TORONTO (CP) - A big loss has turned into a big giveaway.
The Toronto Argonauts, looking to win back some of the goodwill lost during a lopsided 58-20 loss to Montreal, have offered a free ticket to a game next season to fans in attendance Thursday night.
The game had no playoff implications, so the Argos didn't dress kicker Noel Prefontaine, receivers Andre Rison and Arland Bruce III, running back John Avery, safety Orlondo Steinauer and defensive linemen Eric England and Jonathon Brown. Only Prefontaine (hip) was injured.
``As an organization, we were put into a difficult position because of our schedule and the resulting health of our football team,'' head coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons said in a release. ``After making the playoffs and earning home-field advantage, we made the decision to give our fans and football team the best possible chance to have success in the playoffs.''
The Argos said they made the decision to offer the free tickets after receiving negative fan reaction. A headline in Friday's Toronto Star read: ``Fans ripped off by sub-filled lineup.''
Clemons said the ticket rebate was a tribute to the team's ownership.
``We want to hear the fans,'' he told The Fan all-sports radio station Friday. ``And if the fans say something, we want to be responsive to that and this is another glowing example of when the fans say something, they do listen. They don't just listen, they actually take action.''
Ticket stubs or proof of ticket purchase from Thursday's game can be redeemed for a comparable ticket to any regular-season Argos game in 2005.
Thursday's attendance of 31,212 was a season-high for the Argos.