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The Grey Cup has finally come back to Toronto.

Canada's biggest city is hosting Canada's biggest one-day sporting event for the first time since 1992. That game was won easily by Calgary, defeating Winnipeg 24-10, but it was the previous game held at SkyDome, the 1989 Grey Cup between Saskatchewan and Hamilton, that still has people talking.

Globesports.com's Allan Maki revisited that classic encounter earlier this week. Canadian Football League fans can only hope that this year's game is as exciting as that one.

For many years, CFL fans and observers felt Toronto is the last place a Grey Cup should be held. It was widely felt that the unique atmosphere of the week-long party got muted by the surroundings. It looks like that's no longer the case. The league expects a revival in the Ontario capital this week, and the Globe's Stephen Brunt writes:

"As for the big event itself, it is hard to imagine that more could have been done to make it a success. It will be the most elaborate, the most varied, and by some multiple the most expensive Grey Cup week in the game's long, storied history. Unlike 15 years ago, even in the great bustling metropolis it will be near impossible to pretend it's not happening."

Brunt says the 'biggest boast' the game has received comes from the presence of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who upset the B.C. Lions in the West final. Brunt writes:

"To be in the company of 'Rider fans is to be reminded why you ever gave a damn about a team, about a player, about a uniform, in the first place. Not sports marketing or game presentation or brand loyalty, but our guys versus their guys, joy and agony experienced in the company of those who share a place, a background, and a passion."

The Roughriders, making their first appearance in a Grey Cup since a 47-23 loss to Toronto in Edmonton in 1996, will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who end the Argonauts' season at Rogers Centre in the East final.

There's plenty to discuss leading up to Sunday's spectacle.

On the field, will Saskatchewan's magic continue? Can Winnipeg overcome the loss of star quarterback Kevin Glenn, who broke his arm against Toronto?

Off the field, is Grey Cup fever really back in Toronto? Will rumours of the National Football League coming to Toronto overshadow the CFL's most important week? How effective was commissioner Mark Cohon in his first year on the job?

Stephen Brunt was ently online Friday to discuss the Grey Cup and the Canadian Football League.

Last month, Brunt and colleague David Naylor were the first to report on the possibility of the NFL coming to Toronto.

Hamilton-born Stephen Brunt started at The Globe as an arts intern in 1982, after attending journalism school at the University of Western Ontario. He then worked in news, covering the 1984 election, and began to write for the sports section in 1985. His 1988 series on negligence and corruption in boxing won him the Michener award for public service journalism. In 1989, he became a sports columnist.

Nominated for several National Newspaper Awards, Brunt is also the author of several books: including Facing Ali and Searching For Bobby Orr.

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David Leeder, Sports Editor, Globesports.com: Hi Stephen and thanks for joining us today. It looks like it'll be a busy hour. On the radio last night, you referred to the return of the Grey Cup to Toronto as "an experiment." Was there really a risk involved? Was the CFL concerned that, as in the past, its signature week would be lost in the big city shuffle? Or is it a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Having been experiencing the festivities all week, is it too early to rate the success of the Grey Cup's return? Has it lived up to the billing?

Stephen Brunt writes: Good Morning Dave. Still a little bleary eyed after communing with the good green folks in Riderville last night. So far so good in terms of the atmosphere, though having to move stuff indoors yesterday didn't help. Certainly it seemed like a Grey Cup at the convention centre, where most of the events are based, but I think it was largely visiting fans, especially westerners, who were in attendance.

The real test of this Grey Cup - the reason it is an experiment for the league, coming back to Toronto after fifteen years - will be whether curious locals from outside the CFL's hard core audience come out to see what it's like. The last game here, in 1992, was an outright disaster. The league has managed to successfully return to Vancouver and to Montreal, where they had experienced the same kind of big city indifference in the past. Toronto is the last big hurdle.

