Joyous news broke today of that plastic stuff being torn from the ground at BMO Field, and the process of natural grass installation finally arriving at Toronto FC's soccer-specific venue.
<p style="font-size:10px; margin:0 auto;">MLSE Chief Operating Officer, Tom Anselmi, addresses a report linking Argos to BMO Field.</p> |
But joy was quickly tempered with new questions about the intentions of the city's other - and admittedly much older and storied - football team, the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, and their intentions to change playing venues.
The fact that this news reported by Canada's biggest national daily came at Grey Cup weekend wasn't lost on Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Chief Operating Officer, Tom Anselmi.
"Interesting timing ," said Anselmi of the report which indicates that Argos' owners are now looking at the viability of playing at BMO Field as early as their 2010 season.
"We know they are talking to the city and our point of view is kind of irrelevant, because at the end of the day it's the city's call."
Anselmi and the front office of the Reds are acutely aware of the concerns raised by TFC supporters, who are keen to keep BMO Field soccer-specific.
"We know our fans aren't crazy about it. They are worried about an impact on this great soccer experience."
"They're worried about losing this soccer-specific building."
The varied concerns are losing the intimacy of the venue, the pitch being left in an unacceptable condition for a soccer match, and the possibility of numerous CFL lines and logos on the playing surface, something which is visibly unattractive to most soccer fans' viewing experience.
The cost associated with any kind of retrofitting of BMO Field is consistently estimated in the $30 million range, a figure that was wildly under-reported in the story linking the Argos' intentions.
<p style="font-size:10px; margin:0 auto;">Ground breaks on turf removal.</p> |
While the club might be affected, there are worries at the national level of the world's game as well. The Canadian Soccer Association has designs on attracting major friendly matches as well as playing a bulk of its future World Cup qualifications on the newly installed grass pitch. CSA's plans could be derailed by scheduling of Argos games as the window to attract major international matches is quite narrow.
An intriguing prospect coming out of today's report is the concession that CFL may be willing to make to accommodate the Argos.
"It doesn't fit a regulation CFL field," Anselmi noted. The question then becomes, is the CFL willing to lose the distinctly "Canadian" nature of their game to accommodate the Argos playing in a smaller and American-style football field?
"Clearly there's going to be compromises to the CFL field if it's going to fit in this building."
When asked if CFL bending on its Canadian distinction for the Argos was something he was concerned with, Anselmi replied, "(It's) not for me to be a keeper of the CFL game, we have our hands full trying to grow soccer. We have a $5 million investment in a new field here."
Ultimately, Anselmi and the TFC front office are only interested in preserving and growing what they have built over the last three seasons along with the Reds' passionate supporters, who are united in keeping BMO Field soccer-specific.
"It's great to see the grass going in, (it's) really exciting, and I know the players are just thrilled about it."
"We need to focus on ensuring what we built from a soccer stand point continues to grow, and we continue to grow, and we will leave it with the city to do their business with the Argos."
