Since no one else is saying it, I guess I will:
Don’t give up your season seats.
The paper bags, massive two-sticks, all painting portraits of fan displeasure, were strewn across a half-empty supporters section as of late. No longer a bunker, a corner instilling fear into the hearts of the opposition, the few that remain made their thoughts on all things TFC very clear; the anger, pointed at Paul Mariner, Earl Cochrane and Tom Anselmi, comes as a result of too many negative results – the season ended with 21 losses.
With bums no longer planted in their seats, ticket renewals will be the main cause of concern for Toronto FC. The fact is, the lack of interest in Toronto FC tickets is unprecedented in the clubs’ short history. Where four years ago, finding a ticket was nigh impossible, nowadays, finding a row all to yourself is half the fun of getting into BMO Field.
It’s clear that apathy, more than anger, has taken hold of the Toronto FC faithful. How many renewals Toronto FC manages to pick up is unknown, but in the midst of this closed-wallet protest lies another problem – the permanent death of the supporters section.
The more-than-likely scenario is this: the season seat holder who pays $1000+ for their season ticket but who does not wish to give up their seats (let’s call him Supporter A) will surely look to relocate to cheaper seats: justifying a $1000+ investment when much cheaper seats are available may be difficult.
Meanwhile, supporters who pay between $400-$900 (Supporter B) may also reevaluate their seats and move to the South end, specifically to supporters sections where the ticket prices are cheapest. Again, this is an issue of cost for perceived value.
Now, supporters in the south end who have had enough of being disappointed (Supporter C) give up their season tickets for good, opting instead to pick up tickets when they feel like attending a match. If Supporter C gives up his cheap season tickets, Supporter A will snap it up at a premium discount, while Supporter B will move and save a couple hundred dollars.
So, let’s say that Section 111 through Section 113 seat about 1000 supporters, of which only 600 choose to renew. That leaves 400 empty seats that season ticket holders from every other section will have access to. Whether they sit in those seats or not isn’t the issue, since the stadium has open seats in just about every section anyway, so for both Supporter A and B, cheaper tickets gets them in the door.
Fans will buy their cheap season seats and proceed to sit wherever they please. The stadium is empty enough for people to go where they want.
What’s the problem then?
If and when Toronto FC start to win, and interest hits this city again, the stadium itself won’t be so empty. When fan numbers begin hitting close to 20,000 again, people will have to sit in their own sections. The luxury of sitting where you please will no longer exist, and so the club’s supporter section, which has sang songs, chanted, and created an atmosphere that is iconic in MLS, will now be saturated by those who are looking to spend less money for their weekly football fix.
Meanwhile, supporters who have lived and breathed Toronto FC and have opted to show their displeasure by dropping their tickets will have a harder time getting back into the section they once called home. Even if all the demands for changes are made, it won’t matter, because getting back into the stadium itself is now an issue.
Giving up season seats now in these supporters section means you will probably never get them back again. Try telling the guy who went from spending around $1000 to roughly $400 to go back to spending a thousand bucks for seats. It won’t happen. The supporter’s section will play host to fans who may not be willing to sing and chant and dance and support the way we have come to expect those sections to.
I’m not asking everyone to renew his or her tickets; I’m not your boss. This article is just a warning for the future, because, whether or not you dislike Toronto FC now, that may not always be the case. Football, like life, has its ups and downs. Making a sacrifice like a valuable spot in the supporter’s section may cause headaches later on.
Of course, there are solutions available – Toronto FC and the supporter’s sections need to work together to ensure that their passionate voice is given the right environment to grow in. Sacrificing passion in an act of protest may appease short-term anger, but there is still hope that things will turn around.
Solutions such as general admission, prioritizing loyalty or even relocating the supporters section to the north stands are all possible options. In the end, Toronto FC’s 12th man must stand this final test of faith to reap the rewards of future successes.
The future of BMO Field depends on it.
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