The Flyers have a diehard fanbase, but overall the interest level in them pales in comparison to the 76ers, Phillies and Eagles. The Sabres are a far bigger deal in Buffalo than the Flyers are in Philly for context. I fully understand what the NHL means in Canada. I practically grew up in canada. Spent my summers traveling in Canada, my college years were spent just outside of the Canadian border so we got CBC and TSN. The NHL is THE league in Canada. Also, the NHL is going to be starting in late September starting next season. So this notion that MLS changing the schedule is stupid because now they are competing with NFL, NHL, NBA, College Football, College Basketball, etc. Newsflash, they already have been competing against those leagues for eyeballs for 20 years now.
Could work but TFC had Giovinco while Montreal had Drogba and Piatti. There's work to be done to revive that rivalry besides a handful of SG punching each other in the face. This was the peak of both clubs, long gone and I'm pessimistic we'll ever get back up there
The football configuration at the Blue Jays' stadium was eliminated by renovations after the Argos moved to BMO. Montreal seems to be the one place where making Stade Olympique an official secondary home stadium will be a necessity. I don't know if they can play at Saputo before April.
You don’t see the issue with moving a quarter of a team’s home schedule to an alternate venue every year? Ask Fire fans about how much that sucks.
The league could do Montreal a solid and make sure that match is a marquee opponent. Messi will be retired, but there will be some other club with a lot of cache. Or maybe designate that match as when they host Toronto.
Ok but what is the alternative and do they have any other choice? You honestly believe they stand to lose that much money if they play a maximum of only 4 or 5 games indoors? Even if they do lose a lot of money (which I don’t believe), how much would they stand to lose by playing outdoors in the snow? It’s either play 4-5 games at the indoor facility or play 7-8 games on the road during those months. I mean if they are in fact going to play a fall-spring schedule, I really don’t see many other choices.
Well, not moving the schedule for one. A long road trip for another. Grin and bear it (though not an option in Montreal as I understand it). Of course the league could have had this figured out and announced it as part of the change, but that was apparently too much pre-planning for them.
But they are already moving the schedule and I posted about a long road trip. There are no other choices left and yes, they are going to have to deal with it.