Only in canada!

[Robert]

We don't care about the competition we just lost, the other one is much more important.

Public opinion seems to overwhelmingly support this assertion, as attendance figures at every ACC match this year were far less than what each of the competing clubs attracts for their respective league matches. Why is it that clubs don't have the same drawing power for their ACC matches? This diminished interest is definately something that the head honchoes of Amway and the CSA, who are sipping their coffees this morning, need to address. How are they going to make this competition more interesting and attract more fans?

[LSM]

Why is it that clubs don't have the same drawing power for their ACC matches?

"Casual sports fans" don't understand Cup play concurrent to league play. (From my personal experience, yours may differ.)

[paul-collins]

Public opinion seems to overwhelmingly support this assertion, as attendance figures at every ACC match this year were far less than what each of the competing clubs attracts for their respective league matches. Why is it that clubs don't have the same drawing power for their ACC matches?

Wouldn't have anything to do with scheduling (weekdays AND the lateness of the dates being announced compared to the regular season) and the way season tickets are sold, now, would it?

[-Hammer-]

One could easily argue that an 0-9 club should have no right to be representing a country in the Champion's league after potentially winning only two matches. Conversely, it's ridiculous that a potential MLS Cup champion could be unable to play in CONCAAF because they had two bad games. This makes the Canadian championship seem as a side bet to some.

It's awkward because it's both more important then MLS performance (as it's the only way to qualify for international play and potentially the FIFA Club Cup) and at the same time a bit of a lame duck because it's such a short tournament that is easy to win with a couple lucky games.

The fundamental problem with the Canadian Championship is that it is far too short, because of a lack of teams and the lack of an actual league in Canada. Sadly, Canada is shackled to MLS, because there just isn't the infrastructure or support for a Canadian league and there is no way Canada alone can make the TV revenue to make a competitive professional product. It needs to be extended, so that the winner of the Voyaguers Cup is seen as the best Canadian team, and not as a potential consolation prize for a bad MLS season. It's just hard to do and schedule with teams already having MLS obligations.

[Lord Bob]

The only competition that matters is the Juan de Fuca Plate. (Incidentally, the Whitecaps Residency beat Fraser Valley 4-0 last night in a game for that trophy. Completely unrelated.)

[Robert]

Wouldn't have anything to do with scheduling (weekdays AND the lateness of the dates being announced compared to the regular season) and the way season tickets are sold, now, would it?

All valid points, but none these apply to true supporters, as they turn-up in droves in Toronto and Montreal for CONCACAF Champions League matches, which are usually played mid-week at the same starting times as ACC matches. Obviously, the core fan base of each club is what turns-up to watch mid-week ACC matches at inconveient time slots. How healthy is an MLS club that sells 5-game packages throughout the season?

[Redcoatsforever]

All valid points, but none these apply to true supporters, as they turn-up in droves in Toronto and Montreal for CONCACAF Champions League matches, which are usually played mid-week at the same starting times as ACC matches. Obviously, the core fan base of each club is what turns-up to watch mid-week ACC matches at inconveient time slots. How healthy is an MLS club that sells 5-game packages throughout the season?

That's only true of the February matches, which had months on end to market themselves. Montréal didn't make the semis, and the semifinal at BMO had about as much attendance as an ACC match.

[Robert]

One could easily argue that an 0-9 club should have no right to be representing a country in the Champion's league after potentially winning only two matches. Conversely, it's ridiculous that a potential MLS Cup champion could be unable to play in CONCAAF because they had two bad games. This makes the Canadian championship seem as a side bet to some.

It's awkward because it's both more important then MLS performance (as it's the only way to qualify for international play and potentially the FIFA Club Cup) and at the same time a bit of a lame duck because it's such a short tournament that is easy to win with a couple lucky games.

The fundamental problem with the Canadian Championship is that it is far too short, because of a lack of teams and the lack of an actual league in Canada. Sadly, Canada is shackled to MLS, because there just isn't the infrastructure or support for a Canadian league and there is no way Canada alone can make the TV revenue to make a competitive professional product. It needs to be extended, so that the winner of the Voyaguers Cup is seen as the best Canadian team, and not as a potential consolation prize for a bad MLS season. It's just hard to do and schedule with teams already having MLS obligations.

I wish that the Whitecaps were 0-9 and playing in the CONCACAF Champions League. Yes, the current ACC format is far too brief to garner the necessary interest that will allow the game to grow in Canada. Right now it only benefits the market that wins the ACC and does nothing for the rest of Canada. It seems like Toronto is the only city that has this figured out, which also seems to suit the CSA just fine. Theoretically, Toronto could have won the V Cup without scoring their late goal, which wold have meant that: 1 Win = the Canadian Soccer Championship. Now in what other sporting market does that hold any credibility? A game of chess anyone?

[socceronly]

How does it 'suit the CSA' just fine?

[BHTC Mike]

the current ACC format is far too brief to garner the necessary interest that will allow the game to grow in Canada.

The pro game has grown more in Canada thanks to our clubs participation in MLS than it did in the previous 25 years.

People who think the Voyageurs Cup doesn't get enough interest from Canadian soccer fans need to recalibrate their expectations. Our four team, six game, five year old tournament draws consistently better attendance* than the very old, 16(+) team, multiple game US Open Cup. The US Open Cup is also a path to the CCL and is, theoretically, the USSF's national championship of American soccer. All of our games are nationally televised; can't say the same for the USOC.

In fact, I'd love to see a comparison between attendances in the V-Cup relative to league play and attendances in any domestic cup tournament in the world primarily played in mid-week relative to their national league. I'd bet we do far better than average. Even in the UK, a country that values cup play more than just about any other, early round mid-week cup games are often very sparsely attended.

How is V-Cup attendance compared to old CSL attendance? If the theory is that a longer tournament with more teams is what's necessary to garner greater interest from Canadians then the CSL must crush the V-Cup in that comparison, right? Somehow, I doubt that's the case.

We've got it good right now folks. This is better than anyone would have dared suggest ten years ago. Sit back and enjoy that for once.

*Everywhere but Seattle.