BMO Field Expansion

Earlier I was unimpressed with the MLSE wanting to expand BMO to accommodate a CFL team but with the latest news I think I’m leaning towards the expansion, but just a little. I mentioned a few months ago that an expansion to the BMO field would take away the intimate experience you get watching a TFC game, sure in the eyes of MSLE making the 22,000 seat arena into a 30,000 – 40,000 means lots of $$$$ but it will also mean we will lose our natural turf (real grass) field which was put in when TFC played Real Madrid.

I am happy to hear that the MLSE is pumping in $90 million of the $120 million it is going to take for this revamp, sure I still think that the seating size was fine considering where the stadium is located but with the upcoming Pan Am games the added seats make sense. Timing couldn’t be better for this, Pam Am games, Argos looking for a new home and with 95% of the season seats sold the extra added means I can actually go to a game without spending 100’s. Seriously, scalpers … you were selling a $25 ticket for $250, ridiculous.

My main issue with the expansion was what will happen to the grass, hosting both TFC and Argos on an open concept stadium would be bad for the pitch, awhile back I saw a video (below) on what Wembley Stadium in England did where they planted synthetic grass combined real grass to strengthen the playing field. Hopefully BMO does the same thing or at least something better with the $120 million budget.

Laba Gone - Pre-Season Defeats

Toronto FC knew he would end up elsewhere, that was the sticking point in an article the Toronto Sun did regarding Matias Laba, really? What do you expect when you add the likes of Cesar, Defoe, Bradley and Gilberto.  They traded Laba for future considerations which are not made public, for that reason it’s hard for fans to see this as a fair deal. Just words taken away with the wind, it would be nice to see what these “considerations” are but I guess it makes sense to get rid of that salary since TFC still has to pay out on injured Bright Dike who will miss the entire season and World Cup 2014 Brazil representing  Nigeria.

Going winless in preseason is concerning, watching a deflating final 4-2 loss against an U-23 Brazilian team is a reason to question what’s going on, sure our golden boy Defoe is over in England (with a hamstring pull), Gilberto is nursing and injury and the coach rested Cesar are the answers but, we have seen this before. The Blue Jays, all the star power and look what happened, a mid level team gets overhauled and in a second becomes the Las Vegas favourite to with the World Series. Now before everyone starts to roll up their sleeves and lash out on me saying soccer isn't baseball lets look at what is expected. We need players to gel together, that’s what this preseason was for and with the injuries and/or international call ups that our DP’s will get will take away from TFC’s bonding. That gelling/bonding will have to take place during the season and cannot afford to piece together team chemistry during that time. I for one really do hope that TFC does not continue to live up to the stigma of Toronto as a joke city for sports.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Toronto teams and am always one to say that our teams with go all the way (jokingly with enthusiasm with and a hint of seriousness) and really do genuinely wish for a strong successful TFC , Raptors, Leafs and Blue Jays season with no more heartache.

Jermain Defoe Arrives in Toronto