Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

If the pitch is fine there would be no problem but there hasn't been a soccer pitch in existence that wasn't torn up by gridiron football.

Some expert information from someone whom some RPB posters say they know more about turf issues.

Tony Stones, Head Groundsman, Wembley Stadium

• Video Link

"We find most damage is caused by football (soccer) players digging in, turning quick, whereas an NFL game it's all solid, it's crunching together, Desso likes that, holds together well, it's when they're doing quick turns, your Rugby Union you get a bit of quick turning in that as well and a bit of scrummaging so you get a bit of mess from that but I'd say most damage comes from football (soccer)

It's warmups, football (soccer) warmups that are the worst thing, that's where we get the most damage from, especially the goalkeepers that will not use his portable goal, they insist on using his main goal that creates us some serious trouble"

So if I interpret this correctly, the order of most to least damaging sport to a reinforced turf is:
1 Soccer
2 Rugby
3 Football

TFC have opted to not go with reinforced turf and I hear they are looking at a mid season turf reinstallation, we shall have to wait and see.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Acajack

From what I gather it does appear that the TFC and Argos fan bases (both actual and potential) are pretty mutually exclusive. (Which is interesting because there doesn't seem to be as clear cut a demarcation between soccer and football fans in places like Ottawa, Montreal or even stateside like Seattle.)

In my observation I don't think that is true. There are lots of TFC people who also follow the CFL (don't know about Argos specifically, maybe more Cats) but there are far more of them than some of the more ridiculous elements of RPB which is why they don't spew much of their nonsense for very long at the Vs forum.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

You can see why TFC fans are concerned about the pitch

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

You can see why TFC fans are concerned about the pitch

I've been following sports for close to 35 years and even covered sports as a reporter at one point, and I've never seen average fans so acutely and obsessively concerned about "the pitch" or "the field" as TFC supporters seem to be over the coming of the Argos to BMO Field.

Never ever.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by elly63

In my observation I don't think that is true. There are lots of TFC people who also follow the CFL (don't know about Argos specifically, maybe more Cats) but there are far more of them than some of the more ridiculous elements of RPB which is why they don't spew much of their nonsense for very long at the Vs forum.

OK. It could be that it's just the loudest and most obnoxious ones that we are hearing and that the situation is more comparable to that in other cities than I thought.

Anyway I went on RPB for the first time just for fun. Some interesting discussion but lots of funny stuff too.

I love the posts that go like: "I used to follow the Argos and the CFL a bit before but now because of this... nope. No more. Now I hate them and want them to fail!".

Also interesting how talk of the NFL coming to Toronto makes up a decent chunk of the RPB forum chatter.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I've been following sports for close to 35 years and even covered sports as a reporter at one point, and I've never seen average fans so acutely and obsessively concerned about "the pitch" or "the field" as TFC supporters seem to be over the coming of the Argos to BMO Field.

Never ever.

Kind of makes you wonder how all those amateurs across Canada can actually play and possibly even enjoy soccer on fields that are not tended to by the loving hands of seasoned groundskeepers. The level of obsession is over the top.

But really, I think you guys nailed it with RPB. It's a small subset of obsessives who make a team their entire identity and probably don't reflect the fanbase at large.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by esquire

Kind of makes you wonder how all those amateurs across Canada can actually play and possibly even enjoy soccer on fields that are not tended to by the loving hands of seasoned groundskeepers. The level of obsession is over the top.

But really, I think you guys nailed it with RPB. It's a small subset of obsessives who make a team their entire identity and probably don't reflect the fanbase at large.

Well - the thing is - TFC players aren't amateurs, are they?

Professional teams should expect to play in the best conditions possible, surely?

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I've been following sports for close to 35 years and even covered sports as a reporter at one point, and I've never seen average fans so acutely and obsessively concerned about "the pitch" or "the field" as TFC supporters seem to be over the coming of the Argos to BMO Field. Never ever.

Got it in one. They want to out British the British. Somehow Luton, PNE, QPR and Oldham survived the worst soccer surface ever (1st gen artificial turf) but these TFC guys make a big production number out of if they see a faint white line, they'll cancel their season tickets. Gimme a break. That's not a real fan that's a poseur.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by elly63

WTF, are you ISIS or something

That's the funniest thing ive ever read on here. perfect!

Originally Posted by elly63

You guys are scared shitless of this (Argos moving to BMO) and I really don't know why."

This is a really bad representation of TFC's fanbase. I'm sure 90% of the fan base are great people that could care less about the Argos moving into BMO. The Flowerpatchboys Should be looked at as a separate entity all together. This is Mistercooperate and a few of his friends talking tough on a keyboard. I'm sure you will see a couple of them in the stands at bmo with arms crossed and scarf over the shoulder with a disappointed look on the face of all 30 of them as they study the turf through out an Argos game. It's annoying and pathetic but they are an insignificant few.

