News of the Day - Toronto FC + Stephen Hart

If you all haven't heard the news this morning about Toronto FC and their ticket prices today, then let me sum it up for you. Tom Anselmi has announced that season ticket prices for the 2013 season is being rolled back to 2007 prices for all existing season ticket holders. Also, any newcomers looking to buy season tickets will also experience drastic reductions.

First off, I'll say this. This is an incredible gesture of goodwill from MLSE to the season seat holders. I was at a loss for words when I heard the announcement, because MLSE is a sports organization known for gouging its customers with high ticket prices and overall incompetence in managing their sports teams. But when I heard that announcement, I got the feeling that MLSE  was at least aware of the supporter unrest at Toronto FC, and felt pressure from those who expressed their concern about high ticket prices.

An issue I had with ticket prices is that (according to the media) 2013 Single Game tickets will still be at 2012 levels. I still think single game tickets are a bit too high and it could have done with a slight reduction at the very least. I think Tom Anselmi and MLSE missed an opportunity to address the supporters who don't have the time or money to go to all the Toronto FC matches. They also missed an opportunity to address the casual crowd who are now apathetic on going to Toronto FC matches, because even though the die-hard supporters will always be there for the club, it is the casual crowd who can help market the club to new fans. If you can reduce the prices for them, some may come back.

While the ticket price reductions have been very good news for the club, MLSE's work is not done. For many supporters, season ticket prices isn't the issue as to why they won't be coming back to BMO Field. These supporters would like to see a new direction for the club, and I would as well. MLSE needs to remove those in the front office and they MUST hire a new club president with relevant experience in North American soccer. Whether MLSE will actually do that can only be decided by time.

With the failure to reduce single game tickets, and the potential lack of addressing the actual direction of Toronto FC, I fear that there will be a continuation of empty seats on match-days at BMO Field and general supporter apathy.

I'll end on a positive note. MLSE are on the right track to winning over the supporters again, but they have a lot more work to do.

Quick Thoughts: Stephen Hart has resigned as Canadian Men's National Team Head Coach. I respect him for all he has done for the men's program, but Hart made the right decision by resigning, which I applaud him for. I can only imagine how he felt after the 8-1 loss to Honduras, and I can only imagine how he feels now. I wish him all the best on his future endeavors.

Quick Post-Game Thoughts: Honduras vs. Canada

That could have very well been one of the worst matches I have ever seen the Canadian National Team play. They didn't even show up in that 8-1 thumping Honduras put on them.

Where do I start? I start off with the appalling finishing by Tosaint Ricketts in the early stages of the game. He missed a couple of great chances to get Canada some early goals in this match, and it very well could have changed the dynamic of the match. But terrible play in the final third for Canada wasn't even the biggest issue. The defense, normally pretty dependable for Canada, completely fell apart. Simple defensive errors and marking issues really did this team in. Add in the constant loss of possession in the midfield and you've got a concoction of disappointment. With a spot in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, you would expect the Canadian team to show some sort of fight, right? Instead, the players completely let themselves, the supporters, and the entire country down with the joke that they call a performance. It reminded me of when Toronto FC played the New York Red Bulls on the last match-day of the 2009 MLS Season. TFC played terribly, lost 5-0, and missed out on the playoffs. I was reliving that pain when watching this Honduras/Canada match.

The players deserve the brunt of the blame, but some of the blame must be passed to Head Coach Stephen Hart, and the rest of the coaching staff. In my opinion, Stephen Hart has made some big mistakes in this match. He failed to motivate the players in the importance of this match and the implications along with it, and his team selection and formation was a bit questionable. I think it’s time for him to part ways with the Canadian Soccer Association. I don’t see how he can keep his job after that debacle. It was nice knowing you, Stephen Hart.

Canada’s elimination from World Cup Qualifying has some other effects as well. From a business point of view, there will be no more games in Canada, missing out on potential revenue for the CSA. Also, the elimination is a hindrance on the growth of soccer in the Canadian sporting landscape. It will now be harder to attract fans to soccer in Canada. Having 17000+ fans in BMO Field for Canada matches is very nice, but imagine if Canada actually made it to the hex? More people will definitely take notice of Canadian soccer if Canada made a decent run to the World Cup.

I’ll touch on one last point. Does Canada have the talent to at least make it to the hex? Perhaps, they were one point away from qualifying for it. But do they have the talent to COMPETE in the hex? My answer is no. Canada is not as talented as some of the Central American countries, and they are nowhere near as good as the USA or Mexico.

Maybe it’s time for the Canadian Men’s National Team and CSA to give a long, hard look at themselves and find out what it takes for them to get to the Hex, and eventually, the World Cup.