Improvements to BMO field

[no1redsfan]

It is now my understanding that TFC are now going ahead with the resurfacing of BMO field with natural grass. Good start but too long in coming. There are some other changes I would like to see and am wondering what other TFC fans would like to see.

The top 3 changes I'd like to see at BMO are:

1. This one might be unique to the game of football and I don't know if it's been done elsewhere but, I would like to see the areas behind the goals 'blackened out' so as to give the fans (tv or in-attendance) a clear outline of the goalposts and ball from anywhere in the stadium. As we all know in the game of baseball the seats directly behind the centerfield fence are painted black so as to give the batter a clear view of the little white ball. I think the same consideration should be given to the fans because afterall they are the ones who ultimately pay the bill. At times, it is so hard to make out the outline of the white goalposts amid a background of grey concrete and multi-coloured advertising.

2. Seating closer to the field. I am so jealous when I see games from the English FA where fans are right on top of the action and in many stadiums seated directly behind the advertising boards. Yet, at BMO field there is this tremendous gap between the first row of fans and the touchline. So often, this area is taken up by security, photograghers and general hangers-on who don't seem to be there for any particular reason other to cause a unneccesary distraction to the fans and drama unfolding on the pitch. This area MUST be cleaned up. Funny, when they were trying to raise public support for the building of a new stadium, we were all being told of a facility where fans were only five meters from the touchline. When the actual stadium was built we could all clearly see this is not the case with there being no seating anywhere in the stadium within 12 meters from it. Such lies! This 'moat' around the castle must go.

3.Sunken player benches. I really feel for those people who sit directly behind the two tall glass player benches and are forced to have such a distraction to contend with. There is no excuse for this.

[prizby]

It is now my understanding that TFC are now going ahead with the resurfacing of BMO field with natural grass. Good start but too long in coming. There are some other changes I would like to see and am wondering what other TFC fans would like to see.

The top 3 changes I'd like to see at BMO are:

2. Seating closer to the field. I am so jealous when I see games from the English FA where fans are right on top of the action and in many stadiums seated directly behind the advertising boards. Yet, at BMO field there is this tremendous gap between the first row of fans and the touchline. So often, this area is taken up by security, photograghers and general hangers-on who don't seem to be there for any particular reason other to cause a unneccesary distraction to the fans and drama unfolding on the pitch. This area MUST be cleaned up. Funny, when they were trying to raise public support for the building of a new stadium, we were all being told of a facility where fans were only five meters from the touchline. When the actual stadium was built we could all clearly see this is not the case with there being no seating anywhere in the stadium within 12 meters from it. Such lies! This 'moat' around the castle must go.

hello, there are seats right by the boards!

3.Sunken player benches. I really feel for those people who sit directly behind the two tall glass player benches and are forced to have such a distraction to contend with. There is no excuse for this.

hwo is that a bmo field improvement...if u go to bmo field, they aren't their 95% of the time

[Blazer]

Superficial changes. Not at all on my radar of BMO upgrades. Blacking out endzones?! Please.

How’s about:

1 – Real sod (accomplished)
2 – Maximize capacity by filling corner gaps and other areas – not blacking them out (in the works)
3 – More efficient concessions so I don’t miss the fucking game I paid for (epic fail)

[Keyman]

Yellow jackets....nuff said

[Brooker]

although i realize you can't fill in the corners because of safety reason, i definitely agree with #2 and don't see why we aren't closer... I mean, when you look at it, there is NOTHING going on there. why are we back so far? there's so much fucking space! the pitch sizes around the league are all different. christ, the Wizards pitch is as big as my backyard! surely we could move the net back a full length, couldn't we?

and please, OLDER EXPERIENCED WOMEN SERVING BEER! these young girls are nice to look at but they are so slow and useless! The women are always great.

[no1redsfan]

Let me further explain the 'blackening out' part. All I am suggesting is that in a very small area directly behing each goal they should be using dark and solid colour tones. This would make it a lot easier for fans to have a clear outline of the goalnets. It is simple logic. If your watch face was white, then obviously the hands of your watch would be a contrasting colour.

As far as the seating, I maintain there is not one single red seat within 12 meters of the touch line. What you have at BMO field is: the touch line, then 3 meters of extra grass, then a hard surface, then the advertising boards, then an open area of about six meters and finally the first row of red seats. You also have hundreds of people in these areas wandering back and forth causing an unnessary distraction. You do not see this in english football, at least not in the better grounds.

