There has been a "recent uptick" in ticket sales for Sunday's Stampeders-RedBlacks Grey Cup, and game officials are "confident a sellout crowd will be on hand" at BMO Stadium in Toronto, according to Gregory Strong of the CP. Argonauts Communications Manager Anton Bennett, whose team is running the game, would not disclose how many tickets remain, but in an email, he wrote that there was a "big spike in ticket sales" following Sunday's conference finals. Bennett: "It's natural to see a bump like this after the Eastern and Western Finals. But with the proximity of Ottawa to Toronto, it's been especially strong." Strong noted the Argonauts cut ticket prices last month "to an $89 starting price with thousands more available for less than $150." The previous pricing plan had tickets "no cheaper than $169 apiece." BMO Field's capacity "has been expanded from 27,000 to about 35,000 for the Grey Cup" (CP, 11/21). StubHub Communications Manager Cameron Papp said that as of Tuesday, about 14% of tickets "were purchased by Calgarians, compared to nearly 65% acquired by Ottawa purchasers" (CALGARY SUN, 11/23).
HORSE SENSE: Stampeders Communications Dir Jean Lefebvre said that the Argonauts are refusing to allow the Stampeders' "touchdown horse, Quick Six, to take to the sidelines, where it normally gallops to celebrate touchdowns." He said BMO Field is "laid out differently and there's limited space" along the sideline. Lefebvre said that the CFL is talking with Argos officials "hoping for some kind of compromise." Lefebvre: "What we're told right now is that it's not possible." In Calgary, Bill Kaufmann noted Quick Six "was denied running space at Rogers Centre in 2012 due to safety concerns," though it did appear at Vancouver's BC Place during the '14 Grey Cup (CALGARY HERALD, 11/22). In Ottawa, Tim Baines reports the RedBlacks' Algonquin Loggersports Team, which "cuts out a wood cookie" after each team touchdown, also has been banned from the sidelines on Sunday. RedBlacks President Jeff Hunt said, "The CFL felt if the Calgary Stampeders can't have their horse, then it's probably not fair for Ottawa to have its touchdown celebration part. I think they were just trying to be fair" (OTTAWA SUN, 11/22).
