GUELPH, Ont. – The defending Grey Cup champions are returning to the University of Guelph in 2023.
For a second consecutive season, the Toronto Argonauts will call the University of Guelph home for training camp as well as a preseason matchup.
On Thursday, June 1, 2023, the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium will once again serve as the host venue for a CFL preseason matchup as the Toronto Argonauts host the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Kickoff is set for 7pm with tickets on sale now at
gryphons.ca/tickets.
In addition to hosting the June 1 preseason game, the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium will also serve as the home of the Toronto Argonauts for the team's 2023 training camp, which runs from May 10 to June 4, 2023. The Argos have now held their training camp at the University of Guelph on four separate occasions within the past eight years (2023, 2022, 2021 & 2016). The Argos enter the 2023 season as the CFL's defending Grey Cup champions after
winning 24-23 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday, November 20, 2022 to capture the 109th Grey Cup (18th Grey Cup in franchise history for Toronto, and first since 2017).
Toronto Argonauts vs Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL Preseason)
Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023
Time: 7pm Kickoff, Gates Open at 6pm
Location: Alumni Stadium (University of Guelph)
TICKET INFO:
- Tickets on sale now at gryphons.ca/tickets
- Seating in main grandstand = $25+HST
- Licensed area (must be 19+) = $30+HST (limited capacity)
- Children 3-and-under FREE
Note: the licensed area will be located in the Gryphons 'business section' located near the corner of the south endzone. Fans will not be allowed to take alcoholic beverages to the main grandstand.
Tickets for the Argos/REDBLACKS preseason game on June 1 are on sale now to the general public at
gryphons.ca/tickets. Prior to the general public ticket sale, Argos season ticket holders were given a 96-hour window to secure their seats at Guelph's Alumni Stadium.
"It is an honour for us to be able to welcome the reigning Grey Cup champions back to our U of G campus," says Scott McRoberts, Director of Athletics at the University of Guelph since 2016. "We are proud of the relationship that we have built with the entire Toronto Argonauts organization over the years. Guelph is a tremendous football city, and we cannot wait to see our community come out once again to support some CFL football here on June 1."
There are currently a total of three former Gryphon football players listed on the 2023 rosters for the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa REDBLACKS, with defensive back
Royce Metchie the lone Gryphon listed on the Argos roster, while former Gryphons Eric Starczala (offensive line) and Alain Cimankinda (defensive line) are listed on the REDBLACKS roster. The June 1 matchup in Guelph will mark the final preseason game for both Toronto and Ottawa. The Argos will have to wait an additional week longer than the rest of the league to get their 2023 regular season underway, with Toronto having a Week 1 bye, with the Argos set to officially kick off their 2023 regular season on June 18 at BMO Field versus Hamilton. The REDBLACKS will begin their 2023 campaign on Saturday, June 10 in Montreal.
The June 1 exhibition game in Guelph marks the second time in the past six years in which the Argos and REDBLACKS have squared off in preseason play at Alumni Stadium, with the two teams also having
played on the Gryphons home field back in 2018.
Recent History of CFL Teams at the University of Guelph:
2023: Argos host training camp at University of Guelph & pre-season game vs Ottawa
2022: Argos host training camp at University of Guelph & pre-season game vs Hamilton
2021: Argos host training camp at University of Guelph
2019: Blue Bombers host practices at University of Guelph between away games versus Argos & Ticats
2018: Argos host pre-season game vs Ottawa at University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium
2016: Argos host training camp at University of Guelph
2013: Tiger-Cats host 8 regular season games & 1 playoff game at U of G's Alumni Stadium (due to the demolition of Ivor Wynne Stadium and construction of Tim Hortons Field)
Toronto Argonauts 2023 Preseason Schedule:
Saturday, May 27, 2023 @ Hamilton (4pm – Tim Hortons Field | Hamilton, ON)
Thursday, June 1, 2023 vs Ottawa (7pm – Alumni Stadium | University of Guelph)
* 2023 Regular Season Opener = Sunday, June 18, 2023 vs Hamilton (7pm – BMO Field | Toronto, ON)
Ottawa REDBLACKS 2023 Preseason Schedule:
Friday, May 26, 2023 vs Montreal (7:30pm – TD Place Stadium | Ottawa, ON)
Thursday, June 1, 2023 @ Toronto (7pm – Alumni Stadium | University of Guelph)
* 2023 Regular Season Opener = Saturday, June 10, 2023 @ Montreal (7pm – Percival Molson Memorial Stadium | Montreal, QC) *
Former Gryphons currently listed on Argos and REDBLACKS rosters:
Royce Metchie (Toronto Argonauts)
Eric Starczala (Ottawa REDBLACKS)
Alain Cimankinda (Ottawa REDBLACKS)
GAME DAY AGENDA:
6pm: Gates Open (food trucks on site)
7pm: Kickoff
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Guelph Gryphons:
Twitter,
Instagram
Toronto Argonauts:
Twitter,
Instagram
Ottawa REDBLACKS:
Twitter,
Instagram
PARKING:
After 5pm on weekdays, parking is FREE at the University of Guelph.
Click here to view the U of G parking map.
BROADCAST:
*** Live, online stream of the game available on the Toronto Argonauts Facebook page --- more details to follow ***
Related:
(2023 - argonauts.ca): Grey Cup champion Argonauts return to the University of Guelph for 2023 training camp; to host preseason game vs Ottawa at Alumni Stadium
(2022 – cfl.ca): Title wave – Argos wash away Bombers' dynasty hopes
(2022 – gryphons.ca): University of Guelph to host CFL exhibition game on June 3, 2022 as Argos face Ticats
(2018 – gryphons.ca): REDBLACKS defeat Argos 32-17 in CFL's return to Alumni Stadium
(2018 – cfl.ca): A brief history of the CFL in Guelph
