Jer15

On 6/24/2022 at 4:05 PM, DEAD! said:

Felt like? It WAS a big version of a grandstand at town's fairgrounds... and it was on the NORTH side of the stadium

 

Lol, fair!

Yeah I don't recall that specifically (the north side)  but I have read about that. Makes no sense at all to me now. Hindsight and all that.

On 6/22/2022 at 8:49 PM, Digby said:

 

The incrementalist approach BMO Field has taken to expanding is probably good and sustainable financially but has done it no favors in terms of venue quality

You arent wrong. Of course MLSE never thought that soccer would take off as it has and they've been adjusting on the fly ever since. It's so telling in the TFC dressing room which is actually multiple rooms. 

On 6/22/2022 at 9:33 PM, DEAD! said:

 

I think BMO field had previously had temporary seating at the south end in 2016 for the Grey Cup.

And they ended up hosting MLS cup that year too so the stands stayed for that game. They've also use temp seating for thr outdoor NHL game.

I've sat just about everywhere in that stadium for all sorts of events. The upper bowl view is fine not great. I'm skeptical of the south end view because of the roof. I have to imagine there will be restricted view seating.

On 6/22/2022 at 8:03 PM, Red Comet said:

So they demolished Exhibition Stadium, and wound up creating a more compact Exhibition Stadium

Lol yup.

I mean I was young when they knocked it down but what i recall the old Exhibition Stadium felt like a big version of a grandstand at a town's fall fairgrounds. It was bad. 

5 minutes ago, See Red said:

both teams benefitted from non-calls in the game

That's the long and short of it. 

I think that's all that needs to be said. 

Well, the OLA officially approved the 4 team MSL lacrosse and the former Brampton players can sign elsewhere for the season. 

As for next season....we'll see. Jamie Dawick has announced he'll allow the Oakville players to be released for the season should they wish but they will be Oakville property again next season.  In fact Ryan Lanchbury & Jay Thorimbert have played for Brooklin & Peterborough respectively.  

Oakville is expected to return. Will we see Owen Sound and Brampton? Will the players return to Brampton? Will they go to Owen Sound? Will Brampton be the Excelsiors? 

One more interesting note on this weird saga for MSL. Brooklin and 6 Nations played a game on May 23rd before Joe Norton threatened to sue. It was supposed to be an "unsanctioned game" but now, after playing 1 game, these teams have a 2 game record on the MSL website. So I guess it did count. 

1 hour ago, tigers said:

 

What a mess.

Surely that Norton guy could at least allow Brampton to play on in altered colours?

They believe they own the rights to the name that's been (debatably) around since 1883. They don't want to do that. 

There's also the issue of who owns the player contracts. 

I don't know how much of an appetite there is for Canadian box summer league on these forums but holy :censored:, there's some serious drama going down in Major Series Lacrosse. 

The Brampton Excelsiors, a team that been around since 1913 (the club says 1883 but that's not quiet the truth...anyway not he point), were bought in 2018. Joe Norton, who owns a company called "Bug Juice" has become a thorn in the side to the OLA (ontario Lacrosse Association)  and MSL. 

From an Excelsior fan's point of view, he had the team wearing jerseys that barely mentioned the team name or logo. I hated it and I know I wasn't alone on that. Just "Bug Juice" written on the uniform and added . Apparently the players hated it too.

But, that's not uncommon (Peterborough wears uniforms that make them look like they are Century 21's office team).

The guy then decided he wants to move the team to Owen Sound.  He did this because he took over the junior B Owen Sound team as well. He just kept moving forward with that plan but the OLA had not approved it.

It's not a typical purchase either. The Excelsiors are a not-for-profit team so basically this Joe Norton just paid their debts. I find the whole thing very confusing but the short of it is; The OLA (the governing body that MSL plays under) is blocking the move and the Excelsiors (BECL) are fighting it too.

There's also a debate on the authority that BELC President, Ziggy Musial, had when he signed off on the "sale" of the club.  A number of people on the BELC board have said they didn't see the agreement until after it was completed, let alone had a change to vote on it happening.  Anyway, this is all happening and then Covid happens and MSL shuts down for a couple years.

