Outside of Broadview, is there another good full-sized grass field in the city? I don't think so, and that's pathetic.
I haven't played CUSA in a while but I remember Renfrew having decent grass.
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I haven't played CUSA in a while but I remember Renfrew having decent grass.
It has been a few years for me too, but I remember that Renfrew was always nice. The hidden gem in the city I always thought was Forest Lawn, but I have heard that it has declined in recent years, although I'm not sure if that's true. That pitch was nearly perfect, floodlights, dressing rooms, etc.
I've played on both of those this season. Renfrew just a couple weeks ago, and the grass was either too long or non-existent. Forest lawn about the same, combined with it being a smaller pitch. Renfrew has definitely declined over the years.
I've played on both of those this season. Renfrew just a couple weeks ago, and the grass was either too long or non-existent. Forest lawn about the same, combined with it being a smaller pitch. Renfrew has definitely declined over the years.
I just had the chance to play at the Cochrane Rangers fields last week and they were a breath of fresh air. The pitches are well-maintained.
Ya I played there last year and was pleasantly surprised as well!
EDIT: Played at Foothills 4 last Thursday night. What a brutal, brutal field. Absolutely tiny with horrible grass and bumps galore. Made for the sloppiest of sloppy games as by the time you take your first touch there is someone right on you. Felt like 11v11on the south indoor field. Probably the reason I got a concussion and am out for a couple weeks; no room to navigate whatsoever so I went skull to skull on a header.
Last edited by MillerTime GFG; 06-09-2014 at 05:11 PM.
CSN has confirmed that the CSA is involved in negotiations with the CFL and NASL to launch an all-Canadian league.
There could be as many as seven teams involved, all affiliated with local CFL teams and playing in CFL stadiums.
Hamilton's Bob Young is said to be the leading voice on the CFL side. The Ti-Cats owner was previously involved in professional soccer in Carolina. Although he had a falling out with Traffic Sports, sources say that relationship has been healed.
The league would likely begin play in 2016, which the possibility of up to two teams coming in for 2015 (Hamilton and Calgary have been suggested).
I'll parrot my response from 86F: I’m skeptical about this, even though it’s likely the single best chance Calgary has to get some level of pro soccer. Canadian teams can’t even retain high-level national talent in the NHL, good luck attracting anyone semi-decent even by second-tier North American standards in an isolated Canada-only soccer league that has barred the country’s biggest cities from participating – and then watching the abysmally-terrible on-field product in a cavernously-empty CFL stadium. Nothing about that scenario adds up in my mind to a product that’s going to increase national interest in soccer, if anything it would likely just reinforce prevalent attitudes about the game.
Unless the NASL intends to put up some significant incentives to keep its Canadian and American halves relatively even – which I doubt will happen considering the new NASL is happily adopting the same zero-restriction formula that killed the old NASL – I’m not exactly seeing much on paper that makes me eager to jump away from the Caps.
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The standard of play in the NASL is OK... to be honest the average Calgary patron isn't going to notice much of a difference between a castoff from a european 1st division or one from a 2nd division. This won't be a front line league but probably 4 or 5 of the thousands of leagues in the world are. Many Canadians who have gone through youth or college systems have nowhere to go but retire and they are not horrible players, there just aren't enough opportunities if they don't have the right passport - there are probably 10 bench spots on senior MLS rosters for Canadians.
NASL has been signing those guys and augmenting with a few pros from europe's second divisions who are just looking for a change and develop young local guys through their system. All in all, it's not a bad product to support, local kids, a few decent journeymen pros and 4 or 5 guys who were probably u-20 Canadian internationals. And the best thing about leagues with no caps... cities usually get quality that equals the level of support so if Calgary draws a lot of people, they will bring in some bigger players and the city will get what they deserve.
But the battle today in selling tickets is not as much about product on field anyway - as long as its at least OK (except for the real hard core euro snob type fans). A good atmosphere and a stadium that people enjoy going to with decent food, drink seating and entertainment... that is more important in putting butts in seats these days. There are plenty of leagues like the CFL and CHL that thrive because of matchday experience despite not being the elite league in their sport.
Soccer in Calgary needs a suitable stadium more than they need a high level team imo. Having the Flames on board now is pretty big in making that happen...
