What are people's thoughts on Major League Soccer?

[Cashcleaner]

Hello all! Firstly, please accept my apologies for using English exclusively. My French is atrocious and I would have made a mockery of the language if I tried to use it here.

Anyhoo, I'm a season ticket holder with Toronto FC and a member of the Red Patch Boys, one of the official supporters group for the club. There has been a lot of talk lately on our boards about possible future MLS expansion into Canada, with the commissioner of the league mentioning Vancouver as on the short-list for a future club during a recent press conference.

Has there been a show of support for Montreal possibly entering the MLS, perhaps with the existing Impact organization? Would the fans support a move to the MLS or are you more content staying in USL-1?

Personally, I think a Toronto-Montreal would be a fantastic rivalry and I doubt you'd have any trouble attracting people to the matches. It seems like a natural progression to me for a town that has shown much interest in soccer, but I just wanted to get some opinions from the fans themselves.

[Montreal_FC_Fan]

As a fan, you gotta be an idiot not to support a move to the MLS.

I guess it's safe to say that the fans in Montreal are sick and tired of the USL and its mickey mouse operations.

As for Saputo and the MLS, well at first he didn't want to know anything about it but lately it seems like hes opening up to the idea of Montreal joining the MLS...


PS. Where were you when Toronto didn't have a club in the MLS Eh? "Lynx"

[Cashcleaner]

As a fan, you gotta be an idiot not to support a move to the MLS.

I guess it's safe to say that the fans in Montreal are sick and tired of the USL and its mickey mouse operations.

As for Saputo and the MLS, well at first he didn't want to know anything about it but lately it seems like hes opening up to the idea of Montreal joining the MLS...


PS. Where were you when Toronto didn't have a club in the MLS Eh? "Lynx"

Actually, I was living in Scotland.

But I'm actually surprised with your response. I figured most USL fans are happy with the organization and arrangment of the league. I heard Saputo has been having second thoughts about a move to the MLS though, which is pretty much the reason for the initial post. Having Montreal and Toronto play would create such a rivalry!

[penz]

Having Montreal and Toronto play would create such a rivalry!

Yeah. That would be fantastic. Like in the old days: 5-hour drive to watch our team beat you up and go home. And then no T.O. supporters coming to Montreal to watch their team get beat up again.

We miss that.

[Montreal_FC_Fan]

Having Montreal and Toronto play would create such a rivalry!

Yeah. That would be fantastic. Like in the old days: 5-hour drive to watch our team beat you up and go home. And then no T.O. supporters coming to Montreal to watch their team get beat up again.

We miss that.

Those where the old days.

Sadly, now it's a different story...

[Montreal_FC_Fan]

As a fan, you gotta be an idiot not to support a move to the MLS.

I guess it's safe to say that the fans in Montreal are sick and tired of the USL and its mickey mouse operations.

As for Saputo and the MLS, well at first he didn't want to know anything about it but lately it seems like hes opening up to the idea of Montreal joining the MLS...


PS. Where were you when Toronto didn't have a club in the MLS Eh? "Lynx"

Actually, I was living in Scotland.

But I'm actually surprised with your response. I figured most USL fans are happy with the organization and arrangment of the league. I heard Saputo has been having second thoughts about a move to the MLS though, which is pretty much the reason for the initial post. Having Montreal and Toronto play would create such a rivalry!

Yeah he is, let's hope he doesn't wait to long before making a move or else where going to end up like Rochester and being stuck in the USL.

As for the rivalry, thats probably one of the main reasons why we want in the MLS. So we could own you guys again and again and again... "Just like the good old days "

[Alqueb]

But I'm actually surprised with your response. I figured most USL fans are happy with the organization and arrangment of the league.

The USL is for less level citys (Rochester, Charleston...).

It was o.k. for Montréal when it was the best level in Canada.

[Cashcleaner.]

Yeah he is, let's hope he doesn't wait to long before making a move or else where going to end up like Rochester and being stuck in the USL.

As for the rivalry, thats probably one of the main reasons why we want in the MLS. So we could own you guys again and again and again... "Just like the good old days "

Bwah ha ha - no seriously.

