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View Full Version : Impact Ownership: 'we didn't reach our SSH mark, what can we do to improve?'



__wowza
07-06-2012, 03:15 PM
http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2012/06/games-stade-saputo-good-show-display (http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2012/06/games-stade-saputo-good-show-displa)

file this under "ML$E: you should be paying attention"


Tell us what YOU think

“Our objectives are higher than what we are experiencing at the moment,” said Impact executive vice-president Richard Legendre. “We are aware that work remains to be done, and we are not looking at the market as acquired. The positive perception of the club and MLS must transform into ticket sales. Everyone who comes to visit the stadium tells us how much they appreciate the experience and the ambiance. If there is something missing, we invite our fans to let us know.”

mastermixer
07-06-2012, 03:24 PM
http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2012/07/montreal-impact-introduces-special-promotions

FRIENDS PACKAGE includes 4 hot dogs and 4 beers for 20 bucks a person! :jaw:

ManUtd4ever
07-06-2012, 03:29 PM
That's brutal. With the history and tradition of the Impact in Montreal prior to their "promotion" to MLS, this looks terrible on their fan base. Imagine if Impact supporters experience what we went through for the next 6 years. There would probably be less than 1000 STHs left, LOL.

London
07-06-2012, 03:40 PM
nice to see an ownership that "gives a shit", i fully understand they are forced into doing this stuff because of attendance, but including the paying customer is a far better way to grow your club rather than the "ml$e" way.


TFC management is http://bangshift.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dumbass1.jpg

__wowza
07-06-2012, 03:45 PM
nice to see an ownership that "gives a shit", i fully understand they are forced into doing this stuff because of attendance, but including the paying customer is a far better way to grow your club rather than the "ml$e" way.

like it's been stated before, MLSE fell ass backwards into a fanbase that they didn't expect, nor understand. most other clubs in MLS would kill to have a slice of what we've got as bottom feeders.

London
07-06-2012, 04:43 PM
like it's been stated before, MLSE fell ass backwards into a fanbase that they didn't expect, nor understand. most other clubs in MLS would kill to have a slice of what we've got as bottom feeders.


well if shit continues,by the end of next season we will also have the same SSH numbers and they still wont give a shit what we think. saputo is committed to building a winning club, MLSE is committed to profits

denime
07-06-2012, 04:49 PM
PLEASE HIRE Anslemi he knows how to make fans happy!:facepalm:

Furtado91
07-06-2012, 05:16 PM
man we get fucked over so badly compared to them there. I would suggest a massive non renewal for season seats but thats asking too much i think. fuck man i hope the suffering we endure now brings a brighter future :( but it doesnt look to good.

Suds
07-06-2012, 05:26 PM
The difference between a club that takes their fans for granted (MLSE) and one that works to earn their business. (Impact)

Shakes McQueen
07-06-2012, 05:51 PM
There's no doubt that MLSE take the TFC fanbase for granted (a look at our ticket prices will quickly show you that), but as for this instance in particular - there's a big difference between nice words, and results. I'm wondering what the qualitative difference is between this nice paragraph, and say, the town halls the TFC FO have held in the past, for fans to voice their opinions directly to the team?

I mean, I'll never begrudge a team owner trying to show interest in the opinions of it's fans, but we've received these nice, empty gestures in the past too. It's the action afterward that give them any meaning.

- Scott

Super
07-06-2012, 05:54 PM
TFC may have to resort to similar deals next year. We're playing better right now, but people have been beaten down for years by an organization that clearly is incompetent, so even with a strong finish this year I doubt they will sell all season tickets again. People are just angry. They turned the club into a joke. It may take 3-4 years of fantastic play + play-offs each year before we see consistent sell-outs again.

Maybe we should all dump our seasons. I like the idea of a ticket, beer and hotdog for 20 bucks.

Fort York Redcoat
07-06-2012, 06:16 PM
Holy shit. This far into a thread and no one is taking any shots at how pathetic Montreal is in their first MLS season?

Too busy applauding how much more interested and caring their FO is?

Wow. No one can say our priority isn't a new FO. At this point it's superceding rivalry...

__wowza
07-06-2012, 06:36 PM
Wow. No one can say our priority isn't a new FO. At this point it's superceding rivalry...

but we already know the impact is shit.. g:D

Super
07-06-2012, 06:39 PM
but we already know the impact is shit.. g:D

Agreed. But the table tells another story. They have 18 points. We have 10. They're a first year team. We're in our sixth year. Fortunately our form as of late is a hell of a lot better than theirs.

