I don't why I find that so funny. I thought for sure he'd leave and at least explore USL options. HFX is absolutely a team to watch with Vanni Sartini there.
To chime in no some of the turnover and expectations chatter that was going on last week; no matter what Cavarly's roster looks like I think the core of Klomp, Kobza, Montgomery, Warschewski, Ntignee, and whatever midfield returns still has the expectations of top 3 in the league and a semi final appearance in the playoffs. That's my December thoughts at least.
Fascinated at the possibilities of a different approach if Musse doesn't come back. Wonder if it opens more of the door for Mael Henry to have a big role (if he can stay healthy) and maybe role out dual attacking 10s on a more consistent basis.
I know many of us believed this already, but, to me, Carducci's signing with Halifax is confirmation that Cavalry chose to move on from him. Like many of us, I have mixed feelings about him leaving. I would evaluate his time here as overall an above average CPL keeper who was prone to gaffes at the most crucial times. I think his strongest seasons were the first few. So, from a pure performance perspective, I think moving on is the right decision.
I'm really interested in seeing where Musse lands. I also was frustrated by his inconsistency but I came to accept that as part of what you get with him and I think he grew immensely from the time he arrived back here in Calgary after his stint in Winnipeg. I remember Leon Hapgood commenting that Musse was a project for him; he tried to do whatever he could to prod more consistent performances out of Musse as he saw his ability to change games on his own. Wide attacking players are often hit-or-miss on any given day, though Musse was perhaps more erratic than most. There were many times where he came through in the the biggest moments for the club and singlehandedly changed the outcome of a game. I'm thinking specifically of his extra-time goal in the final against Forge a few years ago. That should have been the winner (see my analysis of Carducci above for why it wasn't). Musse was capable of competing at a very high level, I'm thinking specifically of his performances against the Whitecaps a couple of years ago and against Pumas last season, particularly in the match in Mexico. He gave MLS and LigaMX defenders problems.
To sum up Musse, I'll never forget watching the home game against Forge this summer when we beat them 4-1 or whatever the score was (a memorable day, by the way). I was sitting with my 84 year old dad, who has dementia, in the accessible seating in front of 103. Musse was attacking our side and it was the first Cavalry game my dad had been to. After a couple of Musse dangles and long distance shots, my dad commented, "#7 is selfish but he'll score. He just needs what he's doing to work once." That's how I'll remember Ali Musse.
In the end, all the CPL players who are here year-after-year have flaws in the their game or they'd likely be playing at a higher level. I was starkly reminded of this watching the second leg of the Whitecaps-Forge CC tie. Mo Babouli was absolutely torn apart on the defensive side of the ball. His lack of ability to defend and unwillingness to track back was embarrassing. I reminder thinking, "I didn't know he was that bad a defender." Those flaws get exposed against better competition.
Anyway, I really enjoy the conversation on here.
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You know, its funny...I was thinking that it was becoming time to move on from Carducci, I think his best days are behind him however...you've still got to replace him. Someone has to be between the sticks.
Still not gonna be me though.
Although that would sell tickets. How many CPers would buy Cavalry tickets to watch me get smoked?
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I went to a Roughnecks game last night for the first time in over a decade. I was shocked to learn they pull ~12,000 fans. Buffalo gets something like ~18,000. This is during hockey season, competing for eyes with the Flames.
How does soccer only pull ~4,000? Is it just because this isn't a "top tier" league and people are fans of the game but not interested in this level? I still don't get how this game won't take off in this country.
I went to a Roughnecks game last night for the first time in over a decade. I was shocked to learn they pull ~12,000 fans. Buffalo gets something like ~18,000. This is during hockey season, competing for eyes with the Flames.
How does soccer only pull ~4,000? Is it just because this isn't a "top tier" league and people are fans of the game but not interested in this level? I still don't get how this game won't take off in this country.
I think it boils down to three things:
1. Longevity. Roughnecks have been in Calgary for over 23 years, and the NLL itself almost 40. Cavalry is only 7 years old, and there was a year with no fans allowed due to the pandemic. Kids whose parents got free/cheap tickets to the Roughnecks are now adults and paying fans. Need to grow that fan base here for Cavs/pro soccer, and that takes a generation.
