BMO Field of Dreams! Good luck to the Argos stadium-mates Toronto FC

[DoubleBlue_Red]

I agree with others the crowd size was similar to the Argo one. Just watch how they show the crowd and everything is a close up. I do think TFC did a great job and the enthusiasm of there fans is infectious. People from work always talk about the atmosphere there. I am sure over the next few years the Argos will move in the same direction. I also think it is very interesting on game day you see a lot of people wearing TFC clothing but you don't see that for the Argos. I believe a lot of the TFC fans are localized in the Liberty Village area. Very different dynamics than what the Argos draw from what I can tell.

I see a lot of people getting on the GO train at Burlington and every stop in between there and Mimico.

[R.J]

TFC's Nathan Phillips Rally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewMnf358B_A

Sad that they have to copy Iceland's Viking Clap.

[ToneDeaf]

TFC's Nathan Phillips Rally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewMnf358B_A

Sad that they have to copy Iceland's Viking Clap.

It’s been done at TFC since 2008.

[DoubleBlue_Red]

It’s been done at TFC since 2008.

actually it only started last year during Icelands miracle run at the Euros

[R.J]

actually it only started last year during Icelands miracle run at the Euros

Yup.

[rdavies]

Possible BMO Field changes (start at 10:35)

Prime Time Sports
Where does Toronto FC go from here?
December 11 2017

Toronto FC President Bill Manning joins Joey Vendetta and Damien Cox to discuss the team's MLS Cup win, their focus on the CONCACAF Champions League, how this team compares to his 2009 Real Salt Lake club, whether or not he sees TFC becoming the New York Yankees of MLS, and what the off-season plans are.

[BATKINSON001]

Possible BMO Field changes (start at 10:35)

Prime Time Sports
Where does Toronto FC go from here?
December 11 2017

Toronto FC President Bill Manning joins Joey Vendetta and Damien Cox to discuss the team's MLS Cup win, their focus on the CONCACAF Champions League, how this team compares to his 2009 Real Salt Lake club, whether or not he sees TFC becoming the New York Yankees of MLS, and what the off-season plans are.

As for expanding bmo, they had better work with the Argos. Keeping the stands in the northend is a good idea.

[paulwoods13]

As for expanding bmo, they had better work with the Argos. Keeping the stands in the northend is a good idea.

Can't do it and fit in a CFL field. That's why there is turf in that end zone.

[Joe Barnes]

Can't do it and fit in a CFL field. That's why there is turf in that end zone.

I think they mean turning the stands added to the north end for the playoffs into a permanent structure. The downside of this is it eliminates the fan deck/patio feature the Argos have been trying to develop there.

[paulwoods13]

I think they mean turning the stands added to the north end for the playoffs into a permanent structure. The downside of this is it eliminates the fan deck/patio feature the Argos have been trying to develop there.

OK. Not sure I see a great need for more seats at this point, especially if it removes something else that is working.

[Saugonaut]

Popped out of the office today to see the TFC parade, it felt very much like the Argos in 2012. Both cases it was really cool seeing the trophis!

[Topshelf]

Problem is bmo needs to get to 45-50 for the world cup, so at some point another significant renovation will happen.
I think the TFC win helps the argos, as we should be able to finally stop talking about the ground share being an issue.
The field held up fine, both teams played as late into fall as possible (other than a grey cup hosting), both teams won on home turf.
Aside from a very small group of self described hooligans, the no argos at bmo slogan should be dead.
And that's only good for the argos. A sports fan is a sports fan, I think you're more likely to get a tfc game atendee to check out an argos game, rather than a retiree who had seasons tix in the early 80s and now watches at home.

[Mightygoose]

To echo the above (post came the same time as mine) My understanding, any major expansion will be contingent on hosting World Cup games. One thought is rebuild the West side to the same size as the East. I could be mistaken though.

Expanding for TFC alone? Despite the good support, if I was MLSE, I would wait until TFC's contention window ends and see what attendance does first.

