Some Hollywood blockbusters have a monster opening weekend with rave reviews and millions in ticket sales. But the successful movies are the ones that have staying power.
AFC Toronto wants to be one of the latter. After an incredible opening match at BMO Field in front of 14,518 fervent spectators, the challenge is maintaining that momentum at the much smaller York Lions Stadium for the remainder of their home matches.
Team co-founder Helena Ruken wants fans to know they are in for a treat, starting Thursday night when AFC 海角社区官网hosts Calgary Wild FC.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a more intimate experience and it鈥檚 an outdoor event, so people should come prepared to have a good time no matter what the weather is,鈥 Ruken said Wednesday, following the team鈥檚 practice at the 4,000-seat facility on the York University grounds.
Ruken said the team has partnered with Foodie Festival, a local grassroots organization that will add to the atmosphere. Food vendors will set up their trucks at the south end of the stadium.
Ottawa Rapid FC, which will play its first match on Sunday,聽has the benefit of seeing the way
The club also has established an ongoing partnership with several youth soccer clubs to give kids a chance to participate in on-field activities, starting with members of the on Thursday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the right thing to do,” Ruken said. “We have great interest from the local youth clubs to participate in those activities, and we will have that at every home game.”
But it’s the soccer that will have the biggest impact. And AFC 海角社区官网remains confident despite losing its first two Northern Super League games: 1-0 to Montreal in the opener, and 2-1 in Ottawa on Sunday.
鈥淚f you watch the games, you see that we dominate possessions, that we鈥檙e starting to play more like the style that we want to play,鈥 midfielder Colby Barnett said. 鈥淲e have too much talent on this team to not get that final product and I think you guys will see that soon.鈥
Having played for clubs in the United States, Germany, Sweden and Iceland, veteran Canadian …
Head coach Marko Milanovic and his staff will finally聽have the benefit of having watched their opponent play, and can plan accordingly.聽Calgary (1-1) is coming off聽a 4-1 win over Halifax on Saturday.
鈥淭his is all a process,” he said. “It takes time to learn to play the way we want to play.聽Our style requires us to put a lot of pressure on players to make decisions, to read situations, to be comfortable with the ball, for our backlines to play very high up the field, to play with a lot of risk. So we鈥檙e very patient.鈥
Milanovic said he expects 鈥渁 full house鈥 Thursday at a pitch where his team has been practising for the past 10 weeks.聽
鈥淥bviously the product on the field dictates a lot what鈥檚 happening in the stands, so an early goal in our favour for a change would probably raise the atmosphere and would be good for the fans.”
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