Chicago Toronto [R]

Yeah, I was happy for TFC and Dichio. TFC is doomed this season, but I was happy for 'em anyway.

 

the game atmosphere, which spilled over onto the field at times in more ways than one, was incredible and truly enviable.

 

That was one of the most enjoyable MLS games I've ever watched on television.

Fantastic game.

 

what a great game
i enjoyed every second
sorta like our own game

 

Hands down, the best crowd atmosphere in the history of MLS (or as so many pathetic announcers call it, The MLS).

I watched the game multiple times, even re-ran the spanish language footage. The crowd looked like something right out of Champions' League or some other top-flight international league.

Wow!

...Paging Mr. Vancouver and Mr. Montreal to the white courtesy phone...

 

seat cushions = greatness

GREAT game!

 

Does anyone else wonder any longer of it makes more sense to appeal to sports patrons or youth players and their parents? Does anyone have hope that the MLS teams that have subscribed to this theory since NASL days will ever wake up to the fact that they needn't wait until kids grow up to become fans and could be pulling in high energy fans that love the sport now?

 

My first thought after watching that was that if Canada gets half that energy in their World Cup Qualifiers, they now have a real home field advantage. We're on our way to having another competitive opponent in CONCACAF.

And I couldn't be happier.

 

Doesn't Vancouver have the same anglofile population of educated soccer purists as Toronto? Vancouver once upon a time had great crowds and great atmosphere for the MLS Whitecaps. Now that Toronto is writing the book on how it's done, why can't Vancouver follow? And the demographics are even stronger for Montreal.

All I know is that I have never, ever seen that kind of fan fanaticism in any other MLS venue, period. Each team has its own supporters group, and many are intense, but Toronto's entire audience was getting into it.

 

Well, for one thing, Toronto has a period (2 or 3 years?) of exclusivity during which time no further MLS expansion in Canada can occur.

After that, I'm sure they fall in with all other expansion candidates:

1. Get ownership.
2. Get a stadium.
3. Pay the fee.

Simple as that.

 

Isn't Toronto just the north-of-the-border fan feel good version of the Houston 06 story?
Good story, fun games to watch, but it is only the second home game...

 

They are also pushing for a new Whitecaps stadium to be built downtown near the gaslamp district.

 

Did Houston cap season ticket sales at 14,000 so they would have some available for day of game and group sales? I don't think so.

That atmosphere in Toronto was awesome. Hopefully the team does well and keep those fans coming. Toronto, much like NY, is an extremely diverse city and it shows in the stands.

 

MLS Whitecaps ?

 

You know I meant NASL. I didn't get much sleep last night.

 

There's plenty of other places on Big Soccer to talk about other teams, and games that don't affect FC Dallas in the slightest.v

 

Toronto could alter the agreement to allow the other teams in, or do so for a fee. It seems that both cities (Vancouver, for sure) are geographically distant enough from Toronto that they wouldn't siphon off any fans.

 

You sleep?

 

no, I don't wonder that at all. I no longer think it makes any sense to appeal to either of those markets. I think the only market we need to be reaching out to is soccer fans. screw the NFL fans, the MLB fans, the NASCAR fans, whatever; those people are already too parochially anti-soccer to matter. the youth players and their parents may like the game, but they aren't the Toronto crowd. but the amount of soccer fans in this country who don't follow MLS because they think it's dull and lacking in atmosphere is huge, and if you tap THAT market, you're set. that's my current opinion on the matter.

 

I don't think so. all expansion teams have that first season burst of sell-out stadiums, fan support, etc etc, and then it tapers off quickly, but nothing on the scale of what we're seeing in Toronto.

 

Do 200 Fire fans have to travel to Montreal and Vancouver too, so that you can jack off about the atmosphere there?

 

were there any fire fans at that game? 'cause you certainly couldn't tell on television. Toronto owned you, hands down, on the field and off.

 

Awwww...somebody's a little bitter he spent all that hard-earned money only to see his boys piss away their match against the worst team in the league.

Hope you at least enjoyed the body cavity search that US customs gave you on your way back in.

 

Toronto is a city where if they have a losing team, The fans will still support them. Toronto will keep selling out the BMO, It is being reported that there breaking records in jersey sales, and ticket sales.

If your refering to the Vancouver Whitecaps, then yes. Canada should have it's own division. I would see a good market in Montreal but my Impact are highly successful team, So I wouldn't mind them merging.