It has been announced that Toronto will open their Championship season with eleven consecutive away fixtures, and will then play eleven consecutive home fixtures - apart from the 'Summer bash'. https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/11/ ... onths.html Although this could be seen as a very demanding start, and could see them facing an uphill battle to claw their way into the top four, surely it could well give them a big advantage in overcoming the rigours of regular travel across the Atlantic? They would no longer be exposed to the rigours of the journey facing their opponents, who visit Toronto.

It has been announced that Toronto will open their Championship season with eleven consecutive away fixtures, and will then play eleven consecutive home fixtures - apart from the 'Summer bash'. https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/11/ ... onths.html Although this could be seen as a very demanding start, and could see them facing an uphill battle to claw their way into the top four, surely it could well give them a big advantage in overcoming the rigours of regular travel across the Atlantic? They would no longer be exposed to the rigours of the journey facing their opponents, who visit Toronto.

It is a good plan, I think they were doing 4 at the time last year?

Apparently it's due to upgrades at Lamport Stadium. The pitch there is a very out-dated artificial surface (think Loftus Road's infamous artificial surface from the 80s).

You cannot allow this type of situation to happen, Toronto must find an alternate venue and at worst play 2 and 2 in a comp with so much at stake. What happens in the 8s, same as? What happens in SL, same as?? I am totally behind TW being in SL, indeed I would give them a franchise when they come back next season - but not at the expense of making the sport a complete laughing stock.

LSV and DW get relaid every year - you play 3/4 games away during that period.

Indeed, and Leeds I believe requested a small number of away games when they relaid their pitch.

TW are talking of "upgrades" to Lamport. I don't know what they means in real terms, but it does seem odd to have such an inbalanced schedule.

It desperately needs doing. The surface is very poor, and the corner flags are currently on big rubber bases which extend onto the pitch, rather than stuck into the ground. God knows what happens if a player grounds the ball on the base. It wouldn't be noticed at League 1, but would be embarrassing as a video ref decision in the qualifiers.

Each club has the "rigour" of one visit, plus the effect on them the week after. It would be unfair to Toronto (albeit a problem of their own making) to make them have the "rigour" of ten or more visits, because of course they would have the UK-bound rigour to overcome, plus the Toronto-bound return leg too. The players would be in a perpetual state of jet-lag.

Although the Middle 8's may pose a new set of problems (regarding travel), does it really matter if they play all of their home games in one block ?
Most clubs would like to have regular home games to help with cash flow and to keep the fans interested but, the fact that they will be playing their 11 away fixtures first is surely a disadvantage for them.
Mind you, this being RL Fans, there are always shouts of "unfair".
For any fans visiting Toronto, at least it will be warm/hot

Every team going to Toronto would be in Jet lag mode giving a huge advantage to TW as they would have no jet lag to contend with after 11 games away, then 11 at home. With so much at stake that cannot happen. What do you suggest TW do in the 8's so that they aren't inconvenienced with jet lag??

Why can't they do it month by month I.E Feb away, March Home etc.

I always thought the weather in toronto was the issue during feb / march but it doesn't seem too dissimilar to here.

Similar to what they were doing last season.

But the current proposed fixtures overcome (for them) the 'rigours' of travel. They are already training in the UK (Manchester) prior to the eleven away games, then they just have one journey to Canada (except for the 'Summer Bash') to overcome, prior to their eleven home games. Every team visiting Canada, has the 'rigour' to overcome after their trip to Canada, and their trip back to UK. That's what may be seen as an unfair advantage to TW.

Finally, a question: - How long does it take to relay an 'artificial' pitch?

Never travelled to Toronto have you?

"Jet Lag mode" ffs It's only 4/5 hours time difference. Travelling West too. Did any travelling players complain of jet lag in 2017?


Middle 8's, surely they'll do what they did this season. 3/4 away then 3/4 home?

Seems fine and logical to me.