Yes, it is. I consider your perspective as a valid option. My thought is to take a longer term perspective. It's easy in the early days to be very excited by success and to look ahead to continuing success. Right now maybe Halifax could regularly fill an 8000 seat stadium. Terrific. But what if, once the newness fades and the buzz wears off and maybe they have a bad season on the field, it turns out that 6000 is a much more appropriate size for the core fan base? Having regular sell outs is a precious thing for marketing going forward. Say there are 9000 people who say they would like to go to at least some games. A 6000 seat stadium is sold out all the time because everyone buys their tickets in April to ensure they get to see a game that season. Unless the team keeps winning and keeps up the buzz, a (say) 8000 seat stadium probably sees an average attendance of less than 6000. Why? Because if there aren't sell outs the more casual fans don't order early. They intend to go to a couple of games "sometime this summer" but get busy and don't go at all. Or the weather is really lousy so the walk ups stay home thinking that they can go some other time. Probably a couple of games you still sell out the bigger venue but, on average, you lose. Since a stadium expansion is a permanent sort of thing, I'd want to be sure the demand was really there long term to support it before taking the leap.
While getting full capacity is a good thing from a ticket scarcity perspective, the fact that they are in a temporary stadium whose capacity can be "easily" increased and decreased means that now is the perfect time to figure out what their max capacity is. Once they build the permanent stadium, increasing the size will be more expensive and decrease the size won't really be an option.
Two points: First, if they try expanding and it doesn't work, they also lose the buzz. Getting that back can be difficult. TFC and Kansas City in MLS are two teams that managed to get buzz back but look at their stories to see how large an investment it can take to do it. Much better not to lose it in the first place. Second, while it would be physically possible to decrease capacity again if they over shoot, the optics are horrible.
I think you're too pessimistic. If we were talking Calgary, I'd see your point but they have 5000 season tickets sold over 6200. Some even worry about shortage of tickets, myself included as I'm planning to go to Halifax in June. They will be more than fine
I don't want to derail the thread so I'll stop after this: I'm not worried about this year, I'm considering two or three years down the road when the initial buzz has worn off and, potentially, the team is doing poorly on the field.
What else is it to do in Halifax in the summer? They have a history of supporting their teams in Basketball and junior hockey, good or bad. I don't think it will be different for CPL in the summer with no competition As being poor on the pitch, they are going somewhere based on the game against Forge. Perea is the one up front and he's a quality player. They need to start both Gutierrez and Lida at midfield. The goalie is experienced and solid despite the bad goal he allowed. The defense corps is more than capable, it isn't pretty but I think it gets better Hart is most likely experimenting but the true starting XI makes for a dangerous counterattack team that can defend well. They are a fast team and Hart is the most experienced coach. I'm more worried about the Ontario teams who are in a must win situation already
Forge FC Kyle Bekker receives a 2 games suspension and undisclosed fine https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada...-for-forge-fc-s-kyle-bekker-p162161-preview-1 Now we know why it took so long, seems that Soccer Canada will be taking charge of discipline Canada Soccer is responsible for all disciplinary matters in Canada including the Canadian Premier League, Canadian Championship and all other domestic championships.
Cavalry attempt at rectifying logistics problems. I'm hoping it helpsGAME DAY PARKING / SHUTTLE MAPPlease see improvements to parking and visit our website for further information on the different ways to get to Spruce Meadows on Game Day - Wednesday, May 8th. 🗺️ https://t.co/B0TSyrTSxe pic.twitter.com/EJRe3yLhK1— Cavalry FC (@CPLCavalryFC) May 7, 2019
Valour FC was already solid, they just got better with Marco Bustos We have signed forward Marco Bustos to a multi-year contract. Bustos will join Valour FC from Oklahoma City Energy of the United Soccer League.📝| https://t.co/AT38hGVV4p #ForValour | #CanPL pic.twitter.com/hShSTn4tph— Valour FC (@ValourFootball) May 7, 2019
📽 HIGHLIGHTS | @ForgeFCHamilton vs @Pacificfccpl 💪 A tough battle, but Smyrniotis' team came out on top in this evening first @CPLsoccer game💛 FOR 3 - 0 PAC💙📺 All the rest, including game replays and more on https://t.co/hishXepRT3 😍 CanPLxOneSoccer pic.twitter.com/d5N7MxVsBB— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 9, 2019 📽 HIGHLIGHTS | @CPLCavalryFC vs @ValourFootball 🏇 A huge ride with Man of the Match @joseescalante20 pulling through in the 86th with a expert free kick 🔴 CAV 1 - 0 VAL ⚫👉 See the rest & watch live with us next time at https://t.co/hishXepRT3 💕 #CanPLxOneSoccer pic.twitter.com/kYqPRgwlae— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 9, 2019
Because of this, I think Canada may have a strong U23 squad that might help us qualify for Tokyo 2020. The expectation is for the roster to be CPL heavy. Pacific FC have reached the minimum 1000 minutes amongst U21 players in 3 games. U21 PFC players have now played 1359 minutes: Chung: 270Verhoeven: 270Legault: 180Campbell: 218Baldisimo: 252Hernandez: 136Verhoven: 29 Alghamdi: 4 Trust the kids. #CanPL #ForTheIsle pic.twitter.com/DvHbXE7FxK— Maxwell (@FCMaxwell93) May 9, 2019
A decisive win by Forge FC beating Valour 2-0 in Winnipeg and taking the lead in the CONCACAF League Qualifiers on goal differential.
Much needed in their case Pacific FC Signs Panamanian Defensive Midfielder Alexander GonzálezRelease: https://t.co/utrMaV5cYt#ForTheIsle #PacificFC #CanPL pic.twitter.com/XDsxbGyMnI— Pacific FC (@Pacificfccpl) May 17, 2019
Today's game Pacific 2-2 York 9 Battle of Alberta & Wildrose Cup Cavalry 1-0 York 9 The Wildrose Cup Introducing the Wildrose Cup! Both @FCEdmontonNow and @CPLCavalryFC will start the quest for the cup today at 4:00 PM MST at Spruce Meadows. pic.twitter.com/83vjvQDOCx— The Wildrose Cup (@TheWildroseCup) May 18, 2019
It would have been nice if One Soccer didn't interrupt the HFX/Cavalry game to show the end of the Forge/York game.
May 25, 2019 CPL York 9 FC 0 - 2 Forge FC all the sound bytes from the post game press conference http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19york102.htm York hc Jim Brennan, Forge ac Peter Reynders and Forge players Kyle Bekker, Chris Nanco, Tristan Borges, and Triston Henry.
May 25, 2019 @CPLsoccer @York9FC vs @ForgeFCHamilton finally my game report: lots of pictures included! http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19york101.htm
Thanks for this detailed report. Your observation that the attendance must have been tickets sold confirms what Robert Borden believed about how the CPL reports attendance (tickets sold versus turnstile count). It's always good to have confirmation.
Halifax Wanderers ties York 9 FC 1-1 Forge FC defeats FC Edmonton 2-0 in this CONCACAF League. 20 years old Tristan Borges is CPL best scorer and arguably best player overall with now 4 goals in 7 games. He was part of the Heerenveen academy. I suspect that he will be one of the first transfers from CPL. Qualifiers
He was also with TFC Academy and Sigma. It would be great to see him transfer on as that is one of the main purposes of this league.
#ForgeFC have unveiled their black and gold kit to be worn June 15 vs. #ValourFC. #CanPL pic.twitter.com/scJmwzw3sX— Bespoke FC (@Bespoke_FC) May 30, 2019