[Canary Canuck]

2. Seating closer to the field. I am so jealous when I see games from the English FA where fans are right on top of the action and in many stadiums seated directly behind the advertising boards. Yet, at BMO field there is this tremendous gap between the first row of fans and the touchline. So often, this area is taken up by security, photograghers and general hangers-on who don't seem to be there for any particular reason other to cause a unneccesary distraction to the fans and drama unfolding on the pitch. This area MUST be cleaned up. Funny, when they were trying to raise public support for the building of a new stadium, we were all being told of a facility where fans were only five meters from the touchline. When the actual stadium was built we could all clearly see this is not the case with there being no seating anywhere in the stadium within 12 meters from it. Such lies! This 'moat' around the castle must go.

I actually agree with you on this. However, the reason the first row is set so far back is the FIFA regulations for new stadium construction. To be FIFA compliant, all new stadiums around the world are required to have the first row of seating a minimum of 6 metres from the touchlines and 7.5 metres from the endlines with "recommended" distances of 8 metres and 10 metres respectively. This is why newer stadiums in England like the Emirates and Eastlands aren't as tight as the older grounds like Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford that predate the regulations.

[Hitcho]

At this stage I'd settle for a north stand that at least matches the south in terms of size (ideally SG controlled to avoid scalper issues). Filling in the corners would be nice, if it can be done. But only if we're confident of selling out all these extra seats and they're not going to sit empty.

[Fort York Redcoat]

blacking out behind the goal is tantamount to blue for pass and red for shoot.

[I_AM_CANADIAN]

blacking out behind the goal is tantamount to blue for pass and red for shoot.

haha... love the analogy.

Personally, the first things I want to see are a north stand and a roof, and a permanent north stand is going up for next season if I understand correctly...?

[Eastend]

Good thread....and no need to knock other peoples 'wishlist', it's their wishlist, make your own and move on.

I'd like a roof over the south end.
I'd like beer served in the south end again.

Can't really complain about anything else. I like my little stadium by the lake. Not fancy but who cares....give me a winning team.

[rocker]

I don't really think the seats are that far from the pitch. I've sat in Row 1, Section 123, and man, it's darn close! I could almost reach out and tap Paul Beirne on the shoulder. I was just feet away from the players' bench.

One problem of making the seats closer is you lose angles. Right now, from 125, I can look down to the south west corner flag and just see the touchline. If the seats were closer, I would not be able to see the lines at all, particularly if people stood up.

I think it's designed as tightly as can be.

[CoachGT]

1. More washroom spaces.
2. Wider concourse, better traffic flow around concessions.
3. Better traffic flow into the stadium pre-game. Open the gates earlier maybe?
4. Just as BMO customer's have a separate entrance, do the same for supporters at Gate 3. Perhaps use the gate that is right behind the south stands. Just need to figure out how best to identify members of the groups. Their membership card or a pin or something?

[Section 117]

My only wish is that they improve the quality of the product on the field.

nothing else

[drewski]

blacking out behind the goal is tantamount to blue for pass and red for shoot.

seriously.

I've not once had a problem seeing the posts

1. More washroom spaces.
2. Wider concourse, better traffic flow around concessions.

ding ding ding!

as a spectator, these are my two biggest off-field beefs

[Blazer]

^ Never had issue with the washrooms, they are on par with most stadiums I’ve been to comparatively speaking – just cleaner. I find you can be in line, take a piss, wash and get out in less than 3 minutes. Not at all unreasonable.

Can’t widen concrete now, but I agree it’s pretty chaotic down there at the half. Crowds before and after the game can be avoided by coming early and not leaving right away. Otherwise, it’s not that bad outside of halftime and something we have to accept if we’re not willing to do the above. The concessions could be pushed further out of the way perhaps, but I’m not sold that it’s the main cause for the lack of space inside of BMO. I figure 1000+ smokers in the south end alone make a mad dash for the exit when the referee blows his whistle in order to get in a quick smoke or two before lining up for another piss and beer. From there, back up the tin stairwell and into your seat … bingo, second half kickoff!

[Batman]

• blackened out behind goal
• closer to the field
• sunken player benchs

Maybe they should play their games at Fenway park. Wouldn't that accomplish everything on your list?

[drewski]

cleaniness is fine, its the lineups, at washrooms and concessions at halftime that are the problem.

even when my g/f & I take turns in line at the concession whiel the other one pisses, we still miss a few minutes. My g/f was devastated @ her first game when she missed the first and only goal of the game.

IMO, you should be able to take a piss, get some food & beer and be able to get back to your seats before the 2nd half starts, especially given this is a sport where they might only be 1 goal

[CoachGT]

• blackened out behind goal
• closer to the field
• sunken player benchs

Maybe they should play their games at Fenway park. Wouldn't that accomplish everything on your list?

