Argos to BMO decision - Wednesday, May 20th

[Canary10]

I just have to wonder if the Argos revenues will justify the expense of such a setup.

Yeah I doubt it. Wonder if even 2 NFL games pays for it? NFL might be taking a hit to expand their brand.

At any rate, if we end up with a destroyed painted pitch at the same time other clubs are spending to do it right it will look bad.

[Redcoe15]

Yeah I doubt it. Wonder if even 2 NFL games pays for it? NFL might be taking a hit to expand their brand.

At any rate, if we end up with a destroyed painted pitch at the same time other clubs are spending to do it right it will look bad.

That's the ML$E way of doing things.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Yeah I doubt it. Wonder if even 2 NFL games pays for it? NFL might be taking a hit to expand their brand.

At any rate, if we end up with a destroyed painted pitch at the same time other clubs are spending to do it right it will look bad.

I doubt that this move by Spurs is just about NFL. It is in London so I can see them making it a concert venue that isn't Wembley.

MLSE is looking to spend the least amount possible with this groundshare reno. Well...HALF of them are.

Still waiting on an official announcement before renewals on their plan.

[Pookie]

Gents - just travelling south from Manchester after a tour of Old Trafford. Spoke to the stadium staff about a number of things but grass was a topic.

They put in Desomaster hybrid grass (3% artificial). They reseed it after every game as the cost and logistics to replace are more difficult. Mentioned BMO and CFL football. They immediately went to memories of Wembley and NFL and offered a pessimistic outlook on the ability of the 2 teams to co-exist over the course of a season. Particularly with weather.

Put it in the we'll see category but I got the sense that they felt this was way down on the "list of good ideas to maintain a proper pitch."

[greatwhitenorf]

Spent last night at the Gold Cup games in the company of two gents involved in the Argos operations. One of them was particularly interested in seeing how the grass held up over the course of two games in one night. Quite decently, considering the rain.

Listening to them, it was cringeworthy, to say the least. Referred to soccer players and fans as 'squealing babies' and were quite merry at the prospect of seeing the Argos 'rip the hell' out of the playing surface. They said CFL players are quite content playing on synthetic turf, especially as the colder, wetter weather sets in and see the grass as an unnecessary complication when it comes to choosing proper footwear and having to adjust how pass routes are run.

Not sounding like a marriage made in heaven.

[Blizzard]

Spent last night at the Gold Cup games in the company of two gents involved in the Argos operations. One of them was particularly interested in seeing how the grass held up over the course of two games in one night. Quite decently, considering the rain.

Listening to them, it was cringeworthy, to say the least. Referred to soccer players and fans as 'squealing babies' and were quite merry at the prospect of seeing the Argos 'rip the hell' out of the playing surface. They said CFL players are quite content playing on synthetic turf, especially as the colder, wetter weather sets in and see the grass as an unnecessary complication when it comes to choosing proper footwear and having to adjust how pass routes are run.

Not sounding like a marriage made in heaven.

Aye yi yi!

[glaze]

This Ottawa Edmonton game in a downpour is making me cringe. It will happen at some point during the Argos squatting at BMO, and it will ruin the pitch.

As a kicker on their end zone hill, painted signs from the women's world cup still are fairly visible

[deltox]

wouldn't it only need to be stored under there for a day? would you need lights for that?

Yep, I believe this will be the first of its kind. Arizona, Schalke and Arnhems retractable pitches are kept outside in direct sunlight. This one will be stored under the south stand with, i presume, some sort of artificial light/lamps set up.

[Mulder]

This Ottawa Edmonton game in a downpour is making me cringe. It will happen at some point during the Argos squatting at BMO, and it will ruin the pitch.

As a kicker on their end zone hill, painted signs from the women's world cup still are fairly visible

The lack of rain here over the past month means that grass was totally brown and didn't need to be cut, nor did it fade away because of rain.

[Areathrasher]

wouldn't it only need to be stored under there for a day? would you need lights for that?

I think it would be under the stand a few days either side of the game.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Speaking of a pitch invasion

15 aside rugby - 3 games in 8 hours

Glad its not raining

Going to be a good test to see if the grass can recover.

Quoted from another thread for relevance from a keen poster!

I'd love to hear from anyone who could give their impression of the state of the pitch for the Canada Gold Cup game. I didn't hear of any complaints from the Pan Am rugby but couldn't see much of the match or the state of the pitch.

I can vouch I didn't personally see anyone affected by the state of the pitch on the Sat game TFC vs Pilly.

[Areathrasher]

Yea, I didnt notice anything at GC game. No pitch damage or visible lines left over (maybe that paint/paint washer works)

However, the pan ams was 7's. A much different game from whats happening today.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Yea, I didnt notice anything at GC game. No pitch damage or visible lines left over (maybe that paint/paint washer works)

However, the pan ams was 7's. A much different game from whats happening today.

True. I'm not looking to make an equal comparison just get impressions from everyone. While we're comparing apples to oranges: Rugby sevens had over 20 short games a day on the Sat and Sun beforehand while this tripleheader coming up will be full matches.

[Pint]

In good weather the field won't be effected much, thats not the issue. If their is a down pour like we had during the gold cup during an argos game is when the damage will occur.

[barticusz]

In good weather the field won't be effected much, thats not the issue. If their is a down pour like we had during the gold cup during an argos game is when the damage will occur.

