Not a regular poster at all. just a casual browser, but this topic and a recent conversation urged me to write.
After speaking with my rep moments ago, I have determined I will no longer be keeping my tickets in 119.
I went into TFC with the following mindset: I love soccer, I love Toronto and I cannot stand MLSE or their business model. I was torn. I did not know how else I could support the combination of my city and favourite sport without somehow supporting a business which is structured around taking advantage of their position in this market (Toronto, Ontario & Canada). I decided to bite the bullet and give this a go. Bad idea.
After seeing the outside support starting to grow (due to the massive amount of media coverage regarding fervant support and boisterous atmosphere by initial TFC fans such as myself and yourselves), I knew it was only a matter of time before the corporate monster took shape.
I will say this. It's partially my fault. During season 1, I worked for a marketing firm who represented one of MLSE's biggest corporate sponsors. I worked feverishly to get this sponsor to connect to TFC, extolling that what was seen in year 1 was not an anomoly, but a new standard of fandom within Toronto. Since that day, I have worked with numerous clients whos names you see each and every game day, and others who you see here and there within the BMO grounds. To ensure not all revenue came entirely from advertisers (smart move to protect their spending in the event of another recession or off year in terms of ad spending), MLSE had to revise their plan on which revenue stream they spend and how much of each stream went into team spending. As ad revenues grew, so too could the spending from the STs, which no longer could support the boom from ad space (guess, but positive I'm fairly accurate on this); hence the ST increase.
After recruiting fans (directly and indirectly), increasing revenue through merchandise purchases and building revenue through my work with MLSE corporate partners (old and the new bandwagon jumpers), my thank you from MLSE is another price increase with no concern for what that price increase means to me in regards to my ability to be at the stadium in 2011 and beyond. Exacerbating that is my ticket rep now feeding me canned answers and trying to persuade me to stay through the argument that we're getting new GM and spending more than ever before (PS: how's that working out for the Leafs and Raps?
).
Leaving 119, here's what I know: I love soccer! I love Toronto! I am a Toronto FC supporter & Lakeside Loyal through and through! Lastly; I know I absolutely
LOATHE MLSE more than I could ever truly describe.
For those of you, who like me, were priced out, or have decided not to wait until you get priced out, name the place (GTA Core preferred) and let's watch, drink and support together (Real Sports is out of the F'IN question - get your head straight if you're thinking it). And my apologies for helping to build this monster. Never my intention.
For those of you, for whom renewal is no skin off your back (and note, that is NOT a dig at all - everyone's situation is different. If you can afford it, good on ya); please, continue to support and get a little louder due to my absence. The boys need and deserve our support. Okay, maybe not Garcia
. If the price becomes too much to handle and you're faced with the possibility of not being able to renew; reach out. I'm sure myself and those who left before you will stand by your side to support the boys elsewhere and protest MLSE's greed. And please, stop feeding the monster.
One last thing: stop calling each other names & stop fighting. Whether you love or hate a player, or do or don't have the money for Season V; stay focused. Stop MLSE & cheer on the boys (unless they deserve a good kick in the pants at which point, boo their asses off the field until they pick up their socks and start playing with heart).
See you all on the 16th for my farewell (and probably the farewell of many others).
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Originally Posted by flatpicker
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