My understanding is that they're doing very well in terms of tickets sold for the paid events, including concerts and the Maxim party. But I'd love to see a few Hogtownites wander into Riderville or the Spirit of Edmonton or Touchdown Manitoba to really get a feel for the rest of how the rest of the country has a good time. What I don't expect is for the festival spirit to extend much farther than the few blocks around the stadium. But that's no different from when they hold the Super Bowl in a metropolis - I remember how it all but disappeared the last time it was in Los Angeles.

Cam Leggassic from Halifax writes: Hi Stephen, will Canadians ever see a CFL team in Halifax? I know this continues to be an ongoing debate but if there were a stadium in Halifax, would there be a Halifax expansion team? Why or why not? Thanks again! Really enjoyed your book.

Stephen Brunt writes: Hi Cam I'd love to see it, and so would the league. As someone with a seasonal base in Atlantic Canada, I know the region well, I think that Halifax is certainly big enough to support a CFL team. But the stadium issue is everything. First you need a ballpark, then an owner, and then you get a team. The CFL would be there in a heartbeat under the right circumstances. But with the death of the Commonwealth Games bid, it could be long way. And thanks for the kind words about the book.

John Richardson from writes: Stephen, I grew up in Burlington during the glory days of the Ticats--Bernie Faloney, Angie Mosca, John Barrow, Garney 'A Gentleman and A Tiger' Henley. and my old Burlington Central High classmate Tony Gabriel. My question is: how much longer do you think Hamilton fans will put with the abysmal play of the Ticats before they start cancelling season tickets and stop showing up at Ivor Wynne? Also, do you think that the league is or should be worried about the state of the franchise since the Toronto/Hamilton rivalry is essential to the health of the league in SW Ontario and by extension, of course, the rest of the country.

Stephen Brunt writes: Hi John, not only do I have my own copy of A Gentleman and a Tiger, but I also have an autographed number 26 chin strap from a Christmas breakfast at Eaton's in 1967. So, as a native Hamiltonian and resident of the city, I understand where you're coming from when it comes to the black and gold. In terms of the fans in Hamilton, I think that the upcoming season is crucial for owner Bob Young and his front office. The natives, understandably, are getting restless, and much of the goodwill generated when Young saved the team has evaporated (Plus they're jacking up ticket prices for next season). On the field, they have to turn it around in 2008, and I expect they will once Casey Printers gets comfortable in his new surroundings. I think the reason that the league isn't overly concerned about the Ticats at the moment is that there's no sign of Young losing interest. There are also a lot of indications right now that Hamilton is going to get a new, downtown stadium as part of a larger urban renewal effort.

Derek Holtom from Swan River writes: Here's my question. Toronto takes a lot of abuse from the rest of Canada. Maybe it's fair, maybe it isn't. Just looking at the CFL, though, it looks as though the league is really growing in popularity everywhere but TO. Ratings and attendance are steady, the corporate sector believes in the CFL. What's TO's problem? Why do they seem to lag behind the rest of Canada regarding the CFL. From an outsider, it might appear as though TO doesn't really have that much in common with the rest of Canada. And I know TO is a Maple Leafs city, but the Leafs are no longer Canada's team. New generations are growing up cheering for other NHL teams. The Maple Leafs are no long Canada's team. It's getting harder and harder to see what TO has in common with the rest of the country. It sure isn't a love for the CFL.

Andrew D from Toronto writes: Hello Mr. Brunt, Thank you for your passion for the Canadian game. This lifelong Argonaut supporter appreciates it. I'm very excited about the big game, even though the Boatmen weren't able to make it. A lot was said before the game about what an Argonaut appearance in the Grey Cup could mean for the franchise in this city, seeing how it would come at a time when the Leafs, Jays and Raptors are average (and in the case of the Leafs and Raptors, expensive) and the NFL has yet to establish a toe-hold. Since the Argos didn't make it, do you see that failure doing any damage to the team's profile in Toronto? Best regards, Andrew

Stephen Brunt writes: Hello Derek and Andrew. Love it or hate it, Toronto - or more properly, the huge blob of population stretching from St. Catharines to Oshawa - is crucially important to the CFL's fortunes. Too many people, too much money, and too much corporate influence to be ignored. In its feelings about the CFL, it is different than the rest of Canada - especially than the west, as you'll see if you read the poll the Globe is publishing tomorrow on attitudes towards the CFL and NFL.