This damage would occur regardless though right? I mean sure it'll be to a greater extent with more uses, however even if it were just TFC and some other standard friendlies/international games the field could be destroyed enough to warrant a new one. Oh wait.. this just happened in KC.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls...e28904368.html

Hybrid turf in theory should be able to withstand more punishment. If MLSE is willing to swallow the costs to replace it if it ever gets really bad, does it really matter if the Argo's play there?

[Fort York Redcoat]

This damage would occur regardless though right? I mean sure it'll be to a greater extent with more uses, however even if it were just TFC and some other standard friendlies/international games the field could be destroyed enough to warrant a new one. Oh wait.. this just happened in KC.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls...e28904368.html

Hybrid turf in theory should be able to withstand more punishment. If MLSE is willing to swallow the costs to replace it if it ever gets really bad, does it really matter if the Argo's play there?

Yes. Ground share is bush league. The Jays see that now.

MLSE are not going hybrid next year. They really should announce this officially.

[sully]

Yea, I didnt notice anything at GC game. No pitch damage or visible lines left over (maybe that paint/paint washer works)

However, the pan ams was 7's. A much different game from whats happening today.

it's almost purely about players running from one end of the field to the other. Almost no scrums or players digging into the ground really. Not the type of game that would result in a pitch getting damaged.

[Petor]

If you want to watch the rugby matches and or the state of the pitch here is the live stream...

http://www.worldrugby.org/pnc/video/81769

[barticusz]

Yes. Ground share is bush league. The Jays see that now.

MLSE are not going hybrid next year. They really should announce this officially.

Not hybrid next year?? Where'd you get this tidbit?

[Auzzy]

Not hybrid next year?? Where'd you get this tidbit?

I believe Bez mentioned it in an interview.

As I quoted from one of the NFL teams that uses hybrid: although initially stronger, it's much harder to replace sections of a hybrid pitch when it's damaged. In the case of the NFL, they often have enough time between games to overseed & regrow partially damaged sections (including the planting of sprouted grass rather than starting only from seed). That includes the use of grow lights & other tricks to speed it up. With the busier MLS schedule, + CONCACAF + CFL + rugby + national teams + who knows what, that's much harder.

Maybe they'll try to grow the strongest grass possible; use grow lights & tarps & any other tricks they can think of. And keep their fingers crossed. And insert a patchwork quilt of replacement grass as needed.

Obviously nothing is really clear, and hybrid isn't the panacea that some of hoped for. And we're likely screwed.

[Petor]

Here is the stream for the Japan Fiji match.

http://www.worldrugby.org/pnc/video/81770

Looks like the pitch will be pretty well torn up before the Canada Samoa match at 8:30

[OgtheDim]

Not hybrid next year?? Where'd you get this tidbit?

He mentioned it in the Lunch with Bez thing for SSH's.

[Fort York Redcoat]

He mentioned it in the Lunch with Bez thing for SSH's.

That's great. When was the SSH lunch?

That may be sufficient effort to inform from their POV but an email announcement AT LEAST to let every SSH that couldn't make it would be better. Everyone needs to know what their team will playing on.

[OgtheDim]

That's great. When was the SSH lunch?
...

Portland game, IIRC. He said MLSE was considering not doing a switch, to be truthful. That as the first and only time I've heard that but given the issues people have raised about Desso having to be resodded between matches, might be the better first choice (given the choice most of us want isn't going to happen). They probably havn't finalized this decision.

[Pint]

That's great. When was the SSH lunch?

That may be sufficient effort to inform from their POV but an email announcement AT LEAST to let every SSH that couldn't make it would be better. Everyone needs to know what their team will playing on.

We know they are not going to make a big announcement about it, but at least now that we know it's public information we can talk about it. I was starting to get very uncomfortable sitting on that piece of information.

[Areathrasher]

No Hybrid? FFS

[Fort York Redcoat]

Portland game, IIRC. He said MLSE was considering not doing a switch, to be truthful. That as the first and only time I've heard that but given the issues people have raised about Desso having to be resodded between matches, might be the better first choice (given the choice most of us want isn't going to happen). They probably havn't finalized this decision.

So May 23rd before the match. Thank you. After meeting with SSH and SG's they've left us with an unsatisfactory position. They need to address it again before renewals.

We know they are not going to make a big announcement about it, but at least now that we know it's public information we can talk about it. I was starting to get very uncomfortable sitting on that piece of information.

I hear you, Pint. Let the flood gates open.

[Phil]

We know they are not going to make a big announcement about it, but at least now that we know it's public information we can talk about it. I was starting to get very uncomfortable sitting on that piece of information.

Agreed.

The theory is that hybrid turf is impossible to 'patch'. Grass surface is easily patchable and completely replaceable given some catastrophic incident (like a muddy argo game during a sensitive time of year).

If that fails, then I am sure they will chance a hybrid surface. Next step if that fails is pretty obvious. Get ready for the three ring circus.

[OgtheDim]

Renewals are not going to happen until this team makes the playoffs (I'm assuming it does as it would be a monumental failure to not do so given our situation and play until now).

Peak demand time....get people when we are on a roll.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Renewals are not going to happen until this team makes the playoffs (I'm assuming it does as it would be a monumental failure to not do so given our situation and play until now).

Peak demand time....get people when we are on a roll.

And I am beginning to see what @Pint mentions in that I can't see them letting everyone know what the surface situation will be if they aren't convinced it will be a seller for renewals. I still find it untoward that they will be selling a product they presently are not confident in to withstand the rigours of this ground share.

Circus, indeed.