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Knight: Toronto as a soccer town

Ben Knight, May 14, 2008 at 9:05 AM EDT

So … what to make of those 17,000-plus empty seats at BMO Field for the Canada-Argentina U-20 friendly this past weekend?  How can Toronto fans, who pack the park from April to November to stomp and roar and clap and sing and chant for Toronto FC, not put out a better effort to get behind the national teams?
 
There is no simple answer to this question.  Speculation in the pressbox has included media apathy, multiculturalism and poor event planning.  Some have even suggested all those empty seats prove that TFC fans aren't really soccer fans.
 
So here are a lot of true things about Toronto and soccer, from which I invite you to draw your own conclusions:
 
- TFC fans are real soccer fans.  They grew up watching the games on television.  Most have favourite teams somewhere else in the world.  Some have even made the pilgrimage, to Anfield, Ibrox, Old Trafford, the San Siro, the Americana, Loftus Road in West London (forza QPR!!).  They love the game, they love their brand new hometown team and real new stadium.  They are not the problem.
 
- A regular core of 20,000 TFC fans is not remotely enough to guarantee sell-outs for international games.  Eighty per cent of these folks are season ticket holders, and that's already a significant commitment of time and resources.  Some of them will always be there when Canada plays.  A lot of them – for many reasons – will not.
 
- Toronto is perhaps, today, the most multi-cultural settlement in the history of humankind.  Millions of people have come from everywhere else to settle in the city and its vast, sprawling suburbs.  They have no common culture, or background or religion.  But lots and lots of them – from everywhere – love soccer.  But that doesn't make them Canada fans. 
 
- Toronto is infamous, in national soccer circles, because the visiting team gets louder fan support than the locals.  Several thousand Jamaican supporters took us all to school years ago at Varsity Stadium.  A few ragged, wind-blown patches of hardy Argentines provided almost all the oomph at BMO this past weekend.
 
- The local media is not the reason Toronto FC has succeeded.  Heck, the Toronto Star went out of its way to blast and discredit the stadium plan.  It made – no difference.  Bob McCown of the FAN 590, unquestionably the best radio sports host in the business up here, roundly and routinely loathes soccer – and isn't even taken seriously by his own co-hosts on his own program.  TFC is a hit because enough people fell in love with the idea, the team and the experience that the stadium is sold out from now till November. 
 
- TFC fans are not responsible for propping up badly planned Canada games.  If CSA members want to blame the 2,500-strong swarm of red-wearing lunatics who descended on Columbus, Ohio, recently for not coming out to root for Canada, they might do well to look in the mirror, instead.  Toronto's MLS organization has done a lot of things right.  Effective, minimal advertising, reaching out to fan groups, keeping the tickets affordable – all of these have contributed to the amazing atmosphere at TFC games.  The CSA has been frankly laughable in all these areas.
 
- The artificial turf, which is there because the governments that paid for BMO Field insisted on it, isn't helping anyone.
 
Ultimately, I think it comes down to this:
 
The number of Toronto fans who turn out to occasional, randomly scheduled Canada games is a function of how many fans there actually are.  Toronto has lots, but most cheer for other countries, and expecting a 100 per cent turnout of TFC season ticket holders every time Canada occasionally shows up for a game is naïve to the point of being ridiculous.  Even getting a quarter of them would be amazing, and it will take quite some time to create enough extra TFC fans to make that number mean something.
 
The CSA needs yet another big boot up the backside.  I think it was Dwayne de Rosario (Canada, Houston Dynamo, one of this nation's very best and most exciting soccer stars) who wondered aloud a few months ago why his face wasn't on billboards up here?  It wasn't ego.  It was a canny observation that nothing is being done to make the public recognize our biggest soccer stars.  TFC fans swarm the stadium because they have “a reason.” Canada fans, in this town, don't.
 
Also, people who care about soccer in Canada have to stop blaming – and punishing – Toronto for the passion and dedication of our foreign fans.  Canada fans in the region should take it as a challenge – a call to mass up, and out-chant the enemy!  This was done last summer, really rather well, when Costa Rica drifted in for the men's team's only appearance at BMO Field.  That didn't stop one prominent columnist from saying – and recently repeating – that the Costa Ricans out-cheered the Canada fans that night.  They didn't. 
 
At this point, I've heard enough complaints from enough players, coaches and experts to finally be able to tell you that players hate the artificial surface at BMO Field, and do not want to play on it.  That raises the very real danger that the park is Canada's “National Soccer Stadium” in name only.
 
