The Real Madrid friendly is causing real headaches for Toronto FC fans, notably regarding exorbitant ticket prices and the installation of real grass that the club hasn't provided its own team.
Ticket prices will range from $140 to $215 plus other fees, though subscribers and those on the waiting list get a "loyalty discount" starting at $125. Tom Anselmi, the senior vice president and COO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., used the enormity of the event to explain the ticket prices. "We're paying higher than $1 million for FIFA's team of the century and I think it's exciting for our fans," he said. "It's like seeing the Rolling Stones at the El Mocambo again. It's a big-time event and there's a price that you'd pay, just like to see Madonna. It wasn't in the season's ticket holder package (a game against lesser known River Plate of Argentina is), but those fans are getting a better price than Joe Public."
Anselmi also defended the club's choice to install disposable natural grass for just one game. "I fear people think we have some sort of agenda going here," he said. "This is rolled-in sod that costs $250,000, it dies in a couple of days and you take it out. Madrid wouldn't come without grass there. There is going to be a full change to grass at BMO one day, that will cost a lot and we're prepared to write that check ourselves. But some don't realize we have a lot of work to do with our partners (the city and the Exhibition Place board) to provide that surface we'd agreed to for multi-use."