2024 Cavalry FC and CPL thread

[CroFlames]

The single flood light was kind of embarrassing lets be real lol.

But again I will say that Atco/Spruce Meadows will be a boon for the league when this gets broadcast on the national carrier. That Bavarian styling of the 200 stand, the real grass pitch. Your "soccer players are fakers and pussies" crowd get to see how Canadians play the game and the atmosphere that is created in the stands. No doubt MLS scouts and even some Euro club scouts will have their eye on this.

I can't wait for tomorrow.

[TheIronMaiden]

Yeah always room the try and keep ownership accountable, especially early, and as a season ticket holder.

One way I'd like to hold them accountable is no more losing and breaking my heart please.
Seriously, I just want to watch a team I love win a championship. Just once in my life.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Slava

The club should not be free from criticism, and that's not my point. But the reality is that this city has what...3/4 failed attempts to have professional soccer gain a foothold here? This is by far the most successful to date, and while there are things that I dislike (I mean $16 for a beer is egregious!), the reality is that they're not running a charity. Fans want everything to be perfect, but it all costs money. I got back and forth between wanting things to be cheaper and more reasonably priced and also wanting the club to be profitable and financially viable.

That's not to suggest that there haven't been missteps through the years. The first game, when they had one beer tent, was hilarious, and they just plain did not understand the type of supporters they were going to attract. And yes, parking was a headache for a while. But the truth is, Spruce Meadows has adapted through the years, and at least a piece of the fantastic game day experience is based on their efforts.

Agree with pretty much all of this. But going back to the "softball" comment, they still haven't figured out the relationship between prices, profit, and developing/nurturing the fan base. And I think that's where the "softball" comment came from initially.

Higher prices do not always equal more profit, and can actually be detrimental to strengthening the fan base. Whether it is general ticket prices, a $40 "viewing party", inflated travel packages to Victoria, beer, etc. they often seem to miss the mark on price, leading to less overall profit, and slower development of the fan base / supporter culture. There's no reason we couldn't have 5.5k in the stands every week (and all of the knock-on beer and merch sales that those extra people would buy), an irresistible package deal to Victoria (our shirt sponsor is Westjet!), a free viewing event, etc. They'd make even MORE profit and the fans will feel more like supporters and not just customers. Win-win-win.

It feels almost dirty to say it on the verge of record attendance and potentially the greatest day in club history. Tomorrow is going to be glorious in so many ways, and the club, players, and fans all deserve this more than anyone else in the league. Absolutely. We are extremely fortunate to have this ownership family, the venue, etc and "we" are indeed the class of the league.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Yeah always room the try and keep ownership accountable, especially early, and as a season ticket holder.

One way I'd like to hold them accountable is no more losing and breaking my heart please.
Seriously, I just want to watch a team I love win a championship. Just once in my life.

So true. I was too young (9) to understand/appreciate the significance of the Flames Stanley Cup win. And Norwich City will forever bob up and down between the Prem and the Championship.

Please just let me enjoy sporting supremacy once in my adult life.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

So true. I was too young (9) to understand/appreciate the significance of the Flames Stanley Cup win. And Norwich City will forever bob up and down between the Prem and the Championship.

Please just let me enjoy sporting supremacy once in my adult life.

Don't wanna jinx anything or take the spotlight off Cavalry, but I think Canada has a darn good chance of winning the Nations League.

People might scoff at the relevance of Nations League, but just look at the players when they win it. They take it seriously. And managers always put forth full strength squads.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Bobby is already whining about the field conditions in his interview on the Northern Futbol podcast. "See how much football they can play on that field".

If you didn't play on the slowest turf ever at Tim Horton's field then playing on grass wouldn't be such a big deal

[Jimmy Stang]

^ Can the pitch even be that bad? I know that everyone thinks that Calgary is this high-altitude winter wasteland from September through May (sometimes it is). But this fall has been very mild and dry. Is the grass even dormant yet? My lawn is still green.

Or... Bobby just preemptively makin' excuses.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I can't see the grass being that bad, videos posted show it still being mostly green.

Just making excuses that their fanbase and the media eats up and now Cavalry has a terrible pitch

[CroFlames]

100% of footballers prefer to play on grass vs turf.

Shut up Bobby. Your neckbeard is awful.

[TheIronMaiden]

It is always hilarious how much forge ####s on the Cavalry stadium when everyone agrees CFL stadiums are the worst place to play soccer.

[Muta]

Calgary's grass is some of the highest quality in Canada, as well as the world. CPL players love it (I know this for fact), and Halifax's natural turf is a far, distant second (it's more akin to crabgrass). If Bobby is whining about our turf, it's just a part of his team psychological strategy.

[TheIronMaiden]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1854972582463725876

[Muta]

Priority should be Edmonton, Quebec City, and Laval. Kelowna and Saskatoon would be awesome adds as well.

[TheIronMaiden]

Anything but another team in a CFL stadium I say.

[shermanator]

We've heard the same song and dance for years about expansion. Until I hear an actual expansion announcement I won't believe there will be expansion.

Personally, would love Kelowna, Quebec City or Montreal, Edmonton and Saskatoon in that order but they all have to find owners and build stadiums and those things seem to be pretty big barriers.

[CroFlames]

Would promotion and relegation ever fly in this country?

[shermanator]

At the amateur level? Yes, and it was implemented this year in League 1 Ontario.

At the professional level? No, primarily because of expansion fees. You can't demand that an ownership group pay millions and then say "if you finish last you no longer play in this league". No ownership group would do that.

Also there is a massive gap in quality off the pitch between CPL and League1. Most League1 clubs are just the top of a youth club's pyramid and play on rec league pitches. There doesn't seem to be a desire to sink money into those clubs and close the gap and the one club that talked a big game about doing that (Electric City) folded after 3 years. There are some decent lower level clubs that draw well for the level (TSS Rovers, Simcoe County Rovers, Sudbury Cyclones) but most of the time its not much more than a kickabout in a park. I think the gap is smaller on the pitch and you see that with TSS and St Laurent beating CPL teams in the last couple years.

Perhaps there are groups willing to fill the gap in between but unless there are 8-10 of them at once to form a Divison 2 league it would be tough.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by shermanator

We've heard the same song and dance for years about expansion. Until I hear an actual expansion announcement I won't believe there will be expansion.

Personally, would love Kelowna, Quebec City or Montreal, Edmonton and Saskatoon in that order but they all have to find owners and build stadiums and those things seem to be pretty big barriers.

Quebec city especially has depressing prospects for a stadium.
The university of Laval's staidum is a dreaded football field with a running track around it.

Otherwise, they have Stade Beauport which is a beautiful indoor facility, with almost no stands.

The team would need to rely on changing a local pitch into a stadium, something like VFC has done. Which would create problems with parking.

[CroFlames]

Edmonton needs to get their #### together and get a team going.

Don't they traditionally have strong amateur clubs there?

[TheIronMaiden]

It really comes down to someone investing in a 6000 seat stadium with adequate parking and location. No doubt any team would do well in those circumstances.

That said, the ROI must be miserable.