Toronto FC Thread

[ladyscraper]

TFC is having their best season so far! (although they lost their last game to Philadelphia)

[Canadian Chocho]

Ugh that was a bad loss. I think I am the only one who prefers White over Ibrahim.

[cementationfurnace]

They played horribly yesterday. I really like how they always have away support

[Taller, Better]

This should bring in a big crowd!!

[current]

From Torontofc.ca web site:

Klinsmann 'Intrigued' By TFC Job
Tom Anselmi says World Cup winner excited for BMO challenge.

Vijay Setlur MLSsoccer.com

TORONTO – One of the worst-kept secrets in Toronto sports was finally made official Wednesday morning.

Jürgen Klinsmann and his company, California-based SoccerSolutions, were officially announced by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment as the group entrusted with charting a new course for Toronto FC.

The announcement came after a Toronto newspaper broke the story late last week that Klinsmann was the big name MLSE had settled on to act as a consultant in turning the Reds around. Klinsmann had a long and illustrious playing career, and as a coach he took Germany to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup.

“It took a couple of weeks to get things together, time zones and stuff, but anyway we finally got it done [on Tuesday],” MLSE executive vice president and COO Tom Anselmi told Toronto sports radio station The Fan 590. "He’s looking forward to the challenge and he’s a very interesting guy."

Klinsmann will have a comprehensive to-do list that includes first identifying the culture of the club and a Canadian style of play that will resonate with fans. He’ll then use that information to evaluate personnel – players, coaches and management – and assess the 45-plus worldwide candidates that have applied to be TFC's new director of soccer.

The 46-year-old, who will be formally unveiled next week, will have his work cut out for him trying to find a panacea for a club that has missed the playoffs every year since its inception in 2007. TFC have had five coaches in those four seasons and this past season dismissed both their first-ever director of soccer, Mo Johnston, and head coach Preki.

The opportunity to have such an involved role in the club, as well as Toronto’s potential, piqued the interest of the former 1990 World Cup winner and 1996 European champion.

“He knows the market,” Anselmi said. "He knows of the dent that we’ve made in MLS in the first four years, knows of our on-field woes this last year and is just really intrigued by the opportunity because he sees it’s not quite a start-up, but it’s almost a start-up.

“I think he’s really intrigued by what this franchise can be in this market because this community is so into the game and for a European that played at the highest levels, has won it all, done everything, living in North America for the last 15 years, what he’s seeing in Toronto is probably as close as it gets to the European experience, so I think that really intrigued him.”

Klinsmann’s pedigree of international success and knowledge of North American soccer made him appealing to MLSE.

“He knows the game real well over here, he’s been here 15 years, he’s been offered the US national team job a couple of times,” Anselmi said. "He scouts US colleges, he understands the difference in the development system over here and the influence that the NCAA system has on that versus the classic European model … so yeah, he knows the North American game."

MLSE was led to Klinsmann by Tim Leiweke, CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group and owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy, which had previously used Klinsmann as a consultant.

“It’s bringing some discipline to the process and not just getting into a beauty contest or looking for the biggest name,” said Anselmi. “We need to know what we need and go and find it.”

http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2010/11...rigued-tfc-job

[current]

Toronto Star article:

Fans Falling Out of Love with TFC
October 16, 2010

richard lautens/toronto star

When she walked over to a still-unfinished BMO Field at lunch break on a cold, gray day in December 2006 to plunk down $450 for a pair of Toronto FC season’s tickets, Amanda Blackburn had no idea it was a life-altering act.

A self-confessed “casual football fan,” the Toronto film and video equipment technician decided to treat herself. At worst, Blackburn figured, the tickets could be offered up to clients if she got bored going.

Four years on, Blackburn, 35, counts TFC fans among her closest friends. It was through the Red Patch Boys, the soccer club’s largest supporters’ group, that she met Jonathan, the software developer she married this past May.

But for the Blackburns, the honeymoon, at least with the team, is over.

Continued poor play on the field coupled with a near doubling in ticket prices from that first year by owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, have them re-thinking their commitment. Next Friday is the renewal deadline for the 2011 season and they plan to keep just one seat, picking up singles at the box office or through friends if they both want to see a game.

“It’s been easier to miss a game this year than ever before,” Amanda Blackburn says. “Why do we need to put more money into MLSE’s pockets for a crappy product when it’s become more about seeing our friends?”

Adds Jonathan Blackburn, also 35, a lifelong fan of Leeds United from his hometown in England: “There’s only so much someone of sound mind and body can put up with. If you’re going to invest this much in a team, you expect something in return and so far we’re just not getting it.”

It’s a sentiment shared by many among the 16,000 season-ticket holders who have made TFC a box-office smash since the club joined Major League Soccer as an expansion franchise in 2007. From scarves held aloft, beating drums and non-stop singing, to fans marching en masse from the pub to the park for kickoff, BMO Field has become renowned for its atmosphere.

