May 11, 2005 USL Toronto Lynx story (from National Post)
Lynx still looking for some attention: Toronto's forgotten team Sean Fitz-Gerald National Post 661 words 11 May 2005 National Post Toronto S8 English (c) 2005 National Post . All Rights Reserved.
TORONTO - Playfield B is an open patch of grass tucked into a corner of Centennial Park, which lies on the western fringe of the city. Airplanes rumble lazily over nearby Pearson International and traffic from Highway 401 hums on its way toward all the action downtown, a place which has been both foreign and out of reach for the Toronto Lynx.
The city's professional men's soccer team has spent eight seasons struggling on the margins of Canada's largest market and, like its practice pitch on Playfield B yesterday, it continues to exist only on the outskirts.
Soccer fans have been known to shut down entire Toronto neighbourhoods during international events. Thousands rise early on Saturdays and skip work midweek to watch European games on television -- but only about 3,000 pay to watch the Lynx play their United Soccer League games at Centennial Park Stadium.
"It is frustrating," midfielder David Diplacido said. "I think there's just a stigma that this isn't a high level of soccer, maybe some people think that. But there's definitely been players from other countries who have come to try out and don't make it. So, it is a high level ... it's just a matter of getting it through some peoples' heads."
Toronto is winless through the first six games of its new season in the USL's first division, carrying an 0-4-2 record into its home opener against Montreal this Sunday afternoon.
"I think that there is a solid core of fans in Toronto that really, each weekend, are focused on their games in their own country of birth and follow that with a passion," said Dick Howard, the well-known television analyst acting as technical advisor to the Lynx. "It will always be tough because people will always make comparisons, 'Well, this is not the Premiership.' No, it isn't the Premiership, but let's appreciate the fact there are good players being developed in Canada. They need a league to play in."
There is hope a new stadium proposal at York University would give the Lynx a new place to play and, for the first time in memory, a real chance to grow the fan base. But the new building would also threaten to kill the entire franchise.
If the project clears funding hurdles created when the Toronto Argonauts withdrew financial support earlier this month, there has been speculation a Major League Soccer franchise would soon follow. The MLS ranks far, far below most European leagues, but it is the best circuit currently operating in North America.
Soccer fans do exist in Canada, even if FIFA ranks the country No. 84 in the world.
Five years ago, the Lynx could have sold close to 20,000 tickets for a game against Reggina, a side from Italy's Serie A. But the game was held at Varsity Stadium shortly before it was demolished by the University of Toronto, and an entire grandstand had been deemed unfit for spectators.
"At the present time, [the USL is] the best calibre of professional soccer in Canada," Howard said. "I think we've got to do a better job in making people aware of the team and getting fans to come out to the games. No, it's not the same location as Varsity -- it's a little more difficult to come out to Etobicoke. But if we can start to average 4 ... 5,000 a game this season, I think it will be a job well done."
sfitzgerald@nationalpost.com
Colour Photo: Yvonne Berg for National Post / Toronto Lynx goalkeeper Richard Goddard and his teammates have had a hard time convincing Torontonians that they play a high level of soccer.; Colour Photo: BUTTING HEADS: The Lynx play on the outskirts of Toronto, both literally and figuratively.: (Photo ran on pg. S1.)
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