retired_google

Meh, it's still better than the usual "(City) (fierce animal)" combination.

retired_sargent

Toronto Lemmings

retired_crazybonejr

Yes, but Jason, the "United" clubs in Europe also have other nicknames, those aren't their nicknames. Red Devils and Magpies come to mind right off the top of my head. Hardly better than, or different from, the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Memphis Grizzlies.

To be honest, the idea of Inter Toronto would have been fine by me, seeing as it's short for international, and Toronto has plenty of cultural areas. Right now, to me, the club has no more identity now than it did before the announcement of its "nickname."

retired_google

Probably because they have yet to play a game?

retired_crazybonejr

That and my lack of excitement about it whatsoever. The media and the CSA tout this new club as the best thing to happen to Canadian foot...er...soccer in the last 20 years. They figure the whole country is going to rally around this club situated in the one city that the rest of Canada can't stand. It's not going to have much of an impact outside Toronto.

t's similar to the Raptors and Grizzlies of the NBA. It was thought that the whole country would rally around these two basketball teams and improve the sport's popularity in Canada. Well, one has since re-located, and the other is really a non-entity outside Toronto. Whatever team Steve Nash (two time defending NBA MVP) plays for tends to be the country's favourite.

I have a feeling it's going to be similar with Toronto FC, except for the fact that 5% of the population know that one of the top players in the MLS, who is Canadian, plays for the Houston Dynamo. And really, the truth is that when we DID have our last national league, the team with the highest attendance was here in Winnipeg, not every other (larger) city who had a team.

retired_ngrundman

I'm not sure how MLS will fly in Toronto. Toronto sports fans in general go big or go home. Shy away from CFL and still wait for the never coming NFL. Even The Leafs' minor league team is a tough sell here; and The Leafs are a quasi-religon here.

I think they'll stay away from soccer and the MLS until they land a Premiership or Serie A team. It's how out of touch we are.

I know "Inter" was bandied about to appeal to the large Italian population in Toronto. The Italians will watch Italian football, the Portugese will watch their league, and so on. Maybe the Canadians will support MLS, but they don't live in Toronto.

Yes the Jets drew very well. Maybe you'll get the Florida team when it moves.

retired_crazybonejr

heh...I was referring to the now defunct CSL, where the only club to average more than 4,000 fans over the course of the league was Winnipeg. That despite the fact the team was never a "contender" until the final season of the league's existence.

retired_mrsjb

Toronto Lemmings </BLOCKQUOTE>

It might be two days late, but I LOL'd

/me will look out for Toronto, as they have an ex-Canary signed already :thup:

And their name can't any worse than bloody Red Bull New York. Put me right off, that did.

retired_crazybonejr

Agreed, that IS a bad name. Toronto FC isn't even a name, though.

I do agree with Althouse, though, that they won't get all that much attention. Possibly families where a younger child plays and wants to go see "professional" footballers. Too bad MLS isn't really world class but is touted as such. The big stars are players who are past their prime, or players who never reached the potential they supposedly had. Or Canadians.