Everyone's got a part to play in fixing this. 
 
- The governments who paid the bills need to be lobbied effectively before the turf can be replaced with grass.  The CSA needs to schedule more games in Toronto, at days and times when people can actually come. 
 
- BMO Field at 7 PM on a weeknight is almost impossible to get to.  Bringing in the Under-20s on Mother's Day doesn't help much, either.
 
- Celebrate the visiting fans, people – and then go out-number and out-noise them.
 
- Stop blaming everyone else.  Just do your own part, as a fan, player, promoter, CSA board member, and quit yer whining!
 
Toronto is not – yet – a great soccer town.  But we've come an enormous distance in a very short time, and I refuse to believe we aren't going to go a healthy, happy and huge distance farther.
 
Onward!

  1. Michael Enright from Torotno, Canada writes: I would have gone, however, it was mother's day.
  2. NotASpoiledAthelete - from Canada writes: I would have gone - but the ticket prices were ridiculous!! The CSA should realize that a friendly game for U-20's does not merit an $85 premium price for good seats - that is embarassing.
    Then again the CSA is an embarassment to this country - but instead of taking IT to task - better the scribes blame the fans - takes less work to fit that into a Z-format story just before deadline..
  3. Young Gunner from Toronto, Canada writes: "Stop blaming everyone else. Just do your own part, as a fan, player, promoter, CSA board member, and quit year whining!" Canadians feel they live in the best country in the world, we love immigration and multiculturalism, and everyone plays hockey!. But the great Canadian affliction is whining and blaming others, and making excuses. Point proven by the 2 previous comments. And on multiple websites, you'll hear fans complaining about the price of beer, food, tickets, toilets...but they keep drinking the overpriced beer, and sloppy chip buttty's at BMO Field. Why put up with that? You're only going to pay more, and more, and more. The only way you'll make change, is if we all unite, and force the higher powers to bow down to us, the common fan. Forget the CSA. Forget MLSE's 'business' tactics. If you want change, we all have to want it. Unite together, and say "No more". God Bless our Armed Forces, who have died, and would die for this great land. Most of us just pay lip service about what it is to be Canadian, but really, back it up with very little. Watch the recent tv series 'John Adams' on TMN. We may not agree with or be perceived to 'like' Americans up here, but man, they stood by what they believed in, and even died for change. I know this is a CSA article, but think about what 19,000 sober fans at BMO could do for the price of food and drink for one game. Then go an entire season. That's how change happens. Don't all just be willing to hide behind your computer screens and bash the CSA, MLSE, etc. Do SOMETHING about it!
  4. NotASpoiledAthelete - from Canada writes: Young Gunner - I'm sure you're diatribe was written with the best intentions - but what the heck are you talking about?? First, I didn't whinge ..I didn't go to the game because the tickets were too expensive - so I actually did what you (I think) are saying we should do.
    Second - the article states that the stadium was nearly empty - so again, lots of people spoke with their wallets and didn't go.
    As for bowing down - how did that work out for your team in the PL (given your user name I'll assume your affiliation)? Did the fans stay away in droves when quality players were allowed to leave? Are the fans talking with their wallets at Emirates stadium? Because last time I checked Arsenal receives the greatest amount of revenue per game at $6 million per!!
    As for the CSA - can you explain to me how an average fan brings the CSA down?? I'd love to know because apparently since I'm not in the Armed Forces (and God Bless every single one of them) I am a do-nothing Canadian..which is a load of...don't EVER question my love for this country - EVER!!!
  5. OSCAR GUILLEN from Canada writes: Enough!!....this all CSA fault . Why is not the fans? Because we are the customers…customers are never wrong. Let me tell you why I think this way:
    • We don’t set the prices and schedules.
    • We don’t book the players on the team.
    • We HATE the CSA, the most dysfunctional soccer entity in the planet.
    Most people I know don’t even know anybody in Canada’s roster than Sutton, Brennan and DeRosario. Poor promotion and organization. Let TFC or the Whitecaps or the Montreal Impact run the CSA and make something happened. I know more about the women soccer team than the men’s team, why? Because the actually have some success, something that the men program is lucking. There is enough talent to compete, if just a good leadership was established we the fan would show you as we do with TFC the kind of support we are capable of give.
  6. NotASpoiledAthelete - from Canada writes: Amen to that, Oscar!
  7. B C from Canada writes: The answer is simple: a large portion of TFC fans are poseurs. They go to the games because its the in-thing to do and its an excuse to get drunk.