In the meanwhile MSL has basically offered a free expansion team in Owen Sound to Joe Norton and wants Brampton to stay put. Joe Norton has said if there is any team taking the floor wearing Excelsiors uniforms/colours he's going to sue because he believes he owns the rights. So MSL delays the start of this season.
 

Last week MSL announced they were going to go ahead with a season with the 5 other clubs and leave Brampton and Owen Sound out to sort out their issues.
What happens? Jamie Dawick, owner of the Oakville Rock in MSL and Toronto Rock in the NLL, says "nope, Oakville is not playing this year unless we have at least 6 team".  Now Oakville is out for a year.

That leaves MSL with 4 teams. There is a rule by the OLA that if there are 4 or less teams in MSL, junior B teams are supposed to be promoted. MSL's commissioner stepped down in the wake of all this. 

On Friday, an interim commissioner was appointed and it sounds like the OLA has allowed MSL to move forward as a 4 team league for 2022.

In all of this mess, there's 2 roster's worth of players who aren't sure if they are playing or not this season. 

Meanwhile MSL got going with 1 game on Sunday. 

By the way, Owen Sound still hasn't agreed to let MSL play while the BELC board did sign an agreement to sit out this season. 

It's a very crazy story that will be interesting to see how it plays out. 

I really like the new Montreal helmet and I think it has made the whole set bump up the list. 

I'd say mine is:

1. Winnipeg

2. Hamilton

3. Calgary

4.  Montreal

5.  Edmonton

6. BC

7. Toronto

8. Ottawa

9. Saskatchewan 

"meh"

33 minutes ago, spartacat_12 said:

I'm obviously aware that they are referring to the franchises, but my point is that the importance of a Canadian team winning the Cup is overblown

All due respect: it wasn't obvious. 

Thanks for clarifying what you meant.  

I popped into this thread to say "yahhh Colorado" (as one of those Canadians who didn't root for "Canada's team" lol)  just to see this debate and I'm very confused. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude but.....

An American franchise with Canadian players on it who bring the Stanley Cup to Canada on their day with the cup isn't the same as a Canadian franchise winning the cup at all.

Obviously the phrase "Canadian Cup drought" is talking about franchises not individual players. 

14 minutes ago, Sec19Row53 said:

They'd certainly look better on field with striped pants, but nobody asked me.

They sure would.

Speaking of LAX and Colorado:

https://www.nll.com/news/the-mammoth-return-to-the-nll-finals-after-16-years/ 

We have our NLL Cup final. Colorado v Buffalo. 

I'm not a fan of the 3 game series....1 game per week format. It's taking forever to complete series and I'm honestly loosing interest because of it. I realize the NLL doesn't have top billing in most of it's arenas so that plays a factor but they've got to do something. 

2 hours ago, tigers said:

 

 

Wasn't Boston Cannons joining the NLL?

Nope.

Boston Cannons joined PLL.... and I'm just seeing @4_tattoos said that too.

Either way the Cannons weren't going to NLL they were always field lacrosse.

I swear (without looking it up) the PLL and NLL basically made a truce not even a year ago.

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl-strike-ends-after-league-players-reach-tentative-agreement-on-new-cba-1.1801644

Well, that ended quickly. 

Thank goodness.

11 hours ago, monkeypower said:

I also don't like this apparent elk head erasure

Same. 

It feels like they did the Elks thing for one year to make the change and now they are basically the Eskimos again. 

2 hours ago, MJWalker45 said:

Have their rosters been affected by the USFL season, prior to the camps getting cancelled? I know the CFL is a step above the US spring leagues but I figure that since they are in the middle of the season instead of the end of it they may have issues getting backup players in. 

It doesn't seem to be the case, no.

I suspect those guys are the level of player that gets a camp invite and they just wouldn't get the invite this year if they are tied up. I could see some of the better USFL players getting a look once the season is done (Assuming the CFL gets to play) but I guess this is all just talk because of the way things are playing out so far. 

Well, it's not looking good. Training camps are starting to get cancelled

10 hours ago, Kevin W. said:

The fact that Leafs fans act like they're entitled to Ontario-born players is a big part of why I took the Islanders' side in the dispute.

I want to preface this by saying I live in the GTA but I'm not a Leafs fan. I don't hate them (I wish them well for all my friends who are Leafs fans) I just am not a fan of the team. 

