It absolutely devalues their television rights (the entire reason Bell/Rogers bought the team). Look at how the Leafs treated Ottawa when they moved in (and how tiny of a media area they have in Ontario due to it). Do you really think they are going to let a team walk in and share their television/broadcasting region? Then add in the competing arena? Why would the Leafs give up access to the region for nothing? Why do the Leafs have any interest in giving up exclusive television rights to about 11 million people? As for Ti-Cats/Argo's rivalry, the percentage of people who actually care about the Labor Day classic is minuscule. More football fans in Toronto are probably more preparing for their yearly fantasy draft.Let me tell you something this is fact the CFL's Hamilton Tiger Cats & Toronto Argonauts have been living side by side for over 150 years what has happened nothing & there the oldest rivalry in pro sports & you add NHL. hockey to the mix it has a chance to be just as blood thirsty as the Ticats & Argos .
In My opinion the Leafs (MLSE.) are not the problem Buffalo & Jacobs are because the leafs market is so huge a NHL. team in Hamilton (Southern Ontario regional team) is far enough away that it dose not concern them as for Buffalo there great protector in Bruins owner Jeremey Jacobs is out of the pitcher it might be easier to get over that Buffalo hurdle now .
The NHL in Hamilton isn't going to happen, and if it does, its a long ways away. If the NHL are going to force a team down the Leafs throat into their region, it will be TO2, because they could actually justify the expansion fees, and they can likely appease the Leafs by stopping the development of a rival concert venue. You talk about the rapid growth of Hamilton, but its still smaller than Peel Region by a significant margin, with Peel region being significantly closer to wealthy companies and neighborhoods.
I've lived in Toronto pretty much my entire life, I don't think I've had anyone mention anything to me about the Argos since the days of Flutie. And, I can't think of anyone ever even suggesting going to a game. Hamilton may care, but the Argo's are probably below the Marlies in popularity in this city at the moment. Torontonians, in general, don't care about minor-league sports, which the CFL essentially is. An NFL team in Toronto would do extremely well. Unlike any other cities in Canada Toronto has an NBA and MLB team, and don't really care for 2nd-tier leagues.This sums up the state of the Argos: I am a Cats STH who travels up from NYC for games. My bus goes to Toronto, and as I walked around the city before getting the Go Bus down to the Hammer wearing my jersey I think every 3rd person I encountered shouted "Oskie Wee Wee!" at me. The Argos are basically on life support at this point, and even though they are our hated rival it is really sad to see.