2. "Major League" Perception. NLL is arguably the most "major league" lacrosse league on earth. Sure, lacrosse is still very niche, but there aren't dozens of massive and established leagues that NLL lives in the shadow of. CPL is ranked 74 worldwide and is ranked 6 in Concacaf (MLS is #10 in the world, and #2 in Concacaf).
3. Location. Spruce Meadows is a great facility once you're there, but its remote and a pain in the ass to get to. The Saddledome is central, is an old but major league facility, and is easily accessible by car, train, bus, and on foot. ATCO Field also taps out around 6000 (they did 7000 for the final, but it was a lot of standing room and venue only tickets), and is priced accordingly to maximize revenue relative to capacity. I question whether Spruce Meadows could ever accommodate 12000+ without better transit access (even with their proposed stadium). McMahon sucks, but I bet the Cavs would average closer to 8k there, and I bet they would do 10k+ if there was a modern inner city stadium.
Funny thing is, as bad as CPL salaries are, NLL is worse, and the NLL still only has 14 teams after 40 years... in a lot of metrics, the CPL has a way higher potential. Best thing for the Cavs will be CCC at McMahon against major MLS and LigaMX clubs so local casual fans can see the potential for this club and league. No one other than soccer die hards seem to have noticed or cared that Cavs played Orlando and Pumas (and did well) because it was relegated to Victoria because ATCO isn't winter capable (ironically, it was warmer in Calgary last Feb).
Last edited by Thunderball; 12-29-2025 at 01:12 PM.
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First, it’s about the ingame experience at Lacrosse. It’s loud music all the time and more or less attempting a party vibe and thus heavily into the fan experience, with lacrosse sprinkled in.
Second, lacrosse season is what, three months?
Cheaper tickets, owned by CSEC. Games league wide are Friday Saturday or Sunday. Players salaries are for those 3 or 4 months and most ownership owns its own buildings. So overhead is relatively low on the operations side. Road trips play two or three games at a time l, but again, short seasons.
Yes there are hardcore fans but it’s basically a cheap weekend night out for many, and it’s groups of people going, where the result and watching the game is secondary. Lots of people dont sit in seats the whole game from my recollection, instead get up and wander around, something hockey or soccer games don’t lend itself too.
Spruce of course could handle more as a venue, they pack a lot more in there for show jumping.
Sure a downtown 10k stadium would be nice but who will pay for that and what else would it be used for that will turn a profit? It took a whole lot of time and effort and politics replace a 43 year old stadium that the City paid 25% for back in 1983.
As mentioned, the CPL will have a few critical years coming up here. Capitalizing on the WC for popularity and hopefully getting some funding out of the WC legacy (though my guess is the CSA and CSB already have that spent) has been basically counted on for years within the various CPL and team budgets. If that increase in popularity and revenue doesn’t come to roost, and it’s pretty clear that this is the niche market that thy will be operating in city wise and league wise (and no realistic situation of better stadiums, here or anywhere) would change the interest, so things could get grim.
Ghotbi is suing the owners of Vancouver FC. Per the claim documentation that's doing the rounds, he lent them $500,000 in 2023 to help with cash flow issues and that loan was not repaid.
I went to a Roughnecks game last night for the first time in over a decade. I was shocked to learn they pull ~12,000 fans. Buffalo gets something like ~18,000. This is during hockey season, competing for eyes with the Flames.
How does soccer only pull ~4,000? Is it just because this isn't a "top tier" league and people are fans of the game but not interested in this level? I still don't get how this game won't take off in this country.
The quality is so, so poor. Football is a sport that is great to watch at the higher levels, but incredibly boring to watch as a neutral at the amateur and semi-pro level, which is what we have in the CPL. Having MLS teams in the three major cities of Canada doesn't help. There a few exceptions that come to mind, like Derry being permitted to play in the League of Ireland, but by and large, soccer teams aren't typically permitted by FIFA to play in another domestic league.
The quality is so, so poor. Football is a sport that is great to watch at the higher levels, but incredibly boring to watch as a neutral at the amateur and semi-pro level, which is what we have in the CPL. Having MLS teams in the three major cities of Canada doesn't help. There a few exceptions that come to mind, like Derry being permitted to play in the League of Ireland, but by and large, soccer teams aren't typically permitted by FIFA to play in another domestic league.
I disagree, thats why England has the FA Cup, its great watching lower-level teams take big swings!
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I disagree, thats why England has the FA Cup, its great watching lower-level teams take big swings!