This has nothing to do with the turf, This is an inferiority complex. They know the CFL is on it's way too a big deal in Toronto again, they have all the facts and stats and polls and TV rating and attendance history to prove that. They just can't stand the fact that TFC is about to be over shadowed by the Argos. That's it, plain and simple. The Argos will over shadow TFC who, outside of BMO don't have a big foothold in the Toronto sports scene as it is. They know there is something behind all this excitement and they will have to take the backseat...which still boggles me. Who cares?

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

But really, I think you guys nailed it with RPB. It's a small subset of obsessives who make a team their entire identity and probably don't reflect the fanbase at large.

Amen

[esquire]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Well - the thing is - TFC players aren't amateurs, are they?

Professional teams should expect to play in the best conditions possible, surely?

The picture you posted is like a parody of the RPB's hysteria. I mean, if you look with a magnifying glass, you can see a couple of brown patches on the field.

Oh. Em. Gee.

So what?

[elly63]

Originally Posted by esquire

The picture you posted is like a parody of the RPB's hysteria. I mean, if you look with a magnifying glass

Here's another piece of their brilliance. Some background: Paint (faint line on left) was washed off with one hose washing not even the steam system they will supposedly use in future.



RPB Comment: It looks like shit. I want no lines. This is not acceptable, garden hose or not. Show me results with 100% results. I would cancel my season tickets if I see this shit come 2016!!!

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by esquire

The picture you posted is like a parody of the RPB's hysteria. I mean, if you look with a magnifying glass, you can see a couple of brown patches on the field.

Oh. Em. Gee.

So what?

If that's the case - your eyesight must be terrible

[Oilkountry]

Cruising through twitter #BMOfield The posts seem to be about 50/50 Argos and TFC. Not to much hate from either side. Actually a lot of Other CFL supporters criticizing BMO as a CFL venue.

Came across this shot though. I feel like we might have seen it before but it looks great

[tomthumb2]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

:
This has nothing to do with the turf, This is an inferiority complex. They know the CFL is on it's way too a big deal in Toronto again, they have all the facts and stats and polls and TV rating and attendance history to prove that. They just can't stand the fact that TFC is about to be over shadowed by the Argos. That's it, plain and simple. The Argos will over shadow TFC who, outside of BMO don't have a big foothold in the Toronto sports scene as it is. They know there is something behind all this excitement and they will have to take the backseat...which still boggles me. Who cares?

I really hope you're right but that might be a bit too enthusiastic. Toronto has changed so much since back in the days when the Argos were a huge deal and I don't think they'll ever be that popular again.

The only thing that concerns me is they are returning to a spot that everyone hated back in the 80's. I know the stadium is a thousand times better than "the mistake by the lake" but I wonder what will happen once the novelty wears off. Really hope it turns out to be a huge success because the CFL needs a strong presence in their biggest market IMO.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

I really hope you're right but that might be a bit too enthusiastic. Toronto has changed so much since back in the days when the Argos were a huge deal and I don't think they'll ever be that popular again.

The only thing that concerns me is they are returning to a spot that everyone hated back in the 80's. I know the stadium is a thousand times better than "the mistake by the lake" but I wonder what will happen once the novelty wears off. Really hope it turns out to be a huge success because the CFL needs a strong presence in their biggest market IMO.

Yes he is being over enthusiastic but the Argos IMO will equal TFC in prominence. The stadium is right though once the novelty is over, because it is right sized.

Unlike RPB, I'm trying not to make outrageous predictions but I do think it will work well for the Argos and a perfect storm seems to be brewing in their favour for a change. 25k and they're a success.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

If that's the case - your eyesight must be terrible

The problem with Wembley wasn't the sport itself it was the overuse by booking many events to pay for that stadium. The turf didn't get a chance to bed in properly because of the extended usage. Also after they reinforced with Desso Michael Owen said it was a far better surface than before.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by tomthumb2

I really hope you're right but that might be a bit too enthusiastic. Toronto has changed so much since back in the days when the Argos were a huge deal and I don't think they'll ever be that popular again.

The only thing that concerns me is they are returning to a spot that everyone hated back in the 80's. I know the stadium is a thousand times better than "the mistake by the lake" but I wonder what will happen once the novelty wears off. Really hope it turns out to be a huge success because the CFL needs a strong presence in their biggest market IMO.

Yeah, I think saying the Argos will become "big" in Toronto anytime soon is probably overly optimistic.

I do think they can find a nice little niche, and if they could get to the point where the Alouettes* are in Montreal and Quebec in terms of visibility and interest, that would probably be pretty good.

*Even if they had a sucky year in 2015

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I do think they can find a nice little niche, and if they could get to the point where the Alouettes* are in Montreal and Quebec in terms of visibility and interest, that would probably be pretty good.

Praise Allah!

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by elly63

Also after they reinforced with Desso Michael Owen said it was a far better surface than before.

That picture is of the Desso surface - from October 2014