2023 Cavalry FC and CPL Thread

[The Big Chill]

Solid half other than Carducci’s foul.

[Jimmy Stang]

I think that is a fair result, especially on the road vs. Forge. I was entertained.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

2-2 on the road against the champs to start the season is a good result. What a goal from Cantave.
For those who watched the match how did Daley look once he came on?

[Bill Bumface]

Both goals were fantastic. Didn't notice Daley much.

I also take it back on the new kits. The lightning kit looked awesome on the field. Lots of cool green details on there.

[shermanator]

Fair result IMO and I'll gladly take a draw. Montgomery looks like a very solid addition as does Shome. Don't mind Mason as a #10 as he's got the quality to feed the right passe to Bevan who's more about making the right runs in the box. Big gaffe by Carducci to give away the penalty. Can't do much on the equalizer it was a solid volley from Jensen.

Ship and Anchor was packed all game. Place went nuts when Cantave's goal went in. Hope that vibe stays all year, we're in the right place now.

[TheIronMaiden]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1647794599576969219?s=46&t=_QNhAQ6gnMPS1CkyQLidBQ


One of these things is not like the other.
Happy to see attendance so strong for the season openers.
Still, it looks like storm clouds early for York.

[Ozy_Flame]

Man that's not good numbers for York. Still, better than Edmonton for sure.

I'd like to think that moving the team from York University (which is annoying to get to if you don't immediately live in North York) to Etobicoke, at the new stadium proposed by Woodbine Entertainment, as a bit more appropriate. It would be an 8000-seat stadium that would be a training grounds as well as a home for a future women's team.

Additionally, it would be easier to get to for surrounding areas because it's closer to the confluence of Pearson, the 401 and the 427. One of the problem's I see right now is no one wants to take a crowded highway 400 and a private highway (the 407) to watch a soccer game - assuming you need a highway to get there and not take Finch or other crowded arteries.

Then you have York fans notoriously no-showing for most minor pro/junior teams. You have to draw largely from the upper GTA and Markham, Aurora, Stouffville and Newmarket. There hasn't historically been big numbers to support team in that area compared to others.

Additionally, it's hard to get excited for a team that is clearly overshadowed by TFC. That one is going to be tough to figure out. But perhaps the new VFC team will demonstrate something different.

The one thing it does have that the new location does not is a train station stop. That might also hinder access. You can't just take the airport express, that's not a normal option.

I do think Etobicoke is a better location. I hope they re-brand too when it happens. There's nothing "York" about that area.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

https://twitter.com/user/status/1647794599576969219?s=46&t=_QNhAQ6gnMPS1CkyQLidBQ


One of these things is not like the other.
Happy to see attendance so strong for the season openers.
Still, it looks like storm clouds early for York.

Good on Ottawa fans, seriously. Love seeing supporters sections like this for the CPL.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Man that's not good numbers for York. Still, better than Edmonton for sure.

I'd like to think that moving the team from York University (which is annoying to get to if you don't immediately live in North York) to Etobicoke, at the new stadium proposed by Woodbine Entertainment, as a bit more appropriate. It would be an 8000-seat stadium that would be a training grounds as well as a home for a future women's team.

Additionally, it would be easier to get to for surrounding areas because it's closer to the confluence of Pearson, the 401 and the 427. One of the problem's I see right now is no one wants to take a crowded highway 400 and a private highway (the 407) to watch a soccer game - assuming you need a highway to get there and not take Finch or other crowded arteries.

Then you have York fans notoriously no-showing for most minor pro/junior teams. You have to draw largely from the upper GTA and Markham, Aurora, Stouffville and Newmarket. There hasn't historically been big numbers to support team in that area compared to others.

Additionally, it's hard to get excited for a team that is clearly overshadowed by TFC. That one is going to be tough to figure out. But perhaps the new VFC team will demonstrate something different.

The one thing it does have that the new location does not is a train station stop. That might also hinder access. You can't just take the airport express, that's not a normal option.

I do think Etobicoke is a better location. I hope they re-brand too when it happens. There's nothing "York" about that area.

The league has proven that they can stay nimble. So long as there are 8 viable teams the league will prosper. We are yet to see if swapping Edmonton for Vancouver (in effect) will work long term, but having another expansion ready for 2024 would help phase york out for a more profitable team.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The league has proven that they can stay nimble. So long as there are 8 viable teams the league will prosper. We are yet to see if swapping Edmonton for Vancouver (in effect) will work long term, but having another expansion ready for 2024 would help phase york out for a more profitable team.

Agreed, but I wouldn't write York off just yet. Put them in a new facility first, get them an improved fan experience, and see how the market responds. Their on-field product is actually quite entertaining IMO.

That said, if they do fail, I see much better uptake in markets like Windsor, London, or Kitchener-Waterloo if they have to move the team.