    The Mother's Day and ticket price arguments are laughable. I didn't realize $21 was a lot. People just want to make excuses for their lack of support.
  8. NotASpoiledAthelete - from Canada writes: BC - I wanted to take my Mom & Dad (we're of South American descent) but I didn't want them sitting in the 'bleeders' - so yes, $85 a ticket is crazy, plus they would have kicked my butt for spending that kind of money on a footie match.

    Any other assumptions you'd like to make about posters?
  9. Daniel Lisi from Toronto, Canada writes: In response to B C from Canada's comment:

    While $21 in itself isn't an exorbitant sum, it's a lot for the cheapest seats for a U-20 friendly...

    I understand that May 11 was chosen to mark the anniversary of the first game at the National Soccer Stadium, but better timing (i.e., NOT Mother's Day) and reasonably-priced seats would go a long way to helping to build a following for the national team in this city.

    As for the second comment about the fans at Toronto FC games going because "its the in-thing to do", the team sold 14,000 season tickets before the very first game of the inaugural season. Did they know it would be the 'in-thing' then??

    p.s.: I was at the game on Sunday, so I'm speaking as someone who is making an effort to support Canada's national teams.
  10. Young Gunner from Toronto, Canada writes: Sorry, I did rant a bit and went off on one. I really just get sick and tired of hearing people complain about COST...gas, beer, rice, etc... There's nothing you can do about the cost, until you take action by not buying the product. However, I do think the season ticket cost at TFC games is phenomenal (in the Supporters Section). It's great entertainment value. And $21 isn't bad for entertaining soccer, but yes it is under20, and on M's Day. I hate the CSA too. I wouldn't even know who we'd voice our displeasure to there. But maybe those brave few souls that made it out, shouldn't have bothered? Until there is a legitimate leader in the CSA, we should avoid anything they come out with. A much stronger CSA would NEVER have allowed the 'National Soccer Stadium' to be built without real grass. It would have reinforced to the City of Toronto and Ontario Governments the need for real grass. Anyway, I'm done. Let's form our own national association. We can call it SAC (Soccer Association Canada). Slogan: SAC the CSA. Now!
    Thoughts?
  11. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: The problem is that the CSA doesn't contract out TFC to promote/sell these tickets. They just throw it to Ticketmaster after some vague teaser sent to their database. There is no pro-active customer courtship and everyone leaves well enough be. People trust TFC, they don't trust the CSA.
  12. Random Person from Heard and Mc Donald Islands writes: It's not that unusual that youth international games have less attendance,however,especially,since Canada needs to promote this game,the friendly should have promoted internally,not through Gepka Co...and school teams,rec teams everybody like that should have been let in for 1$ and rest for 15$ at the max...

    Just to watch the game and enjoy soccer.
  13. Joe Reader from Canada writes: Humm, this article in the Globe is blaming a competing paper, Toronto Star ("Heck, the Toronto Star went out of its way to blast and discredit the stadium plan."). Perhaps true but sounds like a conflict of interest.
  14. bj sutherland from Victoria, Canada writes: I say support soccer despite the CSA. I loved the U-20 competition this year. I'm going to local games and hope to see TFC in Vancouver this summer. Canada will play Brazil in Seattle end of May and the Clipper is offering round-trip and game tickets. Go Canada, go Brazil.
  15. Canada Forever from Canada writes: Mothers day isn't laughable...Yeah, ma, Id love to have dinner with you, but I have to go see the u-20 Canadian team play... That would not fly.

    The problem is that Canadians are use to cheering at the Morgue on Bay, which means sitting down with popcorn and leaving halfway through the game.

    Organization of the events is brutal, there is no media attention, no one knows who are best players are and what they are doing. The CSA is horrible with the media.

    Finally, the biggest problem is multiculturalism. I personally do not believe in it. We have ethic ghettos and enclaves, not this wonderful everyone lives together in perfect harmony ideal that will never happen. Anyway, for soccer purposes it is easier to support the land your family left for whatever reason, because you are segregated in your own community. Mesh that with the inability of the CSA to market our soccer team, let alone build a youth development infrastructure, and viola, 5,000 people at the u20 match.
  16. A S from Woodbridge, Canada writes: 1. Need grass field.
    2. Need better planning. $5 and $10 tickets, promoted through all the minor soccer clubs, would have filled the stadium and had an amazing atmosphere.
    3. Bad planning, bad planning, bad planning
    4. The CSA got greedy. They saw the success of TFC and the U-20 WC last year and thought they could charge $85 and organize the game in 2 months.
    5. I had my mother's day plans for over a month in order to book a brunch.
    6. With the scarcity of TFC tickets, there are thousands of soccer fans and kids in the GTA who have never been to BMO Field yet. This would have been an easy sellout with proper planning.
  17. RR Mac from Toronto, Canada writes: A S from Woodbridge, Canada

    Agreed 100%.

