Toronto FC learns that success on the field can come at a cost off it

TORONTO — Success can come at a cost, as Toronto FC has learned.

Celebrations over making the MLS Cup final have been mixed with blowback from some season ticket-holders unhappy that while they can buy tickets for Toronto’s Dec. 10 championship game at BMO Field against Seattle, they won’t be the seats they usually call home.

“Hey @torontofc 10 years of being a season tickets holder and this is how you repay me!!,” tweeted one supporter.

“Got my tickets for #MLSCup2016! Not impressed that I had to move,” added another.

On the heels of Toronto’s wild win over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday to advance to the MLS Cup final, season ticket-holders got an email from the club that contained good and bad news.

environmental impacts

Accidental pump activation causes minor oil slick in Nanaimo marina

9m ago

invasive species

Crews destroy invasive species from pristine island off Nanoose Bay

1h ago

whale rescue

Bigger boats, more nets, people arrive in Zeballos for new orca rescue attempt

4h ago

“Toronto FC will be hosting MLS Cup and we couldn’t be more excited! We will play the Seattle Sounders on Dec. 10th at BMO Field. Please note that this is a league event and therefore will operate differently than our other playoff matches this season. What this means, is that we cannot guarantee your season seat location but you will get an opportunity to purchase the same amount of seats you have in your account before we go on sale to the public.”

Toronto FC has some 18,700 season ticket-holders.

Major League Soccer, which had no comment on the ticket issue, has taken over some of these tickets to use for sponsors and other clubs. Seattle will also get an allotment high in the east stand, where travelling supporters are usually housed. Extra media demands may also cut into available seating.

Supporters groups, the hardcore fans easily identifiable in the stadium’s south end, were able to get their regular season tickets.

A spokesman for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the soccer club, said league-run events such as an all-star or championship games are a challenge.

“We work to ensure our season seat-holders are given preferred access including an early three-day window to purchase additional seats for the event, at the best price, before they go on sale to the general public,” he said.

Club officials are working with fans to try to solve problems.

The window for season ticket-holders opened at noon Thursday. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday at 1 p.m., ranging in price for $20 to $394, according to Ticketmaster.

Tickets were already on sale on Kijiji on Saturday, including two BMO Club pitchside seats for $4,400. Stubhub had some 1,350 tickets available as of Saturday afternoon, starting at US$202.

A BMO Field-record crowd of 36,000 took in Wednesday’s playoff win over Montreal, thanks to the temporary seats in the south end left from the Grey Cup. Toronto Argonauts season-ticket holders did get the chance to buy their own tickets for the CFL championship game between Ottawa and Calgary.

Toronto’s past history of failure on the soccer field has helped build the anticipation for the championship game, perhaps deepening fan frustration at not being able to get their usual tickets.

Also there was no real heads-up on what awaited season-ticket holders and their seats.

The issue of season tickets and championship games can be thorny in many sports. The San Jose Mercury News reported that the San Francisco 49ers only received 3,000 tickets from the NFL for the 2016 Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, angering fans.

———

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press