I'm not sure how much impact a hometown Grey Cup appearance would have had, aside from during the week itself. Winning the Cup in 2004 didn't make much of a difference. Selling the Canadian game in Toronto started to become difficult just about the time the Toronto Blue Jays became a competitive force in the mid-1980's. If you chart the attendance, you can almost pinpoint the moment where the two franchise's crossed, one on the way up, one on the way down. Obviously the Jays aren't as much of a factor now. But even with very good ownership, there seems to be a ceiling on what you can do with the Argos, at least as a live attraction. They 32,000 plus at the Eastern Final last week represented the biggest gate (that's in terms of dollars, not numbers of people in the stands) of the past three years. It seems more and more likely that the future of the Argos will be at an enlarged BMO Field. Understand that won't make the soccer fans happy.

Henri Oulevey from Windsor writes: The NFL will be hugely successful on Toronto, I have no doubt about it. There is definitely enough interest and money to be thrown at the NFL in Toronto for 2 games for a couple of years, and at the permanent team that will surely follow. The CFL will have to fight for attention in this half of the country and had better prepare itself in the next four short years. Expansion is necessary. A wider variety of teams from across the country will freshen up a stale and repetetive schedule.

Unfortunately, just when the league is getting it right and not rushing into things, time is running out. The coming news out of Ottawa is good. Halifax getting the Commonwealth games and a stadium would have been a huge boost. Including the rest of the country is just something the league has to do.

Quickly. Two other things I think the league should do. Knowingly or not, the NFL has created the most brilliant marketing scheme to draw in viewers. The office pool. Fantasy football. Legal or illegal, gambling connects people to sports and this is sorely lacking in the CFL. More teams and players are needed to get the CFL noticed by non football fans. Second. Tweek the rules to make the game flow even more and make more high lite reel moments. Its a great game the way it is, but make it more of the things the NFL isn't. Don't over rule great plays by dissecting it for ten minutes with video review. Let close plays stand. Its a human game. Make it fair, not perfect. Holding penalties always slow the game down for very little. Except for sitting on someone, get rid of them. Cart injured players off the field as they do in soccer. Don't stop the game. Get rid of timeouts. That's what practice is for. Show that the CFL is tougher, faster, with more scoring. 'Cause half the country still doesn't realize it. The NFL has all to gain and the CFL has all to lose in Canada.

Stephen Brunt writes: Hi Henri I agree with you that the NFL has its sights set on Toronto (more importantly, the owners of the Argonauts and the commissioner of the CFL also believe that), and that it will present a huge challenge to the CFL. Expansion, though, is problematic. You can't put teams in places where there aren't stadiums, which is why Halifax and Quebec City, the most likely sites in addition to Ottawa, are really a fantasy right now. The CFL has already cozied up to gambling interests - they're the only major sports league that accepts sponsorship dollars from an on line betting service. As for playing with the rules of the game, I think that anything they can do to differentiate the CFL product from the NFL product makes sense. But the truth is, the two games are more similar now than they've ever been in terms of offensive strategies, etc.'

Steve Bickerton from Ottawa writes: What teams are turning a profit in the CFL? In your opinion, what does the league need to do so that the majority of teams make money?

Stephen Brunt writes: Hello Steve This commissioner, unlike some of his predecessors, refuses to say how many teams were profitable (though of course there was fair bit of wishful thinking involved in those pronouncements in the past). I think you can be certain that Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Calgary made money this year. Possibly Winnipeg. And you can be certain that Toronto and Hamilton lost a considerable amount of money on an operating basis. My guess is that Montreal and Vancouver also finished in the red. As long as the league has private owners like David Braley, Bob Wettenhall, Bob Young, David Cynamon and Howard Sokowlowski and the Calgary group who are willing to absorb losses (with the chance of making money back when they stage a Grey Cup) there's not a whole lot to worry about. All of them have deeper pockets, and deeper commitments to the league, than some of the carpetbaggers who came before.

