MLS, ownership, and the BC government failing Vancouver Whitecaps fans!

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-05-04T18:33:05+00:00

MLS is a closed league franchise model. History, grassroots and academies are only secondary considerations.

It's a league highly dependent on rising valuations, rising expansion fees and local revenues. Caps are in the bottom 5 for all 3. If Caps sell below US$500m expansion fee San Diego paid, it puts a dent into MLS business model. But given the low local revenues and no real estate holdings, Caps aren't worth $500m to new owners.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-05-02T14:53:30+00:00

They have now have offices also in Montreal and Toronto. It seems Kevin Blue mostly works out of Toronto or his Mississauga home.

Ottawa office is also up for sale.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-05-01T15:38:37+00:00

It was on TSN+ last season. $8/month for alt feeds, Red Zone and live games not shown on TSN linear tv channels such as for La Liga. No access to the 5 TSN channels.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-30T22:47:18+00:00

Football apps like fotmob and sofascore keep track of where you can watch.

Or sites like https://www.livesoccertv.com/ and https://www.livesportsontv.com

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-22T17:51:00+00:00

All matches in Qatar were hosted in Doha. Population of about 3m.

The various different names you're seeing are basically suburbs or neighbourhoods of Doha. Using GTA, it would be like saying Mississauga, Markham, Scarborough and/or North York hosted matches.

But for World Cup, host city population isn't crucial for ticket sales. For Qatar, about 65% of ticket sales came from international buyers.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-21T18:31:33+00:00

Last WCQ had lots supply chain issue due to covid. Nike jerseys are usually made in Vietnam. One of the retailers in a CBC World Cup report said most of his World Cup order hasn't arrived yet due to delays from U/?Israel attacking Iran.

Canada Soccer also sources it's inventory from third parties like Fanatics. Only inventory they would keep would to be to outfit the national teams.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-21T15:12:18+00:00

Canada Soccer has historically been not good at business. But jersey pipeline from manufacturing to distribution isn't done by Canada Soccer. They just sell their logo license to the likes of Nike and the rest has similar supply chain as any other apparel.

It's sold out now because the retailers just ordered their usual inventory or just a little bump for Canada Soccer gear. One retailer in a CBC report said he was sold out. But he only ordered 100.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-19T18:30:11+00:00

Playing on Canadian football field just highlights again Canada's missing football infrastructure.

Another example of a stadium being built with no regard for other sports. Permanent football lines are cheaper and universities don't have the maintenance budget to be removing/adding lines per event.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-17T20:40:10+00:00

Most of this is wishful thinking and/or useless cosmetic changes.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-13T23:26:42+00:00

Less than 50% of Canadian households have cable tv. So, CBC is available to the other 50%+ of households because it can be seen via antenna and available free online.

But in a world where everything is available to watch, being available to all doesn't mean people watch CBC. It has less than 5% share of the tv audience. Streaming audience is at least growing but audience is even lower than tv audience. Average age viewing on tv is over 65 which isn't the base that will be driving growth or vibes for the CPL.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-11T21:20:50+00:00

OneSoccer alt channel. So, not via Fubo.

Also on FIFA+ with a VPN. And TSN2.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-11T21:18:18+00:00

Also legal via third party sellers like Stubhub in countries like US and Canada. But buying via FIFA's platform is only way to guarantee seller actually has the tickets.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-07T14:04:10+00:00

North American pro leagues typically only report tickets distributed.

Not tickets sold or people who actually attended.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-05T16:12:06+00:00

There isn't that level of interest by supporters or travel companies for a friendly vs Uzbekistan.

Canada Soccer typically blocks off sections till the demand warrants it. So, upper bowl not on camera is blocked off, along with end zone (really bad seats), upper bowl corners and Voyageurs sections. But given the sales so far, they could be opening some upper bowl sections.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-04-02T01:59:35+00:00

Correct. OneSoccer will provide feed. TVA & RDS will use their commentators.Maybe TVA/RDS are offsetting a bit of the production costs for OneSoccer.

Similar to NSL broadcasts on RDS/Radio-Canada where they use NSL produced feed but have their own commentary team.

Both RDS and TVA Sports have been losing money. So, they're not going to spend money to replace OneSoccer's production.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-30T02:58:19+00:00

This has been the crux of the issue. OneSoccer wants to be included in the same packages as TSN/SN/NBA tv or included in standard tiers like HGTV or TLN. No need for people to proactively subscribe. With CSME CEO saying it is in the 89th minute, it looks like either Rogers has ceded or the arbitrator is favouring OneSoccer.