Redcoe15
07-06-2012, 06:45 PM
That's brutal. With the history and tradition of the Impact in Montreal prior to their "promotion" to MLS, this looks terrible on their fan base. Imagine if Impact supporters experience what we went through for the next 6 years. There would probably be less than 1000 STHs left, LOL.

If the attitudes of both clubs continue the way they're going, we may be looking at Montreal's attendance with envy and wonder what the fuck happened to our fan base, knowing full well what the answer is (ML$E!)

jazzy
07-07-2012, 07:24 AM
...having just seen this I am stunned...flabbergasted, you name it,....we should be voted greatest fans ever for the shit we've been fed......first going after a solid base of fans by getting Nesta, De Vaio,....then trying to establish a communication with it's CUSTOMERS,...........

jazzy
07-07-2012, 07:27 AM
http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2012/07/montreal-impact-introduces-special-promotions



FRIENDS PACKAGE includes 4 hot dogs and 4 beers for 20 bucks a person! :jaw:

but are those beers those tiny dixie cups ...still

jazzy
07-07-2012, 08:03 AM
Holy shit. This far into a thread and no one is taking any shots at how pathetic Montreal is in their first MLS season?

Too busy applauding how much more interested and caring their FO is?

Wow. No one can say our priority isn't a new FO. At this point it's superceding rivalry...

but Pete Montreal is 8 pts ahead of us and their FO while just starting out, already are reaching out to their customers, (yes poor attendance),..but quick to grasp the problem, yes?.satisfy the customer!....are we numbed/defined by years of the leafs style of sports franchise that we should expect our 'taken for granted and charging the highest the market will bear approach' , forever? .....I generally fear for our team.....I love the team but as many, love supporting it, but am VERY conflicted with this FO...and really don't want to stop going to games......but their arrogance really unleashes a slow boil inside.....they seem to take us as fools consistently!...I'd love to be wrong.

scooterTFC
07-07-2012, 10:35 AM
The recipe for pro sports teams Montreal is simple, "Win and the fans will buy tickets, lose and they won't". The only exception being the Habs, that draw regardless. I'm sure Saputo knows this, hence he's signing veteran players with a focus on winning now.

Gazza
07-07-2012, 10:42 AM
There's no doubt that MLSE take the TFC fanbase for granted (a look at our ticket prices will quickly show you that), but as for this instance in particular - there's a big difference between nice words, and results. I'm wondering what the qualitative difference is between this nice paragraph, and say, the town halls the TFC FO have held in the past, for fans to voice their opinions directly to the team?

I mean, I'll never begrudge a team owner trying to show interest in the opinions of it's fans, but we've received these nice, empty gestures in the past too. It's the action afterward that give them any meaning.

- Scott

Exactly. I believe the Town Hall meetings were initially seen as a step in the right direction and an olive branch to the frustrated, loyal fans.

But inaction and misdirection soon followed whilst pissing in our faces and telling us it was the rain.

However, i believe that this is a pride project for Saputo. He wants success in the form of championships and a packed house. Not just lined pockets. Like our FO, he can't just wash his hands and point the finger. When things go wrong, the finger will be pointed squarely in his direction.

Oldtimer
07-07-2012, 10:43 AM
Shocking, a club owned and run by a fan of the game, who wants to build a truly great thing, and actually cares about what his fans think. How unprofessional. ML$E will show that guy a thing or two!! :)

CBTFC
07-07-2012, 11:26 AM
Shocking, a club owned and run by a fan of the game, who wants to build a truly great thing, and actually cares about what his fans think. How unprofessional. ML$E will show that guy a thing or two!! :)

The day that TFC manages to sign a World Class experienced CB AND lowers their ticket prices, I'll lead the goddam parade around BMO Field.

If there's any Limp Act, it's the TFC FO.

rocker
07-07-2012, 01:14 PM
But I still criticize Montreal fans for not coming out. It's an expansion team so obviously they aren't going to be a great team. the prices aren't that bad already. It's not like they had 6 years of futility and are justified in not showing up until things get better, Just shows Montreal fans are bandwagon jumpers.

BHTC Mike
07-07-2012, 01:23 PM
Anyone who thinks an expansion team dropping their prices in year one is a good thing for Canadian soccer is losing the plot.

As a fan, outside of wins, what I'd want at my club is:

1) A large, stable fan base that turns up game in, game out to support the team rain or shine.

