Given MLS' history in dealing with teams more troubled than the Impact, they are a long way from making any decisions for him. The problem I see for the Impact is that their attendance isn't terrible. They're down a bit this year but they're still averaging about 18 500 in a stadium that seats a bit over 20 000. It's not like they can address sustained, multi-million dollar per year losses by filling the stadium because they're pretty close to that already. I don't see the market supporting a massive ticket price increase, either. Tough spot to be in.
It was reportedly MLS that pressure him in hiking the tickets, hence my comments. They aren't pleased with his financial situation. The marketing strategy, which I don't understand for the life of me, is horrendous and he still doesn't gets it, neither does the league. He needs to switch or he will stagnate and crash unless he finds a partner to help him. With CPL coming in the province, it's going to be harder. My advice to Saputo (free of charge) Get a business partner to inject much needed investment. He can't deal with both Bologna and Montreal on his own. Plan and advance the construction of a downtown stadium. Never understood why he picked that location which is a pain to from outside the city core. Attendance would be solved. A CPL Laval team near a Metro Station or a Montreal team on the Université de Montreal grounds would hurt Impact very badly. The ease of getting to those locations and the bigger population around those locations. More public training sessions & friendlies outside the Island. This should have been done years ago. Play in Quebec City, Laval, Sherbrooke, Saguenay & Gatineau. Look at what the Jays are doing... preseason games in Montreal. Look at the Raptors...preseason games all across Canada. Even the Montreal Canadians plays preseason in Quebec and trains in Brossard (south shore). This fatal mistake cause the team to be isolated and the rest of the province not caring nor watching them. CPL teams like potentially Laval and Quebec City won't make that mistake. Ties in to the last point, stop taking the entire province for granted. In 2018, they still refer to Quebec as their "backyard" and acting entitled. A journalist reported. Promote local talent. Patrice Bernier's value is indisputable, yet, he was barely promoted. Bofore Anthony Jackson-Hamel got hurt, he was outscoring the expensive Matteo Mancosu and his DP contract. He's from Quebec City and they didn't promoted him in the province or Quebec City. They didn't promote Ballou Tabla nor used him enough, that's crazy. They all came up from the Quebec system, all francophones and you don't promote them??? You deserve the province not caring and the low TV ratings. Hell, even Emile Legault, an 18 years old defender who's Quebecois but in the French system snubbed Montreal and tried for Scotland instead. Expect Laval, Quebec City and other Quebec teams to triple down on that front. Be realistic about who you are, who you want to target and not taking your potential fans for idiots. I think that in Canada, MLS is acting like the formula from NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL automatically applies to them...WRONG! It's understandable why they would assume that. Canada rallies behind the Jays & watch other teams, rallies behind the Raptors & watches other teams, NHL is a given and even the NFL. The reason why it doesn't work is because those leagues are the BEST IN THE WORLD in their respective sports. MLS isn't and on top of that, isn't Canadian and contains little Canadian content. That's why outside the 3 cities, the rest of the country is turned off. In that context, they'd rather watch UEFA and EPL. CPL's marketing shows they understand all of that and are very confident that they can achieve CFL level of success. A Canadian League by Canadians for Canadians, even if it's lower than it's American counterpart WILL draw. Of course, Saputo, MLSE or the Vancouver group simply doesn't care about all of that. They still maintain the same attitude and that's too bad. That's why CPL will exceed expectations. To be honest, if they had done everything right from the beginning, CPL wouldn't have stood a chance or at best, would have been a D2 league feeding into those 3.
I think that there are a number of MLS owners that are trying to hold on until 2023 - which is the year MLS will negotiate a new TV contract. If they can get a billion-dollar contract, I think you'll see more spending. If not, I think you'll see a bunch of owners looking at other options for what to do with their teams.
Well, TV viewership would have to be much better than it is now. I doubt TV network would agree to such an massive increase at once at the current levels. They'll get there though if viewership increases.
University scout Mark Rogers details process for inaugural CPL-U Sports Draft.📝: https://t.co/kX1dk7QEKZ | #CanPL pic.twitter.com/kwxY8BGB1R— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 25, 2018 Whereas NCAA athletes drafted into American sports leagues forfeit their eligibility upon signing a contract, up-and-coming U SPORTS players will return to their universities to continue their studies and soccer development.
