I haven't heard anything from the BMO Grounds crew after the Argo's game. I'm a little worried that the Argo's tore up the turf and are afraid to tell anybody.
I agree totally, the players are right that it's a safety issue. The thing is though, what happens if the players and then the Argos or the CFL begin to lobby for the turf to be replaced with grass?
If the turf can be replaced by grass - at both ends - that can tolerate the temporary seating or the north end mat over it, then fine.
However, if this means that the temporary seating and North end patio have to be permanently removed to accommodate grass for the safety of CFL players, then we have issues. As we would have if talk emerges of an all- "turf pitch.
This is, of course, all conjecture. There might be a solution regarding continuous grass or the complaints might fade away to nothing. I just posted the article because there is the potential, however slight, for significant developments that could reveal who is the true senior tenant at BMO.
^ I agree. I was trying not to go there but we need to be vigilant that this issue isn't the thin edge of the wedge toward artificial turf.
Well if the Argos were making money, they could probably have the end zones as natural grass on big trays, that get moved out of the stadium & replaced with a hard surface for TFC games. It would not be cheap. For starters, you would have to dig down into the concrete again at both ends, to get the depth needed for a grass tray system.
The half turf/grass endzones certainly did not stop Calgary who dusted the Argos last night. I don't see having an all-grass field as being a priority for the Argos right now, financially or from a performance standpoint.
Apparently LAG are trying to learn a thing or two from BMO this year.
The Chargers are the tenant in this situation.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/JSB_TV/status/896089104248590336
At least the Chargers are paying for the bulk of the renovations and upgrades which has been estimated to be in the "tens of millions of dollars" . That includes new video board, score boards, transforming bleachers into seats, renovating luxury boxes, increased press box, etc. Fantastic deal for the Galaxy.
^ The Argos paid for their dressing room. Maybe.
The NFL game will likely be far more destructive to the LA field than we've experienced with the Argos. Mainly because they seem to grind it out up the middle far more. CFL is more spread out, which likely means a bit less wear and tear.
That said I'd still prefer the Argos team up with the Wolfpack and build a stadium suitable to their game and their crowds.
In a season and a half we haven't had issues with lines. You can faintly see them, but only if you're really looking for them.
I wonder how they're going to make the parking on the university grounds work for the Chargers. LA Galaxy aren't even allowed to sell out their playoff games if they're on weekdays.
So the good news is that between the Argos and TFC nobody is on the field until Saturday September 9. This means the field has 2 weeks for repairs to develop strong roots.
In September the schedule is:
TFC on the 9th
Argos on the 16th
TFC on the 20th
Argos on the 23rd
TFC on the 30th
October:
Argos on the 7th
TFC on the 15th
Argos on the 21st
Then playoffs.
The Argos may host the eastern semi-final on Sunday Nov 12 and perhaps the eatern final on Sunday November 19.
TFC will be hosting playoff games on November 5. Then again on the 28. Then the finals on December 9.
BMO has been very lucky that it has not rained much at all during any games. A rain storm on a game day is a larger nightmare scenario the later in the year we are.
Of course the ultimate worse case scenario is a snow storm during a game. You may recall it snowed the day after the MLS Cup last year. We missed it by hours. And it has snowed a lot in November in Toronto before.
This has the grounds crew up at night already. It will be challenging to have pristine grass the later in the year we get, and a turf that does not cause injuries.
Remember why Seba didn't finish the MLS Cup final?
Imagine we had him available for penalties at the end... Would it have changed the outcome....
Fingers crossed.
Last edited by InDa_110; 08-29-2017 at 12:16 AM.
The lines are NOT the issue. The lines are painted with a chalk subsstance that you can practically remove with a leaf blower. Its the divots that are the problem. That grass is planted on sand and chunks easily. The closer we get to and into Fall the harder that is to fix.
Argos and CFL knew one of endzones will be field turf before they agreed to come to BMO field. So they have no one to blame but themselves here.
Could we see temporary seats for the playoffs? When the Argos finish could they also be in the north end? We can easily get 35k fans for playoff games
I guess they also don't like being unable to practice there? (this is from a few weeks ago).
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/01...ter-loss-to-bcSince their practices apparently wander around to various places -- York University, Downsview, Don Bosco, Ontario Soccer Centre -- I assume they don't have their own permanent practice facility? I still think it's very unlikely to happen any time soon, given all the money they recently spent to expand BMO Field while probably continuing to lose millions a year to own the Argos, but maybe Bell/Tanenbaum might eventually consider a permanent Argos facility for games and practices with an artificial turf field and a more appropriately-sized stand of about 6 to 8000 seats that would at least look closer to being full.... how problematic the site has become, the facility cowering to the whims and petty behaviour of the soccer culture and the precious grass surface.
Every game for the Argos is an away game because their only access to BMO is on game day.