I agree There is a stigma about Rugby League from the olden days of overweight drinkers and smokers just running around a pitch. When they actually see the athletes that play the game, the speed of it, the skill involved and the fact that fans can mingle with no trouble, they realise what a unique sport it is.

Hopefully the locals will see the games at face value, unlike over here where we have to suffer the snobbishness and sneer from the Union brigade and the 'peanut hugging' comments from the football lot. It will be interesting to see how their home crowds compare to the initial one.

Have 5k season tickets been sold as we've been informed? If they have the crowds should hold up, maybe increase with seats sold on the day.

If they chucked thousands of freebies out then maybe not?

Let's hope it's the former, I really want them to do well. (Shouldn't we all....for the greater good)?

It is now looking like Toronto will not only get promoted at the end of this year, but they will probably make it into Super League at first try (i.e. for 2019 season). Unfortunately this will probably be at the expense of Toulouse, which does not have the player depth, financial resources or marketing that Toronto has. I say unfortunately because it would have been wonderful for Toronto to enter Super League one year after Toulouse, so as to make people stand up and look at the new Super League roster, indicating the newfound cosmopolitanism and internationalism of northern hemisphere rugby league.

Hard to tell really. Of course, despite the announcer hyping the game up repeatedly on the day as the first rugby league game in Canada, it was actually the first "professional" game (albeit involving one semi-pro side). There have been many international games, which attracted crowds of anything up to 7,000 - so I would imagine that many of the crowd had been to a game before. There were certainly lots of oohs and ah's for relatively big hits that regular fans would have got used to. And most people have little idea of the rules and the only person shouting abuse at the ref was me!

I think the level of crowd achieved can be maintained through the rest of the season, partly because of the novelty factor, and hopefully there will be a mix of new and returning fans each game. They are going to hit a ceiling because of the stadium they play in, and it will be interesting to see if they do have the capability (as indicated) to upgrade the facilities there - not sure who owns the ground..next year will be more competitive, closer games and even a couple of defeats in all likelihood - that will make the whole experience more exciting and close to a regular game. It's a bit odd though not having any away fans to "interact with".

I did bump into one Warrington fan who had flown across specifically to be at the first game (he had done the same thing in the 80's in the US apparently) - now that's dedication!

You are right of course that each club faces a different set of circumstances, challenges and opportunities - but I think the key here is the innovation which the management has employed - they are business savvy, creative and thinking intelligently. Take the Air Transat deal for example - people were bemoaning the cost of transporting players etc. and it was dealt with very cleverly. They are also prepared to think differently, who else would have gone with Kappa? Being a new sport can be seen as an advantage, it could also be a disadvantage. You try selling ice hockey in Leigh! It's difficult for Leigh fans especially (given the history), and perhaps many existing rugby league fans in general, to consider the possibility that this might actually be a brilliant thing for the sport and that the sport can actually learn a heck of a lot from this process - not necessarily the specifics, but the general approach. I cannot think of any other sporting fans in the world who would be viewing all these developments with such skepticism, pessimism and tribalism.

You missed envy & jealousy from your list.

Not a bad thing really given the plethora of whinging idiots involved?

Thanks Mapleleyther a good review.
I think as the project develops the club and match day experience will learn and grow especially in the warmer months. Maybe the crowd will get more into the game if they had some form of pre-match entertainment. The commentator remarked how the Canadians come into a game late, I have experienced that having attended sporting events in Toronto. My last experience of the blue jays I was so bored I considered leaving at half time and with a final score defeat by 1-0 in a 40000 stadium with an attendance of about 5000

Rather than compare to the Blue Jays who have previously been World Series Champs in a fantastic all seater stadium I would make more comparison to how Toronto FC are developing in the MLS albeit being soccer, people will turn up to watch a professional team but they have not reached the heights yet but maybe in the near future. If the Wolfpack make a success of it hopefully they make a move to BMO field which is a nice stadium with both standing and seating and plenty of space for corporate/hospitality and merchandising and refreshments stalls. Due to the influence of European and South American expats the atmosphere that FC supporters generates is similar to what we are used to. Maybe the Wolfpack could learn from FC and how they marketed their games.

The scheduling of games and keeping the fans interested will be a big challenge basically starting in May and ending in September will give a long close season for the home fans.

Good luck to Wolfpack, spread the word and enjoy your visits to the games

Are you seriously trying to give Toronto credit for choosing Kappa?

London Broncos and Skolars both had Kappa in 2016 and Workington, Oldham and Keighley all had deals signed before Toronto even approached us about doing a deal with Kappa.

Not to mention Brentwood Eels wearing it for 2 years before Toronto

by the looks of it they seem to be packing them in again for the second home game. much better weather by the looks of it. 40 to 2 at halftime

Which is a huge problem. They're playing the best side in their division and are up by that score. How do you develop interest in a new sports venture when the games are so one sided? If I were the Wolfpack, I'd be looking to fill at least the bench with Canadian or North American players, both giving them a chance to develop and reducing the scores at the same time.

Yes but, just look at the demographic when it comes to winning big.

Whilst they're winning & giving "us" a thrashing they'll lap it up, but if things get tough they'll be off like a flash I.M.O.

You obviously don't know Paul Rowleys mindset ?

attendance 7144 - bigger than the opening home game

Really good news because RL has seen big opening crowds before in Paris and Wrexham only for crowds to dip once the free tickets and promo drops off for game 2.