    The CSA are bureaucrats who haven't a clue how to build support behind the team. If they can't get the confidence of Julian DeGuzman, Owen Hargreaves and the many other future made-in-Canada talent we lose every year, how can the fans?

    The Canadian government also has to step up and fund the program -- we'll likely excel at Whistler in 2010 because of it. I love hockey but can we not devote some dollars to soccer which is young Canada's favourite sport??
  18. Rick Restrepo from Toronto, Canada writes: Hey, I went to the game the $21 dollar for the furthest seat was actually $35 after taxes and the convience fee. I only heard about the game through the newspaper, and a little through the TFC website since they had a scrimminage and three of the TFC youth players were part of the U-20 team. Let's empahise the U-20, it was a friendly, and not the real team. Canada fares well in attendances look at the U-20 World Cup, and the Gold Cup, so I thought that 5000 people was ok. Plus, it was Mother's Day, I am actually grounded for a month since I went. I bought the tickets before realizing it was on Mother's Day. If I knew, I would have not went and I regret going because family is more important. I am 18 year old Colombian who lived in Canada all my life, and watches a lot of soccer including the Copa Libertadores, MLS and Copa Mustang, but family is first. The CSA should adverties more, and try, emphasize "try" to reach out and show the people why they should come out and support the team, TFC rules in this area and even considering they were last place all of last year. I was very unfortunate not to have bought a season tickets, so I buy off scalpers and patiently wait until someone gives up their seats. Anyone? Also, I was disappointed that I heard that the Senior team will not play in BMO field because of the turf. Why did the Canadian Gov't requested that for. This is not an American Football team, think of all the money they could have made if the field was actually grass. Money on the World Cup qualifying games or friendlies but now Montreal and Seattle makes that money. I like the idea of SAC (Soccer Association Canada) the CSA, the SAC should be based by Soccer fans and let's dump those old geezers who knows how to do nothing except mess up the beatiful game for us Canadians, and Joe Reader, that is very humorous what you wrote. Sorry for writing too much, just had to let it all out.
  19. Michael Phillips from writes: Okay, so who do we email in government to request the field surface be changed?
  20. Random Person from Heard and Mc Donald Islands writes: Why does the Gov't have to "approve" the change in turf?
  21. Dieter Schab from Fairmont Hot Springs, Canada writes: A U20 friendly would not sell in Germany either and they get 40 to 60k per first division game.
    I saw France- Germany a few years back and it was very low priced.
    Not even 2 000 Fans at the game.

    The price would have to be much lower and even then promotion for School would be good. (Future Fans)

    Thanks, Norbert
  22. B Z from Toronto, Canada writes: Give me a break ... U20 game and what ... you're expecting a sell out? Come on...exactly as others have mentioned, play a U20 game in any European country and most would stay home.

    One more thing ... Bob McCown is an idiot ... the man still thinks Boxing and Horse track racing are still the number one sports.

    Who the hell watches Horse track racing?
  23. Dave Hunt from Canada writes: BRING GRASS TO BMO FIELD---WATCH FOR PETITION SOON!!
  24. Bob Latchford from Toronto, Canada writes: I really wanted to go, however ticketmaster's automated billing system kept trying to charge me $84 a seat for the match. When I finally got hold of an agent they told me they had no idea what Canada U-20 was and that the event did not exist.......

    Yes Bob McCown and B.C are idiots and we need real grass.

    P.S.
  25. Johnny Canuck from Canada writes: It was a friendly. When there is nothing to play for attendance plummets. It's that simple.
  26. Rick Restrepo from Toronto, Canada writes: It depends on the Canadian Gov't for a grass field since they asked for a cheaper alternative which apparently is turf. The Canadian Gov't owns a part of the stadium thinking it would be home to the National scene and thought it was no big deal that the national team playing on turf. I beleive this is a combination of the Canadian Gov't and CSA for why the beatiful game is as great as it is. There is a lack of funding for the game, where all the money is into hockey (I like hockey !). The summer olympic has the same problem. We need to work together, do a fundraiser or something like that to raise money for funding. Like the Winnipeg Jets did in the 90's when they wanted to keep the team in Winnipeg.
  27. Rick Restrepo from Toronto, Canada writes: When it says "...beatiful game is as great as it is." It is suppose to say "...isn't as great as it is."
  28. Joe Serge from Canada writes: As others have stated; this was a good opportunity for the CSA to market the intertnaional game by making it affordable--even free-- rather than charging an outrageous price for a FRIENDLY. They should have had all sorts of promotions to fill out the stadium, as the Blue Jays do with every game. Discounted tickets for all registered soccer players, that sort of thing.
  29. Dave Hunt from Canada writes: The mediocre architecture and construction of "Canada's National Soccer Stadium" (I can not believe that a "tin can with carpet & rubber pellets as a playing field" is the best they could do for a prime location in downtown Toronto!) is a joke. Is this the best they could in a so called "world class city'?

