I know it was only friendly, but I couldnt help but be disappointed to see the stadium less than half full for the nationals game against Costa Rica. Surely TFC fans should have a little more pride in our national team, especially after our impressive showing in the Gold Cup.
! Why couldn't you get tickets? I had 2 extra... Good game - sad to see all the red empty seats the south end rocked though
Frankly I think that the tickets were really over-priced in comparison to the same seats for TFC gemes. The CSA messed up the seating too. The moved everybody from the second level down to the first. In most cases this would be ok, but I got moved from sitting on almost the centre line to being by the corner flag. My view of the game deteriorated significantly. The team played well and I enjoyed the game, but it did not make me a fan of the organizers.
That was embarrassing. TFC fans are lame for not showing up to this game. The part that makes it sadder is that watching guys like DeGuzman and DeRosario in action is more entertaining than watching our beloved TFC play. I guess this shows how much the fan support for TFC is more hype over substance. Oh well, I hope this doesn't affect Toronto's chances to get more Canada games.
Did anyone see any advertising for this game? I only knew that the game was on because of the email I got from TFC before every game. If indeed there was no advertising the CSA has only themselves to blame. If they didn't advertise it all they needed was an announcement at the last 2 TFC home games, a few postings on this message board and have Craig and Gerry interview a Canadian team player/TFC player on Soccer Saturday a few weeks back. Did anyone see any of that?
It looks like everyone was moved to make the stadium feel full. Sadly it still felt empty. Why didn't you just move. There were enough empty seats that you could have easily moved towards the center or joined us in the supporters section. That appeared to be the only place with a good concentration of fans, sadly there were still lots of empty seats.
They had been running adds on the Fan590 and AM 640 for over a month. Plus I think Pozniak was on SoccerCentral a few weeks ago and the game was mentioned. I wasn't at the Aug.25 TFC game so I don't know if it was mentioned. I think this just goes to show that there is a poseur/hipster element among the current batch of TFC fans. All the previous talk about TFC raising ticket prices too high will weed out the 'real fans' is a smokescreen.
Why blame Toronto FC fans.....Toronto is a city of what 4,000,000 people, you would think that 20,000 would show up to watch the National team play, FC fan or not.
why would you think that all of TFC's fans are Canadian? NONE of the fans in my immediate section of the stands at TFC games are from Canada. TFC is the local team so we turn out for them. Canada is YOUR national team. BTW, I did turn up for them, in my black shirt to protest the absurd way footie is run in Canada.
I was shocked at the attendance. Really....9,300 people? Is this a KC Wizards game? I was taking pictures of how empty the place was. Must have been a party for all 75 people that had the entire 2 level to themselves! CRC had some nice support too. Surprised that the score was only 1-1. I figured that it would have been far more wide open with a number of goals.
Huh? I'd be willing to bet that 99% of fans at TFC games are Canadian citizens. If you are Canadian and you want to cheer for your old world nation over Canada, then I have no time for you. I can understand cheering for both, but I have no respect for those that don't care about Canada. By the way, mike, this isn't meant as an attack on you. I'm just tired of Canadians of convenience.
While your know doubt right that there were many people from a broad range of ethnic backgrounds, I think its fair to say that the vast majority of TFC fans are Canadians or Landed Immigrants seeking Canadian status. All you have to do is hear how loudly and proudly O Canada is sung at TFC games to confirm this. While I never complain about people rooting for the team of their ethnic heritage, surely they should give some support to the team in the land they chose to live in. Finally Im too not a fan of the CSA, but we shouldnt blame the National Team for CSA incompetence. The National Team deserves all our support from TFC fans, 4 million in the GTA, and all others who choose to live in this beautiful country.