Sure but what level of play is CPL compared to the English Divisions. Maybe EFL League 2...which is maybe still not enough...so maybe something between EFL League 2 and EFL National league.
And it's fun to watch a League 2 team maybe beat an EPL team it's not like you'd rather watch a League 2 team than a higher tier team week after week.
But you have to start somewhere and it's great either way for Canada to still have it's own league.
And while the surrounding atmosphere of Spruce Meadows itself is great, feeling almost like you're dropped into a small european town, the actual facilities and stands themselves are not. Lots of blind spots due to the support beams, feel like for some games the Sun is right in your eyes the whole time. Plus it's not at all easy for people to go to the games.
While the quality of Calgary Wild isn't great itself I do find myself more intrigued with those games because you're getting a higher quality of Women's football in comparison to other Women's football, where with CPL you know you're getting what I'd say is a pretty low quality of men's pro football. Plus I just feel it seem a lot easier to get out to McMahon than it does to get out to Spruce Meadows.
Really the lack of a proper stadium for Soccer in this city is not great for the long term success of the Cavs or the Wild (and even the Stamps for that matter).
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 12-29-2025 at 05:23 PM.
Yeah, the allure of the FA Cup isn’t Marine FC. It’s the PL team playing against them and the fact that you might see David take out Goliath. No one’s way into two 6th division teams playing each.
And I’d agree that the CPL is probably close to the National League. The quality might get better over time, but it’s not amazing at this stage.
I still think they’re better at Spruce Meadows than McMahon. I don’t know how it’ll workout for the Wild there, but a stadium that’s basically 10% full has to just have no atmosphere.
First, it’s about the ingame experience at Lacrosse. It’s loud music all the time and more or less attempting a party vibe and thus heavily into the fan experience, with lacrosse sprinkled in.
Second, lacrosse season is what, three months?
Cheaper tickets, owned by CSEC. Games league wide are Friday Saturday or Sunday. Players salaries are for those 3 or 4 months and most ownership owns its own buildings. So overhead is relatively low on the operations side. Road trips play two or three games at a time l, but again, short seasons.
Yes there are hardcore fans but it’s basically a cheap weekend night out for many, and it’s groups of people going, where the result and watching the game is secondary. Lots of people dont sit in seats the whole game from my recollection, instead get up and wander around, something hockey or soccer games don’t lend itself too.
Spruce of course could handle more as a venue, they pack a lot more in there for show jumping.
Sure a downtown 10k stadium would be nice but who will pay for that and what else would it be used for that will turn a profit? It took a whole lot of time and effort and politics replace a 43 year old stadium that the City paid 25% for back in 1983.
As mentioned, the CPL will have a few critical years coming up here. Capitalizing on the WC for popularity and hopefully getting some funding out of the WC legacy (though my guess is the CSA and CSB already have that spent) has been basically counted on for years within the various CPL and team budgets. If that increase in popularity and revenue doesn’t come to roost, and it’s pretty clear that this is the niche market that thy will be operating in city wise and league wise (and no realistic situation of betgter stadiums, here or anywhere) would change the interest, so things could get grim.
This is a pretty elitist, dismissive take on an awesome sport and league that has spent decades creating a great experience and fostering new fans, lol. You don't average 12000 fans a game by being a place where people wander. Also, they had even higher attendance back in the day before the Flames purchased them and raised prices, losing fans, like they did with the Stampeders. You used to regularly see 14500, with some games being 16000+.
I guess I could start with just your pricing comparison. I'm not too up on the Cavalry pricing but I believe the lowest is usually about $45, and then $65 on the high end? So the Roughnecks charge $85-$95 in the lower bowl (more equivalent to the seats at Atco) with most seats in the second bowl being $65, with a few end zone second tier being $42. So basically the second tier at the Dome is semi equivalent to Cavalry's entire seat selection and way further away. Yet the attendance success is from a cheap night out where the game is secondary?
From your recollection people don't stay in their seats, they get up and wander? I mean yeah, but you know where else that happens all game? Stampeders, Flames, Cavalry. People get up and wander for food, beers, take their time getting back at all sporting events. I've been to many of all our sports teams games and have never noticed a larger "wandering" portion at Roughnecks relative to the others. I've wandered at Cavalry games myself and been to a few now. There's tons of people there that are no hurry to rush to their seat for kickoff, after half time or after going to the bathroom/grabbing beers/food.