That fan experience was key in earning the club marketing awards —2009 brand of the year by Strategy Magazine and runner-up to the Boston Red Sox for 2007 professional sports team of the year from the Sports Business Journal — and went a long way to securing for BMO Field the 2008 MLS all-star game and 2010 MLS Cup, which will be played here next month.

While even the most diehard TFC supporters didn’t realistically expect the Reds to appear in that championship game, they at least believed the club would reward their loyalty with an inaugural trip to the playoffs. But rather than talk of post-season matchups, protests are now the order of the day.

In a playoff spot in mid-August, the Reds have gone 1-7-3 since and were ousted from the playoff race with three games to go. Preki Radosavljevic, hired last fall as the fourth coach in four seasons, was fired Sept. 14 along with Mo Johnston, the original general manager.

In recent weeks, disgusted fans have serenaded the team with the 1980s rock anthem “We’re not gonna take it (anymore)” and waved banners emblazoned with dollar signs in condemnation of MLSE.

Saturday, as the Reds tied the Columbus Crew 2-2 in their final home game of the league season, a group of Red Patch Boys wore green shirts to symbolize the company’s greed while some signs hanging at the south end of the stadium included “Winning Before Profit,” and “All for Money,” which is a take off on the club’s motto All For One on players’ jerseys.

For MLSE, which also owns hockey’s Maple Leafs and Marlies as well as basketball’s Raptors, it’s a remarkable turn of events. While losing isn’t new, the idea of fans condemning it so publicly certainly is.

In many ways, it’s MLSE reaping what it’s sown. More affordable ticket prices at the outset lured a much less corporate fan base than the Leafs or Raptors, which, in turn, created a more passionate atmosphere at games.
“TFC prides itself on supporters, they’ve used us to market the team,” says Boris Roberto Aguilar, 24, president of the Red Patch Boys.

“We’re okay with that. But at the same time, they’re driving us out of the stadium with their ticket-price increases.”

As the season deteriorated from promising to pathetic, season-ticket holders were told they faced a 30 per cent hike in the cost of their seats for a 2011 package featuring four more games. That news, and the public rebuke by club management of captain Dwayne De Rosario for an unseemly incident in which he celebrated a goal with a cheque-writing gesture to say he deserved more money, fuelled the outrage.

“We can handle losing. I mean we’re from Toronto, so most of us grew up with that,” says Rudi Schuller, a leader with U-Sector, a supporters group founded in 2000 with the professional Toronto Lynx. “But it’s the way every season things seem to fall apart so spectacularly that’s hard to take.

“It’s as if drama has become the club’s number one thing, not winning.”
MLSE responded this week. In addition to saying “sorry” for missing the playoffs, officials admitted “we screwed up” in increasing total games in the 2011 season-ticket package and removed a pair to lower costs.

The company also invited supporters to a series of “town hall” meetings.

“The team just hasn’t been good enough,” Tom Anselmi, MLSE’s chief operating officer told about 50 supporters Thursday. “It’s unacceptable.”
The candour and Anselmi’s vow to hire a general manager to “build a great team” will no doubt appease some supporters and make them hang in.

Liam Scott is not one of them. The speech writer and married father of two, who has had a seat in the top-priced club section since day one, says he’s tired of being “treated like a bank machine” by TFC and will not renew.

“The quality hasn’t improved whatsoever from day one,” says Scott, 39, who received an invoice late last month for $2,311 for his one seat. “I’m being asked to pay the highest prices in the league for the worst quality.”

But MLSE’s loss is Rogers gain. Scott is spending $2,000 on a pair of seats two rows behind the Blue Jays dugout for 20 games next season.

“Now there’s a team on the rise,” he said of the Blue Jays.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer...-love-with-tfc

[IrishMan2010]

Hey guys I was just wondering what is TFC's average attendance this season and how much are the average ticket prices? Also what month does your season end in the MLS? Sorry for all questions . Cheers!

[IrishMan2010]

P.S, sorry if these questions were already answered in the thread.

[current]

IrishMan2010 here is the Toronto FC web site with this past season's ticket prices and a stadium layout map: http://www.torontofc.ca/single-game-tickets

Here is an article from earlier this year about TFC attendance from web site www.torontofc.vitalfootball.co.uk:

Toronto FC Are Second In The MLS Attendance Table
With the new North Stand, Toronto FC expected a big rise in attendances, however this has not been the case.

Since the clubs inception the club sold out almost every game and it was inevitable the club would have to expand BMO Field due to the demand for tickets.

After last season the club replaced the highly criticised Field Turf surface with natural grass and added around 1,200 new seats to the North Stand beneath the scoreboard to give the stadium a more football feel to it (Although it is still lacking a roof to create more noise).

