Toronto was never the city of champions - Edmonton got that crown a long time ago, but the big city mentality has always been that Toronto should win major sports championships.
Toronto is never called a "small market team", the owners of the cities franchises have lots of cash, players (especially hockey) like playing in the city, the fans are knowledgeable and loud and players generally seem to enjoy the city while they are here. Unfortunately, winning championships though, is still not something that happens regularly in Toronto and lately even being a competitive team has been a struggle.
Check out the resume;
Toronto Maple Leafs - No Stanley Cup titles since....not even gonna mention the year
Toronto Blue Jays - Last title was 1993, haven't been competitive since the strike in 1994
Toronto Argos - Last Grey Cup 2004, been through a couple of owners recently and were a miserable 3-15 last year
Toronto Raptors - Haven't won a championship in 15 years. 5 playoff appearances, and only one playoff series win
Toronto FC - No playoff appearances in the 3 years and 3 coaches in the same length of time
What are fans to do when losing is unbearable and no one is fixing any of the problems? Fans in other cities have protested owners and franchises, but Toronto fans are too loyal. Leafs and Raps fans have been selling out the ACC (and the Gardens before that) no matter how many loses the team compiles. The Jays and Argos have there die hard fans and get about the same attendance year after year now. TFC is still new enough that fans flock to the BMO Field.
Although, not going to the games isn't really an option (people like going too much) and the walk-out has never worked really well, but I think the soccer firms (fan clubs) in England have the protest down to a science. When Manchester United and Liverpool fans unite, wear different colours but can still support their teams, that is how a fan protest should work.
So Toronto...who is ready to arrange a protest for the last Leafs game of the season. Everyone can wear green and white like the St. Pats. It would be a great night for all and might send a statement...
Someone start the Facebook Fan page, haha...
Update: United hopes to get 1 million protesters- and you thought Leafs fans were die hard.
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