Toronto FC fans flooded the ballot boxes during the fan voting process to determine which players would be in the mix Thursday when the MLS All-Stars face off with Celtic FC in Colorado. But the media, coaches and general managers, and players all got to weigh in also before the final selection was made, and when all was said and done, the expansion side landed a single representative: midfielder Ronnie O'Brien.
The Irishman is expected to be in the starting lineup on Thursday, where he'll play in his usual spot on the right wing. Being the only TFC representative in the All-Star mix, O'Brien knows that he will have a lot of eyes on him, particularly north of the border, and he plans to due the rampant Reds supporters proud.
"It's nice to have one of us on the team, it being our first year and stuff like that," O'Brien said after the team's training session Wednesday on the stadium field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. "As a team I think we're getting better and better so it's nice to come represent."
Representation is hardly something that TFC have had a problem with this season. In fact, the Toronto fans have proven to be among the best in the league, providing a soccer atmosphere unlike any other in MLS.
In a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium in BMO Field and with a knowledgeable and loyal fan base, Toronto has quickly become one of the best places for an MLS game to take place.
"We really do have the best fans in the league," O'Brien said. "I know a lot of players will talk about their home fans, but we have diehard fans. We get 20,000 fans every single week who love the game. They come and watch it and they cheer us on for 90 minutes, and for them to get on and vote for us just shows that they really want their team to do well."
The league has quickly taken notice as well and, in one year's time, the All-Star festivities will head to Canada for the first time in MLS history. Commissioner Don Garber announced at his annual All-Star Game press conference Wednesday that BMO Field will play host to the event in 2008.
"Toronto's response to the arrival of MLS has been nothing short of extraordinary, and that is a credit to the excellent leadership of MLSE [Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, owners of Toronto FC]," Garber said. "Clearly, BMO Field will provide a vibrant and enthusiastic setting for the 2008 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. We are excited to partner with MLSE and the passionate soccer fans in Toronto to hosting this memorable display of the world's game."
Next year's edition will again feature the MLS All-Stars against a high-profile international opponent, though who exactly will be coming to town has yet to be determined. It will hardly matter to the fans in Toronto, though, according to O'Brien.
"If you put on any event in BMO you're going to fill it," said the four-time All-Star. "You're going to fill it, no questions asked. That's the thing you can always rely on in Canada: if you put on a good show, you're going to fill the building."
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