2) A responsive, non-abusive FO who see that fan base as partners rather than customers.

We've got one; Montreal might, and I emphasize MIGHT, have neither.

I'll be the first to admit that there are some things I really admire about Joey Saputo and his family. Their commitment to building soccer as a spectator sport in the Montreal market is admirable. They certainly value winning for its own sake rather than being just a vehicle to a more profitable and valuable enterprise.

But anyone suggesting that there's not a history of front office dysfunction in Montreal, most of it traceable back to Joey and co., doesn't know the history there.

Further, the idea of members of a Toronto supporters group COMPLEMENTING the Impact organization for their allegedly superior supporters relations is seriously through the looking glass sort of stuff. Montreal has a long history of NOT appreciating their dedicated supporters and this has lead to friction, including banners being removed, verbal fights in the stands, walkouts, and protests by UM02. My French ain't the best but THIS VERY WEEK the Impact announced they'd be once again installing netting behind the home goal, banning tifos and banners, and, as I understand it, fining UM02, as a group, for every flare thrown in the future.


À l’Association des supporters,

Nous tenons d’abord à vous dire que nous apprécions beaucoup votre support et l’ambiance que vous créez au Stade Saputo. Toutefois, nous ne pouvons pas accepter des situations telles que vécues lors du dernier match, principalement pour la sécurité des spectateurs présents. De plus, plus de 3000$ en dommage ont été causés à la structure du gradin.

Suite aux événements du 27 juin dernier, l’Impact de Montréal tient donc à vous faire part de certaines mesures qui seront appliquées dès le prochain match, le 4 juillet, contre le Sporting Kansas City :

- Le filet de protection derrière le but et devant la section 132 sera remis en place pour la sécurité des joueurs sur le terrain et ce, à la demande de l’Impact de Montréal et de la ligue.

- Si d'autres torches (flares) sont allumées dans la section des supporters du Stade Saputo, les drapeaux et tifos seront bannis pour une durée indéterminée.

- Une amende minimale de 150$ sera imposée pour chaque torche qui sera allumée. Ce montant sera déduit à même le fond des supporters.

- Toute personne qui sera prise à utiliser une torche sera bannie du stade pour une période indéterminée.

- Les fumigènes sont également interdits. L’utilisation dans les gradins pourrait être sanctionnée par des amendes ou des restrictions de privilèges.

Nous devons mettre ces mesures en place, afin d’éviter qu’un incident grave survienne.

The above might even be a prudent, reasonable, and fair set of sanctions considering the damage members of UM02 allegedly caused. We'll see how they respond though; I'll suggest right now that this will get uglier before it gets better, particularly with too much of the rest of the stadium unsold.

Up thread someone implied that Montreal valued the paying customer. The reality is that they've never appreciated who their paying customers are and don't have enough of them. That's different than the situation in Toronto but certainly not better.

Cashcleaner
07-08-2012, 12:17 AM
It's actually very simple. Montreal is experiencing a downturn with attendance and are trying to rectify the problem by:

A) Introducing new low-price promotions,

and,

B) Bringing in a world-renown Centre Back to augment the team.

Things are getting pretty bad here when we applaud some rather common and straight-forward business practices that clubs all over the world utilize when they need to attract crowds.

Fort York Redcoat
07-08-2012, 08:13 AM
I want no one to think that in any way I am complimenting our FO by shitting on another FO. I'm shocked that more people aren't pointing out the frailty in Montreal's support and focusing on the reaction of an FO that is far from their first year of existence and should be having no trouble at all getting Montrealers out to the top level game available to them now.

Montreal is a city that responds to bad results, true, but they also can be pretty damn apathetic from the start.

It's pretty damning to look at the attendance for LA's visit or that one CCL match v Santos and then look at their STH numbers. It has fairweather stamped all over it. What's the sports competition? The Als don't start till later this week and the expos aren't gonna be distracting anybody with more than classic merchandise.

Petor
07-08-2012, 10:50 AM
Anyone who thinks an expansion team dropping their prices in year one is a good thing for Canadian soccer is losing the plot.

As a fan, outside of wins, what I'd want at my club is:

1) A large, stable fan base that turns up game in, game out to support the team rain or shine.

2) A responsive, non-abusive FO who see that fan base as partners rather than customers.

We've got one; Montreal might, and I emphasize MIGHT, have neither.

