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Contrary to popular belief, Toronto boasts a vibrant sports culture. Toronto has maintained a sports team in various forms since the 1800s, including the Granite Club, Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, the Argonaut Rowing Club, and the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club. The Toronto Argonauts football team was founded in 1873 and remains in existence to this day. Depending on the popularity of the specific sport and the team’s performance, professional sports in Toronto are always evolving.
Toronto is the home of numerous sports teams, each with a diverse history of achievements. Irrespective of the team’s performance, the fan base supporting it exhibits an almost obsessive devotion. Here, we genuinely enjoy our sports. We commemorate both triumphs and defeats profoundly, typically by means of social media, in order to express our shared sentiments. What do you need to know about the sports teams in Toronto?
Toronto, being the largest city in Canada, benefits from having numerous professional, semi-professional, and university teams. Toronto’s sports team is the sole representative in Canada for some sports.
This creates a thrilling scenario for the playoffs. Despite the fact that many Canadians root for American teams, when it matters, everyone roots for their national team. So without further ado, let’s look at Toronto’s sports teams and what makes them interesting.
The Toronto Argonauts, also referred to as Argos, were founded in 1873 and are a member of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Additionally, they hold the distinction of being the most ancient team that continues to use its original name. The CFL, similar to the more famous American Football League, is the pinnacle of Canadian football competition. The league comprises nine clubs located throughout the country, segregated into the East and West Divisions. The Argos compete in the Eastern Division.
The Grey’s Cup, an esteemed accolade presented at the conclusion of the season, holds the distinction of being the second most ancient trophy in North America, following the Stanley Cup in hockey. The Argonauts have won the Cup a total of 17 times, with their most recent victory occurring in 2017. Appropriately, a parade was held in honour of the victory.
The Blue Jays, also known as the Jays, hold the unique status of being the sole major league baseball team in Canada, resulting in a widespread fanbase across the country. The squad, founded in 1977, is named after a bird with the same name, which is shown as well on the team’s emblem.
The Jays are a constituent team of Major League Baseball (MLB) and are affiliated with the American League (AL) East division. The squad saw both successes and failures, reaching its peak performance between the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Toronto Blue Jays achieved consecutive victories in the World Series in 1992 and 1993. The team has been quite close in the past several years, inspiring hope and pride in the hearts of many people around the country.
The Toronto FC is also quite popular among fans. Founded in 2006, the team is one of three Canadian franchises in the Major League Soccer (MLS) and competes in the Eastern Conference. The home games are always exciting and fun because of the passionate crowd.
In recent years, the Toronto FC has significantly improved their performance, achieving the remarkable feat of capturing the domestic triple in 2017. This included triumphs in the MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and Canadian Championship. Come the day they become champions, and this town will go nuts.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been the national hockey team since 1917. Additionally, it is one of the seven Canadian franchises that comprise the National Hockey League (NHL). Regrettably, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been unable to secure the prestigious Stanley Cup championship since the year 1967. Despite enduring decades of poor performance, Leaf fans remain steadfastly loyal.
Forbes magazine ranks the Leafs as the second most valuable franchise in the NHL, trailing only the New York Rangers. The ticket price for the home game is the highest among all teams in the league due to over 80% of available seats being allocated to season ticket holders. Ironically, in a 2014 ESPN survey, the Leafs were placed last out of 122 professional clubs across all four leagues.
The Toronto Marlies, in contrast to other Toronto sports teams, were founded in the city in 2005 following multiple alterations in names and locations. The squad is a member of the American Hockey League (AHL) and has a formal association with the Maple Leafs.
The Marlies triumphantly claimed the Calder Cup, the most prestigious trophy in the AHL, by emerging victorious in the 2018 season finale against the Texas Stars.
The Toronto Raptors, founded in 1995, are the sole remaining Canadian franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The squad belongs to the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the league, and it is a source of pride for numerous Canadians.
The Toronto Raptors have garnered a substantial and growing fan base in recent years, primarily attributed to the influential support of local rapper Drake, who is not only a devoted fan but also serves as the team’s ambassador. Drake had a crucial role in initiating “We the North” campaign, which continues to be enthusiastically embraced by the supporters. The trade involving Demar DeRozan, a highly popular player among fans, for Kawhi Leonard, has generated significant unrest inside the city. All the pain was forgotten, though, when the squad progressed to the championships.
Raptors ended up being a symbol of Canada as the whole country applauded them on all the way to the top. The Toronto Raptors emerged as the victors of the 2019 NBA Championship after engaging in 24 years of fierce competition. As far as Toronto sports teams are concerned, this makes them a prized commodity.
The Toronto Rock, one of the four Canadian franchises in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), is another example of a Toronto sports team that was not originally established in the city. Prior to its inception in 1999 in Toronto, the squad had previously competed in the neighbouring city of Hamilton.
The Rock has triumphantly secured the championships on six occasions, with the most recent victory occurring in 2011. Additionally, The Rock has attained nine division titles, with the most recent one achieved in 2015. Given their impressive track record, they are definitely worth exploring.
The Toronto Wolfpack is a recent addition to Toronto’s roster of sports teams. Established in 2017, this rugby team is a member of the British Rugby Football League system. It remains to be seen how well it does and how fans will react to it, as it is still quite new.
A 20-over cricket team called the Toronto Nationals have arrived in Toronto, just when you thought the city couldn’t support any more professional sports. In 2018, six teams competed in the inaugural Global T20 Canada, which was held throughout the summer.
This is the first completely sanctioned T20 league in North America outside of the Caribbean, with the competition having been approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The pricing of tickets for sporting events varies based on the specific timing throughout the season. As the playoffs approach, the costs and availability increase. During the off-season, ticket prices can vary depending on the team, although it is possible to find seats for as little as $20.
Typically, you will get tickets primarily from Ticketmaster, where it is recommended to prepare for additional charges. Furthermore, there are several ticket resale platforms available, and it is recommended to take care when using them. Each venue has a restricted selection of food items and alcoholic beverages. Expect to pay high prices for both.
Toronto boasts a wide array of sports teams, ensuring that visitors can enjoy a game at any time. It is advisable to proactively review the timetable in advance to prevent any potential letdowns.
What’s your favourite sport to watch? Let us know.
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