His seven years as commissioner are about to end but the Rubik’s Cube that is Toronto football remains on Mark Cohon’s desk, still unsolved, barely moved.

It is the one giant blemish on Cohon’s otherwise impressive and somewhat fortunate resume as commissioner of the Canadian Football League. The CFL has labour peace, a rich television deal, an expansion model in Ottawa, strong ownership, new stadiums in Hamilton and Winnipeg, another coming in Regina, and amidst all that economic glory there is still the quagmire that is Toronto. Where interest is lower than attendance. With an owner like David Braley who would rather not be owner. Where the Argonauts play in the wrong stadium. Where a quarterback can go down before a must-win game and it doesn’t penetrate local sports radio.

Where to begin with solving Argo football, the one failure of the Cohon regime.

“There’s definitely a story to re-write in Toronto and that’s what we’ve been trying to do,” said Cohon in a lengthy interview. Time, on his part, is running out. The Argos play their last game Friday night, maybe their last of the Cohon era, depending on results from the weekend.

“I hope I can do that or be part of them moving forward.

“You can start to re-write the story if they move to BMO Field. What I’d like to see — and we’ve seen it work in every market and we’ve seen it work 45 minutes down the road, everything changes when you have the right stadium. The biggest unanswered question remains, where will be the Argos be playing?

“There are ongoing conversations about that. We’re still try to work out a relationship with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and BMO Field. We hope to come to some kind of resolution. We’re still talking and when that happens, I like to remain optimistic that something can be done.”

This is how sad the state of Toronto football is: The salvation of the Argos is find a way to piggy-back on MLSE and move into BMO Field, which would give them just about the worst stadium in the CFL. They have one of the best stadiums now — only it’s cavernous and empty and without feel of any kind. There is no football experience at Argo games now, just memories of better days and better times.

But then Cohon points out — the great unexplained CFL contradiction. “There are between 600,000 and 700,000 people watching every Argo game,” the commissioner said. “And I can tell you from our numbers, a lot of those people are in Southern Ontario.”

And that just complicates matters for those trying to solve what is the Argos. There is interest, but where? There are fans, but can you hear them?

“Is attendance down? Yes it is,” said Cohon. “Do they need a new environment for the re-imaging of the Argos? Yes they do? Those steps are being taken. I believe BMO will be resolved.”

There are three somewhat unconnected issues regarding the Argos that need to connect. One is stadium. Two is arms length ownership unwilling to invest in the team. Three is a disengaged fan base, which includes a lost generation of 20-and-30 somethings, television numbers aside.

Cohon believes the stadium can be the elixir to solve the problem, as much as it can be solved. His thought process works this way: A new stadium, renovated by MLSE, will attract a steady fan base. The stadium and the fan base will attract a new owner. With sound involved ownership, fewer empty seats, and a better entertainment environment, younger people will be attracted to attend.

He has seen that happen in Ottawa and to a lesser extent in the first year at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

The Argo lease runs until 2017, which from the outside means three more years of punishment at Rogers Centre. But there is an out in the lease. Should the Argos do a deal with BMO they need to give one-year notice and can escape early if need be.

As of now, with oneyear notice not yet given, expect the Argos to be back at Rogers Centre next season, unless they find a way to negotiate out.

“I truly believe if you change the experience and take young people to the game, they’ll get caught up in it,” said Cohon. “Look what happened in Montreal when they moved from the Big O to McGill. Look at Hamilton. Look at Ottawa.”

What he misses — what everyone seems to miss — is that Toronto isn’t Hamilton or Ottawa or Montreal. It’s a dilemma all its own. It’s deep-rooted and multi-layered. And it’s hollow.

I went to lunch with Cohon when he became commissioner seven years ago: We talked a lot about fixing Toronto football and how it might be accomplished. That conversation we had Wednesday hasn’t changed that much in seven years — even with a terrific 100th Grey Cup here — only the matters have been become more acute and more distant. And the threat of the NFL, if it was ever real, is gone.

Cohon points now to the Blue Jays as a model of change. He says they have a younger, more engaged audience, especially in the ballpark. The challenge for all pro sports now with information and television coming from so many sources in so many different ways is making the stadium experience better.

The Argos need a stadium first before the stadium experience can come.

“But if you look at the team, two years ago they won the Grey Cup. Last year, they were a game away from getting there. And now they’re competing for a playoff spot.”

He didn’t mention this is the worst season of CFL football anyone can remember. But we move on.

“If things go their way this weekend, they’re hosting a playoff game next week.

“I think a lot about this,” said Cohon. “I re-imagine the Argos and what they can be. I believe they can replicate the success we see across the country.”

Cohon is proud of the CFL he is leaving behind for the next commissioner, whomever he may be. The league is on stronger economic footing than maybe it has ever been. The problems, officiating and quality of play aside, aren’t many from the business end.

But he leaves this Double Blue boondoggle.

“Would I liked to have wrapped a bow around all of this long ago?” asked Cohon. “Absolutely. Would I like to have fixed this? Absolutely. The most important thing is you have an owner (Braley) who is dedicated to finding the right solution.”

On that point, we agreed to disagree and Mark Cohon said thanks and I said goodbye. A gold star and a bow for his time in office: He did almost everything right. He couldn’t fix the impossible in his own hometown.

steve.simmons@sunmedia.ca