It was hoped that Toronto FC would sell out every game with the capacity now being just shy of 22,000.

Last season the club averaged 20,267 with the new north stand closed whilst this season the average attendance at BMO is 20,510 an increase of around 243 on average.

Has TFC`s popularity peaked? We don`t think so at all. The novelty of a new team may have worn off however the attendances are still the second highest in Major League Soccer just behind the Seattle Sounders. Now that the novelty of the new team has worn off, fans now expect to win and after narrowly missing out on the playoffs last season many fans think this season TFC should have been pushing heavily to be near the top end of the table.

TFC currently sit third in the eastern conference. Many people have stated that the reason for the minor increase is people`s perception that all games are still sold out so they don`t bother trying to get tickets to matches.

In short, if you have wanted to see a TFC match, most games see a small portion of tickets available so why not get down to BMO and support The Reds as they push on for an MLS Playoff spot?

http://www.torontofc.vitalfootball.c...#ixzz14RqbkNiY

[IrishMan2010]

Thanks for your help!

[ladyscraper]

Yesterday, I was able to relocate my expensive dark grey season seats to the much cheaper light grey section. I'm a happy camper now!

[current]

According to the article above it said ticket prices have almost doubled from the first year so thats great that you were able to relocate your seats ladyscraper.

Toronto FC have launched a contest:

Supporters' Kit Design Contest

We've created something really special that we'd like you to check out.

We're launching the Supporters' Kit Design contest. Knowing how much you love this club, we teamed up with adidas over the summer to come up with a way to give you the chance to influence the team's kit!

We're giving you the creative reigns to design our away Kit for the 2012 season, which will be known as the Supporters' Kit. You can design the shirt, shorts and socks that the boys will wear. We're the first sports team to launch anything like this, so here's your chance to help us make history.

You can submit your designs until Monday, November 22, and then the voting stage begins. A judging panel at Toronto FC will select the top 5 kits, and starting Friday, November 26, you can vote for your favourite. The Grand Prize winner will be announced at the 2011 Home Opener, and will receive the first official prototype of their kit signed by the entire Toronto FC squad.

Ready to get started? Click here to design a jersey:http://2012tfckit.mlsecontests.com/#page=home

Need some inspiration or someone to teach you how to create it? Click here to let Dan Gargan walk you through it:http://torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/con...atid=2&id=2588

Thank you for helping us build this club - we can't wait to see what you can come up with.

Have fun!

Toronto FC
// All For One

[current]

From Toronto FC web site:

MLS Cup Arrives Wednesday
Toronto Mayor David Miller to Welcome the Trophy at Maple Leaf Square.



NEW YORK (Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010) – MLS Cup 2010 activities kick-off in Toronto this Wednesday, Nov. 17, when the Philip F. Anschutz championship trophy, which will be presented to the winner of MLS Cup 2010, makes its official arrival into the downtown core. The trophy will arrive at Maple Leaf Square escorted by officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), as well as MLS Ambassadors and Canadian MLS Cup winners Dwayne De Rosario and Geoff Aunger.

RELATED: MLS to visit SickKids Wednesday

Created by Tiffany & Co, the sterling-silver trophy and its entourage will be joined upon arrival by Toronto Mayor David Miller, who along with local soccer fans and a student brass band from the University of Toronto, will welcome the famed hardware to Canada in a festive celebration.

This year marks the first time MLS Cup will take place outside the United States. The Philip F. Anschutz Trophy will be presented after the championship match on Sunday, November 21 at BMO Field in Toronto at 8:30 p.m. ET. The game, featuring FC Dallas vs. the Colorado Rapids, will be televised live on TSN2 in Canada, ESPN and Galavision in the United States, as well as in 166 other countries around the world.

WHAT:
Official arrival to Toronto of MLS’ championship trophy

WHO:
David Miller - Toronto Mayor
Dwayne De Rosario – Four-time MLS Cup winner and current Toronto FC star
Geoff Aunger – first Canadian to win MLS Cup (1999 with DC United)
Officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
University of Toronto Faculty of Music Brass Octet

WHEN:
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 11:00 a.m. ET

WHERE:
Maple Leaf Square, Toronto (15 York Street at Bremner Blvd and York Street, Adjacent to Air Canada Centre)

WHY:
To kick-off MLS Cup 2010 festivities and officially welcome the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy to Toronto

Photo/Video Opportunities:
• The trophy hoisted by Canadian MLS Cup winners and RCMP officers
• Toronto Mayor David Miller and fans welcoming the trophy
• Local soccer fans posing for photos with the trophy and commenting on the upcoming game
• Soundbytes from invited guests
• Shots of trophy after event

NOTES TO MEDIA:
• Please arrive no later than 10:45 a.m. ET.
• In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the Air Canada Centre.

http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2010/11...ives-wednesday

[current]

Toronto Star article:

It’s official: This is the worst sports miss ever



Cathal Kelly
November 16, 2010


Several factors must combine to create a truly legendary soccer miss.