Sure I'd like to support the Nats in person - but I've already spent a ton on tickets this year (TFC, U-20) and I really don't want to support the CSA at prices higher than the seats were for TFC games. With that and a combination of working late and being a bit under the weather too meant I wasn't going to be a part of the walk up crowd last night. I agree with the Canadians of convenience comments - but considering all I mentioned above I chose to root for the boys from the comfort of my couch instead. Maybe the problem is with the soccer fans in Toronto being fickle - but I think people forget that soccer isn't the #1 spectator sport here and an overpriced and under promoted event won't likely be a sellout.
crazypete13, you bring up a good point about buyers fatigue. We've seen a ton of quality soccer in this city this year. People can only spend so much of their money on stuff like this. By the way, there were plenty of cheap tickets available from scalpers outside the stadium because of the poor turnout.
I mentioned on another forum, that when I went to ticketmaster.ca on Tuesday afternoon, I couldn't get 2 tickets in the $14 range. If the tickets aren't available for the fans to purchase, and all ended up in the scalper's hands somehow, then there is a problem that needs to be fixed.
The fact your passport says your Canadian does not make you Canadian. One sign that you are Canadian is when you cheer for Canada when Canada is playing your former country. I was at the game last night and I was surprised to see that so many CR's either flew up or are currently landed immigrants in Canada and came to the game. More to the point where the hell were all the real Canadians who do cheer for Canada. You sure weren't at the game last night. Shame, because our boys played really well and show hope of being a team that could get some things done. Where the hell were you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've spent well over $2800 for TFC season and U20 and was aware of my new $2400 renewal coming up...so really a friendly game between Canada-Costa Rica was low on my budget list, but there needs to be an understanding here that TFC fans aren't required to fill the stadium up for anything. There are other people in this city. Were we expected to fill out the genesis concert too? JK. I am interested but just tapped. I watched it on TV, looked pretty entertaining however C. Forrest kept saying (because of his experience with these types of teams) and from what I saw....what lousy sportsmanship and showmanship by the Costa Ricans. Appalled at the stalling tactics. You can say it tactical based on 10 vs 11 and that they were being outplayed, but what a mockery of the game. If thats the way Costa Rica made it to the World Cup and thats what it takes for a less talented club then I don't want us to go. Note: pay attention to the coach of Costa Rica and you can get a sense where it comes from
Sat a couple of rows behind the CR bench in the expensive seats. Wife and I were treated to a lovely buffet and free booze, none of which I could enjoy becuase of a dental issue - what a drag as it looked real good and my wife said it was excellent. I will digress for a moment - do TFC ticket holders in section 123 get free food and booze as part of their package at 1/2? Reason for posting here now: CR coach was wearing jeans, fancy shirt and had bling all over the place. He looked like he was dressed to go to the disco. We enjoyed watching this boob.
I am thinking some fans stayed away in protest of the CSA. I was suprised tho at the low attendence. I attended the friendly between Canada vs. Argentina U-20s and it was packed. It shows how much disgust fans now have for the CSA.
It seems there is high demand for the supporters section, but not for the more expensive seats and obviously there were plenty of these seats available. I'm less concerned about the scalpers than the empty seats that have a face value between $50 and $100 not being sold. I seems that there are many people that would enjoyed the game but the high prices were a deterrent - as the CSA is not for profit it would make sense if these tickets were priced in such a fashion to ensure that demand is met for these games. I hope this was not a glimpse of the future for TFC.
TFC fans should attend all CMNT games. the stadium was built as the home of Canadian soccer and TFC is a tenant in the building. I know it's a lot to ask for people to attend TFC games, TFC friendlies, and U20's but it was the first game in Toronto for the CMNT in 7 years. On top of it all the soccer was WAAAAY better than any TFC game i've seen this year. The CMNT is better than they've been in years (maybe decades) and it's a shame that we didn't support them better. As for TFC fans that aren't Canadian....shut it up...you've moved from your home country for a reason. This country has supported you and you should do the same in return. On a lighter note. I spent the second half in the beer garden and yelled out to Poz as he warmed up after the DeRo goal "Hey Poz, that's what we need on the left side instead of Welshy" I got a chuckle and a wink in return. I guess i'm not the only guy happy to see him gone.