ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – This Saturday, July 7 at 3:00 p.m., Toronto Argonauts fans will finally get to see their heroes in Double Blue play live as they take on the Calgary Stampeders in the 2012 Home Opener, presented by Scotiabank, at Rogers Centre! QB Ricky Ray will be at the helm of the offence in front of Toronto fans as a member of the Argonauts for the first time in regular season action, and WR/KR Chad Owens will try to repeat his heroics from CFL Week 1 when he became the third player in league history to record 100 yards in three different categories in the same game. The Argos’ powerful defence allowed just 19 points last week, fewer than any other team in the East, and a repeat performance this week would help vault the team into sole possession of first place in the division.

‘Heroes’ will be the theme of the afternoon as the club will honour members of the Department of National Defence, War Veterans, and local Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel. Some Argos players have a special connection with the day’s theme including LB Robert McCune who served in the U.S. military and National Guard before playing football, and Andre Durie who will be part of a special on-field, pre-game presentation as the recipient of the 2011 Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award.

The Argonauts will also recognize some of the team’s past football heroes this week. As part of the TSN Documentary series, Engraved on a Nation, the 1971 team is being chronicled in “Mavericks: The Story of the 1971 Argos” and 16 members of the team that captured the hearts and imagination of the entire city with names like Joe Theismann, Dick Thornton, Jim Stillwagon and Leo Cahill will be in attendance at the game. The team will participate in a special pre-game autograph session at Gate 10 starting at 1:30 p.m., Joe Theismann will throw out a ceremonial ‘first pass’ pre-game, and the entire group will be recognized during a special on-field halftime presentation.

In addition to the ’71 team, halftime will be packed with entertainment. Legendary CFL Canadian quarterback Russ Jackson will be recognized by the crowd as the first CFL inductee into Canada’s Walk of Fame, and local hip-hop artists Triple Or Nothing will perform live their hit song “T.O. State of Mind”.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the festivities will officially begin at 12:00 noon on Saturday during an exciting pre-game party outside Gate 11. There will be a live DJ, $5 beer specials, Marc Angelo gourmet sausages, face painters, the 2012 Argos Cheerleaders, presented by the Toronto Sun, and plenty of Double Blue fans to celebrate the afternoon! Be sure to get inside the stadium in time for kickoff as the first 10,000 fans will receive a limited edition Home Opener rally towel.

During the game, the Argonauts will continue to demonstrate their commitment to bullying prevention and local youth by recognizing one student as its Huddle Up Student of the Game, presented by Tim Hortons.

Following the game fans are welcome down to the turf at Rogers Centre for See You on the Field, an Argonauts post-game tradition. Fans are then invited to join Argos players and Cheerleaders at the Official Post-Game Party at Shoeless Joe’s Sports Grill at 276 King Street West, for special food and drink deals!

For 2012 season ticket and group sales packages, please contact the sales team at (416) 341-ARGO or visit ticketmaster.ca.