CFL and Argos looking at solution for BMO end zone turf and attendance problems

[R.J]

It's now obvious David Miller worked behind the scenes to change BMO, funded by all three levels of government and approved by Council as an all-purpose stadium, to soccer-specific. The best part is that to this day he claims to not know how that happened. He was only the frickin' mayor at the time!

Total weasel.

From my understanding it wasn't just Miller who was behind the soccer specific stadium - Joe Pantalone pushed hard for it, and Richard Peddie made sure BMO was built soccer only. Some forget that after BMO was approved it was handed over to MLSE (construction and all), and according to Peddie they didn't have enough money for retractable seats. The kicker later being that there was room to put retractable seats, but then a couple of years after BMO was built MLSE poured concrete in the ends to ensure a "permanent" soccer setup.

TSN is $45m (plus potential bonuses) for final two seasons.

Rogers will never get CFL rights ... no way the BOG will every give them games

CFL games are on TSN-only to force you to buy TSN in your cable package ... subscriber fees are largest revenue source. CFL is their biggest and most profitable property.

Global is the other major player for CFL rights. That why league wants Halifax in league before deal expires. They can leverage Global vs TSN (shaw vs Bell). There was talk that Global wants a saturday afternoon game every week, and if Halifax joins they can offer 1 game to Global and 4 on TSN.

Rogers, Shaw and the CBC have all previously had interest in the CFL tv rights. Not sure how you can state Rogers will never get the rights - if the bid is good enough they'll get something.

They will lose more $ if they take out the grass pitch - its the whole selling point of an authentic soccer experience.

People go to TFC games to watch grass grow ?

[paulwoods13]

Hey, it's better than watching paint dry.

[gee]

before the move to BMO I thought tiny Lamport Field might've made for a cool niche stadium option. it's only 10k, but thought maybe extending the stands the full length of the field would get them to 14k. food trucks and a couple craft-beer endzone patios for the buzz. maybe even do some commercial development in the area behind the grandstands with an experience similar to the Wrigleyville Rooftops. lower seating, but maybe the commercial development could have offset that and added some extra capacity and a replacement for suites. use the bigger stadiums for GreyCup.

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[halifaxguy]

before the move to BMO I thought tiny Lamport Field might've made for a cool niche stadium option. it's only 10k, but thought maybe extending the stands the full length of the field would get them to 14k. food trucks and a couple craft-beer endzone patios for the buzz. maybe even do some commercial development in the area behind the grandstands with an experience similar to the Wrigleyville Rooftops. lower seating, but maybe the commercial development could have offset that and added some extra capacity and a replacement for suites. use the bigger stadiums for GreyCup.

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They are planning on upgrading Lamport for the World Cup, which means WC teams will practice there and no doubt that means real grass just like BMO.
The upgrade may give them a chance to put more seats at Lamport and make it the Argo home. 14k seats may be the future. BMO would go back to soccer only.

[mchesher03]

They are planning on upgrading Lamport for the World Cup, which means WC teams will practice there and no doubt that means real grass just like BMO.
The upgrade may give them a chance to put more seats at Lamport and make it the Argo home. 14k seats may be the future. BMO would go back to soccer only.

There’s no space at lamport given the lot size. Argos are at bmo field for the foreseeable future.I for one really like the current BMO Field setup – its come a long way from the haphazard stands thrown up back in 2007.

[mchesher03]

They will lose more $ if they take out the grass pitch - its the whole selling point of an authentic soccer experience.

"authentic soccer experience" lol. I'm a soccer fan here too but that line is a bit much. Does soccer on turf impact the game? Absolutely. But the phrase “authentic soccer experience” ? c’mon man.

[R.J]

They are planning on upgrading Lamport for the World Cup, which means WC teams will practice there and no doubt that means real grass just like BMO.
The upgrade may give them a chance to put more seats at Lamport and make it the Argo home. 14k seats may be the future. BMO would go back to soccer only.

