Business as usual

By now you already know the big news, that Rogers and Bell combined to buy 75 per cent of everyone's favourite sports overlords, MLSE.

It goes without saying that Toronto FC were a barely mentioned afterthought at the official announcement, but really so were all the teams involved (pity the poor Marlies, they got literally nothing).

This was very much a business announcement, and the real excitement seemed to come from the prospect of how the content will be fed to consumers on TV, radio and all sorts of sparkly new platforms.

Whether for better or worse, how fans watch the games is probably the main thing that will change from this deal, but what's most important is how it will affect the playing side of things. Supporters will be hoping that their team can be used as a loss leader; maybe they'll splash the cash and lose money on the team itself, but they'll make it up with all the extra cash that success will bring in on the broadcast side of things.

That would be nice, but let's face it, it's unlikely. So as strange as it sounds after five largely incompetent years as far as TFC are concerned, I hope it doesn't change much at all. For all the easy jokes at their expense, and the fact that they clearly do like to make a profit, MLSE under the OTPP were never really cheap when spending money.

Sure, when TFC started up, there wasn't a massive amount of cash spread around. BMO Field was certainly lacking in frills, Mo Johnston's managerial reign of error was originally a one man operation, and he made no secret of the fact that they weren't going to be looking for any of those high priced designated players for quite a while. But after a very successful first season off the pitch, it seemed like the higher ups realized that there was actually some money to be made and started taking it seriously.

In one sense, that wasn't good news as far as season ticket prices and supporter relations were concerned. The mentality seemed to switch from nurturing and encouraging to exploiting and alienating, as if like Leafs fans, loyalty could now be taken for granted. Season ticket prices went up, and Marlies tickets were forced on those looking to move themselves up the waiting list.

When it came to investing in the club though, they certainly stepped up in a big way. The Fieldturf was replaced with grass, the north stand went up, and most impressively, the investment in the academy facilities at Downsview is something you really can't be cynical about.

On the pitch, it's taken a while to get it right, but DPs have been brought in and under the current management team of Aron Winter, Paul Mariner and Bob de Klerk it looks as if we're finally heading in the right direction. As the salary cap and DP rules currently stand in MLS, there's really not a lot more new owners could do to improve the team's chances on the field. I just hope they'll keep maintaining their position as one of MLS' highest-spending teams as spending regulations are relaxed in the future.

One thing that might lead to a change though is the big white elephant in the room that is the Rogers Centre. Debate has been painfully drawn out over the last month as to where TFC's CONCACAF Champions League game against the L.A. Galaxy in March will be played. As this deal played out, I'm sure it made the Rogers Centre a much more attractive option, now that all profits can be kept in the family. I'd still rather see the game played at BMO Field, but I don't really care anymore. I just want them to one way or another make up their mind and tell us.

The extra possibility that the sale brings is the return to Toronto of the big blockbuster summer friendly. It's something that more and more European clubs are coming to North America to do these days, expand the brand and all that, but it hasn't really found its niche in Toronto as of yet.

TFC have played against a lot of middling teams in front of middling crowds at BMO Field, as well as against Real Madrid in 2009. That could be defined as a success I suppose, but the insanely high ticket prices took away some of the feel good factor as the small attendance of 22,000 had to pay accordingly to cover Real's appearance fee.

TFC haven't tried that again since, unless you count the friendly against Bolton, and I don't. There have been a few games between two different European teams at both BMO and the Rogers Centre, though despite names like Juventus and Manchester United, they haven't really caught the imagination of Toronto fans enough to sell out at the generally high prices for these games.

But surely executives have looked on jealously and seen that these affairs can be successful with an MLS side in a big stadium against a real giant of the sport. Seattle drew 67,000 to watch them take on Manchester United last year, L.A. drew over 56,000 to see them lose to Real Madrid. Even the New England Revolution had 50,000 in the stands when they took on Manchester United.

If Toronto FC can provide the competition for free, and only one big appearance fee has to be paid, that will help keep the ticket prices down - at least in the upper bowl, which should lead to a much bigger crowd and sense of occasion. Whereas before TFC would have had to pay the Rogers Centre rental fee, and gave up a share of the concession profits, now, if all that lost profit is actually going to stay under the same cozy corporate umbrella, well then giddy up.

I don't like the idea. I'm very much against mid-season friendlies, but now that this will be a whole lot easier logistically, I'm certain it'll happen. It's a win-win situation, unless you count the actual result.

Duncan Fletcher is a Toronto-based writer and key contributor to Waking the Red, a blog about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. Follow Duncan on Twitter.