FAN ZONE

Football Week In Toronto Kicks Off on August 14th

Bills Toronto Series, Toronto Argonauts & Football Canada Team up to Promote Football in the GTA

TORONTO, ON – Football is set to take over Toronto.

The Bills Toronto Series and Toronto Argonauts have collaborated with Football Canada to introduce Football Week in Toronto from Saturday, August 14th – Friday, August 20th. Football Week in Toronto is a series of events aimed to raise awareness for and promote participation in minor football in the Greater Toronto Area and support Football Canada.

Football Week in Toronto will feature a youth football clinic on Monday, August 16th and a media flag football game on Tuesday, August 17th. Both events will take place at Rogers Centre.

Football Week in Toronto will centre on the following four football events hosted at Rogers Centre.
• Saturday, August 14th, 7:30 pm – Toronto Argonauts vs. Montreal Alouettes
• Sunday, August 15th, 10:00 am – Ontario Varsity Football League Conference Finals
• Thursday, August 19th, 7:30 pm – Bills Toronto Series – Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts
• Friday, August 20th, 7:30 pm – Toronto Argonauts vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Games will feature appearances from Toronto Argonauts and Buffalo Bills alumni/representatives, Football Week in Toronto rally towels, and special appearances from minor football teams throughout Ontario.

In addition to the week’s events, select Bills and Argonauts taped a public service announcement to promote Football Canada and Football Week in Toronto (video is attached). The PSA is scheduled to begin running on Thursday, August 5th. Football Week in Toronto banners will also be posted along Front Street and Bremner Boulevard in downtown Toronto, courtesy of Tourism Toronto.

BUFFALO BILLS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RUSS BRANDON
“The Buffalo Bills have a long tradition of supporting the growth of football at all levels. Our partnership through the Bills Toronto Series provides our organization with this tremendous opportunity to participate in Football Week in Toronto. We look forward to working with the City of Toronto, the Toronto Argonauts and Football Canada to provide an exciting week of events celebrating and promoting the participation in football throughout the Greater Toronto Area.”

TORONTO ARGONAUTS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BOB NICHOLSON
“The Toronto Argonauts are committed to growing and developing football in the Greater Toronto Area at all levels. We are thrilled that the City of Toronto is recognizing the week of August 14-20, during which we have two home games, as Football Week in Toronto. Our partnership with Football Canada, the Bills Toronto Series and the Buffalo Bills will strengthen the awareness and reach of our minor football efforts as we work together to build the sport we all love. With our community outreach programs including our Level The Playing Field program to help return football to high schools, we hope that soon every week will be Football Week in Toronto.”

ROGERS SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PAUL BEESTON
“Rogers Centre is thrilled to be the host venue for all Football Week in Toronto activities. The collaborative efforts between the Bills Toronto Series, the City of Toronto, Football Canada, the Buffalo Bills and the Toronto Argonauts are sure to focus the attention of all sport fans during the week’s events on the great game that football is, from the minor level to the professional level.”

FOOTBALL CANADA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER RICHARD MUNRO
“Football Canada is proud to be working in partnership with the Toronto Argonauts and the Buffalo Bills for the Football Week in Toronto (FWIT) celebration. This collaboration recognizes and promotes the linkages between our grassroots junior player development and school participation programs and the dreams nurtured by our young athletes to perhaps one day play in the CFL with the Argos and with the Bills in the NFL. The advent of World Championships for our sport is providing a vital incentive for our national team athletes under the Team Canada banner. With some 60 countries now part of the International Federation, our teams are excelling on the world stage. In this regard, we are pleased to be highlighting our effort to support our Senior Men’s Team Canada competing in the 2011 Senior World Championships in Vienna, Austria during the Football Week in Toronto activities. It’s a privilege for us to work with the Argos and Bills to celebrate the scope of football interest and activity within the greater Toronto area.”

Saturday, August 14^th

• 7:30 pm, Rogers Centre –  Montreal Alouettes vs.Toronto Argonauts (Retro, 1970s game)
  • Former Buffalo Bill and Toronto Argonauts kicker Steve Christie along with Toronto Argonauts alumni will perform the ceremonial kickoff
  • Football Week in Toronto rally towels will be distributed to fans
  • Visit www.argonauts.ca for more information

Sunday, August 15^th

• 10:00am, Rogers Centre – Ontario Varsity Football League Conference Finals
  • Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door
  • Representatives from the Buffalo Bills and Toronto Argonauts will be on hand to distribute the awards
  • Visit www.ovflontario.com for more information

Monday, August 16^th

• 3:00pm – 5:00pm, Rogers Centre – Football Week in Toronto Youth Football Clinic, hosted by the Toronto Argonauts
  • Coaches from the Markham Raiders Football Association in addition to Toronto Argonauts players and Buffalo Bills alumni will lead youth football players through drills
  • Participants must be 12 years of age or under
  • To sign-up for this event visit footballweekintoronto.com
  • Contact Jaren Hayman at 416-341-2791 or jhayman@argonauts.ca for more information

Tuesday, August 17^th

• 3:00 – 5:00 pm – Football Week in Toronto Media Flag Football Challenge
  • Toronto-based media personalities along with Buffalo Bills and Toronto Argonauts alumni will participate in a flag football game
  • Former Buffalo Bill and Toronto Argonauts kicker Steve Christie will serve as an honorary coach for the event.
  • Contact Stephen Murdoch at 289-241-3997 or smurdoch@oebenterprise.com for more information

Wednesday, August 18^th

• TBA – Media availability session with the Buffalo Bills
  • Selected Bills, including new head coach Chan Gailey, will be made available to the media at the Park Hyatt Hotel
  • Contact Chris Jenkins (chris.jenkins@bills.nfl.net) for more information

Thursday, August 19^th

• 10:30 am – Toronto Argonauts walk-through at University of Toronto at Mississauga campus
  • Location – Lower Field, 3359 Mississauga Rd. N., Mississauga
  • Player availability at approximately 11:00 am
  • Head Coach Jim Barker’s media conference at 12:00 pm
  • For media inquiries, please contact Beth Waldman at bwaldman@argonauts.ca.
  • 7:30 pm – Rogers Centre, Bills Toronto Series:  Indianapolis Colts vs. Buffalo Bills
    • Football Week in Toronto rally towels will be distributed to fans
    • Visit www.billsintoronto.com for more information

Friday, August 20^th

• 7:30 pm – Rogers Centre, Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts
  • Visit www.argonauts.ca for more information

Read more about events scheduled during Football Week in Toronto.