I don't think it's really accurate to compare it to the CFL or the CHL, for a lot of markets in those leagues they're a draw because that IS the big - or only - sports ticket in town. And even the CHL has a better presence on TV (does the NASL have *any* televised presence, for that matter?). A prospective Canadian NASL league with every team directly subordinate to the CFL by default makes it secondary in importance/relevance (and it also pretty much sets in stone that these teams are going to be playing in cavernously-oversized stadiums, incidentally). Something like the NLL is probably a better point of comparison.
Last edited by CorbeauNoir; 07-10-2014 at 10:13 PM.
Just imagine games like this. Nice soccer stadium, all-Canadian matchup, good crowd, national sports coverage. Something like this would be the end goal of an all Canadian league:
Although we would end up seeing some games like this as well:
Wanted to open up discussion on who here would support an NASL or PDL team in Calgary, since that was discussed in the arena thread briefly. Who here would actually get out and support those teams, since those leagues are where Calgary will be targeted.
The PDL team is still a go for 2015, according to the TD at Calgary Foothills, they are just sorting out legal stuff before announcing.
Also, I have information from the NASL Supporters Group meeting from a few weeks ago that Calgary is still on the radar for future NASL expansion. Nothing more than third hand information though so I wouldn't consider it insider or anything.
Fantastic news, and a great profile booster for Calgary Foothills FC. Of note for anyone under 23, open tryouts are January 3-4. I expect some skilled players in CUSA Major or Premier to have a go at it.
For the record, when the Foothills U23 team beat the Whitecaps U23 reserve team on June 7 (2-1), the crowd at Shouldice Park was 1200. It's just one game and the Whitecaps have name value, but not bad for our highest tier of soccer in Calgary.
I'm excited. PDL can do well in Calgary and is a great first step.
Any idea of where they will play? As poor as Foothills was, it was a convenient location.
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“Such suburban models are being rationalized as ‘what people want,’ when in fact they are simply what is most expedient to produce. The truth is that what people want is a decent place to live, not just a suburban version of a decent place to live.”
IIRC, the pitch inside the Foothills track was a little small the last go around. There aren't any really good options. Calgary Rugby Park would have the best pitch but a terrible location. Hellard Field has the stands and the right location but the pitch is terrible. Foothills and Glenmore track stadiums seem like a temporary solution at best.
Mixed emotions on this one. I think it's a step in the right direction for soccer in Calgary, but it's also going to hurt major league. I know a couple guys from my team will most likely play on the PDL team, which is fine because we have enough players to fill that void. However I was speaking to the Dinos manager/assistant coach the other day and he said if this PDL does go through, it's going to kill them, mainly for AMSL. They draw a lot of their players from Foothills.
AMSL is already only a shadow of what it used to be 5-6 years ago and this will probably hurt it much more, to the point where I could see a team or two folding. It's a shame because AMSL is better quality, although it's a bunch of old guys that have given up the dream (aside from a few delusionals). It's also where the majority of CIS/CCAA players play in the off-season.
So all-in-all, I have mixed emotions on this. If it really thrives and leads to an NASL team with good support, it'll be a good thing. If it follows suit of its predecessors, then it's only going to hurt things. Time will tell!
As for support, I'll probably attend some games, but mostly to heckle my ex-teammates.
IIRC, the pitch inside the Foothills track was a little small the last go around. There aren't any really good options. Calgary Rugby Park would have the best pitch but a terrible location. Hellard Field has the stands and the right location but the pitch is terrible. Foothills and Glenmore track stadiums seem like a temporary solution at best.
I wonder if the newly completed fields at the soccer centre are a possibility? I haven't really looked at seating all to much, though it doesn't look like they could seat too many. I know those fields are hosting the Senior National Championships next year though.
Could Broadview host? There's quite a bit of room there for fans if you add some bleachers.
I wonder if the newly completed fields at the soccer centre are a possibility? I haven't really looked at seating all to much, though it doesn't look like they could seat too many.
If there was more seating, that likely would be their home. Tommy Wheeldon Jr says although the upgrades are fantastic, the seating is an issue. He didn't sound very keen on Foothills when asked, but said he had good memories playing there as a member of the Storm.
It is sounding more and more like it'll be Shouldice.
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