Did they feel stable?
I don't hope or hold breath "for anything else to change in the near future". I simply rely on the craven monetary lust of MLSE to earn healthy regular profits from good business practices.
The old saying goes that 'one swallow does not a summer make.' One night of decent, if error-prone, gridiron competition before a crowd largely paying well below face value for their tickets does not herald a return to glory for the Argos or CFL in Toronto. Quite the opposite, as the tepid overall response to the CFL in Toronto this week has shown.
Earlier in the fall, Frank Zicarelli of The Sun, wrote that he thought this season's financial losses for the Argos would amount to somewhere between $15 and 20 million.
Just stop and think about that number.
How long do you think the current owners would be prepared to sustain that level of loss before looking at other options?
When you have a solidly established, engaged and emotional audience for soccer that is topping 20,000 in season ticket sales and selling out private suites and premium seats regularly for a season that offers at least twice as many games as the Argos do, you can't go jeopardizing the core product for a marginal long-term investment. At this point, describing the Argonauts future fortunes is exactly that.
And when that marginal long-term investment produces an event that leaves the playing surface in questionable condition and that hard-won fan base having kittens just two days before the biggest match in club history, you don't have an ideal situation and one that MLSE can't be considering as sustainable in the long term. Competitive, quality soccer is crucial to TFC becoming what they hope it can be.
Here's what's clear. Soccer is a money maker at BMO Field with clear potential to become huge in this city. Football at present is little more than a maybe maker. You can't take maybes to the bank.
If TFC lose on Wednesday and the playing condition of the pitch is a factor, it won't go over well with fans and will prompt some looks at options. Tim Leiweke and MLSE stadium ops VP Bob Hunter have said that they 'can't wreck it for soccer'.
As for parking concerns next to Lamport? First and foremost, we need to see how the rugby team does. Not only do they represent a far more compatible relationship with the Argos, but a ground share at Lamport would give the Argonauts a priority in setting schedules. Playing at Lamport would still let them largely use the resources of the CNE grounds for parking, tailgating etc. If the Wolfpack draw decent, consistent crowds, MLSE can take harder looks at their stadium options.
But there is a very nice footprint of land to work with there, very close in overall area to the current BMO Field. Parking can be multi-tiered and is the least concern.
The whole Wolfpack thing is pretty darn rip roaring.
So's annual losses of $15-20 million.
Next time we make them take off their shoes when on hallowed ground...hey if Julia Roberts can on Old Trafford...so can they when in Our House...
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I have no idea about the profitability of CFL ratings to bell but somehow I doubt the Argos existence incrementally makes up for a loss of $15-$20 million a season, should that actually be the figure.
Here's the latest:
BMO Field pitch in 'good shape':
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/tfc-g...up-good-shape/
I really hope the following line is a misquote:
"They've seen better pitches this year, but they haven't seen worse"
Because that to me tells me that the pitch is the worst one they've seen all year! I am sure it's an error since the rest of the paragraph suggests otherwise.
The rain for most of all day tomorrow is not going to help. We'll see.
some positive news
https://twitter.com/KurtLarSUN/statu...96052188327936
This was literally right in front of me at the game. It looked ugly. Even the CFL players doing the drill there noticing how mucked up the field became, picked up the ropes they were doing their drills on and moved a few feet away.Heggie said there was one area that took some damage where the football players were doing some running drills, but that was outside of the soccer touchline.
Yesterday afternoon - http://www.journaldemontreal.com/201...--pret-a-temps
So that's what, less than 18 hours from the final Grey Cup whistle?? That looks amazing!
How the heck do you climb up to those temp stands? Not from the back of the accessible seating area?
Beautiful...it looks positively scrumptious!
I was so hoping someone would get some pics to put everyone's mind at ease.
...ought to give the grounds crew man of the match for this or at the very least a giant hug and kisses!
Thanks for sharing, man on the inside, @GabrielHurl
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
This grounds crew is impressive.
Right off the back of the accessible seats.Originally Posted by cmonyoureds;[URL="tel:1822281"
Remember The Man, The Legend, The Goal 5-12-07 and All That #9 Left On The Pitch, Thanks For The Memories !!!
HFS that is amazing. I was dead certain the painted ads would stain the grass noticeably. Maybe Big Time Tim got that magic paint after all. Or more likely, we have a super-human grounds crew. They deserve a massive shout out.
Ironically that won't be the most amazing grass that I'll be experiencing during the match tomorrow evening...
I don't think rain will be a negative factor. The field felt very firm underfoot after the Grey Cup, something I think helped it withstand the punishment from the gridiron cleats.
The equipment to cover the field and shed unwanted water is available. I think a slightly slower surface wouldn't hurt TFC as Montreal excelled counterattacking on a fast, dry track at their own Hippodrome last week.
Anyone remember the suit guy chant we use to give the head of security.."Suit there it is"..we need a quick one for the groundscrew.... Awesome job!