Wouldn't this fall under the MLS team as a second tenant category that is such a problem for NY, DC, etc.? Since the CFL Argonauts play there or will play there
I wonder if the Argos would be the second tenant. I guess it depends who's footing the bill. If Canadian Soccer says it's a soccer stadium and the Argos are going to play there, too, then they can be second tenant. Of course, they have to get the thing built first. And then they have to get an MLS team. I wonder if the Lynx would play there until and unless they did get an MLS team.
Does if really matter who is 1st or 2nd. The real problem will be sharing with a football team. Remember the CFL season starts earlier than the NFL or NCAA, which means that many more scheduling conflicts.
I would think it would matter, since the primary tenant gets priority when there's a conflict. That's the point of the primary/secondary tenant scenario. This year, the CFL will play: 4 games on Mondays 2 games on Tuesdays 2 games on Wednesdays 14 games on Thursdays 24 games on Fridays 22 games on Saturdays 13 games on Sundays Toronto's 9-game home schedule has 2 Tuesdays, 2 Wednesdays, 2 Thursdays, 1 Monday, 1 Saturday, 1 Sunday between June 15 and October 28.
I think having Vancouver in the league is a little more important than Toronto, but nonetheless I still think it would be awesome. Canadian cities in MLS is cool with me.
No Offenese to the Canadian west coast but I prefer Toronto since I can drive there from the USA. Toronto Snowcaps in 2006!!!! Steve
Man, I know nothing of the CFL...Well that's even better for scheduling. An MLS team should be there pronto...
If it happens, and a lot will depend on how good the stadium related revenue streams negotiated by the CSA would be for pro soccer IMO, the obvious name would be the Toronto Blizzard. Where football lines are concerned, fieldturf is used regularly by the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL at McGill University's varsity sports stadium in a manner that has enabled that venue to still get a FIFA approved installation certificate. The Canadian women's national U-19 team will be using the stadium for CONCACAF qualifiers later this week. http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/030411/6/sn4v.html http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030516.wturf/BNPrint/Sports http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/nationals/w_u19/index.asp
The new stadium will be using the latest field turf. The new stadium will only be built if Canada gets awarded the Fifa mens u20 championship for 2007 I believe. If we get a new stadium it is basically guaranteed that Toronto will get a MLS franchise. I remember the US soccer correspondent saying this on a episode of soccer central on sportsnet. So here's hoping that the stadium does get built.
Would love to see Toronto having an MLS team. This team would have great support from an entire Canadian market and will have the appeal to many Canadian prospective players.
Not to be a party-pooper, but I think that was the old plan that the CSA was operating under. I'm only going by what I read in the press, but it would appear that the CSA's plans for a soccer-only facility to share with a MLS team has been dropped. Now they are throwing in with the CFL Argo team and the University of Toronto. Outside of USSoccerUK, you don't see ANY mention of MLS as a tenant. Quite the contrary from the Toronto Sun: Sure, it's possible that an MLS franchise could come later, but I get the impression that whoever controls the facility will make that determination, and it looks like it will be the UofT, and they will already have a primary tenant in the CFL Argos, who happen to play the same season as MLS. Garber's statement shows that they are open to Toronto, but it certainly sounds like the stadium is being constructed without MLS involvement.
It also doesn't sound nearly as appealing when you consider the fact that it's going to be turf, and will probably be encircled by a running track with stands set well-back from the pitch. (Just guessing here).
Man Field Turf, this junk is terrible I don't care how real it looks or feels. I guess in Toronto it wold have to be necessary. This stadium is obviously not going to be a dome is it?
Another thing to consider is the quality of officiating. If you think the refereeing is bad with USSF in sole charge of assigning and assessing for MLS, just wait until another refereeing body gets involved. Having seen several CSA refs in two Canadian cities, it appears that USSF and CSA get differing copies of the LOTG by the way they call matches. In the games I have witnessed, the CSA referees have demonstrated an inability to make the real calls and an amazing ability to come up with phantom PKs. I know that sounds like sour grapes, but I think you may want to consult Syracuse, Hershey (God rest their souls), Richmond, and Charleston fans about their teams' experiences with good ole Canuck homecookin'--and I ain't refering to doughnuts, vienna sausages or Kraft Dinner.
Never say never. I just wouldn't expect it for a long, long time. Say, after the MFL and MLS merge to create a pan-North American league.
I would much rather see an 8 to 10 team Canadian league rather than Canadian teams in MLS. But if Toronto does come into MLS, would they automatically get a Canadian spot in the CCC? Sachin
The latter factoid is the relevant one, since what Calgary is doing on a Saturday afternoon is pretty immaterial to a building in Toronto. I'm fine with all this, and it makes sense for MLS in a lot of ways (providing an Uncle Moneybags can be dragged kicking and screaming from under his desk and awarded an I/O spot) but I want to see what the rules of engagement will be. Clearly you can't demand that they field 15 Americans. Toronto is directly across the Lake from Rochester (which gets a lot more snow). It may be in Canada, but it's not exactly the Yukon, and grass is as growable there as it is in Northern New York, Michigan, etc. I have to believe Field Truf would be either a cost savings item or a guarantee of playability after the Argos got done tearing it up the night before.