    Just shows the lack of immagination and seriousness regarding the game is lacking from the top down. Did they think of the players when they contructed this stadium? The overwhelming majority hate playing on turf but sometimes refuse to admit it in public for various reasons.

    I was at the U-20 game. I got my tickets outside the stadium half price. I thought the game was good. Seeing the kids play on the carpet really sucks. I hope change will come soon. marketing of such games needs big time improvement.
  30. Young Gunner from Toronto, Canada writes: BRING GRASS TO BMO FIELD!

    Anyone know the city councillor/MPP, and MP for the area that BMO Field inhabits?
  31. David Bailey from Canada writes: I've scanned through the comments very quickly so if this was mentioned before, my apologies for mentioning it again.

    The CSA were not the promoters of this match! It was handled by a third party that specializes in friendly internationals. The same promoter is bringing the the Brazil U-20's and Krakow.

    That doesn't mean that the CSA is free of any fault re. the promotion of this match but the ticket prices were set by the promoter.
  32. Random Person from Heard and Mc Donald Islands writes: There is money for hockey....

    The Hockey association just invited 100 girls of U-17 to U-23 for a camp?

    Strenght and conditioning and skating camp!!!!

    Probably they invited another 100 boys too...

    Unheard of for CSA nd soccer!!!!!!!!!

    The CSA does almost nothing with respect of the NTC programs!!!!!!!!

    Is it because of lack of money and/or because they "reserved" all the spots on the team for their "friends" already and they don't want anybody new to come to the picture?

    They...meaning the "no goodnicks" of the CSA,whom everybody knows who they are....
  33. Chris R from Canada writes: Bang on article Mr. Knight. And to correct some misconceptions in the comments thereafter. 1) Ben was not "with" the Globe when the Star was pooping all over BMO Field...and it should be noted that they are not providing decent coverage after realizing what the Globe long realized...TFC should be covered. 2) The non-Toronto comments are so obvious with their Toronto-envy. It's the "hate Toronto" thing all over again. Get over it people. 90% of the STHs are bonafide soccer fans that didn't know it was going to be as huge as it is and are now are being blessed for their foresight. This has nothing to do with it being the "in" thing. In fact...I would say the "in" thing is to rag on Torontonians because you have nothing better to do in Cow-patty Alberta. 3) The CSA screwed up the Costa Rica friendly and learned NOTHING and went on to screw up the U20 friendly. Decenly priced, I think this even could have resulted in 10-12 thousand fans. Who would pay $85 for a U20 friendly anywhere in the world let alone in the country where hockey rules? Most people wouldn't pay that for a U20 HOCKEY friendly, let alone soccer. Keep up the great work Ben...we need the continued coverage and passion for the beautiful game...and if you hear any good ideas on how to bring down the CSA...put 'em up. Soccer in Canada needs it.
  34. C Coughlan from toronto, Canada writes: any other tfc season ticket holders think it would be a good idea to be allowed to use one of those 2 "international friendly" coupons we received for a national team game?
  35. B Z from Toronto, Canada writes: Take my two "International friendly" coupons and turn them into four free beers at the next game.
  36. A S from Woodbridge, Canada writes: Ben, I have to take exception with your "Toronto is not a great soccer town yet". Toronto is a SPECTACULAR soccer town. The amount of people that follow soccer at every level in this town, and every town in Canada for that matter is unbelievable. From following their "old world" teams on the internet and TV, to their local pro teams in Canada.
    I know you were trying to address the small crowd at the U20 game, but you lost focus for a few minutes. No one in their right mind should have paid more than $10 to be at that game. As evidenced by the ground swell of support for TFC, Toronto and Canada are just itching to get behind their teams. I'll give you a mulligan on that one, because you've been bang on everything else.

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