[Shipyard]

1. Why not?

2. How do you know this to be a fact, as opposed to just your opinion?

after shitting on the league for a decade or more. No way any of the BOG (especially the western teams) will every vote to give games to rogers.
Shaw now one the leagues biggest sponsors. They own Global. CTV and Global are the big fish in canadian TV broadcasting with big $ to spend, rogers is a niche player in TV. Global will get a cfl package before rogers ever will. Literally right after Shaw got the grey cup naming rights, TSN & CFL did the extension to the TV rights.

[argolio]

From my understanding it wasn't just Miller who was behind the soccer specific stadium - Joe Pantalone pushed hard for it, and Richard Peddie made sure BMO was built soccer only. Some forget that after BMO was approved it was handed over to MLSE (construction and all), and according to Peddie they didn't have enough money for retractable seats. The kicker later being that there was room to put retractable seats, but then a couple of years after BMO was built MLSE poured concrete in the ends to ensure a "permanent" soccer setup.

Pantalone and Miller were basically the same person. For seven years he was deputy mayor under Miller, and ran as Miller's heir in Pantalone's failed run for mayor in 2010.

No surprise about Peddie's shenanigans. Another weasel.

[DoubleBlue_Red]

"authentic soccer experience" lol. I'm a soccer fan here too but that line is a bit much. Does soccer on turf impact the game? Absolutely. But the phrase “authentic soccer experience” ? c’mon man.

Obviously they are going for a concept that gets close to a top flight football league which would involve a grass field. That's how you make money. The moment you take away the grass you lose all kinds of authenticity and ability to attract top players.

[Neely2005]

Obviously they are going for a concept that gets close to a top flight football league which would involve a grass field. That's how you make money. The moment you take away the grass you lose all kinds of authenticity and ability to attract top players.

I guess those top players don't play in the EPL then?

http://www.dessosports.com/sports/fo...hester-city-uk

[Neely2005]

I'm surprised that the new soccer trolls still haven't been banned.

[Shatto]

Along with Neely, I'm surprised that some who seem to be on this site only to denigrate the Argos and the CFL, are allowed to remain and continue their obvious biased comments.

[DoubleBlue_Red]

I'm surprised that the new soccer trolls still haven't been banned.

FYI I go to more Argo games than TFC games. Perhaps desso is the endgame, only time will tell.

[Shatto]

For those who think a 14,000 seat stadium would suffice for the Argos, it should be pointed out that for 5 of the team's 10 regular and playoff games last year, the attendance was over 15,000.

Perhaps TFC should move to the smaller Lamport Stadium so there could be tighter control by security. OK OK---tongue in cheek

[Neely2005]

FYI I go to more Argo games than TFC games. Perhaps desso is the endgame, only time will tell.

I wasn't referring to you, you're not new.
:-)

[R.J]

Fifa has a turf rating system and preferred producers, so MLSE could go with one of those for the whole field or just go with Desso. From my understanding the problem with Desso is you can't just replace a patch of grass, it's done in large sections.

The Seattle Sounders play on turf, and people still show up to their games en masse and the team has been pretty competitive.

[halifaxguy]

The solution might be the installation of hybrid grass, which is synthetic fibres intertwined with natural grass. In the UK it has been utilized where both rugby and soccer share the field. Expensive but perhaps worth looking into.

Not one player slipped today, they must have figured out the right cleats to wear. If the MLSE brass was out to observe they may have found the solution.
I saw Travis Lulay slip three times in Ottawa last night and that was in the field of play not in the end zone.

[ArgoGabe22]

Not one player slipped today, they must have figured out the right cleats to wear. If the MLSE brass was out to observe they may have found the solution.
I saw Travis Lulay slip three times in Ottawa last night and that was in the field of play not in the end zone.

On the 2 point covert, Edwards was wide open because the defender slipped and fell.

[Shatto]

I understand that Halifax was being facetious but seriously the north end zone surface is a disgrace and needs to be fixes asap