First, the game must be on the line.

Second, the result must really mean something.

Third, it has to be the sort of goal that you could have scored. Yes, you. While carrying a man on your shoulders. Shortly after being pepper-sprayed and spun around.

Fourth, the spurned opportunity should have been preceded by a defensive blunder so atrocious, one feels that God wanted this goal to be scored. And now you – the failed scorer – have invited His wrath and, possibly, unbalanced the future of mankind from His plan.

On all counts, this is that sort of miss.

On Monday, Qatar and Uzbekistan played a Round of 16 match during the Asia Games.

With the score locked at 0-0, the game entered extra time. An Uzbek defender got the ball on the wing, with his back to his own goal. Sensing danger, he passed back to his ’keeper, Timur Juraev.

Juraev then . . . well, I’m not sure what the hell Juraev is doing. It looks like an Uzbek sword dance, but with a soccer ball. Whatever he’s doing, it’s looks fatal to his team’s chances.

Juraev steps over the ball, out of the play and then falls down.

On-rushing 18-year-old Qatari, Fahad Khalfan, suddenly finds himself alone on the touchline with the ball, just off to the side of a completely empty net.

A soccer net, when empty, is quite large. It’s 24 feet wide. Wide enough to literally drive a truck through. Maybe two of them.

For some reason, Khalfan decides that simply running the ball into the net isn’t enough. Irish soccer legend George Best once said that his dream was to score a goal on his hands and knees by heading it across the line. This was that sort of opportunity.

Khalfan’s coming in from the left. Which is a problem since he is left-footed. Really, really left-footed. That’s the only reason to explain why he decides to awkwardly strike the ball with the outside of his favoured foot.

It still doesn’t explain how Khalfan manages to sweep the ball aaaaaall the way across the face of goal and onto the far post, where it bounces out.

English is not the primary language in Qatar. But it may be the primary swearing language in Qatar, based on our amateur lip-reading of Khalfan’s reaction.

It might have made an amusing anecdote if Uzbekistan hadn’t gone on to score, taking the game 1-0.

The only upside here? Fahad Khalfan is young. So he’s got a lot of time to live this down or, failing that, to disassemble the Internet and all record of this miss.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer...orts-miss-ever

[MattToronto]

Guy went for too much flare on his kick in. A tap in the the side of his boot was unnecessary. Poor, poor Qatar.

[urban 2.0]

MLSE will ruin anything they touch. It's all about the money.

Their greedy hands can't stay away from anything they touch.

When you over charge for tickets you get fans that have the money --- but will never show up to the games.

Rich posers.

Sell the tix. cheap - make the money from the demand.

[Taller, Better]

That video was a major FAIL!!!

[JustinB]

Originally Posted by urban 2.0

MLSE will ruin anything they touch. It's all about the money.

Their greedy hands can't stay away from anything they touch.

When you over charge for tickets you get fans that have the money --- but will never show up to the games.

Rich posers.

Sell the tix. cheap - make the money from the demand.

I actually want to go to the MLS Cup. It looks to be a good game. Dallas and Colorado have a strong rivalry, and both play nice attacking football. The cheapest tickets is a whopping $60! $60 for a game that in on a cold Sunday evening. No wonder MLS forced season ticket holders to buy this game. Fans like myself who love soccer, but do not have season tickets are not going to spend money to stand in the freezing cold!
Dallas v Colorado is a great lineup, but it's not full of stars.

[Taller, Better]

Is 60 bucks a "whopping" amount of money to see the MLS Cup? I know people who pay that to go to a New Year's Eve party where all you get is recorded music, a paper hat and a glass of cheap sparkling wine. You pay $80-$130 to go see a live travelling stage production like "Wicked", or even a one off concert by a big singer. This is a business and they have to cover their costs (as well as, one assumes, like any other business perhaps return a profit). The Toronto FC stadium for regular season games is not huge, thus they can't make huge profit during the year from sales like they can in massive stadiums around the world in the leading soccer cities, and even more importantly they don't make kabillions of dollars from international television broadcasts. Thus, shouldn't they be allowed to make a bit of coin from their efforts to bring the Cup to Toronto? Should we boycott the games because of this, or should we expect to pay $25 a ticket because it is cold in our country at this time of year?
I think it is admirable that they have brought professional soccer to our city, and to have made the effort to bring the Cup here. I'm less convinced we should be organising ourselves to punish them for it. If they make no profit, they cannot afford to sign on top notch professional players (unless they sink into billions of dollars in debt like some of the world's biggest clubs have managed to do over the years).

[ladyscraper]

I have season tickets so I'm gonna enjoy watching the MLS Cup since it's included anyways. However, I can easily understand why someone wouldn't want to pay so much. I think they really should have charged less money.