All TFC all the time....well, most of the time....more of the time?

Yes, soccer fans, I know it's been a minute but now that the Major League Soccer off-season is just about over I figured it's to jumpstart this blog.

Good news for TFC and MLS fans. Around MLS Cup time I had a conversation with Star sports editor Mike Simpson and we decided it's time to expand the Star's MLS coverage. Last year we covered TFC but never said much about what was happening in the rest of MLS. Strategies like that work when you're covering a team like the Marlies because, honestly, few sports fans around here care about them and even fewer give a damn what's happening in the rest of the AHL.

But TFC's different. Here you have a group of dedicated soccer fans who care deeply about the team, and another group of sports fans beyond them who want to start caring because they've hear the TFC buzz and want to get involved. That type of readership demands and deserves a little more.

In '07 readers sent me my share of hate mail (expected), praise mail (unexpected) and constructive criticism (much appreciated).  I think I did a pretty good job covering TFC last season. I wasn't perfect, but I held it down.

But looking back on TFC's first season I think my coverage lacked context. During the week I'd write about TFC, then every weekend some team would materialize at BMO Field to play against them, then disappear again. LA Galaxy got some special attention because Becks played with them. We gave some extra juice to Houston because they had Dwayne De Rosario.

Overall, though, we didn't cover TFC the way we covered the Raptors, Leafs, Argos and Jays. We covered TFC in isolation, and not as part of a league. That tactic works the first year, but is less effective as your audience grows and their interest deepens.

So we're going to make a few changes this year. Can't say exactly how it all will work out, but I know that to put TFC games in their proper context I need to follow the entire league, so that will happen this season.

Also, if the budgets allow it, I'll make it to a few more road games in 08. Last season I flew out to the season opener against Chivas USA, and that was it. But last year also showed us that readers at home pay close attention to what happens on the road, and a simple AP story won't always satisfy them.  Readers want road game coverage tailored to their interests, so that's what we're trying to provide this year.

Doesn't mean I'll reach every road game.

Budgets.

But I'm confident I'll get to the important ones.

I realize that means hitting the season opener, and while there are much more glamourous places to be than Columbus in late March, I'm willing to do it in the name of expanded coverage.

Plus, I could use the Aeroplan points.

-- Morgan Campbell

Comments

[Iain McLaren]

Great news - looking forward to more comprehensive away game coverage! Keep up the great work Morgan.

[James]

Good news, us TFC fans look forward to the better coverage both of out team, and of the league in which it plays.

[Dom]

Great to hear. This can only increase TFC's coverage all around as nobody will want to be left behind. Good on ya for being an innovator and thinking outside the ACC.

[C]

sounds good, let it begin

[Shawn]

Hey Morgan,
great initiative, looking forward to next season.

[Ravi]

if you are going on a road trip, you should go to Colombus for the first game of the season. We've got almost 1000 TFC fans making the trip!

[Brian M.]

Great stuff. There are many of us who don't have the time to keep up independently on the MLS, but are really interested in TFC. Given the lack of sports radio coverage, this will make reading the Star way more attractive to me this year.

[Hal]

I could not agree with you more regarding needing more TFC depth and context related coverage. With the MLS growing in interest, number of teams playing, international players and league revenue….some of the most interesting stories don't happen on the pitch but rather the decisions made by players, teams, MLS and fans that affect the play on the pitch.

I look forward to reading your blog with interest this season!

Hal

[Harvey Sazunic]

As a subscriber to your paper, I welcome your plan to increase and improve the coverage of TFC and MLS. It will make reading the Star more enjoyable and worthwhile. I can hardly wait. Thanks in advance.

[Dan Goldberg]

Great column, can't wait for the new season. TFC look great with a new young defense and maybe a vastly improved offense. BBC are reporting that Darren Huckerby might be the next import to grace BMO field.

[Morgan]

Yeah I've put in some calls to TFC for any updates on the Huckerby front. If I find out anything you guys will read about it somewhere...either here or in the paper...

[Paul]

Wow!

Great news Morgan

TFC's fanbase continues to expand, and hopefully more in depth coverage will mean more fans and more passion for the team.
Also more coverage of the MLS will do nothing but increase people's understanding of the league and the game.

This is greatly appreciated.

[Oscar G]

It's about time...thanks 'Star'
you guys were behind The Sun in this matter.I知 hoping to see improvements in this column, I値l give you one more chance before the email rain stars. Thanks
Sincerely
Oscar G

[Chris Rugel]

I have been very critical of the Star's coverage of soccer (especially Cathal Kelly's refusal to call the team by the appropriate acronym TFC rather than FC) but this is great news and I will fully support The Star as it steps up and does what ther "other" Toronto paper in this town refuses to do. There is more to this town than hockey and I am happy that the Star recognizes that and will receive my support for it.

[Gabe E]

If you write it, I will read it.

[Timmy]

We need someone in the media to step forward to become The Voice of TFC. I hope that your expanded coverage helps you to achieve this.

[Kyle Law]

Getting left behind in TFC's dust by the Globe eh Starry Star. Finally woken up? I guess it's because the Globe is closer to BMO and apparently The Star's budget for footie is no higher than the $2.75 TTC cash fare to the pitch! Ooops, sorry, $5.50 (he needs to get back to the office).

[Big Goal]

i echo the greeting of the news as late, but a positive step for the Star.
I just wonder why you do not cut your "jet" budget and just don't ride the bus like the fans that take to the road do?

[Morgan]

Because nobody wants to drive to Kansas City!

Seriously, I'd be more than happy to drive to Columbus or Chicago, maybe even NYC or Boston. If MLS had a team in Detroit or Pittsburgh I'd drive there, too.

A lot of it depends onthe length of the trip. A lof of guys will drive down for baseball spring training because they're there two or three weeks. But for a one-day event they'd rather fly you out then get your right back to the office...

[Leafs 92/93]

Keep fighting the good fight buddy.

[alex]

Great news. I'm not expecting anything over the top, but even some last page blubs on MLS is much appreciated.

In the mean time, how about some more transfer speculation? We're dying for news in the off-season here.

[Stephen LaRose]

This is a very good idea. But I would also ask your editors why there isn't more strategic coverage of TFC's activities within MLS. By that I mean the Star should be asking:

what can TFC do to encourage more competitive youth soccer in Canada?

What will TFC do to get more Canadian teams in MLS -- in Vancouver, Montreal, and possibly Ottawa?

[Johnny Centreback]

If we assume that the MLS and Toronto FC are here to stay--in a big way--then they will warrant big coverage. And better coverage I think will only add to the buzz around the team and the sport in this city. Should be a fun season in Section 122 Row 8...and...on the road...

[chris]

More Star coverage of TFC is more than welcome. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to include a little more goings on within MLS. It would help to know what our opponents are up to.