With this year’s Grey Cup featuring the Argonauts and Stampeders, Toronto Mayor John Tory and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi made the traditional “Mayor Bet” official on Twitter.
No one is immune to Grey Cup fever, not even elected officials. With the 105th Grey Cup set to kick off on Sunday between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Mayor John Tory and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi are continuing the tradition of the annual “Mayor Bet” between the competing cities.
On Wednesday, the mayors made it official on Twitter when Mayor Tory laid out the terms of this year’s bet. This year the losing mayor will:
- Contribute $5 for every point scored by the winning team, to a food bank in the winning mayor’s city.
- Send the winning mayor a selection of local craft beer.
- Wear the winning team’s jersey and read a poem written or selected by the victorious mayor at their next city council meeting.
Friendly wager with @nenshi over #GreyCup. Losing mayor will contribute $5 for every point scored by the winning team with funds going to @DailyBreadTO or @CalgaryFoodBank . I encourage everyone to make similar bets to support their local food banks #Argosfootball #goodluckArgos pic.twitter.com/tqB8xN4flj
— John Tory (@JohnTory) November 22, 2017
The losing Mayor will also wear the winning team’s jersey and read a poem selected or written by the winning Mayor at the next council meeting. Now taking suggestions for which poem @nenshi should read #Argosfootball #goodluckArgos #GreyCup
— John Tory (@JohnTory) November 22, 2017
The losing Mayor will also send the winner a selection of local craft beer. I can’t wait to sample some of the fine products put out by Alberta craft brewers! @CraftBrewersYYC @AbBeerGuide #Argosfootball #goodluckArgos #GreyCup
— John Tory (@JohnTory) November 22, 2017
Mayor Nenshi confirmed the bet by retweeting Mayor Tory’s tweets on his own Twitter account.
Both mayors are no strangers when it comes to betting on their city’s beloved sports teams. Even when they’ve been on the losing end in recent years.
Mayor Nenshi lost last year’s Grey Cup “Mayor Bet” with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, when the Stampeders lost to the Ottawa Red Blacks.
After the Redblacks Grey Cup win, Calgary mayor @nenshi had to recite an ode to Ottawa written by @JimWatsonOttawa https://t.co/4G6y3lwAQm pic.twitter.com/Vbue2vpghT
— Ottawa Citizen (@OttawaCitizen) December 5, 2016
Meanwhile, Mayor Tory has been on a losing streak of his own. Last year he placed a bet with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray in the MLS Cup Final, between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC.
While two years ago he made a bet with Kansas City Mayor Sly James on the ALCS, between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals.
John Tory on friendly bet with mayor of Seattle for MLS championship game on Saturday pic.twitter.com/mtKCwQIF7G
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) December 8, 2016
Mayor John Tory puts up three different kinds of beer in ALCS bet with Kansas City Mayor #ComeTogether #BlueJays http://t.co/9sbAZMnARv
— Global News Toronto (@globalnewsto) October 16, 2015
The 105th Grey Cup kicks off this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. You can bet both mayors will be watching anxiously, to see who will break their losing streak.
Next: How the Argos went from worst to the Grey Cup
While we’re on the subject of bets, who would you put your money on for the 105th Grey Cup? Are you picking the Argonauts or Stampeders and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.