Official Stadium plans for York 9 FC http://canpl.ca/video/york-9-fc-unveils-stadiums-plans-for-2019-and-beyond Year 1 Alumni Field, York University, Toronto we’ll temporarily be at Alumni Field, where we’ll build an experience that’s very close to what people will see from a viewing standpoint of what they’ll see at Lions Stadium Alumni Field is located a kilometer northwest of York Lions Stadium. York 9 will play its games at its temporary venue until the conversion and its accompanying renovations are completed. With renovations expected to run through spring and summer with the hope of York 9 moving into York Lions Stadium for the final stretch of home matches, the club also has ambitious plans to build its own soccer-specific CPL stadium. Year 1 to 3 York Lions Stadium, York University Station, Toronto 8,000-seat multi-purpose stadium is being replaced with a new turf playing surface that will host games midway through 2019 It will be as close to Tier 1 as you can get with temporary grandstands In addition to creating an intimate soccer-viewing experience, the club says its periphery niceties, including a sizeable craft beer and food truck selection, will appeal to its supporters. “We’re creating a small craft beer festival every game for people to enjoy,” Ganzhorn explained. “We think it will be appealing to the university crowd and all sports enthusiasts within York Region. “We want to create something that speaks to that millennial but also is relevant to the true soccer fan. It’s about creating the combination of an inviting environment, where there’s something for everybody, and developing something special on the pitch in a way that’s authentic in order to create good football viewing.” Encircled by craft beer tents and a variety of food truck options, the south end of York Lions Stadium will act as a standing-room area for the club’s more rambunctious supporter groups. The north end of the stadium will feature a more relaxed beer garden in front of corporate suites. Both ends are flanked by Corner Kick Executive Suites the club says are a first-of-their-kind in Canada, featuring bar service, tables and 20 pitch-facing seats. The Club Seats behind each bench are for season seat members who prefer to reserve their own chairs for every fixture. The west stand’s second deck features premium and corporate partner suites that have access to a private indoor club and washrooms. And, for those interested in looking down on the action, a second GA seating level rests atop the press box and partner suites. Beyond Year 3 Vaughan, Ontario “We’re looking to build a 12-15,000 seat stadium that will truly bring the best experience to our fans. In the meantime, we have a great accessible option at York University that’s close to transit. The future is bright for York 9 as we move towards our own soccer specific stadium.” *we've seen this online
Will be interesting to see if the turf ends up being plain green or if they'll have multiple lines sewn in like it is at Alumni Field. Either way, see you there next year.
@York9fc just emailed and released their ticket prices and benefits to members. What do you guys think? No jersey and the cheapest seat(Not standing section) is 399 for the season. Let us know! #york9fc #canpl #cpl #canadianpremierleague #canadianpl pic.twitter.com/y5ccj9Hw7S— CanPL Central (@CanplCentral) October 26, 2018
Yeah it was 28. Maybe each team is playing every other team five times next year to make up for the loss of Ottawa?
Starting the first season without 8 teams, is a half failure for CPL na CSA! However don't have a team from Quebec is a huge failure!
CSA isn't funding the league, so if there is nobody willing to step up and fund a team and it's inevitbable losses for the first several years, not much the CSA can do.
It's not about people willing to fund a team or not. The league's biggest challenge is stadiums. Quebec City and Saskatoon aren't in the league in 2019 because they can't get the venue ready before 2020.
It's not that simple for cities who don't have stadiums meeting CPL standards. You need the land and build it, that's a very complex process. Halifax went through it but getting the rights to play at Wanderers grounds not easy. FC Edmonton are dealing with a city who's being difficult on soccer infrastructure, Clarke Stadium doesn't meet CPL Standards.The problem with Surrey was land. Saskatoon main issue is downtown land but they will play in an upgraded university stadium until they work a new stadium plan. Has nothing to do with lack of willingness or resources to start a team. MLS had the advantage of having plenty of empty NFL and big university stadiums empty in the summer, that isn't Canada reality. Unlike the US, Canadians has a very small appetite for public money funding stadiums.
There are two cities in Quebec people might consider for early CPL teams - Montreal and Quebec City. Montreal has no ownership group willing to go up against the Impact for now. Quebec City has no stadium even if they had an ownership group.
False, CPL has said that groups are interested in Montreal Metro. City of Laval seems like the favorite to land it. For those who don't know the geography of Laval. They are immediately north of Montreal Island on Jesus Island. North of Laval is the "Couronne Nord" suburbs which would be a target for a Laval CPL club. That's over 1 million people living in Laval and North Suburbs. They also have subway stations (3 northern stations on the Orange line) *Montreal Impact are on the green line between Viau and Pie-IX True but Laval University (Quebec City) could be a temporary option, just not for 2019 as confirmed by the university itself
I wonder if the University of Laval would be willing to have changes made to PEPS if there was outside help financing it?
As long that they wouldn't have to pay for it, no many universities will say no to private financing as York University demonstrated for York 9. They could serve as a blueprint for the Quebec Group on how to upgrade that stadium
It doesn't meet the league's standards and I don't think you can massively expand it at that location. Laval would have to go with a new modular stadium. That's the preferred route for the league.
Laval has a soccer complex at Bois de Boulogne BUT it is NOT off a Metro line, requires a 15-20 minute bus ride from Cartier Metro. Only other likely area is at Montmorency metro station near place Bell hockey arena. Potential name for Laval CPL team Rapides FC Just a thought.
No it isn't. You saw the "for now" at the end of my sentence, right? If it was false, we'd have a team in Montreal. We don't. Therefore there aren't any ownership groups willing to go up against the Impact for now.
Still unbelievably false. There are investors willing to put a team in Montreal Metro, that's fact and the league confirmed it by even pointing out Laval. Whether the delay is due to the willingness to go against Montreal Impact or not is pure speculation on your end. The league said many times that the delay is "stadiums". York 9 FC is happening and they aren't scare of TFC, let alone playing in the same city. Surrey almost happened. Land was the problem and the Surrey group merged with the Victoria group founding Pacific FC. It wasn't fear of the Vancouver Whitecaps.