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denime
08-15-2008, 10:54 AM
Knight: The battle of BMO Field


The Toronto Argonauts say they're just testing the waters. Toronto FC fans are mobilizing to fight them on the beaches.
The Argos recently sent out a survey to their season ticket holders, and one of the questions asked was how everyone feels about CFL football in the cozy outdoor intimacy of BMO Field. Seems a nice enough idea. Do what the Alouettes did in Montreal – vacate a cold concrete chasm and sell out a tiny little gem of a park. Good for the game, good for the fans, good for everybody.
But really bad for soccer, and for the team and fans that have already claimed Canada's so-called national soccer stadium for their own.
And the fight … is … on!
Some historic background: When plans for the stadium were first unveiled in the steaming summer of 2002, the Canadian Soccer Association was actively counting on the Argos to be part of the plan. But the Boatmen were saddled with utterly incompetent ownership, and could not be reached for any kind of believable comment.
But then came that happy – at the time – news that David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski had bought the CFLers. Practically the first thing they did was embrace soccer – and the new stadium.
Things didn't work out. Everything looked set for a gleaming new park up at York University, and then the Argos signed a new lease at SkyDome and the entire soccer stadium project looked dead.
But then … Toronto Mayor David Miller offered to pump in $10-million bucks if the park was built at the Exhibition grounds on the waterfront. That suddenly made an MLS expansion team make sense to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. In a blinding round of handshakes, deals and happiness, both Toronto FC and BMO Field was born. A delicious little soccer park – with seats almost up to the touchlines – has been winning hearts and loyalty ever since.
And now, the Argos are interested?
Couple of problems, people. The playing surface at BMO Field is officially 40 yards too short to accommodate a CFL field. A major reconstruction – and expansion – of the building would be necessary before the Argos could play there. And that sits very badly with the most passionate – and politically powerful – group of fans this town has yet seen.


Read more (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080815.WBsoccerblog20080815113052/WBStory/WBsoccerblog/)

Stryker
08-15-2008, 11:00 AM
Awesome article Ben.

Roogsy
08-15-2008, 11:02 AM
Great friggin' article!

Click on the link boys. Ben deserves our support. He has been a true fan before some of us were even born, and has supported TFC on behalf of the media since day one.

Shaughno
08-15-2008, 11:04 AM
As always Ben, fantastic.

Onward!

ACSertL
08-15-2008, 11:06 AM
He says everything I want to say...without the word 'fuckin'.

Love it Ben! Love it!

Cashcleaner
08-15-2008, 11:10 AM
Excellent, excellent article.

billyfly
08-15-2008, 11:27 AM
Here Here

Velvet Elvis
08-15-2008, 11:33 AM
Well Done Ben !!!

BuSaPuNk
08-15-2008, 11:33 AM
Excellent article Ben! Fight the good fight!!

gtaguy
08-15-2008, 11:42 AM
I think i got a tear coming down my eye.. :)

No bullshit when i say i got pumped reading your article...
Bring all who oppose our SSS and TFC.... I FEEL LIKE FIGHTIN!!!!

Whoop
08-15-2008, 11:46 AM
And that sits very badly with the most passionate – and politically powerful – group of fans this town has yet seen.



Haha, I love it!

This is why the media slags this. They can't believe that we're not like Leafs fans and bending over.

koryo
08-15-2008, 11:47 AM
Just so Ben, just so.

Roogsy
08-15-2008, 11:51 AM
Haha, I love it!

This is why the media slags this. They can't believe that we're not like Leafs fans and bending over.

I noticed that too. Toronto has never seen our kind before. And that is a good thing.

And when you think about it, willingly or unwillingly we have made connections all over the places thanks to the reaching out of the executives of all the supporters groups. You talk to any one of them and they are constantly in contact with players, executives, media etc. It is very important and very useful for things like this. I say good job guys...

flatpicker
08-15-2008, 11:52 AM
Shaaaazzzzzaaaaaammmm!!!!!!

denime
08-15-2008, 12:05 PM
I noticed that too. Toronto has never seen our kind before. And that is a good thing.

Toronto teams in general have fans,not SUPPORTERS.
Now they are all surprised,TFC fans are not bending over,strange?:sheep:

Great article

Ossington Mental Youth
08-15-2008, 12:07 PM
defo a great article

Mark in Ottawa
08-15-2008, 12:35 PM
Bingo!
Succinct and to the point.
Thanks for the good work Ben.

rocktml
08-15-2008, 07:18 PM
Two thumbs up

SilverSamurai
08-15-2008, 07:24 PM
Excellent article.

Toronto Ruffrider
08-15-2008, 11:26 PM
Great article Ben! Let's reserve BMO for the right kind of football.

TicTacTabarnack
08-16-2008, 09:18 PM
I love Ben's comment:



Ben Knight from Canada writes:

Great idea!

Can you imagine the spectator gallery at City Hall filled with chanting red-clad TFC supporters? The acoustics aren't bad in there, by the way!

This would be much more effective than wearing black at BMO! Take it right to the decision makers. Fill (sell out) the spectator Gallery and have spill-over protectors outside!