I brought up Burnaby as an alternative such as the former site of Empire Field if the Caps couldn't stay downtown. Surrey is a clear target of CPL as the league has plans for Fraser Valley. Langley looks like the most likely place with the Skytrain set to reach it's centre. No, I don't see the Caps ever going there but Surrey is rapidly growing (3rd fastest in the country) and rapid urbanization like we're witnessing in Mississauga and Vaughan in York Region. That makes the league smart to go to these places as they have a long term plan for all the tiers in Canada (from a Canadian perspective of course)
Empire Field isn't as accessible as downtown is the main issue. For the most part it requires a SkyTrain ride, a bus ride, and then a 10 minute walk. Anytime you have mode transfers, you decrease the number of people willing to make the trip.
BMO Field = Subway + Streetcar + Walk Stade Saputo = Subway + Walk BMO requires more transfers and their attendance is stronger
Exactly, so it's more than just transit I can tell you that Hamilton has terrible transit, parking and traffic to their stadium but attendance was the strongest in the CPL whole transit wise, York is the most convenient of all the clubs with Edmonton as a close 2nd...
This is far too simplistic - BMO is also at a GO stop, and is walking distance from four streetcar lines that all link to the subway system at various points. Besides being in a medium dense walkable area.
Yes... There are other factors, but it’s a pretty proven fact that mode transfers are a deterrent to transit use. This is particularly true if each mode requires their own fare (no idea if Vancouver does this, but Toronto does not). There's also going to be a difference between how big an impact transit has based on how important transit is in to the city. If we’re talking about a city like Vancouver where the populace is used to taking transit, then attendance is going to be far more impacted by how accessible their stadium is by transit than cities where the populace isn’t used to taking transit.
I don't disagree but it sucks for those who aren't downtown. Even at my most "pro MLS supporter" (2012-2016), transiting to Exhibition sucked. (I'm a North York resident). Having briefly lived near Liberty village, *most* of the fans were from Downtown and those arriving by GO. Coming down Line 1 from Sheppard West back then and from Sheppard-Yonge now, it's night and day when we're talking Leafs/Raptors/Jays fans doing the trek vs TFC fans on the trains. I'm just saying that TFC has done little to appeals to fans outside of the downtown core until recently. When I lived in Montreal, suburbans wanted no parts of commuting to watch Montreal Impact. Even as a resident of NDG, transiting all the way east was not ideal, I doubt Impact has any reach past highway 15. (Middle of the Island). Same as TFC and Saputo admitted it, they've done little to appeal to the whole Island, let alone the 450. I don't know Vancouver enough to judge but TFC could be much bigger than they are, same for Montreal. Just my observation, or disappointment as a fan at my highest point as a fan of MLS Canadian teams. Transit wasn't the issue or a very small part of the equation imo
There has been speculation on the effect of MLS Next on CPL. In my opinion, it's another name for "dead end". Unless a player knows that he will get first club minutes, I don't think it will be viewed more favourably than CPL by young Canadians. Like this guy below would be better off in CPL or abroad than going in MLS Next Hearing Kamron Habibullah is getting strong interest from both #CANPL sides and clubs abroad. He turns 17 next month, so the Whitecaps have a year to fend off the foreign interest, but if he wanted to sign with a CPL club he could do that at anytime. 😬 #VWFC— 𝕲𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝕮𝖎𝖙𝖞 (@GlassCityFC) September 9, 2020
I read an article saying the Whitecaps are so stacked with talented youth players that its inevitable that they'll lose a bunch.
If any team was in a position to give serious minutes to an up and coming youngster, it would be Vancouver.
They've already got 10 home-growns on their 30 man roster and they've got 4 more in their development squad that currently have noone to play.
CPL continues with its excellent ratings for a league that's in its 2nd season Last weekend's @CanPl #soccer games on #CBC performance, competing against the start of the #EPL. AMA (Average Minute Audience) 2+: #1 Forge-Pacific: 35,000 (not live) #2 CAV-HFX: 46,000. Repeat Ham-PCF game after NHL another 50,000 AMA.#Sportsbiz #Ratings #KRUnitedMedia— Koen@KR United Media (@KRunitedMedia) September 17, 2020
So now Forge FC have to wait 2 months for TFC's MLS season to finish? Is that correct? I can see TFC going all the way this season, they have the ability to pull off a win even when they are playing badly.
Yes. Although it may also be that the final gets postponed until even later (say January or early February) and both teams end up being in their off season.
Expansion News for Fraser Valley!!! Breaking #CanPL news 🇨🇦⚽️! @TMusa_news has learned that the #Bundesliga could be involved in putting a Canadian Premier League team in the Fraser Valley https://t.co/uCc3al4dOn— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) October 18, 2020 Sources have suggested that both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich could be interested in the project—another possibility is Werder Bremen, the club has long targeted Canada for potential marketing purposes but also talent development. There have also been suggestions by reliable sources that the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL)—the Bundesliga governing body—could be involved directly.
Who is going to invest in a CPL squad during a pandemic? The business case is non existent. I'd be happy with 8 clubs holding on for next season. I don't see how any other investors step up with a new club, Bayern Munich or not.
There won't be any expansions in 2021 but it doesn't hurt to start working on Fraser Valley in advance. Although all signs points at Langley, Surrey would be my preference...
According to Rollins, Quebec City and Waterloo Region are the furthest along for and expansion. COVID has slow down the Fraser Valley/Bundesliga angle Waterloo region and Quebec are thought to be the furthest along. The KWC team was seen to be “highly likely” for 22.— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) October 21, 2020
Quebec City is a market the league needs. An entry into Quebec, well over 800 000 metro population, and the CPL team would get to be the big team in town for the summer. The PEPS would work as a ready-to-play venue, I would think. KW is probably the best of the second tier of markets for the CPL to look at. It's an area that is more and more growing into its own identity, it is very affluent, and has about 600 000 metro population. The CPL would be the only team in town for the summer. The biggest obstacle would be where to play. University Stadium (at Laurier) might work now that the LRT is up and running because it's otherwise a pain to get to if you don't live in the part of town dominated by student housing.
FC Edmonton announce Eric Newendorp as their new president and general manager. News: @FCEdmontonNow has named Eric Newendorp as the club’s President and General Manager#CanPL https://t.co/nwaPTIwOQz— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) November 2, 2020
FIFA.com featuring the Canadian Premier League 💪 Despite the difficulties resulting from the pandemic, @CPLsoccer showed outstanding resilience & adaptability 🇨🇦 We look at how #FIFAForward & @CanadaSoccerEN have worked together to help the game continue to grow in these uncertain times👉 https://t.co/i4FHB107p1 pic.twitter.com/XxpDJP0cCN— FIFA (@FIFAcom) November 2, 2020