I'll be the first to admit that there are some things I really admire about Joey Saputo and his family. Their commitment to building soccer as a spectator sport in the Montreal market is admirable. They certainly value winning for its own sake rather than being just a vehicle to a more profitable and valuable enterprise.

But anyone suggesting that there's not a history of front office dysfunction in Montreal, most of it traceable back to Joey and co., doesn't know the history there.

Further, the idea of members of a Toronto supporters group COMPLEMENTING the Impact organization for their allegedly superior supporters relations is seriously through the looking glass sort of stuff. Montreal has a long history of NOT appreciating their dedicated supporters and this has lead to friction, including banners being removed, verbal fights in the stands, walkouts, and protests by UM02. My French ain't the best but THIS VERY WEEK the Impact announced they'd be once again installing netting behind the home goal, banning tifos and banners, and, as I understand it, fining UM02, as a group, for every flare thrown in the future.



The above might even be a prudent, reasonable, and fair set of sanctions considering the damage members of UM02 allegedly caused. We'll see how they respond though; I'll suggest right now that this will get uglier before it gets better, particularly with too much of the rest of the stadium unsold.

Up thread someone implied that Montreal valued the paying customer. The reality is that they've never appreciated who their paying customers are and don't have enough of them. That's different than the situation in Toronto but certainly not better.

Here is the translation... (trashing one's own newly renovated stadium?)
Supporters Association.
We first want to tell you that we much appreciate your support and the atmosphere you create at Saputo Stadium. However, we cannot accept such situations experienced in the last match, mainly for the safety of the spectators present. In addition, over $ 3000 in damage was caused to the structure of the bench.
Following the events of June 27, the Montreal Impact is therefore to share certain measures that will be applied the next day, July 4, against Sporting Kansas City:
-The net behind the goal and before the section 132 will be put back in place for the safety of the players on the field, at the request of the Montreal Impact and the League.
-If other (flares) torches are lit in the section of the supporters of the Saputo Stadium, flags and displays will be banned for an indefinite period.
-A minimum fine of $ 150 will be imposed for each torch which will be lit. This amount will be deducted on even the bottom of the supporters.
-Any person who will be made to use a torch will be banned from the stadium for an indeterminate period.
-The smoke are also prohibited. The use in the stands could be punished by fines or restrictions of privileges.
We put these measures in place, to avoid that a serious incident occurs.

Yohan
07-09-2012, 01:57 PM
Another soccer team owner with a vision
Gordon Hartman, San Antonio Scorpions

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/sports/soccer/investing-in-soccer-but-not-for-a-profit.html?_r=2

prizby
07-09-2012, 02:51 PM
reading the limp act supporters comments on their threads...one guy asked do you get arrested if you break the law by going 120km/h on the highway?...i laughed pretty hard

prizby
07-09-2012, 02:57 PM
best quote:



Mls loves that, and that's all the t.a. do, except in toronto esque isolated cases? after all, they are the league's preferred image of mls bad boy type support?

SmokedPanda
07-09-2012, 03:35 PM
But I still criticize Montreal fans for not coming out. It's an expansion team so obviously they aren't going to be a great team. the prices aren't that bad already. It's not like they had 6 years of futility and are justified in not showing up until things get better, Just shows Montreal fans are bandwagon jumpers.

Saputo Stadium is located in the worst part of Montreal. If it was located downtown or right off the highway with multiple public transportation options like at BMO it would draw a better crowd.

Also just like in Toronto people show up damn late for kickoff because of the location since rush hour traffic doesn't end until 7:30pm on a weeknight.

ag futbol
07-09-2012, 04:15 PM
Criticizing the customers has never been a particularly sound business strategy. Rather than saying "people aren't coming out" I'd rather see management ask why they aren't coming out.

That being said, if they really looked hard enough they'd realize if they want to cultivate the hardcore support in the stadium they have to do a better job of managing the relationship with their fans. Give credit where it's due, compared to 90& of the other teams out there TFC does a pretty good job of this. Slight problem being, you know if tickets ever got hot and there were extra dollars to be made, they'd price us right out of the building.

MFG1
07-09-2012, 08:05 PM
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/07/06/impact_introduce_nesta/


I cant believe that no one has posted this yet that they are already lowering prices, even after the recent pickups they just made. just goes to show you.