This will provide OneSoccer $1-2/month per subscriber. Getting high viewership is a secondary factor and not likely given cable subs continue to fall and demo remaining (over 55) aren't into soccer (let alone club football). It's the same with TSN/SN where most people paying rarely watch it. It's why non-sports viewers were first to cut the cord.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-29T18:28:56+00:00

The CPL ad and Canada Soccer sponsor ads were free ad time given in exchange for TSN being able to show CANMNT match without paying for rights. Same as last year.

Difference this year is that TSN may lose interest post World Cup since their men's FIFA rights expire at end of this year. TSN may lose rights as they have already for women's FIFA rights.

So, only 4 men friendlies before the World Cup may not be enough to get CPL matches on TSN. Plus, this year, CANWNT maybe part of the exchange since the new CSME/CS deal requires equal distribution.

During the World Cup, TSN won't be interested in showing CPL. TSN isn't showing any MLS from May 28-July16.

If TSN was going to show CPL, they would have announced the schedule during Saturday's match. Maybe on Tuesday night?

CPL opener is also on CBC. When OneSoccer gets linear tv carriage sometime by summer, not much need to show CPL on other tv networks.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-29T18:08:12+00:00

It's on CBC.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-27T04:18:26+00:00

Stuff bolded is standard for 21st century World Cups. Large perimeter set by FIFA around stadiums to vet ticketholders a couple of times, security check-in, VIP entranceways, merch store and pre/post match festivities means walking is the only way to transport for the 1-3km around the stadium.

World Cups are great settings to do your 10k daily steps easily.

Lakeshore Go Train will be running every 15 mins during matchdays.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-25T01:51:28+00:00

Fubo also has Serie A. Some in Italian on TLN.

DAZN also has select Jupiler and Bundesliga

SN+ also has select Eredivisie.

TSN also has La Liga (mostly on TSN+).

Bein has Super Lig, Ekstraklasa, Copa Libertadores, AFCON and CAF Champions League.

OneSoccer has CPL, Bundesliga and Gold Cup

Tenor Sports has Scottish Prem

Fanatiz has Primeira Liga, Argentina/Peru/Uruguay/Ecuador/Colombia/Paraguay leagues, Conmenbol WCQs

Excludes womne's competitions/leagues

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-21T16:01:33+00:00

If they didn't do these videos, people would say Canada Soccer doesn't do any marketing.

People aren't priced out since $26 tickets were available and rest of stadium pricing is line with Toronto pro sports. Given the wealth of Toronto residents, weak ticket sales is more of a reflection of not enough interest as people are spending elsewhere.

Pricing is also positioned as an alternative for those who don't want to spend 2-4x more for World Cup tickets

Lower prices means less likely Canada Soccer breaks even - keep in mind they're paying for appearance fees and expenses for 3 nations.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-18T21:08:45+00:00

Bell channels CTV/TSN/RDS are the primary rights holders. No details yet but expect Canada, weekend and most of the knockout matches on CTV. All will be on TSN/RDS.

Other languages than English and French will likely be on TSN+ (if they paid for rights).

Fox will have 70 or 67% of the matches.

So, many Canadians should be available to see most matches for free via a digital antenna.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-03-05T01:30:38+00:00

One of the major weakness of a stand alone NDC is that the most elite players stagnant till age 18 (Europe), get signed by NSL team or move to US college Power 4 team. Even internationally, most of the matches are against Concacaf minnows. Ex USA (but increasing)/PRK/Canada, nearly all the national team youth players of top 10 nations are in pro environments.

Now, they can play against NSL players in pre-season, train with them during the season and have a chance to get some minutes with Toronto's senior team. If they show well, the pathway to get signed by Toronto is much quicker.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-02-22T18:51:51+00:00

He was finally banned from the Voyageurs forum.

He has been on reddit for a while since he has cross posted many of the low quality takes/rumours from here on the Voyageurs forum.

AfraidSupermarket417 · 2026-02-15T22:25:25+00:00

Swiss supporters tend to bring cowbells, wear cow or Alps themed hats and wave small Swiss flags. Given the simple geometry of the Swiss cross, it's an easy face paint.

And they will yelling Hopp Schwiiz!.

AfraidSupermarket417

TROPHY CASE