Given Ljundberg's quote about KC and the baseball field having the best grass in the league, you might be on to something!

[Belfast_Boy]

Improvements for BMO? a team that'll make the playoffs!

don't think we need more seats there's some empty ones at every game.

don't think we need the blackouts sounds like making the puck glow. football in the rest of the world has done fine enough without them. lets not baseballize football PLEASE! what's next, stop playing when it rains!

the line ups suck and I've missed goals and parts of the game because I was taking a pee and trying to get food for my kid. should be ample time to do both at the half.

other than that I'm good with BMO especially since we're getting grass.

[Blazer]

cleaniness is fine, its the lineups, at washrooms and concessions at halftime that are the problem.

even when my g/f & I take turns in line at the concession whiel the other one pisses, we still miss a few minutes. My g/f was devastated @ her first game when she missed the first and only goal of the game.

IMO, you should be able to take a piss, get some food & beer and be able to get back to your seats before the 2nd half starts, especially given this is a sport where they might only be 1 goal

Concessions are an issue no doubt. Nobody should have the experience that you’re talking about.

I can’t say that I’ve experienced the concession holdups because I refuse to buy beer or food at that place, but I know people around me have missed goals this year as a result of the unreasonable flocks of people lining up. It’s a legitimate cause for concern and if I’m BMO, I’m seriously looking into improvements for next year. No, not "improvements", I’m looking into an outright solution to the problem – because it’s not an inconvenience for paying customers, it’s a problem for customers that BMO must address.

There’s too much revenue lost from people who say, “Fuck the beer, I wanna see the game”.

[billyfly]

I 've said it before. Use the wrought iron Canada coat of arms that used to be at MLG (and I know MLSE has somewhere) and make it into a grand fence entrance a la Anfield.

[olegunnar]

I think they could and probably should add more seats closer to the field. Especially now that grass is coming and the Argo's window of opportunity is closing.

The view and angles won't be ideal...but that's why the best and typically most expensive seats are midfield upper deck.

This isn't baseball or a concert where closer is better.

[CoachGT]

^ Never had issue with the washrooms, they are on par with most stadiums I’ve been to comparatively speaking – just cleaner. I find you can be in line, take a piss, wash and get out in less than 3 minutes. Not at all unreasonable.

Depends upon where you are. Considerably longer than 3 minutes near my seats. Many people get up around the 42-43 minute to beat the line ups. Line up seems to be starting earlier and earlier. If you can get there as the half ends, chances are you'll be out on the stairs in time for the opening whistle of the next half, not in your seats but on the stairs.

Concessions are a no-go except pre-game.

[jabbronies]

- wider consession areas for sure.
- Roof
- Fill the corner gaps with seats
- BETTER LIDS THAT ACTUALLY FIT ON THE BEER CUPS

[I_AM_CANADIAN]

I 've said it before. Use the wrought iron Canada coat of arms that used to be at MLG (and I know MLSE has somewhere) and make it into a grand fence entrance a la Anfield.

Bet you anything that, like most of the Gardens, it was auctioned off. This is MLSE, they have absolutely no interest in such trivial matters as preserving pieces of history.

[pdelgadinho]

hwo is that a bmo field improvement...if u go to bmo field, they aren't their 95% of the time

Prizby, you really shouldn't comment on things that you are not sure about. My view of the field is blocked by those rain shelters over the player benches, and I can tell you they were used during the first 8 games of the season and then probably 3 or 4 more times over the rest of the season. Which means they were used over 50% of the time.

It's inexcusable that in this day and age this still happens. It's like sitting in a 75 year old stadium with seats behind support posts.

[billyfly]

Bet you anything that, like most of the Gardens, it was auctioned off. This is MLSE, they have absolutely no interest in such trivial matters as preserving pieces of history.

I don;t know who would have bought it. It was huge!

[Blazer]

I 've said it before. Use the wrought iron Canada coat of arms that used to be at MLG (and I know MLSE has somewhere) and make it into a grand fence entrance a la Anfield.

Mint!

[Blazer]

Depends upon where you are. Considerably longer than 3 minutes near my seats. Many people get up around the 42-43 minute to beat the line ups. Line up seems to be starting earlier and earlier. If you can get there as the half ends, chances are you'll be out on the stairs in time for the opening whistle of the next half, not in your seats but on the stairs.

Concessions are a no-go except pre-game.

111. Pisser is right beneath me next to the beer concesshh.