BMO Field Video

[BrennanFan]

Check it out, its looking damn good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJVasXB9CfE

[Daniel]

Sorry to bring it up, but it's a real shame to build such a stadium to put Fieldturf (I don't care what kind) in it.

[Richard]

Sure, we'd all prefer it be a pristine natural grass pitch used only for Toronto FC games and the occasional international match. We also all (or at least almost all) understand that for many reasons quoted here ad nauseum it was either FieldTurf or no stadium. What would you chose?

[speedmonk42]

And I will repeat again, that a modular grass field can always be added in the future.

[RJB]

Is BMO Field expandable?

Also, was there ever any consideration to put a roof on it?

[Danny Boy]

I had the pleasure of driving by it a couple times a couple weeks ago. It looks pretty cool. I wonder if the unseasonably warm weather has helped the pace of construction at all?

[Loud Mouth Soup]

Why do YouTubers insist on adding the worst music to their...uhh...'creations'?

That made me want to hit pause that much faster.

[Daniel]

Youtube music: I can't find ONE highlight package of the 2005 CL final with original commentary and nothing else. Blech.

And Richard: for that $62.5m, I would have chosen a $1m-$2m Fielturf practice field close to the stadium which can then be "bubbled".

[SeanKeay]

This coming from a guy with the pipe dream of terraces in montreal.....

[Richard]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel

Youtube music: I can't find ONE highlight package of the 2005 CL final with original commentary and nothing else. Blech.

And Richard: for that $62.5m, I would have chosen a $1m-$2m Fielturf practice field close to the stadium which can then be "bubbled".
Good luck managing the land, construction, maintenance and operating costs of another soccer field close to BMO field for $1 to $2 million.

[Jeffery S.]

So what will be the training facility for the team in the end? Do they just assume that on field turf they will train daily in the stadium itself?

And how about the youth teams, will they also be there? Where would they be playing?

[Richard]

Jeffrey S., why don't you ask those questions directly of Toronto FC rather than here where all you'll get in response is more speculation.

[Jeffery S.]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

Jeffrey S., why don't you ask those questions directly of Toronto FC rather than here where all you'll get in response is more speculation.


Because sometimes people who know the answer happen to post on this board, thought you had noticed.

If I were a journalist I would call the club, as a fan I look for info here. Not because I really want to know the answer, of course, but because I like being here and shooting the ****.

Capice?

[Richard]

I'm sure you can call the club and get a reasonable answer even if you're not a journalist, especially if you mention that you're a Voyageur.

[Calgary Boomer]

I like the Maple Leaf.

Don't worry about field turf...if you put on a blindfold, you'd never be able to tell the difference between it and natural grass it's that good these days. It'll save the club millions over 5 years, and weather will never be an issue.

[SoccMan]

I don't know but looking at that video of BMO Field does note get the juices going. I know we should just be happy to have a stadium, however, this stadium looks very boring and I still think with the money spent we could have built a nicer looking stadium. It just looks like a bunch of portable stands brought together. The stadium has too much of an open look to it. The stands should have been built more on a steeper incline. It just does not look like a soccer stadium, it looks like an ordinary American high school football stadium, but I guess it the end it's better than no stadium at all.

[VPjr]

I went down to the site to check it out over the Christmas holiday. The facility will never be described as "breathtaking" BUT when the turf is laid, the landscaping around the facility is done, and all the other little things that need to be finished get finished, this will be a very nice place to watch a game of footie.

I know we are all fans and we all have high hopes/expectations for this stadium but the reality is that it was built on a tight budget (yes...62 million dollars is a tight budget when you are building in downtown T.O.). If we (Canadian soccer fans) support the facility, no matter what small warts it might have, we'll get more of these stadiums in other major cities in Canada and maybe the next time a SSS gets built, a little more "bling" can added to it in order to make it a bit prettier (for lack of a better term). I feel lucky to have this stadium being built 20 minutes from my home. We've been begging for a good facility in Toronto and now we will have one. I can't wait for the U20 WC and the beginning of the MLS season.

