The Toronto Argonauts could play 12 road games next season, but Jim Barker isn't deterred.
The 69-year-old football player did not consider the non-standard schedule a problem. when he was hired as the team's director of personneland doesn't believe it was holding back at least one other person suggested a better job in the organization.
“This is exactly what it should be,” Barker said in an exclusive interview with the publication 3DownNation. “Mike O'Shea, I know when he was looking at this job (as head coach of the Argonauts), that was the only thing that didn't bother him at all, because in the end everything turns out exactly the way it should be.”
Due to the FIFA World Cup, Double Blue will not play a home game at BMO Field until August 6, 2026. Toronto is set to host six games at the stadium, including a round of 16 elimination game, which will force the Argonauts to leave town.
The team chose play three of your “home” matches at the opponent’s stadium during this periodwith stops in Hamilton, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan. They will also operate out of the University of Guelph until the conclusion of the international soccer tournament, which Barker prefers to view in a positive light.
“I'll look at it because we're going to have a lot of young players and we're not going to live in Toronto. We're all going to live together in Guelph where we can come and train there and we can travel to other places and essentially because our division is going to be a real unit, it's going to get us over the hump of actually being able to play in our stadium in front of our fans,” he said. “I'm sorry for the fans, but it's out of control and it was decided that way, so accept it.”
While the Argonauts play a preseason game in Guelph, like they did in past yearsthe team decided not to play regular season games there or at any other alternative location. Franchise and its owners, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainmentwere heavily criticized for the decision, which stands in stark contrast to the BC Lions, who will also be unable to play at BC Place during the World Cup. This organization plays two games at a temporary site in Kelownashowcasing your product to different layers of fans.
Barker doesn't get caught up in these discussions and has long learned that success comes from controlling what you can control.
“When I was a Division III coach, you pick on things that you really shouldn't. You just have to love the game and love the kids that play the game and the players that we have, and that's how I look at it,” he said. “I'm excited about the schedule. I'm excited. No team has ever done what we're going to do. We'll be on the road until August. It's going to be a great experience and these guys can make a mark that no one else can.”
The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5–13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play the entire season due to a broken leg he suffered in the Eastern finals last year, losing to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions to be named to the team. Most Outstanding Player candidate.
The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offense, sixth in net defense and seventh in turnover differential of minus-eight. The club's leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, the leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and the leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with an average attendance of 15,109, down 0.1 percent from the previous year.
