2011 CFL thread

[Huggy]

What is the game day atmosphere like at Ivor Wynne? Does it depend on how the team is doing or is it usually a pretty good time?

A buddy of mine and I are looking at doing an Eastern CFL road trip and it seems like Hamilton might be more fun than TO but also need to have after football activities relatively close.

Games at Ivor Wynne are pretty good, especially if it's the Argos. Argos games at the Rogers Centre are slightly more exciting than a funeral.

However, if after game activities are important, avoid going to Hamilton.

Any bar that I know in that area of The Hammer would require you have a heavily armed bodyguard whereas you have dozens and dozens of great bars within walking distance of the Rogers Centre.

JR's right, there is little to recommend about the gameday experience for the Argos, but the postgame options in that area are endless. And it's not just the facility, the Rogers Centre remains a great place to watch a ball game in a summer night or weekend afternoon if the roof is open but Argos games are just duds.

In the old days at the Ex, gamedays were insane, particularly if the opponent was Ottawa, Montreal and especially Hamilton but there wasn't much to do after the game but again, most people didn't need any more to drink.

 

[RedCanuck]

I loved the in-game atmosphere in Hamilton, I thought it was fairly lively when I went down. JR is right that it's in an older, likely poorer part of the town. You're okay coming and going with the crowds and everyone's friendly before dusk, but I don't think I'd want to linger too long in the area.

 

[JR]

What is the game day atmosphere like at Ivor Wynne? Does it depend on how the team is doing or is it usually a pretty good time?

A buddy of mine and I are looking at doing an Eastern CFL road trip and it seems like Hamilton might be more fun than TO but also need to have after football activities relatively close.

Games at Ivor Wynne are pretty good, especially if it's the Argos. Argos games at the Rogers Centre are slightly more exciting than a funeral.

However, if after game activities are important, avoid going to Hamilton.

Any bar that I know in that area of The Hammer would require you have a heavily armed bodyguard whereas you have dozens and dozens of great bars within walking distance of the Rogers Centre.

JR's right, there is little to recommend about the gameday experience for the Argos, but the postgame options in that area are endless. And it's not just the facility, the Rogers Centre remains a great place to watch a ball game in a summer night or weekend afternoon if the roof is open but Argos games are just duds.

In the old days at the Ex, gamedays were insane, particularly if the opponent was Ottawa, Montreal and especially Hamilton but there wasn't much to do after the game but again, most people didn't need any more to drink.

Most people had finished their 26'r by half time and then the fights would start. The Hamilton/Argos games were particularly noteworthy.

 

[Stitch]

I'd like to head up to Toronto or Montreal this summer. How tough is it to get Alouettes tickets?

 

[Iron_chet]

This is a shame to hear. I have done my fair of stumbling around Toronto so I was hoping that there would be something in Hamilton.

Maybe just take a six-pack to "the mountain" after the game

 

[JR]

I loved the in-game atmosphere in Hamilton, I thought it was fairly lively when I went down. JR is right that it's in an older, likely poorer part of the town. You're okay coming and going with the crowds and everyone's friendly before dusk, but I don't think I'd want to linger too long in the area.

The funny thing is, I lived on a street about a kilometre away until we moved to Burlington when I was five. It wasn't quite as run down then

 

[Iron_chet]

I am dissapointed to hear that there is nothing around Ivor Wynne, may have to grab a six-pack post game and go drink it on "the mountain"

I have stumbled around downtown TO enough to least me a couple life times but may combine it with an Argos game just for old times sake.

 

[JR]

I am dissapointed to hear that there is nothing around Ivor Wynne, may have to grab a six-pack post game and go drink it on "the mountain"

I have stumbled around downtown TO enough to least me a couple life times but may combine it with an Argos game just for old times sake.

I am dissapointed to hear that there is nothing around Ivor Wynne, may have to grab a six-pack post game and go drink it on "the mountain"

I have stumbled around downtown TO enough to least me a couple life times but may combine it with an Argos game just for old times sake.

You can take the GO train two stops out to Mimico and HC & I will buy you a beer at the Goose. Huggy, one of the more discriminating pub crawlers, gives our local a big thumbs up

 

[Huggy]

I am dissapointed to hear that there is nothing around Ivor Wynne, may have to grab a six-pack post game and go drink it on "the mountain"

I have stumbled around downtown TO enough to least me a couple life times but may combine it with an Argos game just for old times sake.

I am dissapointed to hear that there is nothing around Ivor Wynne, may have to grab a six-pack post game and go drink it on "the mountain"

I have stumbled around downtown TO enough to least me a couple life times but may combine it with an Argos game just for old times sake.

You can take the GO train two stops out to Mimico and HC & I will buy you a beer at the Goose. Huggy, one of the more discriminating pub crawlers, gives our local a big thumbs up

Definitely one of my fave watering holes, it's the kind of place that is rapidly disappearing here. It's worth the drive - or GO train ride!

 

[Iron_chet]

I will definitely accept this kind offer when I am in TO!

 

[Huggy]

I will definitely accept this kind offer when I am in TO!

I'll show up too and we will have a Cinquante or three!

 

[JR]

I will definitely accept this kind offer when I am in TO!

Bring your "I Love Trudeau" button.

 

[Iron_chet]

Ha, it's sort of funny you would say that because I remember in the 80s having a "True Dough" poster in my room that an obviously conservative relation gave me for Christmas.

It had an ugly caricature of Trudeau and was shaped like a dollar bill only the tender was 80 cents to commemorate how weak our dollar was. Little did the poster creator know that eventually our dollar would hit 69 cents!

 

[Double J]

I remember that one.

You can't see it very clearly in this post, but that image is courtesy of Library and Archives Canada. This here is 80 cents worth of official historical value!

 

[JR]

Hey, let's not forget about the Diefenbuck

Zaniest PM ever...well, maybe Mackenzie King who talked to his dead mother and consulted with his dog about policy decisions.

 

[Sea Bass]

Chet - if you go to a Friday night Tiger-Cat game in the summer, then you can hit Hess Street in Hamilton (10 minute drive, maybe). Hess Village has a pretty decent bar strip.