Toronto Argonauts president Bill Manning has visions of the double blue playing in and hosting the Grey Cup in 2020.
In late May, commissioner Randy Ambrosie announced the league would move to a win-and-host style for the CFL championship game — if the league is able to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our intention is to try to play this season. If we could get in half a season and then have a cool playoff system and then a Grey Cup. Could you imagine if the Argos played and we could host a Grey Cup potentially?” said on TSN 1050 radio in Toronto.
The team that qualifies for the Grey Cup and has a superior regular season record to its opponent will host the CFL title showdown. It gives all nine CFL teams a shot at hosting the Grey Cup in an unprecedented year. If needed the league would consider moving the Grey Cup into December, exploring options that could allow as many games as possible.
“I do hope we can get in half a season. I hope that as we get into September, October, the world starts to get back to normal a bit and we can start to see these guys playing, even if it’s in front of no fans to start with,” Manning said.
“People want to see sports comeback and obviously safety is the No. 1 priority.”
Since winning the Grey Cup in 2017, the Argos have the fewest wins in the CFL — eight — over the last two seasons, and in 2019 the boatmen violated the $5.25 million salary cap. Every other franchise in the league has at least double digits win totals during the same time span.
The Argos currently have the longest betting odds to win the 2020 Grey Cup — if it’s played. Against all odds, Manning.