[TheIronMaiden]

I'd prefer to see a team in Saskatchewan and Quebec before another in Sothern Ontario. the GTA especially is already oversaturated. Hell it take a swing at St.Johns or Frederickton before.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I'd prefer to see a team in Saskatchewan and Quebec before another in Sothern Ontario. the GTA especially is already oversaturated. Hell it take a swing at St.Johns or Frederickton before.

Disagree. The aforementioned Ontario markets have the population and infrastructure to support multiple teams in the region. GTA might be saturated, but the Golden Horseshoe and the surrounding stretches are not.

I'm not saying Fredricton or St. John's wouldn't succeed, but you have to play to where the people are. Half of Canada lives in southern Ontario. It's simply numbers.

[shermanator]

I'd be more concerned with Valour than I am with York.

York doesn't draw, we know that, but they have shown a lot more ambition on and off the pitch than Valour have shown to date. They have radio shows on TSN, they put a lot of effort into merch lines, they have been aggressive in signing CPL players from other clubs, etc. If the new stadium in Woodbine comes to fruition that should be a big boost.

Meanwhile Valour's ownership group has publicly come out and stated that they weren't happy with attendance and that it would need to improve for the club to be around long term. That's not Earth shattering, but also not the kind of statement you make if you're really committed to the project.

“It’s an ongoing challenge,” he said. “We need the fans to come out to support Valour. I said it last year and I’ll say it again: if we’re not around 4,500-5,000 fans in average attendance (last year’s average was 3,111) it will be very difficult for this team to become a viable entity.”

https://www.bluebombers.com/2023/04/...llion-in-2022/

[Ozy_Flame]

That's too bad. I think Winnipeg is a good market. Perhaps they need to change up their game experience. I can't imagine the Bombers stadium is fun to watch a CPL game. Perhaps there's another option one day.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Disagree. The aforementioned Ontario markets have the population and infrastructure to support multiple teams in the region. GTA might be saturated, but the Golden Horseshoe and the surrounding stretches are not.

I'm not saying Fredricton or St. John's wouldn't succeed, but you have to play to where the people are. Half of Canada lives in southern Ontario. It's simply numbers.

FWIW I think that the league holds your opinion on expanding in Ontario. We will find out one way or another whether Ontario can develop profitable teams.

In my view HFX is a modal franchise. A smaller market, but the only game in town. I would be looking for opportunities to re create this. Quebec and Sask are easily top of the list.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Quebec and Sask are easily top of the list.

I agree. But those are still years away IMO.

I still think you should look at Southern Ontario markets in isolation of each other. Guaranteed, for example, fans in Hamilton are not picking York to support and vice versa.

There is enough separate for markets outside the GTA to be 'the only game in town' as well. Especially if it puts their smaller cities on more equal footing with the larger cities in a competitive pro league.

I would love to see Saskatoon, Quebec City, Kelowna, and Moncton as future markets. They are enough on their own to be those 'only game in town' outside of Ontario.

[TheIronMaiden]

Windsor/Essex County is all but guarantied to get a team, they will be the test. I for one will welcome them to cheering against them just as hard as my lungs can handle.

[shermanator]

Noonan has said from the moment he started that unless any of these expansion markets have a solid ownership group with a proper stadium, none of them will go forward.

That's why Saskatoon hasn't happened. That's why Windsor has been quiet since Clanachan was randomly awarded an expansion club. That's why we don't hear about Quebec. We won't hear anything going forward about any expansion until those two items at minimum are sorted.

[Jimmy Stang]

I can't believe that we still have to say it, but having fans sit miles from the field does not make for a good soccer experience. I understand that other suitable options may not exist, but they have to figure it out somehow.

Valour in a mostly empty CFL stadium, albeit a "good" one? Of course the experience is going to suck. York is basically bleachers with a running track between the fans and the action. Nobody should be surprised that people don't want to bother. Of course there are other factors, but fans might be willing to forgive some of those if they were treated to a great experience once they got there. Kind of like Cavalry, to be honest.

And it isn't like Cavalry are smashing attendance records, but they've got the right recipe. The fans are close to the pitch, even 3,000 feels hoppin', and it is a nice place to visit and hang out. While distance might be a barrier for casual fans, I'd rather drive 40 minutes to Spruce Meadows than 15 to McMahon.

Speaking of attendance, does anyone know how things are looking for Cavalry this year? I think that some people were still taking a "wait and see" approach with Covid in the early parts of 2022, plus just in the habit of not going out as much. I am hopeful that 2023 (and beyond) will see a bit of a bump.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Speaking of attendance, does anyone know how things are looking for Cavalry this year? I think that some people were still taking a "wait and see" approach with Covid in the early parts of 2022, plus just in the habit of not going out as much. I am hopeful that 2023 (and beyond) will see a bit of a bump.

Looks like both ends of the pitch will be consistent sellouts. The grand stand looks spotty for the home opener in two weeks. That said, lots more people will be looking at tickets if the forecast looks good.

I reckon we see minor improvements. Sherm did a more detailed back ground.


As an aside, we are filling out the CPL bingo card in one day, both expansion and attendance talk all we need to talk about now is Forge running the CPL front office.