2019 CPL Spring Season

Discussion in 'Canada' started by Robert Borden, Apr 28, 2019.

  1. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    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.
     
  2. Yoshou

    Yoshou Fan of the CCL Champ

    May 12, 2009
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  3. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    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.
     
  4. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    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
     
  5. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    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.
     
  6. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    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
     
  7. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    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.
     
  8. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Cavalry attempt at rectifying logistics problems. I'm hoping it helps
     
  9. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
  10. CANPRO

    CANPRO Member+

    Dec 23, 2002
    I think there's a good chance Cavalry have an embrassingly low turnout tomorrow.
     
  11. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
     
  12. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    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.
     
  13. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Cavalry beats Forge 2-1 in a really good game
     
  14. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Tie game...0-0 between Pacific and FC Edmonton
     
  15. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    A decisive win by Forge FC beating Valour 2-0 in Winnipeg and taking the lead in the CONCACAF League Qualifiers on goal differential.
     
  16. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
  17. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
  18. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    York 9 loses 2-0 to Forge FC
    Cavalry remains perfect with a 2-0 win over Halifax
     
  19. Kit

    Kit Member+

    Aug 30, 1999
    Herkimer, NY, USA
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It would have been nice if One Soccer didn't interrupt the HFX/Cavalry game to show the end of the Forge/York game.
     
    CANPRO repped this.
  20. RocketRobin

    RocketRobin Member

    Canada
    Feb 3, 2007
    Toronto
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
  21. RocketRobin

    RocketRobin Member

    Canada
    Feb 3, 2007
    Toronto
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Robert Borden repped this.
  22. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    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.
     
  23. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    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
     
  24. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    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.
     
  25. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada

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