Greg MacDonald from Calgary writes: Hi Stephen, There have been rumblings over the years from individual teams (Hamilton seems to come to mind) that the CFL head office needs to find ways to generate more revenue for the league. I recall this was one of the complaints about the Wright administration. Has anyone ever actually mentioned what those alternative revenue streams might be? I wonder if the commissioner happens to have a money tree growing in his office?

Stephen Brunt writes: Hi Greg You're right - that was the number one complaint about Tom Wright's leadership, especially from owners like Bob Young, who saw the league head office as primarily a revenue generating operation. There's no mystery where the money comes from: television and corporate sponsorship. The TV deal is locked up for the next five seasons with TSN (including new media rights, which cuts off a potential growth area, one that has been so successfully exploited by Major League Baseball), so the only potential area for growth is on the corporate side, which will be complicated by all of the NFL talk in Toronto. So expect Mark Cohon to be knocking on a lot of doors over the next few months.

Henri Oulevey from Windsor writes: American thanksgiving football across the river in Detroit is huge. Tens of thousands of Canadians go across the river from Windsor every year to party in Detroit. They go not because Detroit's football team is good, they go to have a good time. They watch the NFL because of their office football pools and fantasy football picks. These are the experiences people enjoy having and the NFL provides it to them. College football in Michigan is even bigger. with 100,000 people cheering on their team, having a good time at the game, partying like crazy. Since the CFL is a gate-driven league, what can it do to bring these things to its fans and potential fans? This would draw more people to both CIS and CFL games.

Stephen Brunt writes: I love the idea of doing more to make CFL games a real event, the way American college and NFL games certainly are. While there are times when the consequences of tailgating can get pretty ugly (sit in the stands at Ralph Wilson Stadium, especially for a night game, and you'll know what I mean), I have been to Ann Arbor and to Notre Dame for college games, and it was a wonderful, all day experience. There was even a bit of that during the CFL's brief period of expansion into the U.S. If we could relax liquor laws just a little bit, without setting off a full scale drunk fest, that wouldn't hurt - though you won't ever see that on college campuses here, where most of the first year students are under age.

Poida Smith writes: The CFL fumbled the ball again with a divisional alignment and playoff format enabling an all Western final to emerge for contest that has been a national east vs. west clash. Now they've lost that hook. Once again, an example of the CFL digging it's own grave. For the most part, the CFL has become irrelevant east of Winnipeg, especially in Toronto. The Globe's online polls asking viewers if they are going to watch the game speaks volumes to this steady evolution as more and more sophisticated footballs fans come to see the CFL for what it really is, semi-pro football ... fuelling the steady migration of football fans to the NFL brand ... and gaining even more momentum with the inevitability of a team in Toronto in the not too distant future. Do you agree?

Stephen Brunt writes: Hello Poida. Comment writers, start your engines ....

In an eight team league, it's pretty much impossible to guarantee a true east-west Grey Cup every year. I think that does bug some traditionalists, but this year I think that the novelty of an all-Prairie match up is a happy change from the norm. I'd never label the CFL semi-pro - it's the best three down league in the world, which is just as legitimate as acknowledging the differences between Rugby League and Rugby Union. In terms of the CFL losing fans to the NFL - I again point to the poll results that are being published tomorrow. It really depends on what part of the country you come from. What the CFL does retain is an exceptionally strong cultural connection in some parts of the country. People don't view it as simply an entertainment option. They think it matters for other reasons.

Grant Freeman from Millbank writes: I read and hear often how important Toronto is to the CFL's survival. I understand the large population base, but fundementally for a large population to be of consequence, it must care. I am of the opinion the Toronto franchise could be moved to London, Ont., a smaller community that cultivates a Canadian itentity, and its fan base as rabid, as the great CFL cities of Regina, Winnipeg and Calgary. Selling Toronto as import to the CFL is only import is the large population cared. Better a small Church of believers than a full one with none.