That said, I don't feel like most Leaf fans are entitled to Ontario-born hockey players at all (sure, there's exceptions to the rule see: Don Cherry types but that's not the majority). They love when an Ontario born player joins the team, yes. There's no doubt about that. 

In fact, I think the sentiment is more "these Ontario guys don't want to play here because the media is on their ass constantly". If that is true or not is another topic of discussion but I feel like that is the prevailing sentiment. 

Also (this is more of a general comment not a reply to you Kevin), I don't really care what any fans feel about the Tavares situation. He had a contract, he fulfilled it and when he was a free agent he exercised his right to sign where he wanted. That's the bottom line. 

As for the game last night: "That's soooo Toronto". What else can you say? 

20 hours ago, JerseyJimmy said:

 

am I the only Islanders fan who doesn't care about Tavares leaving? I think they got as far as they could revolving the entire franchise around him.

Well, now there are plenty of people I know who wish he stayed. If I have to hear "We paid 11 million for this?" one more time.....
(also "we" did not, MLSE did, stop acting like it was your money fictional person I'm using for this example.)

10 hours ago, Dilbert said:

Round of 32 US Open Cup kicked off tonight.

 

Louisville City advances to the round of 16 defeating their USL Championship rival Detroit City. A bit of controversy coming into this match as DCFC reminded fans that for all home matches, apparel with profanity, actual or implied, is prohibited. One of their supporter groups, the Northern Guard has been vocal about their political opinions and have been known to shout profanities during the games. Making apparel (specifically scarves that said F*** Ohio. On several occasions, USSF has told them to censor or remove their profanity from their banners. Northern Guard says they do not want to do this because they believe that if they have to censor themselves, the USSF and leagues will come for banning rainbow/trans flags, anti facists and other political belief banners next. This is the hill they are prepared to die on. They realize that if they continue this behavior it can result in fines and even being banned but they dont care.

Get ready for a ban I guess. Can't see this going any other way

11 hours ago, tigers said:

 

Is it a permanent move or just until they can get a better deal at one of the Toronto Arenas?

 

 

They signed a 5 year deal.....but I bet you if they get a better deal in Toronto they'll find an out. 

2 hours ago, tigers said:

 

 

Can you see the Rock becoming Hamilton or even Ontario Rock?

No because the owner said this when they announced the move. The name isn't going to change.

Coca-cola Coliseum, in my opinion, would be a great venue for the team.  To be honest, I think it would be ideal.

Thing is that they are the only Toronto sports entity that isn't linked to MLSE (The Jays are owned by Rogers who owns about half of MLSE) and MLSE owns or manages all the Toronto arenas. Apparently for years the Rock owner (Jamie Dawick) has tried to work with MLSE to get a more favorable rent price. I don't know specifics, this is just what i've heard through the grapevine.

Some people believe MLSE just doesn't want any team they don't own in town but that's just a theory out there and I would think that if MLSE wants them bad enough, they can throw enough cash at Jamie to get them. 

Year 1 in Hamilton wasn't great in the sense that there were capacity limits set by the government early on (just a fact, I don't mean to/want to get into a political discussion). I think this needs a few years. The arena is going to be basically rebuilt starting this fall so that should help too. As a former resident of Hamilton, I've been there many times, it's not the nicest place to go for an event. I think a heavily refurbished arena will at least get some curious people to come out. We'll see of course, that's just my opinion. Again, Coca-Cola Coliseum would still be better in my opinion but I think it's too soon to say the Hamilton move was a failure.

1 hour ago, monkeypower said:

 

When the change was revealed, Ryan Popowich of CSEC (the marketing person who has been the face of the Flames jersey news in recent years) said, in not so many words on Twitter, that the red jerseys didn't look good against the new WestJet teal turf.  I don't doubt that it didn't look great, but I don't know if I like the colour of a sponsored turf being the reason for the jerseys to change. I also don't know if that was the only reason, but it appeared to have been a reason.

 

There's also the Air Canada conspiracy that I saw like one person make on Twitter when this change happened.

Interesting,  thanks for the insight.

That floor needs to go. I was watching the game tonight and I felt like the colour of my TV was off.