Plain and simple. BMO field is going to remain as is : a soccer pitch.
Why am I so certain of it? Economics. Common sense. Logistics.
Hypothetically speaking, say the Argos truly want to move into Exhibition Stadium/New Fort York.
What needs to take place?
Expansion of the field. And IF this does happen, you can guarantee, it'll be at the expense of north side and not the south side. Can they go closer to the Food building (which is the best name for a building ever)? I don't know, but I can't imagine there's much room. And do they build around the score board? I'd love to know what the footprint of the ground would look like with expansion of the north end. Either way, something has to give if this preposterous plan is to go forward.
Let's see, what is carrying TFC forward at the gates? Is it the blistering successful brand of soccer that MoJo has built? Nope. Has it been the overwhelming calibre of play that Major League Soccer offers? Hell no. If that were the case, you'd see more kids wearing Chicago Blanco and Houston DeRo shirts, but they're not. Most of the people probably don't realize that DeRo is a local, but that's just my speculation.
It's atmosphere. Really, what else is there about TFC that is overwhelmingly positive right now? Go ahead, start listing them.
So, let's assume that in addition of the Argos moving in that they do demo the south stands. Where do we, the blind hardcore of the hardcore get displaced to for at LEAST a season. Good seats? Nope. Those fancy makeshift pub seats at ground level? nope. Temporary stands on the north side? Ha, no. 3000 people is hard to move in a stadium that has no easy expansion. So, again, hypothetically, TFC DOES demo the south stands and we have no tickets for the season.
Think about it. 17000 people go for the atmosphere that, being the only positive thing that TFC really has right now, will largely be absent for the season. Does anyone think that these part-time, band-wagon, 'summer Leaf' supporters are going to stick around for the same exciting and flowing brand of soccer that MoJo has bestowed upon us this season? In a city that only supports winners (it wasn't that long ago where plenty of good Raptors seats were still available, but then they became a good team), how long before the ship gets abandoned without the current drawing card, that is hardcore support?
Secondly, MLS mandate. Right now, TFC and the MLSE are the poster children on 'how to start an MLS franchise'. Barriers to entry for an MLS team are (a) owners with deep pockets and (b) a soccer specific (or plans for a soccer specific) stadium. Now TFC becomes the first team to go from a soccer specific stadium to a multi-purpose ground. Yes, I'm sure MLS will LOVE that idea. That won't get them into deep crap, will it? I'm sure MLS has ways of punishing TFC if that were to go through without their permission.
Thirdly, how much revenue could the Argos generate? For a maximum of 10 home dates per year? Enough to recoup the expense of a ground renovation? And at who's dime? The city? The province? The Argos?
Sympathy for the Argo plight is nil right now. Their owners balked at a multi-purpose stadium at York for the "free rent" at Rogers Centre. Now they're in a situation where they feel they deserve a better chunk of the income. Let us not forget, the Argos, much like the the majority of the CFL (if not all of the CFL), run at an operating profit right now. They are not crying poor as they are crying not rich enough.
There's only one group of people benefiting from this talk right now and that's solely the Argos. Of course the CFL Commissioner is going to bat for the team in the biggest city in the league. Hell, if I were commissioner, I'd likely be talking the same thing. He's trying to put media pressure on the Rogers people to pony up a better deal for the Argos. Trying to play one off the other. If I were Ted Rogers, I would still have to believe that I've got the Argos right where I want them. They have no bargaining power.
If the renovation of New Fort York were to cost in around 8-10 million dollars, wouldn't it be worth it to just spend triple and have your own stadium to do as you will with it? You can have a no frills ground for $30 million (real estate costs notwithstanding) that seats 25000. If the Argos were that desparate for a better slice of the pie, wouldn't it be better to just build your own bakery.
There is no reasonable way the Argos are going to ruin our "good thing".
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment