Now you might be wondering Hmmmm who could it be? What did they do? Is it that older woman in the stylish sunglasses? MAYBE. Is it the guy in the middle with the jays cap and TFC T-Shirt? PERHAPS. I know! The guy at the far left in the green pullover and brown hat! POSSIBLY! What if I told you all of the people standing are subject to ejection from BMO Field? Why you might ask? Did they throw something on the pitch? Are they yelling racist slurs? Maybe they destroyed property, or picked a fight? No, nope, nay and n-o.
Under the new BMO Stadium protocols for 2009, all of those people are subject to ejection FOR STANDING should they not comply with the new rule that only the supporters sections are allowed to stand, use noise makers and have flags. Everywhere else must sit at all times, but can stand on corners and goals, or "when play deems appropriate". If you choose to stand outside of those guest services/security will come and tell you to sit down and as was practiced this past weekend could grab you when you go to the bathroom and kick you out.
I'm still somewhat agitated over this new agenda and how security handled their authority over this matter last weekend. I don't know if it's coming from punk rock/hardcore but I have a serious problem with the idea of being told where, when and how I am supposed to do something (cheer for my team). Toronto FC does have a notice on their website, and apparently sent out an email (I don't recall) about designated supporters sections being allowed to stand and how the rest of the stadium is sitting. However, they did the same thing last year indicating supporters sections, and regardless of this people still stood in areas like 127, 110, 104, 105 to name a few. Nobody was told to sit in these sections and nobody was ejected. I don't think it's that crazy to think that this year would be any different.
I know many people have contacted TFC to ask what is the deal with this ridiculous initiative. The same kind of response is being said to the likes of "we introduced this policy because we wanted to ensure that everyone can enjoy a Toronto FC match at BMO field". Ah, I see. Let's make the games more enjoyable by removing all the passion and making BMO Field more like the Rogers Centre. This also begs my question/point - who are they referring to and did TFC receive a high amount of complaints over the first two seasons from people saying they hated their game day experience? Clearly there is a segment who now certainly can not enjoy a game at BMO field because they are being told how to act if their seats are not in the south end (or 127). From the pics in this post, you can see first one was taken from the 22nd row - so those people standing are at the top end of the section, and obstructing no one. Yet I know of 4 people in that shot who were told they had to sit multiple times. The second pic is from last year where the majority of those two sections (not designated supporter sections, per the email/website) are standing an nobody was thrown out that day.
I think this is really unfortunate that Toronto FC has taken these steps. TFC has amazing fans and we could have all four corners of the stadium standing and making the experience for visiting teams a living hell. But I guess they oppose this? Instead they would rather have a nice little area at the far end to show off and the rest of the stadium has to (by force) be like a Jays game. When something good happens, like a corner, someone will stand in front of your section and hold up a sign that says "Stand and Cheer". Then you may stand and cheer. When they are not holding the sign, you must sit down. If you are confused whether or not a play deems standing, it is better to just sit because if you don't you will be ejected. I guess this is the way it will have to be because I am a passionate fan who actually sits but also wants to get up and cheer and jeer all through the game, without fear of someone coming down on me.
Bah sorry for the rant, but I don't know where this all came from (or really why) and I think it's too bad that instead of encouraging people to get up and cheer for the home team, to create something totally unique in Toronto and genuine to this sport - TFC could turn into every other boring team in this city where you go and sit, pay a disgusting amount of money on food and beer, politely clap and watch the team lose (again) and leave ten minutes early to beat the traffic.
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