Fort York Redcoat
07-09-2012, 08:16 PM
Criticizing the customers has never been a particularly sound business strategy. Rather than saying "people aren't coming out" I'd rather see management ask why they aren't coming out.


ag is that not what they are doing? It's myself and opposing supporters saying the former. The impact FO has composed a message very similar to the latter part of your post.

Blizzard
07-09-2012, 08:28 PM
Criticizing the customers has never been a particularly sound business strategy. Rather than saying "people aren't coming out" I'd rather see management ask why they aren't coming out.

That being said, if they really looked hard enough they'd realize if they want to cultivate the hardcore support in the stadium they have to do a better job of managing the relationship with their fans. Give credit where it's due, compared to 90& of the other teams out there TFC does a pretty good job of this. Slight problem being, you know if tickets ever got hot and there were extra dollars to be made, they'd price us right out of the building.

Take note TFC / MLS / MLSE. Sure, a winning team will help fill those empty seats at BMO Field but so might lower ticket prices and they just might be easier to achieve.

Fort York Redcoat
07-09-2012, 08:30 PM
^Lets wait to see how successful that Impact FO is with the sale on tix first before we fall over ourselves applauding them trying to survive.

ag futbol
07-09-2012, 08:31 PM
ag is that not what they are doing? It's myself and opposing supporters saying the former. The impact FO has composed a message very similar to the latter part of your post.
I think it's neither here nor there... They are right to lower prices to get some more butts in the seats, but they are wrong to continuously be adversarial with their supporters group.

Blizzard
07-09-2012, 09:01 PM
^Lets wait to see how successful that Impact FO is with the sale on tix first before we fall over ourselves applauding them trying to survive.

This bring to mind all the discussions that took place when MLSE got involved in bringing a team to Toronto while Montreal was bypassed due to their unwillingness to pay the freight. Joey's worry about putting up the big money (only $10 million) in those days may have been well founded though. Sure L'Impact had good attendances in second tier but with much lower ticket prices, very cheap group rates and some liberal papering of the house. Joey hesitated on jumping on the MLS bandwagon out of concern that his fan base would not react well to the prices that needed to be charged for the big league.

It looks like his fears were well founded leaving him with a hill to climb both on and off the field.

Fort York Redcoat
07-10-2012, 06:46 AM
This bring to mind all the discussions that took place when MLSE got involved in bringing a team to Toronto while Montreal was bypassed due to their unwillingness to pay the freight. Joey's worry about putting up the big money (only $10 million) in those days may have been well founded though. Sure L'Impact had good attendances in second tier but with much lower ticket prices, very cheap group rates and some liberal papering of the house. Joey hesitated on jumping on the MLS bandwagon out of concern that his fan base would not react well to the prices that needed to be charged for the big league.

It looks like his fears were well founded leaving him with a hill to climb both on and off the field.

That's a very good point. It's extremely surprising to someone from Toronto, a city that ONLY responds to top level competition (See: Lynx, Majors, even Marlies) watch a city so close in population struggle to show up in numbers for a "promoted" team.

I'll admit I thought Joey was simply courting the best entrance fee offer he could get moreso to make a statement on his opinion of MLS but he genuinely had reasons not to join MLS at this point. I hope for his and the cities sake that it changes.

Beach_Red
07-10-2012, 08:47 AM
That's a very good point. It's extremely surprising to someone from Toronto, a city that ONLY responds to top level competition (See: Lynx, Majors, even Marlies) watch a city so close in population struggle to show up in numbers for a "promoted" team.

I'll admit I thought Joey was simply courting the best entrance fee offer he could get moreso to make a statement on his opinion of MLS but he genuinely had reasons not to join MLS at this point. I hope for his and the cities sake that it changes.


He does have a tough situation in Montreal. The stadium is in a terrible location for half the city to get to (I know, on the Metro and all that, but it's a long haul from the West Island suburns - very different from where the Als play - even the Expos could only draw there if they were winning once the novelty wore off) and there's a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar in Montreal in the summer.

Like they have so far, it's likely the Impact will do well in big one-off games, but getting a lot of people to commit to season tickets for the summer in Montreal will be tough.

Toronto
07-11-2012, 04:01 PM
This bring to mind all the discussions that took place when MLSE got involved in bringing a team to Toronto while Montreal was bypassed due to their unwillingness to pay the freight. Joey's worry about putting up the big money (only $10 million) in those days may have been well founded though. Sure L'Impact had good attendances in second tier but with much lower ticket prices, very cheap group rates and some liberal papering of the house. Joey hesitated on jumping on the MLS bandwagon out of concern that his fan base would not react well to the prices that needed to be charged for the big league.

