Leiweke & All MLSE GM's on Primetime Sports at 5pm!

[KevBaller]

Starting in 5 min. Bez, Leiweke, Ujiri, Nonis.

Sportsnet 360 & The Fan.

Full Interview.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/590/prime-time-sports/

Scroll down half way to "Recent Podcast". Currently 2nd listing.

[Ivy]

The Argos topic is sure to come out.

[Derko]

The Argos topic is sure to come out.

First topic that the Clown wanted to talk about

[Ivy]

Sorry, did he just say they want to add a raptors training area at BMO field as well??

[Ivy]

Great questions Bob, I'm glued to the radio.

[pdubs]

guys we are getting half grass write it down! Grass-turf-thingy aha

[adam1001]

Argos seem to be coming. No ifs or buts about it.

[PopePouri]

Hybrid grass. Well that's good.

[GabrielHurl]

Roof over ALL seats

[Ivy]

guys we are getting half grass write it down! Grass-turf-thingy aha

As TL said, it's real grass with artificial parts in it that that allow for the roots to grow deeper.
TL diverted the BMO grass issues by talking about how it rained 17 out of 19 games last year.

[GabrielHurl]

As TL said, it's real grass with artificial parts in it that that allow for the roots to grow deeper.

http://www.dessosports.com/hybrid-grass

[pdubs]

As TL said, it's real grass with artificial parts in it that that allow for the roots to grow deeper.
TL diverted the BMO grass issues by talking about how it rained 17 out of 19 games last year.

I trust TL now. If he thinks it will work then I hope it will. Wonder if there are any examples of this currently used?

[notthesun]

Sorry, did he just say they want to add a raptors training area at BMO field as well??

I don't know if it's supposed to be near BMO or not but yes, he said a training facility for the Raps was on the cards.

To paraphrase what Leiweke just said about Argos at BMO: "We have a bunch of money and technological options and we'll use both to make sure the atmosphere and environment at both CFL and TFC games are perfect."

He made sure to use "perfect" at every relevant opportunity.

[pdubs]

http://www.dessosports.com/hybrid-grass

DESSO GrassMaster^® is a hybrid grass system that has more than proven itself at Premier League and NFL clubs, multifunctional stadiums and renowned events such as the Football World Cup, Rugby World Cup, UEFA European Championships, etc. The playing quality is the favourite of top players around the world. Stadium managers choose the system that will give them the highest ROI for their stadium.

sounds good.

[Fishnicker]

Sorry, did he just say they want to add a raptors training area at BMO field as well??

Yup. I think he implied that it would be like an academy for local talent.

[PopePouri]

I trust TL now. If he thinks it will work then I hope it will. Wonder if there are any examples of this currently used?

Lots...

[pdubs]

truly learn something new aha.

[adam1001]

Is this hybrid stuff the same as the pitch at the emirates? How has their pitch held up?

[Fishnicker]

I trust TL now. If he thinks it will work then I hope it will. Wonder if there are any examples of this currently used?

Anfield has had grassmaster for ages.

[Ivy]

Don't they use that stuff at San Siro as well?

[pdubs]

Anfield has had grassmaster for ages.

how about old trafford? their pitch looked like it was hurting yesterday? brown and uneven. maybe they don't use it.

[Areathrasher]

how about old trafford? their pitch looked like it was hurting yesterday? brown and uneven. maybe they don't use it.

According to wiki they use Grassmaster.

List of where GrassMaster is used http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desso_GrassMaster

[Shakes McQueen]

Is this hybrid stuff the same as the pitch at the emirates? How has their pitch held up?

Arsenal's pitch is first-rate.

- Scott

[gracos]

Don't they use that stuff at San Siro as well? Hybrid Grass

Almaty Central Stadium, Kazakhstan
Arena de Sao Paulo, Brazil
Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium, UK
Arsenal FC training academy, UK
AS Monaco FC Training Centre, France
Aston Villa, UK
AZ Alkmaar, the Netherlands
Burnley FC Turf Moor Stadium, UK
Cardiff City Stadium, UK
Donbass Arena, Ukraine
Feyenoord, the Netherlands
Grêmio, Brazil
Huddersfield Town & Giants, UK
Leigh Sports Village, UK
Liverpool FC, UK
Manchester City, UK
Mbombela Stadium, South Africa
Metalist Stadium, Ukraine
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, South Africa
Ocean Stadium, France
Panthessaliko Stadium, Greece
Peter Mokaba Stadium, South Africa
Royal Léopold Uccle FC, Belgium
RSC Anderlecht, Belgium
San Siro Stadium, Italy
Santos FC, Brazil
St. George's Park, UK
Stade de la Beaujoire, France
Swansea FC, UK
Tottenham Hotspur WHL Stadium, UK
VfL Wolfsburg, Germany
Watford FC, UKWembley Stadium, UK

[Fishnicker]

how about old trafford? their pitch looked like it was hurting yesterday? brown and uneven. maybe they don't use it.

Apparently they do http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desso_GrassMaster

I'm not sure if there are different types of installations or how it has improved over the years.

[RealG-TFC]

I get the impression that all this Argos stuff is more to convince the city to let them buy BMO and do whatever they want with it then really give a shit about the Argos. At least that what I sort of got out of the opening questions.

[Banjax]

I think we can all breathe easy right now IF that is the hybrid pitch they're going to use and not something cheaper which i really don't see why they would go with something cheaper. It's nice to hear that its going to be a roof over all the seats also. I know it sucks for a lot of people still that the Argo's are coming but it looks like it's going to happen regardless so no point in complaining anymore right now until we see some kind of render of the expansion and if it in anyway does have an impact on the experience and atmosphere of BMO on gameday's (Which I also feel shouldn't be a problem and have full faith in TL) then we're going to have a problem.

[adam1001]

Wow. Listening to Tim L speak really makes me despise anselmi even more.

[Huyton]

So no more Scotts Turfbuilder girls? No more ads with ginger Scotsmen and scotty dogs?

Anyway, I think it's time to release an "artists conception" of what the place will look like.

[KevBaller]

Leiweke: (On renovation of BMO Field) Want to think outside the box. Most impactful decision made in Toronto sports that will affect Toronto scene and all Toronto teams. Want to be a world class stadium. Spend 120 mill. Make the concourse and experience better. 30,000 stadium that can expand to 40,000 to host winter classic.

- Does it effect the CFL. Yes, it will mean the Argos will have an intimate 30,000 seat stadium.

- Not worried about buying Argos. Wants to fit the cities need in what they expect out of MLSE.

- Wants stands with rollers to keep intimacy for soccer and football because football has bigger dimensions. No football lines for soccer and no soccer lines for football.

- McCowan brings up how it runs a risk on field with football, ruins grass. Leiweke: Most stadiums in the world are multi purpose. They play football at Wembley. Matter of finding best practices. Could explore hybrid grass (real grass + synthetic grass, roots grow deeper).

- Wants to be able to make it perfect for both. Ways to do that now. Technology and Money allows them to make it perfect stadium for both.

- Renovation will allow us to put roof over all the seats.

Leiweke: Tim Bez didnt go well in meeting with Daniel Levy. Leiweke says to Tim Bez, hes mine.

Leiweke: "This Organization is not about bottomline. Counting our pennies. We want to win." When he came in he was embarrased about how TFC fans were treated. What was once the best fanbase in MLS.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/590/prime-time-sports/
Scroll down halfway to "Recent Podcast". Currently 2nd listing.