TFC II leaving Vaughan for Toronto after 3-season run; stadium size at issue

yorkregion.com
Aug. 29, 2017
By Tim Kelly

What started with great TFC fanfare in January, 2015 when they arrived is ending with a TFC II fizzle in October, 2017 as the team leaves Vaughan.

There was plenty to celebrate when pro soccer was announced at a news conference at Vaughan City Hall back in January 2015. The mayor was there, TFC bigwigs were in attendance including GM Tim Bezbatchenko and head coach Greg Vanney, and so was Ontario Soccer Association president Ron Smale.

All were ballyhooing the upcoming inaugural season for TFC II, TFC's farm club that would play out of a revamped Ontario Soccer Centre stadium down on Martin Grove Road.

What was also promised at the time was that within three years, the OSA, in partnership with TFC, would build a permanent, high-class 5,000-seat stadium that would cost several million dollars. That will not come to pass, helping push TFC II out the door. They’ll play their last game in Vaughan on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. against FC Cincinnati.

The move has to be a blow to Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, who said at that January 2015 news conference: "This, for us, is a great day, a day where professional sports is coming to the city of Vaughan, and it's worth celebrating...it's very much in keeping with my vision for building a world-class city," he said.

The mayor said in a statement Monday: “It has been exciting to have TFC II make Vaughan their home over the past few seasons...In today's ever-changing and dynamic sports market I know that TFC management made their decision based on factors which focus on building the best possible soccer franchise...I wish TFC II well and look forward to welcoming future opportunities to bring professional sports to the City of Vaughan.”

TFC II never found the winning secret while in Vaughan, finding itself near the bottom of the United Soccer League standings in each of its three campaigns, never making the playoffs.

Crowds were often mediocre at the 1,500-capacity Ontario Soccer Centre, built before the 2015 inaugural season, though the team managed several sellouts each season.

However, the key issue for TFC II remaining in Vaughan was the promise of a larger stadium.

And Johnny Misley, Ontario Soccer Association executive director, said a larger stadium was simply not in the cards.

"Ontario Soccer was not going to fit the bill for that," Misley said in an interview on Monday.

He said TFC II and the OSA have a good relationship.

"We were more than happy to keep them here, but we couldn't sustain their stadium needs for USL going forward," he said.

Bill Manning, president of Toronto FC, said moving TFC II to downtown Toronto makes sense on a number of levels.

"It will mean more doubleheaders with Toronto FC," he said, adding his goal would be to see "17 doubleheaders at BMO field," which would be an entire MLS schedule of TFC II and TFC games featuring doubleheaders.

Meanwhile, TFC II will play a number of its home games next year at Alan Lamport stadium, located in the Liberty Village area of west-end Toronto on King Street West. The 9,600-capacity stadium easily fulfils TFC II's obligation of a 5,000-plus capacity stadium for the United Soccer League.

"We wanted to get a little better connection with our first team," Manning said of the move to Toronto for 2018. He said he also wants TFC season-ticket holders to have the chance to see both teams, "with one ticket."

He added that, "we need to be at 5,000 seats and that was part of the thought process," in making the move.

Manning said TFC could have invested the money with the OSA to expand the Ontario Soccer Centre, but in the end, decided it was best to make the move south to Toronto.

He added the decision to move was made within the last month, but added there was "no animosity at all with the City of Vaughan" and that it had been "a great partnership with the OSA and Vaughan."