It looks like his fears were well founded leaving him with a hill to climb both on and off the field.


Funny all the fuss and yet they're averaging 25K a game. 6K more than us and a 5K more than the Habs and yet---- PANIC it's not going to work. LOL.

Fort York Redcoat
07-12-2012, 06:10 AM
Funny all the fuss and yet they're averaging 25K a game. 6K more than us and a 5K more than the Habs and yet---- PANIC it's not going to work. LOL.

IF that's the case then their problem is getting people to show up. Other than the LA game there was nowhere near 25k. Shame.

supersaint
07-13-2012, 08:19 AM
Take note TFC / MLS / MLSE. Sure, a winning team will help fill those empty seats at BMO Field but so might lower ticket prices and they just might be easier to achieve.
I would much rather pay my current ssh rate and be competitive next season than have my ticket prices halved and watch the worst team in mls. I also think mls may have made a mistake in awarding Montreal a place in the league. It is really not a great sports town.

Fort York Redcoat
07-13-2012, 08:23 AM
I would much rather pay my current ssh rate and be competitive next season than have my ticket prices halved and watch the worst team in mls. I also think mls may have made a mistake in awarding Montreal a place in the league. It is really not a great sports town.

Probably the same reason as the expos franchise being awarded. Great party town.:noidea:

Greatest Ripoff
07-13-2012, 08:43 AM
I would much rather pay my current ssh rate and be competitive next season than have my ticket prices halved and watch the worst team in mls. I also think mls may have made a mistake in awarding Montreal a place in the league. It is really not a great sports town.


Have you actually watched them play besides the matches against Toronto? They actually play some nice football right now. The match against KC that was TSN the other week was a great.

Beach_Red
07-13-2012, 09:16 AM
Probably the same reason as the expos franchise being awarded. Great party town.:noidea:

It's tough to figure Montreal's exact place between big market and small market - the Habs, of course, dominate everything, but the Als are a very successful franchise now that they play in a good, downtown stadium. It's even helped university football do better in Montreal.

The Royals had a long and distinguished history in Montreal and the Expos did well for a long time but probably also needed to play downtown in a good baseball stadium. As you say, Montreal is a party town and there's always something to do so selling tickets to a crappy stadium that's tough for a lot of the city to get to is going to be tough outside of 'event' games.

It's not that Montreal is a bad sports city, it's just that there's a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar.

Toronto
07-13-2012, 10:42 AM
It's tough to figure Montreal's exact place between big market and small market - the Habs, of course, dominate everything, but the Als are a very successful franchise now that they play in a good, downtown stadium. It's even helped university football do better in Montreal.

The Royals had a long and distinguished history in Montreal and the Expos did well for a long time but probably also needed to play downtown in a good baseball stadium. As you say, Montreal is a party town and there's always something to do so selling tickets to a crappy stadium that's tough for a lot of the city to get to is going to be tough outside of 'event' games.

It's not that Montreal is a bad sports city, it's just that there's a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar.


Agreed.

Here's the deal. We think Toronto is a great sports town cause we'll support anything major league- even if the team is the JOKE of the league. In other towns, you have to win for people to come out. Have you seen some Seria A games? Empty stadiums. Does that mean that Italy is a crap market for soccer?

It's so easy to bash Montreal because that's what we're supposed to do. They still are outdrawing us and ahead in the standings. This has nothing to do with Montreal being a bad market or being a bad team, but everything to do with MLSE and our collective need to feel that we're the Canadian Boston. Except teams in Boston win stuff.

Toronto
07-13-2012, 10:43 AM
I would much rather pay my current ssh rate and be competitive next season than have my ticket prices halved and watch the worst team in mls. I also think mls may have made a mistake in awarding Montreal a place in the league. It is really not a great sports town.

You`re watching the worst team in the MLS NOW...good luck with year seven...:drinking:

Fort York Redcoat
07-13-2012, 11:27 AM
So much ridiculousness.


Agreed.

Here's the deal. We think Toronto is a great sports town cause we'll support anything major league- even if the team is the JOKE of the league. In other towns, you have to win for people to come out. Have you seen some Seria A games? Empty stadiums. Does that mean that Italy is a crap market for soccer?

Another way to say this is Toronto does not have as many fairweather fans. And no empty stadiums does not mean a crap market for soccer. It means a crap market for live soccer.


