I follow quite a few leagues and watch quite a bit of football, but I don’t watch non-TFC MLS games, including the playoffs.
I read the MLS subreddit and will check out highlights if a game was interesting, or watch goals, but MLS matches are typically poorly produced, have terrible commentators, and many of the poorer quality teams with empty stadiums and plastic pitches just aren’t enjoyable to watch.
There are lots of “soccer fans” in Toronto who have seasons or go to matches but fit into the clueless plastic category too. I have friends with seasons who couldn’t tell you more than two or three players’ names and were confused why Seba was no longer here and wondering who Pozuelo was.
It takes all types to fill seats, but if MLSE spends money and has a decent team year after year, it will grow organically. TFC currently does good numbers comparatively speaking within MLS so it’s not a huge issue.
The TV numbers are another story. I don’t have cable, most of my friends don’t have cable either, and even the people I know who are really into TFC and MLS don’t watch MLS on TV unless it’s a TFC away game, and even still they probably don’t.
To be fair, I’ve had 2nd tier Austrian football on the TV in the background but wouldn’t stay up to watch a TFC game at 4am... maybe I’m part of the problem