Here’s the deal, Toronto FC fans.
You get:
- Real Madrid, at BMO Field, on grass, the evening of Friday, August 7.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
- To pay for it, because it won’t be part of your season ticket package.
- A second friendly (why, oh why, do we need a second friendly?) which will be part of your season ticket package.
You give up:
- The scheduled August 9 TFC home game against New York Energy Drink, which will now be played on June 13.
- Whatever plans you might have made for June 13, which is just two warm, summery weeks away.
- Of course, you have the option of not coming on June 13, but that will be a wrench because the Reds now have only one MLS home game scheduled for EACH of July, August and September!
Mitigating factor:
- If you’re one of those fans who doesn’t want TFC sharing BMO Field with the Toronto Nationals field lacrosse team, June 13 was one of only six days all summer they were scheduled to play there.
I understand that business is business, and deals have to get done. I am prepared to believe, at face value, TFC claims that there was no other time TFC and NYED could get together for a match. I also have no doubt the club sincerely regrets any inconvenience this sudden move is causing.
But I’d be a lot more understanding if the club would drop the proposed second friendly, and give the Galacticos game to the subscribers. Perhaps – probably – the economics are prohibitive.
(I’d do my part to help, but I made it clear when I offered Barcelona $11 to play at BMO that the deal was not available to Real Madrid.)
And the tempting possible mitigating factor that the temporary grass surface might stick around for the rest of the season?
- BMO Field is block-booked for amateur games.
- Temporary grass pitches are … exactly that.
So, it’s a huge announcement – but there’s going to be a lot of heart-felt grumbling among the faithful, who don’t want a second friendly, were counting on having June 13 off, and likely don’t feel like paying blood and bone marrow to watch an off-season, out-of-form Real Madrid, grass or no grass.
Enough out of me. How are you feeling, Toronto fans?
Onward!