Stephen Brunt writes: Hi Grant

Talked a little bit about the importance of the Toronto market earlier. In theory, you could have a CFL based in smaller centres, but it would be a smaller CFL in every way. The worry would be that the league could eventually go the way of senior hockey, which was once a real alternative to the NHL, with its own storied championship, and which is now just kind of a cultural curiosity. I have a hard time seeing Vancouver or Montreal or Calgary or Edmonton in that kind of league any more than I could see Toronto.

Allen Pecks from Brampton, Ont., writes: Over the past two seasons, many fans and observers have noticed a distinct lack of "excitement" in the on-field product. Do you agree? Does it have something to do with the fact that front offices rarely look outside of the box when hiring both coaches and general managers? The same old names seem to pop up in different cities each year. I see that Bob O'Billovich is a candidate to take over in Hamilton. That's a perfect example. Hear any buzz around that Ticats' hiring? Or can we all expect a CFL lifer to take over?

Stephen Brunt writes: Hello Allen, I agree with you about the on-field product over the past couple of years, though CFL diehards really hate to hear it. If you ask coaches about it, they'll tell you that adding two extra roster spots, both for imports, has tilted the balance towards defence (where most of the extra Americans were employed) and improved the coverage aspect of the kicking game. Maybe John Hufnagel will bring some fresh ideas into the league when he arrives in Calgary. Hamilton has already said that they're going to hire a GM with CFL experience in the job, so that narrows down the list of candidates considerably. I expect them to hire one of Adam Rita, Bob O'Billovich, Brendan Taman or Jim Popp (should he get blown out in Montreal).

David McCormick from Mississauga writes: Hi Steven, love your work at the Globe and at the FAN. Do you think that the NFL would partner with the CFL in bringing a NFL team to Toronto?

Stephen Brunt writes: Hi David. Appreciate the compliment. Well, that's the million dollar - or more accurately, billion dollar - question, isn't it? There have been a lot of things going behind the scenes over the past few months. The whole situation in Buffalo, with Ralph Wilson announcing that he wouldn't sell the Bills before his death, which means it's highly unlikely that a buyer will be found who would pay the market price for a franchise and keep it in Buffalo. The Argo owners becoming convinced that the NFL was coming, and that the guys heading the local bid (Larry Tanenbaum, Ted Rogers, Paul Godfrey) had no interest in protecting the CFL's interests. Their plan to try to assemble a rival ownership group, which went public before they were really ready for it, and which was immediately ridiculed by some of the other CFL governors. And finally the announcement, which caught the CFL completely by surprise, that the Bills will be playing two games a year at the Rogers Centre for the next five years.

Here's what certain. The NFL isn't about to expand, but will face several relocation issues over the next, say, five years - Buffalo, plus Jacksonville, New Orleans and possibly Minneapolis. Toronto is the largest market on the continent outside of Los Angeles without a team. The L.A. situation is complicated at the moment by the lack of a suitable stadium. So if 89-year-old Ralph Wilson were to die tomorrow, Toronto would be the likely destination for that franchise.

The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is far more aggressive about the idea of international expansion than his predecessor. And Toronto is the least problematic place (for travel, time zone and currency reasons) to dip a toe outside of the United States. Despite what my pal Bob McCown argues, a team in Canada would have no impact on the value of the NFL's television package. That's just going to keep going up and up and up even if they put a team on the moon.

Put it all together, and it sure looks like they're coming, whether the CFL likes it or not. Listening to CFL commissioner Mark Cohon this morning, it was clear that he believes that as well, and is prepared to try to cut the best deal possible, using the CFL's history and cultural importance as leverage.

So, to finally answer your question, what I expect is not really a partnership in terms of ownership, but a joint venture that would attach NFL season's tickets to Argo tickets, and probably result in the CFL season shifting earlier in the year to avoid the heart of the NFL schedule.

Even if that happens, it's an open question whether the two leagues can happily co exist in the long term.

Dave Leeder, Sports Editor, Globesports.com: Unfortunately, we've run out of time. Thanks to everyone who participated today. In Saturday's Globe and Mail, we'll feature a unique and unprecedented look at the state of the Canadian Football League across the country. It's worth seeking out.