It's so easy to bash Montreal because that's what we're supposed to do. They still are outdrawing us and ahead in the standings. This has nothing to do with Montreal being a bad market or being a bad team, but everything to do with MLSE and our collective need to feel that we're the Canadian Boston. Except teams in Boston win stuff.

No. This has everything to do with Montreal struggling to get people out and nothing to do with MLSE. And I don't know or care to be Boston. I think you're projecting.

Montreal vs KC:

Attendance: 15118

Toronto vs Vancouver:

Attendance: 19821

I don't know what attendance you're referring to unless its your own guesstimate looking at the crowd in 2 sec intervals in highlights. Not very reliable or trustworthy.


You`re watching the worst team in the MLS NOW...good luck with year seven...:drinking:

Does that mean you won't be around? Oh, and you're keyboard is still on french mode, mon ami.

ManUtd4ever
07-13-2012, 11:35 AM
Pfffft. Montreal has the most fickle fans in Canada, in any professional sport. Even the Habs learned that lesson the hard way during their lean years.

Saputo has pulled out all the stops, catered to his demographic fan base, built a respectable first year squad, and they still can't sell out.

What a joke.

Beach_Red
07-13-2012, 11:43 AM
Pfffft. Montreal has the most fickle fans in Canada, in any professional sport. Even the Habs learned that lesson the hard way during their lean years.

Saputo has pulled out all the stops, catered to his demographic fan base, built a respectable first year squad, and they still can't sell out.

What a joke.

Saputo didn't have a downtown stadium handed to him.

Wait and see what this looks like in five years. Maybe it'll be like it is now, or maybe it'll look more like the Als and Argos.....

ManUtd4ever
07-13-2012, 11:49 AM
Saputo didn't have a downtown stadium handed to him.

Wait and see what this looks like in five years. Maybe it'll be like it is now, or maybe it'll look more like the Als and Argos.....

Let's see what happens to the Als attendance figures if they are no longer a perennial Grey Cup contender.

Beach_Red
07-13-2012, 11:56 AM
Let's see what happens to the Als attendance figures if they are no longer a perennial Grey Cup contender.

Yeah, we'll see. There may even be a link between the Impact and the Als - it wasn't that long ago that Quebec completely revamped it's minor football programs and started CEGEP and university football (how long did it take Laval from starting a football program to winning the Vanier Cup?) and that had an affect on the Als.

But if soccer overtakes football in Quebec that may have a (geeze, I wish there was another word for it ;)) impact on profressional soccer in Quebec.

But there's no doubt, fans in Montreal demand a winning team more than fans in Toronto. Just like Quebec demands better movies and TV shows from its domestic industry and better...

Alonso
07-13-2012, 03:53 PM
Yeah, we'll see. There may even be a link between the Impact and the Als - it wasn't that long ago that Quebec completely revamped it's minor football programs and started CEGEP and university football (how long did it take Laval from starting a football program to winning the Vanier Cup?) and that had an affect on the Als.

But if soccer overtakes football in Quebec that may have a (geeze, I wish there was another word for it ;)) impact on profressional soccer in Quebec.

But there's no doubt, fans in Montreal demand a winning team more than fans in Toronto. Just like Quebec demands better movies and TV shows from its domestic industry and better...

Not to mention DEMANDING better social benefits like virtually free daycare and education compared to the rest of the country.

These guys demand a lot... and seem to get it.

Cajones.

OgtheDim
07-13-2012, 05:46 PM
The focus on the Italian connection will not help them with the Francophone community. The Als actively scouted and courted local talent. Yes, its a bit harder for the Impact to do so. But you would have thought they might at least go for a bit more French team.

supersaint
07-13-2012, 09:44 PM
Have you actually watched them play besides the matches against Toronto? They actually play some nice football right now. The match against KC that was TSN the other week was a great.

I did not mean that Montreal were the worst team in MLS I was talking in general terms about being willing to pay to see a decent and successful team, and being unwilling to pay a lot less if I knew that there was going to be no effort to improve on a poor season. I think Montreal have a damn good first year team, and I did enjoy the KC game. If you take the huge attendance for the LA Galaxy game out of the equation, it is a bit worrying that even though they have a pretty good team, especially for a first year MLS team, and they have some high profile players, attendance may well become an issue for Saputo. I hope they survive and flourish, because it only helps the game grow in Canada as a whole, and god knows we all love the rivalry that is developing between ourselves, Vancouver and Montreal.