I watch most of the games on tv and attend 1 a year, Toronto has a huge issue when it comes to people saying you can only be a fan of one team. And yes, TFC fans are guilty of that too. All fanbases are, leafs vs Raptors, Blue Jays, etc.
At least TFC fans have experience with BMO field, the challenges of it, etc.
And if TFC was in the CPL, they’d have thousands less fans. Toronto just doesn’t buy in. Marlies, Raptors 905, OHL teams. MLSE paid huge money to bring in big names to sell tickets.
That approach also worked for the Argos for Ismail, and to some extent Ricky Williams (created a buzz at least).
Bringing back the current roster won’t grow the profile of the team.
It is an interesting argument that the CFL can't thrive in Toronto because it is supposedly minor league. It is however, beyond debate that the CFL is the 2nd best football in the world. Whereas the MSL is lucky to be counted in the top dozen of the world's soccer leagues. Not being in the world's top 12 soccer leagues definitely categorizes MSL as true minor league. However, that does not preclude TFC being able to draw reasonable crowds, even if the past couple of years the crowds have been disappointing. If MLSE were to spent as much money on publicizing the Argos as they spend on signing one over the hill overseas soccer player, we could well see 22,000 fans at all the games. The attendance at the Eastern final proves the interest is there, it just has to be promoted better.
I grew up attending top level soccer games in the UK. The play of TFC is miles below the play of the top teams across the world but doesn't mean I don't encourage people attending a TFC game. TFC can still be enjoyed even if it is minor league. We should attend and enjoy watching both the Argos and TFC. Let's enjoy and embrace what we have because they are both well worth watching.
^Amen
I couldn't agree more. The only thing I will say though is the perception is different between MLS and CFL among the casuals due to the fact that TFC has payers being paid multi million dollars annually. I've said this many times before, but to me, the CFL took a beating perception wise after the NFL strike in '82 and the formation of the original version of the USFL which drove NFL salaries up much higher than CFL salaries. People that don't really know the quality of a player will look a the salary discrepancy and just automatically think of the CFL as a minor league.
It's us vs the rest of the country
Amen again - very well put by Shatto; I've got one small nit-picking point: the CFL is not the 2nd best football in the world, it is THE BEST or highest level of CANADIAN football in the world; the NFL is the best American football in the world. Ignoramuses and wannabes who look down on the CFL might be educated on this point or fact, but it's probably not worth the effort; not even sure some of the clowns running the CFL for decades can grasp this concept, as they have failed miserably to promote the fact.
Soccer, is the exact same game (rules, playing surface) played in countries all over the world, so some comparisons between the different leagues and countries playing can be made with that fact in mind.
Last edited by OV Argo; 12-23-2022 at 07:41 AM.
It may seem like a little thing but I liked how the CBC would promote the CFL back in the 1970s as "Canadian Professional Football." Words do matter and I think that helped to consolidate in Canadians' minds the high level of football - and distinctive, unique football at that - that was being played in this country.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
It might be laughable that someone posting here would use that phrase, but it is a sad reality that a lot of Canadians, especially in the league's three biggest cities, view it as such. It's one of the biggest challenges the league faces. Perception often becomes reality -- if people look down on it as minor league, the fact it is the best brand of Cdn football, or the second-best brand of gridiron football, in the world doesn't really help change that perception.
Last edited by paulwoods13; 12-23-2022 at 03:52 PM.
Year of the Rocket: John Candy, Wayne Gretzky, a Crooked Tycoon, and the Craziest Season in Football History (https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/pro...of-the-rocket/)
Bouncing Back: From National Joke to Grey Cup Champs (https://bit.ly/3fvip5x)
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It also might be possible to recognize and understand the main reason that the "minor league" bull$hite perception came about for the CFL in it's own country, and perhaps make some efforts to remedy the situation. I don't expect the CFL to be able to buy and control CTV and Global or a bunch of major newspapers in Canada, but still, some work could be attempted to influence the sheep & lemming leaders and herders and their bean-counters.
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