Ticats-Argos Labour Day Classic: tradition, passion and rivalry

Some fans call it the biggest game of the year. Since 1950 there have been 54 games on Labour Day between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts.

Of those games, 37 have gone to Hamilton, 16 to Toronto and one ended in a tie.

CHCH’s Danielle de Graauw lived in Saskatchewan for three years and says the entire province is green on game day for the Roughriders. But in Hamilton, the black and gold invade the souls of fans.

“It’s the biggest game of the year,” said fan Jory Anguish

Even beyond the Grey Cup, some fans say the Labour Day Classic is the most important game of the year.

For ten years after 1989, Rosa Occhiuto worked at Hamilton Stadium as part of the game day crew. She and her family are big Ticats fans and will always remember when her husband and son met Ticats legend Angelo Mosca.

“We’ve been here for a long time, 65 years, and we love the Tiger Cats,” said Occhiuto.

“To me it’s the Grey Cup of the year,” said fan Dave Chrysler.

Cheering for the Hamilton Ticats is a way of life in Dave Chrysler’s family. Chrysler’s grandson is on the spectrum and doesn’t do well with large crowds. But there’s just something calming about his Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Labour Day. Chrysler says the party is almost as big just outside his house.

“I walk up and down the street. I have a bunch of people on my porch, music going, TV on the porch watching it if I don’t go to the game,” said Chrysler.

“I found love for the CFL actually when I moved onto this street,” said fan Jacob Westfall.

Just as he also found the love of his life, Westfall married his wife Sept. 1, 2023. Two days later, they spent part of their honeymoon at the Labour Day Classic with members of their bridal party. It’s a day he says he will always remember.

“We just got married and we went that weekend. It was a very good game. We won,” said Westfall.

Many fans ahead of the Labour Day Classic have been on this train since birth. But others defaulted to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats out of frustration.

“I was actually a Bombers fan, which was pretty funny coming here seeing as the first year I came here Winnipeg won the Grey Cup for the first time in forever – which got me pretty thoroughly on the salty hate train. For the simple fact, when I lived in Winnipeg, I lived up north for most of my life and Winnipeg couldn’t win a damn thing to save their life,” said fan Sylvia Davis.

The passion runs deep in the Canadian Football League. Those lucky enough to get tickets to the sold-out show will see it all first hand.

WATCH MORE: Generations of CFL fans excited for Labour Day Classic at Hamilton Stadium