By the way, that flag on the seats looks very cool up close and the word TORONTO spelled out on the other side of the stadium will create some cool aerial visuals when games are broadcast on TV.

Also, I think Fieldturf is the way of the future, especially in Canada (although with the mild temps we are getting in Ontario, maybe global warming will allow us to have nice grass fields in the future). This new turf that we are getting is the best in the world, FIFA has approved it and you can be sure that even better variants will be introduced in the near future. The artificial turf business is a very competitive one and success hinges on continuous improvements. I disregard any concerns I have heard from players because I seriously doubt anyone who comments negatively has played on one of these new surfaces because there are so few of them in the world right now. If they start to complain after playing on it for a while, then I'll be willing to listen. Right now, I would prefer to take a wait and see attitude.

[Daniel]

quote:Originally posted by VPjrBy the way, that flag on the seats looks very cool up close and the word TORONTO spelled out on the other side of the stadium will create some cool aerial visuals when games are broadcast on TV.

Maybe if the stands are empty...

[VPjr]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel


quote:Originally posted by VPjrBy the way, that flag on the seats looks very cool up close and the word TORONTO spelled out on the other side of the stadium will create some cool aerial visuals when games are broadcast on TV.

Maybe if the stands are empty...



of course when the stands are empty....during the last WC, there were some very cool moments when they panned the cameras around beautiful (empty) German stadiums and it made by very envious. I can see an aerial view of the big Maple Leaf as a lead in to TFC television broadcasts and it will look pretty damn nice, IMO

[nolando]

thanks for posting the video..i will be stopping by ON in the summer and hope to make an appearance there to see it in full use...and (totally unrelated) I found it hilarious that SeanKeay's pitch invasion video after the last Lynx game was the first video recommended as "related" according to youtube. Enjoyed that too. Laughed out loud to the Chariots soundtrack. Thanks!!

[Daniel]

quote:Originally posted by nolando

thanks for posting the video..i will be stopping by ON in the summer and hope to make an appearance there to see it in full use...and (totally unrelated) I found it hilarious that SeanKeay's pitch invasion video after the last Lynx game was the first video recommended as "related" according to youtube. Enjoyed that too. Laughed out loud to the Chariots soundtrack. Thanks!!


That was a few years ago.

[trueviking]

amazing how little 60 million dollars buys these days.....makes taylor field in regina look like new wembley.

being the only plastic pitch in MLS and in our supposed national team's soccer specific stadium is an embarassment to this country...but that argument has been done.

[Richard]

quote:Originally posted by trueviking

amazing how little 60 million dollars buys these days.....makes taylor field in regina look like new wembley.

being the only plastic pitch in MLS and in our supposed national team's soccer specific stadium is an embarassment to this country...but that argument has been done.
Yup, and you lost, sorry. If you feel it's such a disgrace the show it by not going to any games there.

[Loud Mouth Soup]

quote:Originally posted by trueviking

amazing how little 60 million dollars buys these days.....makes taylor field in regina look like new wembley.

being the only plastic pitch in MLS and in our supposed national team's soccer specific stadium is an embarassment to this country...but that argument has been done.


Yeah-because land values, materials and labout cost the same in Regina as they do in Toronto.

Someone woke up on the wrong side of their bed of nails...

[JayWay]

Max Liber is a great, great man.

[trueviking]

richard...as i remember, it was like debating a junior high school student, and you became so non-sensical that i just gave up...if you call that losing, i guess i am guilty.

you guys have to admit, this stadium is seriously underwhelming....i am glad it is being built and that it has lead us to the MLS, but the building is a dawg.

[Richard]

As I recall the irrational and impractical arguments for putting in a natural grass pitch at BMO Field were what bordered on the non-sensical. My attitude has been pragmatic and realistic all along. You might regard that as non-sensical but most rational folk will not. That's life.

