The Grass Is Laid Down Over BMO Field

By Ben Knight Onward!

Real TFC
Tonight, in my beloved home town of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a galactically famous soccer squad is practicing on real grass.

The grass is laid down over BMO Field’s battered, dying artificial turf. Any takers at $15 a head are in seats normally held by Toronto FC season ticket holders to watch the Spanish giants practice.

Friday night – game night – most of the regulars will be absent. Thousands of curious event-goers who have scarcely ever heard of the home team will be in their seats instead.

They won’t much know about the MLS East playoff race, or TFC’s early, optional exit from the CONCACAF Champions League. Many will be Real Madrid fans – and why not? Real is huge news – particularly in the wake of a record-shattering spending spree that has brought Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso to the Bernabeu.

But before these newly re-gazillioned gazillionaires get to tread that sacred turf, they get a run-out at the Canadian National Exhibition. They will be much better-known than the home side, who will be playing on unusual grass in front of thousands of total strangers.

Okay, it’s a sideshow. It raises the profile of TFC and MLS – and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment gets serious room on the sports pages that won’t be devoted to the ongoing struggles of their other teams – the Maple Leafs and Raptors.

It’s a soccer game – but it ain’t TFC.

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