Trust me when I say the support for Toronto FC is miles above anything you've seen of the Lynx. The Supporters Group I belong to have already organised 4 roads trips to Boston, Columbus (twice), and Chicago, with two more lined up for New York and DC. We're all really hyped up with the possibility of Montreal getting an MLS team because that's a trip we can guarantee we'll have 5 buses filled up for. And on top of all that, it actually looks like MLSE is gonna aim for a winning team so the quality of play should be good. In my opinion, one of the best things that could happen to both Toronto FC and the league in general is a Canadian derby in the East (Toronto/Montreal) and another in the West (Vancouver/Calgary or Edmonton).

What I have heard is that as per the deal for Sutton, we'll be playing the Impact and possibly the Whitecaps in pre-season friendlies next season, so that would be a good way to size up the opposition.

Cheers guys, you've been more than informative!

[François]

The Impact will have to change their marketing approach if they want to make the jump to the MLS. At the moment, Impact fans are used to pay $5 to $15 per ticket and that's not counting all the give aways.
When supporters see the average ticket price in MLS, not sure we'll see the same fans at the stadium...And on the soccer side, we would have to make several changes in order to compete on an everyday basis in MLS.
But it would be a lot of fun to have a Toronto-Montreal derby!!!

[Alqueb]

The Impact will have to change their marketing approach if they want to make the jump to the MLS. At the moment, Impact fans are used to pay $5 to $15 per ticket and that's not counting all the give aways.

5 to 25$:
Gold category: $25
General admission:
Adults: $10
Children (under 18): $5

http://www.montrealimpact.com/Tickets/T ... anguage=EN

[penz]

But in reality....

5 to 25$:
Gold category: $25
General admission:
Adults: $10
Ultras : $7
Grocery store :$6 + free panini
Children (under 18): $5
Regional soccer associations : $3 to $4 depending on the number of members they have
Soccer players affiliated to one of the regional soccer associations : free ticket given when you pay your membership fee
Schoolkid who's done well, fairly well, poorly but tried : free
Employee of a company who's been offered 200 free tickets out of the blue : free
If you take time to dig a little to find someone who received freebies and doesn't care about the Impact : free

So, clearly, anyone paying over the $6 + free panini limit is getting severely screwed.
It hurts when I sit, this is why I stand up all game.

[Alqueb]

But in reality....

5 to 25$:
Gold category: $25
.

It was 15$. It's now 25$.

[François]

But in reality....

5 to 25$:
Gold category: $25
General admission:
Adults: $10
Ultras : $7
Grocery store :$6 + free panini
Children (under 18): $5
Regional soccer associations : $3 to $4 depending on the number of members they have
Soccer players affiliated to one of the regional soccer associations : free ticket given when you pay your membership fee
Schoolkid who's done well, fairly well, poorly but tried : free
Employee of a company who's been offered 200 free tickets out of the blue : free
If you take time to dig a little to find someone who received freebies and doesn't care about the Impact : free

So, clearly, anyone paying over the $6 + free panini limit is getting severely screwed.
It hurts when I sit, this is why I stand up all game.

my point exactly...

[Cashcleaner.]

Well, to be honest I don't think the jump in price would be too high for some. My season tickets for BMO Field cost me $240.00 with the face value of each match ticket being $15.00. I'm not even in the Supporters Section and their ticket prices are even cheaper. So it's really not that bad of a deal if you consider the level of talent in the MLS compared to USL-1. That's not a slight against the USL, however. I actually don't think it would take much for the Impact to tweak the roster and become competitive in the upper tier.

[Alqueb]

Well, to be honest I don't think the jump in price would be too high for some. My season tickets for BMO Field cost me $240.00 with the face value of each match ticket being $15.00. r.

In Montréal it will cost about 90 dollars for an adut and 25$ for a minor.

So it's about to 230$ for 2 to adults and 2 children.


Our family crowd will not go to the MLS.

[Raven]

Garber added the league is looking at opportunities in both Vancouver and Montreal, and expects an 18 team league by 2012

MLS commissioner Don Garber held an informal Q&A outside the pressbox during halftime … Garber was quick to praise MLSE and their "textbook perfect" model for expansion in the MLS … Garber added the league is looking at opportunities in both Vancouver and Montreal, and expects an 18 team league by 2012.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article. ... 90248_4176

[Sabre]

as long as Saputo vomits up enough cash, we will be welcomed with open arms.


ML$ BABY!