The Toronto Argonauts Football Club has announced that training camp will return to Toronto and will be hosted at York University.
“York has world-class training facilities and all of the necessary amenities for our players, coaches and staff to prepare effectively for the upcoming season,” said Jim Popp, who enters his first season as Argos General Manager. “But it also has the further benefit of being in our community which provides greater opportunity for fans, amateur football players and media to come out and experience Argos Football. We are very proud to be a part of the Toronto community and are excited to be hosting our training camp closer to home this season.”
The Argos return to York University, where they held their training camp ahead of the 2014 –15 seasons, after hosting their training camp at the University of Guelph last season.
Alumni Field, located on the University’s Keele Campus, will be the setting for Argos practices during the team’s 2017 training camp. Argonauts players have access to some of the first-class training facilities located on the campus, which are used by a number of Canada’s high performance athletes.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Argos back to York for their training camp,” said Jennifer Myers, executive director of York U’s Athletics & Recreation. “We are proud to host this city’s professional football club in our facilities. We look forward to watching them prepare for the 2017 season and continuing to nurture the close relationship we have with this organization.”
CFL rookies and quarterbacks will be on the field for a three-day rookie camp starting on Wednesday, May 24, while veteran CFL players will report May 27 and hit the field for the first time on Sunday, May 28.
The York University Lions football program has produced several players that have left their mark in Argonauts history. Former Lions currently on the Argos include offensive linemen Jamal Campbell and Chris Kolankowski, and recently signed fullback James Tuck. Former Argonauts quarterback and 1952 Grey Cup winner, Nobby Wirkowski was a founder of York’s football program in 1967 and became the team’s first head coach.