[Shatto]

If Canada ever gets the soccer World Cup, it should be provisional that some games are played across the whole country, including the east coast.. Perhaps that way we can obtain a stadium in Halifax that can subsequently be the home of the Schooners.

[ArgoRavi]

The most I see them doing for any World Cup bid is adding temporary seats to bring capacity up a bit. To be brutally honest though, it isn't like Canada would be hosting the biggest games in a World Cup that has the U.S. and Mexico as co-hosts.

[Rich]

Adding a second deck on the West side has always been part of the plan. That's why they built the West side roof so high, to accommodate a second deck.

[Shatto]

It was a thrill to see TFC join the Argos as champions of their league. The team has rewarded its loyal and numerous fans with this championship.

It has been a pleasure seeing the success of the league and TFC in particular. However, there are still many challenges facing MLS before it can be acclaimed as an unmitigated success:

. The majority of the clubs are still losing money (TFC supposedly lost 9 M)

. There is no salary cap, allowing rich clubs to buy success on the field.(even the mighty NFL has a salary cap for the sake of parity)

. The danger of charter clubs being abandoned in the chase for profit

. Disappointing TV ratings-only 1.14 m USA viewers for the championship game(drop of 43%). A drop from 1.5 m to 1.3 m in Canada. When compared to Super Bowl and Grey Cup, it shows a general disinterest in the most important soccer game of the year. Some will point to extenuating circumstances for the poor numbers but the numbers are so dismal, the league must be concerned. When a regular league game in a foreign country(UK's Premier league) can have more U.S. viewers than their own championship, it's got to be worrying.

.What some see as the inflated price to enter the league. If this major source of revenue goes bust, the league could be in serious trouble.

Soccer is a wonderful game but if the above issues are not addressed, it is possible, we could see the whole thing collapse like a house of cards. I enjoy watching the occasional soccer game but must admit I'm a fervent fan of the CFL, so hopefully I'm not being too biased in my concerns about the MLS.

.

[Shatto]

The biggest danger to MLS, is loss of confidence by present owners and potential new investors in the product. As long as everyone involved, retains confidence, that things will continue to get better and values of clubs will continue to climb, then all will be well. If the majority of the clubs continue to lose money and any potential TV revenue looks like it might disappear because of poor television numbers, then there is always the possibility that confidence could wane.

No endeavour can succeed in the long run, if it continues to rely on new investors to keep the books balanced. Eventually, either the endeavour runs out of new investors or lack of confidence it long range profitability, causes potential investors to abandon the idea of getting involved.

As "argos1873" mentioned, NASL eventually collapsed because of over reaching with rapid expansion and mounting debts. MLS would be wise to learn from this example and be more cautious and take a slower approach to future growth. Failure to do so could result in a dot com type crash.

The warnings are on the horizon but hopefully MLS will take a more prudent approach in their business model and avoid a collapse of the league. But as we have seen numerous times in the past, no organization is too big to fail.

[1971GreyCup]

Nashville joined the MLS as the 24th franchisee. Another $150m to divide equally amongst the existing franchise. Nice!

[argos1873]

Nashville joined the MLS as the 24th franchisee. Another $150m to divide equally amongst the existing franchise. Nice!

The founders of Amway nod their head in approval. But all joking aside, that's 6.8 million per franchise, as I assume that the pending new LA franchise doesn't get a cut of that money. I could be wrong, but if they do then that's 6.5 million. Nothing to scoff at, but TFC still loses 3 million per season if all things remain the same. I can see the board room presentations; the future of sport in North America is soccer, and at $150 million you are getting in on the ground floor. I can't say they are wrong, but I'm not as certain as they are that they are right. But what do I know, I had a chance to buy bitcoin at 10 cents a coin but didn't and later owned 10 coins and sold them for a hefty 700 dollar profit. I wish them all the luck in the world in their ventures.