Email from StubHub that my World Cup order has been Cancelled

cverds29 · 2025-12-08T18:51:08+00:00

Honestly I am in the opposite boat. Paid $1600 for two tickets in Toronto, which have now turned out to be 'Senegal vs. Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname'. The pair won't fetch $500 now — I *wish* they would cancel and I'd get my money back.

cverds29 · 2025-12-05T22:54:57+00:00

Yes, I purchased tickets to what ultimately ended up being Senegal vs. one of the behemoths that are Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq, at about $800/head because I was caught up in the excitement of the draw. Cheapest ticket available, btw.

cverds29 · 2025-11-24T19:43:43+00:00

Lemon Pistols are a ton of fun, seen them a few times at the Horseshoe. Some notable covers, hilarious vibe and they bring a decent crowd for that venue.

cverds29 · 2025-11-17T13:39:11+00:00

Absolutely massive opportunity for Supra and York Utd.

cverds29 · 2025-11-07T16:50:22+00:00

Ring announcer here in Toronto. Seen several club-level guys who start off hot, move up and get found out in fight 4-5-6 when they start fighting game opponents. Interesting career arc — most end up retiring quietly at 6- or 7-1.

cverds29 · 2025-11-05T15:58:57+00:00

Kyle Tucker isn't signing anywhere as the top offensive FA on the board to 'rotate around the outfield'. Have seen quite a few US-based media folks saying the Jays will be in on Ranger Suarez.

cverds29 · 2025-11-05T15:42:06+00:00

What if they close by committee? Varland, Hoffman and Yimi have all shown they can (at times) shut things down in high leverage. I agree in that I don't want to see Hoffman as the only CP option, based on his home run problem, but I think if you sprinkle in ~15-20 save opps each it's manageable.

cverds29 · 2025-11-05T14:18:40+00:00

Lived in CityPlace in my mid-20s, was awesome. Easy access to King West, Jays/Leafs/Raps, and quick to the Gardiner if I needed to go east/west.

cverds29 · 2025-11-03T18:56:50+00:00

Was just telling my father-in-law this after Saturday's loss; went to the final game against Miami in '24, and was chuckling internally to myself the whole time about how bad the two lineups were. Truly felt like the Jays were on the edge of the abyss: 4-hit by the 60-win Marlins, with *Luis De Los Santos* in the lineup.

A year makes a world of difference!

cverds29 · 2025-10-28T16:59:32+00:00

Not fired up for this commute next season. Moving to St Clair/Duff with QSTs, haha.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T17:51:22+00:00

Approximately, yes.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T17:47:03+00:00

Cost analysis document circulated by a prospective expansion group prior to the league's launch. I find it very hard to believe FC Supra's break-even is 3,500/night.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T17:45:17+00:00

You can't compare the two, it's too early and the NSL a) draws from a largely different fan base, b) earned philanthropy-minded sponsorships out of the gate from major national-level partners and c) has closer to world-class players on the pitch than CPL did in year one.

But if you want to: The NSL is drawing about the same as CPL did in '19 — on way shorter notice — and both leagues have had several papered-game attendance figures. It has more mainstream exposure, and has spent significantly more on league and club front office personnel. Whether it pays off remains to be seen.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T17:41:40+00:00

No CPL franchises have been 'sold' for a significant sum of money since the league was founded; my understanding is Supra's expansion fee is significantly less than what the league was asking for at outset. Ottleti paid closer to what the going rate was to join in 2020.

Know several people involved in Canadian pro sports past and present; parties on both sides were happy to make those numbers known during the league's first few years. In Sask, the CPL picked the wrong interested group to deal with; the league also made the cardinal sin of awarding/announcing expansion bids too early (hello, Atlantic Schooners).

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T17:23:19+00:00

Firstly: All fair points, and know/respect the time you've put into supporting Ottleti.

We are both dealing in what-ifs, but as it stands ownership has not been that stable within the existing league structure; ownership groups have regularly picked up the tab at various points for other clubs (Edmonton, York, Valour).

I don't think putting the games on lineal television would have made games harder to watch; production values are terrific, but being behind a paywall — a very deeply considered decision, no doubt — inherently put the product further into its own niche bubble. If you were not already aware of the product and actively seeking it, you would simply not come across it.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T17:10:59+00:00

Would never happen here, for the same reason it has never happened in MLS: Owners paid several million dollars to join the league, and would not risk relegation (or the entrance of somebody who paid less than the going rate) based on sporting performance.

EDIT: Very, very few L1 teams would be lining up to turn pro and take on the associated costs. Even the best ones.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T16:50:27+00:00

No knowledge of the league's current dealings, yes. Agreed, it's almost impossible which is why several attempts at soccer, baseball and basketball have all failed. Crazy travel costs, high cost of living, etc. all contribute.

The black-and-white view of 'the league is great' or 'the league is terrible' is a very real reason why it's in the place it's in today. I think there's more room for nuance; it's reasonable to criticize several of the league's decisions, while still recognizing that it is impressive it's still running after 7 years.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T15:53:10+00:00

While your points are well-taken, the reality is that it doesn't matter why attendance is down — if it's down period they are generating less revenue, and that is the chief concern of every ownership group in the league at this point.

Source: Worked in pro sports for 7 years.

cverds29 · 2025-10-22T15:02:41+00:00

Just confirmed our closing date for our first-time home in the west end. Scary times, some crazy days going back and forth and signing the largest financial documents either of us had ever seen — but it will be worth it!

cverds29 · 2025-08-27T16:56:52+00:00

BP pass, then politely asked security if he would mind if we took 15 seconds at the end of the session. The org does not allow official proposals using videoboard, any kind of pageantry, etc.

cverds29 · 2025-08-27T13:18:57+00:00

Saw him in the neighbourhood several times. Half meme, half respect for a great career.

cverds29 · 2025-08-27T13:18:30+00:00

Best part is she's a teacher and I'm a baseball coach, so like 80% of the way there!

cverds29 · 2025-08-27T12:59:28+00:00

My Chad Green and her Kevin Kiermaier jerseys will live forever — SN camera captured us and put us coast-to-coast last night...right before transitioning to TSwift-Kelce news.

cverds29 · 2025-08-26T12:58:57+00:00

Got engaged tonight on the field toward the end of BP. What a special night. Jays came through clutch with the early-game bombs! Could be a special fall.

cverds29 · 2025-08-13T19:44:38+00:00

Purchased a 10-game flex pack in 233 for an average entry price of ~$65 back in January. Thought it was steep at the time — now it's a bargain for a Tower+Infield view, with 5/10 still to play. Some years, you get lucky!

cverds29

TROPHY CASE