[VPjr]

quote:Originally posted by trueviking

richard...as i remember, it was like debating a junior high school student, and you became so non-sensical that i just gave up...if you call that losing, i guess i am guilty.

you guys have to admit, this stadium is seriously underwhelming....i am glad it is being built and that it has lead us to the MLS, but the building is a dawg.


have you even seen it in person??? take the drive down to T.O. once the snow melts and give it a look-see in person before passing judgement. I have seen it up close and I think it's a very nice facility. It won't blow anyone away but you can't expect that with the limited budget that was available. A stadium is what you make of it. Fenway Park is a dump but that doesn't make it less of a shrine to baseball. When 20,000 screaming fans pack BMO Field, it'll be an awesome place to watch a match.

[dbailey62]

quote:Originally posted by trueviking

richard...as i remember, it was like debating a junior high school student, and you became so non-sensical that i just gave up...if you call that losing, i guess i am guilty.

you guys have to admit, this stadium is seriously underwhelming....i am glad it is being built and that it has lead us to the MLS, but the building is a dawg.


For $60 million or whatever it was, I think they've done a nice job. Let's be realistic.

[trueviking]

not sure if these are posted elsewhere....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/stealth_duke/BMOfieldDec4.jpg
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/256/1622rpbvt4.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/thetoucansam/torontofc003.jpg?t=1163966200

[Cheeta]

;)

I can just imagine the wind off the lake tearing through that park. By September you guys are gonna need some scarves. And touques.

Maybe mittens.

[JamesW]

Not much chance of TO being able to host the MLS Cup because of the cold.[V]

James
http://canuckreport.blogspot.com/

[Rudi]

quote:Originally posted by Cheeta

By September you guys are gonna need some scarves.
... and I know just the place to get them. :D

[Rudi]

quote:Originally posted by Jamit

Not much chance of TO being able to host the MLS Cup because of the cold.[V]

James
http://canuckreport.blogspot.com/

TFC were guaranteed an MLS Cup by 2012 as part of the exansion agreement.

[L.T.]

MLS Cup >>> Rogers Centre???

[VPjr]

quote:Originally posted by L.T.

MLS Cup >>> Rogers Centre???


I think that is a very distinct possibility.

The Dome is not a great soccer venue but not horrible and would be suitable for a major match like the international friendlies that were played there a couple of years ago.

[dbailey62]

quote:Originally posted by VPjr


quote:Originally posted by L.T.

MLS Cup >>> Rogers Centre???


I think that is a very distinct possibility.

The Dome is not a great soccer venue but not horrible and would be suitable for a major match like the international friendlies that were played there a couple of years ago.


Ya, a big crowd in there does look awfully good!

http://anthonyprovenzano.com/images/5.%20Soccer%20Extravaganza/Game%20Pano%202.jpg

[Rudi]

There's no way in hell MLS Cup pulls in that size crowd unless TFC is in it.

It'll be at BMO.

[dbailey62]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

There's no way in hell MLS Cup pulls in that size crowd unless TFC is in it.

It'll be at BMO.


... and the club will do big business selling TFC Hot Shots and TFC Blankets! Should be fun.

db

[Rudi]

I think a cold-weather Cup final would be fantastic.

[john tv]

I truly believe that a 20k seat stadium is perfect.This is based upon my brothers love AZ alkmaar who just build a stadium with that maximum capacity. Hey it will be bigger than the ACC centre except soccer has that youth thing which does not exist in basketball and hockey.You will never see basketball or hocket teams. All seats are pre sold and 99.9% to those that have only two seats.I wonder if soccer will be the same,no youth just season ticket holders.I really don't know the answer unless you are a shareholder and want a great return on your investment and maximize the ticket cost per seat and this of course applies to the management in the firts place.I guess the youth will loose out in the long run.I suppose the correct solution is that all season ticket holders hoping they have children take them to the game.

[Rudi]

quote:Originally posted by john tv

Hey it will be bigger than the ACC centre except soccer has that youth thing which does not exist in basketball and hockey.

Are you seriously suggesting that hockey and basketball games are free of children???