Toronto Maple Leafs
As always, the Leafs are the main draw in town. No matter how many times they lose, (and it is quite often), fans still show up in droves and tickets are priced accordingly. If you still desire to see a Leafs game, I suggest that you take a crafty approach. Let’s say that you are an average fan, and you want to see the Leafs play the Montreal Canadiens at the ACC on Saturday night early in the season. Have a good time, but enjoy paying a remarkable premium. Another option is to search eBay to avoid paying a ticket surcharge. On eBay, it is possible to find decent tickets at reasonable prices ($40-50 each). But be warned—the tickets will likely be for weekday games, against less than stellar teams. Still, if you’re a card-carrying member of Leafs Nation, a game is a game, and this way, you can still be a money-carrying member too. Besides, if you go on a Saturday, you miss Coach’s Corner, and isn’t that half the fun?
Toronto Bills
The Toronto Bills may be a stretch, but as you know, the Bills are coming to the Rogers Centre on December 7. Naturally, our city boasts the worst game on the schedule, a match against the Miami Dolphins. However, this year’s Dolphins may be a better team, when compared with 2007’s 1-15 record. While monstrously overpriced, there should be many tickets floating around unsold. For a better football experience, I suggest you forget about seeing the Bills in Toronto, and take a road trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo. Greyhound tickets are cheaper than ever, and Buffalo is barely two hours away—not to mention that nothing says sports excitement like being outdoors in Buffalo in late November. If Sunday at 1 p.m. is too early for you, there is a Monday night game against Cleveland on November 17. Buffalo has one of the largest football stadiums for one of the smallest cities in terms of population. Load up the Winnebago and get ready for the game!
Toronto Argonauts
My advice for attending an Argonauts game on the cheap: show up. Enjoy the toasty atmosphere of being indoors at the Rogers Centre, and for the CFL haters, understand that fewer downs equals more passing equals more offence. The CFL ran a promotion a while back that their balls are bigger. It’s still true.
Toronto FC
Perhaps you are into what the Europeans call football, and want to see a team of mainly Americans play the beautiful game at BMO Field. Tickets are very hard to come by, as the stadium and team are sponsored by the bank. So before you go to the stadium, go to the Bank of Montreal, (conveniently located near campus at St. George and Bloor St.), and put your measly savings in a checking account or something. Then mention to the bank manager that you are a poor student that wants to see one game in Toronto featuring a team that does not use their hands. The rest writes itself.
Other Options
As for fringe sports in Toronto, there are plenty, and the tickets are cheap and easy to come by. Plus, you can always see a Varsity Blues game, for which you are already paying student fees to support. At 1-1, the football team boasts the best record it’s had in seven years. There’s no time like the present to join the Blues bandwagon and catch a game right on campus. These games are free with a student card, so go out and root for the home team.
