By Scott Ferguson
The Toronto Arrows are a rugby team that plays in Major League Rugby, a league that seems to be trying to emulate the success of Major League Soccer by bringing a globally popular sport to North America.
The Arrows play rugby union, and not the rugby league which Toronto Wolfpack played. That said, the two versions of the game are different but with the same overall goals. Kind of like the CFL and NFL. Rugby Union is what I grew up playing in Ontario so I assume it is the version more Canadians are familiar with anyway.
The team plays at York Lions Stadium and on a warm night it’s hard to beat as a venue. The soccer team York United and York University Varsity teams also play here. It holds 4,000 people but to me feels bigger.
There are assigned seats, but on the night I went there were enough empty ones that you could sit pretty much wherever you wanted. There is also a standing only Skydeck area. And no matter what seat you buy, you can watch from field level in one end zone. That’s where the beer garden is which is also a standing room section. It has booths where you can buy beer, food, and team merchandise.
Getting there
The stadium is on a subway line and you get off at Pioneer Village Station. There is also lots of on-site parking. The lot I left my car in cost ten bucks.
Mascot
For the kids the team mascot also makes the rounds. His name is Archie the Raccoon which seems appropriate for a Toronto squad.
Overall
A great experience for any casual sports fan or seasoned rugby supporter. The team struggled on the night I was there, but hopefully there are better days ahead!
The Toronto Arrows have six home games left. York Lions Stadium is located at York University, 4700 Keele St, North York.
One response to “Seeing a Toronto Arrows Game”
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