at a Leafs game is not that great. I mean, if you like sitting next to George Stroumbouloupoulos and Peter Mansbridge that's one thing but if you're more of a less-money, "fan" thing, then there's a place for you in the Buff.

Toronto FC is impressive though... hopefully they maintain that, that's the one time I see Toronto spirit.