Keeping the Reds out of the red 11 Jan 2016 Toronto FC takes in a lot of its revenue in Canadian dollars, but pays out much of its travel and payroll expenses in U.S. dollars. A look behind the scenes shows that the financial game theory in the boardroom is almost as fascinating as the soccer strategies on the field
Weak Canadian dollar is bad news for Canadian soccer franchises 22 Jan 2015 MLS and NASL teams aren’t forthcoming about the terms of their contracts. But the MLS Players Union sheds some light on how the salaries are paid out. According to MLSPU Executive Director Bob Foose: “All contracts are calculated in U.S. Dollars, players can then choose to have them paid in either, or a combination.”
Hit or stand pat? 17 Dec 2014 Critics will point to Toronto FC’s 2014 campaign as the most high-profile failure in the franchise’s history — and that’s saying something. Apologists will point to the strides the team made despite missing the playoffs — again. So, is the glass half-empty or half-full for MLS’s poster boys for futility?
How Leiweke’s successor can deal with TFC’s culture of failure 13 Oct 2014 The Defoe/Gilberto/Michael Bradley Designated-Player push was Toronto FC’s final chance to convince the season-ticket base that things had changed. So, no matter what TFC does this off-season, the theme song for fans will be the Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
The more things change… 25 Sep 2014 Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, right, has put his stamp on the club, firing his inherited coach, Ryan Nelsen, and replacing him with the waiting-in-the-wings candidate, Greg Vanney. But, for a cynical fan base that’s seen coaching changes come and go, will this one really mark a new path for Major League Soccer’s soap-opera franchise?
The circus comes back to town: TFC gets weird again and undoes a few months of goodwill 1 Sep 2014 Oh, hell with pussyfooting around it. It was more like trying to watch a long-term alcoholic try to stay sober, despite being surrounded by temptation.
Leiweke’s departure: Toronto soccer supporters can’t be blamed for fearing for the future 21 Aug 2014 And the question will be, if Leiweke is chewed up by the Toronto sports cauldron, who could take the job without being a well-paid yes-man? Thanos, maybe?
Centre of the Universe, centre of the bid? 25 Jun 2014 Because it’s hosting the 2015 Pan Am Games, the City of Toronto chose not to be a host city for the Women’s World Cup. Toronto’s decision to shun soccer’s showpiece event for women was a controversial one. But there are those who feel that the Pan Am Games might give Canada’s largest city a step up if and when it comes time for this nation to host the most popular sporting event on the planet...
Playing the Field 17 Mar 2014 In 2007, BMO Field opened its doors as Canada’s national soccer stadium. The feds, the province and the city all kicked in money to make the dream of a soccer stadium a reality. Later, the artificial turf was ripped out and replaced by green, green grass. But, as deal with the CFL Argonauts inches closer and closer to completion, we wonder: Is a truly soccer-specific stadium a myth in a multipurpose world?
Former Toronto mayor David Miller to MLSE: Do not convert BMO Field to accommodate CFL 11 Sep 2013 BMO Field was constructed when David Miller was Toronto's mayor. He was mayor when the city and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment came to an agreement to replace the FieldTurf surface with natural grass. He was an unabashedly pro-soccer mayor.