Varsity Stadium -A Grey Cup Landmark
- David Hegler
- 10 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Varsity Stadium is the longest continuously used stadium in Toronto, but aside from the concerts and being the home of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, its greatest claim to fame is being the backdrop of a record 35 Grey Cup championship games. What follows is a brief history of the site's time in the spotlight.
The Early Years
Varsity Stadium was just a field for its first 13 years of existence but in 1911, stands were erected to accommodate the University of Toronto's Argonaut Rowing Club's football team, a team that had been added to serve as an outlet for the rowers. Varsity Stadium immediately replaced 10,000 capacity Rosedale Field as the city's preeminent football grounds.
In those days, Toronto was littered with teams playing various versions of football. Aside from the Argonaut Rowing Club, there was the Toronto Lacrosse Club, Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club, Trinity College and the University of Toronto's very own Varsity Blues. But it was the Argonauts that would eventually rise above the pack.
The stadium first hosted the Grey Cup on November 25, 1911, the championship game's third year of existence. With kickoff occurring just 90 minutes after the last nail was driven into the newly built stands, the Varsity Blues beat the Argonauts 14-7 on a frozen tundra caked in six tones of straw in front of 13,687.
Three years later, Varsity Stadium hosted the Grey Cup again in 1914 in a rematch from 1911. While the Argonauts were busy beating the Hamilton Tigers and Hamilton Rowing Club in the span of six days, the Varsity Blues had two weeks of rest between their games. It looked bleak for the tired Argonauts, but they were rejuvenated when Blues' Red McKenzie fumbled a punt on his own 15-yard line that was quickly scooped up by Glad Murphy for an Argonaut touchdown. The Argonauts ended up winning the game 14-7 and claimed their first Grey Cup.
In 1915, the Toronto Rowing and Athletic Association outplayed the Hamilton Tigers on a slippery field and led 4-1 at the end of the first half (teams playing for the Grey Cup would play under rules similar to rugby until the mid-1950's). In the second, Jack Erskine carried the ball 15 yards around the edge for a try to give Hamilton a 7-4 lead. Toronto eventually tied the game at 7-all when Hamilton put the finishing touches on a hard fought 13-7 victory, escaping a potential offside interference penalty by the skin of their teeth along the way. That was the last Grey Cup championship game played for the next four years.
A New Era
Due to World War I and a dispute with the Canadien Rugby Union, the CFL waited impatiently for the return of its beloved Grey Cup playoff system. By the time it finally returned in 1920, everyone was famished for football in the summer, fall and early winter.
Varsity Stadium hosted the first Grey Cup title game since its hiatus in 1920 with a classic Battle for Toronto: the Blues vs the Argonauts. The Argonauts were up 1-0 early in the second quarter when the Blues' Warren Snyder scampered from 25 yards out to put the Blues up on their rivals. It was the University of Toronto's last Grey Cup title and after the 16-3 route, both teams dined at the Hart House before attending a show at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
The following year, the Argonauts prevailed against the Edmonton Eskimos as Lionel Conacher scored 15-points to tie a Grey Cup record previously held by Husky Craig which was set back in 1913. As the cherry on top, Toronto's 23-0 romp was the title game's first shutout.
Varsity Stadium would go on to host the Grey Cup in 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954. In 1956, a record crowd (for Varsity Stadium) of 27,435 watched as the Edmonton's Johnny Bright, Jackie Parker, Normie Kwong and Rollie Miles rumbled for a Grey Cup record 456 yards as the Eskimos completed a three-pete by beating the Montreal Alouettes 50-27.
The following year was Varsity Stadium's last opportunity hosting the Grey Cup. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-7 in front of 27,051 that afternoon as Varsity Stadium's greatest era came to a sudden end.
After the CFL
The Grey Cup has still been very much a presence in Toronto, with the title game being played at Exhibition Stadium as well as Rogers Centre. Having called Varsity Stadium home since 1911, the Toronto Argonauts moved into Exhibition Stadium after 1956 and would go on to capture 17 more Grey Cup titles.
Meanwhile, Varsity Stadium continued to host the Varsity Blues. In 1969, it hosted a massive concert event called "the Rock N' Roll Revival". The 12-hour excursion featured artists such as the Doors, John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Eric Clapton.
The original Varsity Stadium was demolished in 2002 and rose anew in 2007. It still hosts the University of Toronto's football and track teams to this day.
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