GDT: Canadian Soccer | Canada at the Copa America - July 9 vs Argentina in the SF

Drivesaitl

Finding Hemingway
Oct 8, 2017
49,602
63,926
Islands in the stream.
Herdman stated it's the best atmosphere the MNT has ever played in front of.

Is Commonwealth going to get some sod laid again eventually? Incredible stadium but the natural grass has to come back again some day. Right?

If Edmonton is slotted to get 2026 WC games the commitment is to go back to natural turf. Have to say as well with weather changes, milder weather, it makes so much more sense to have a good natural turf. It was always a mistake going away from it. I think they figured they could do more events with artificial turf but in todays entertainment business stadium events occurring are less common. Also the building of the fieldhouse or Clarke being right next door allows the club to never have to practice on Commonwealth turf and overuse it.

Just a side note that the Oilers have allowed CMNT to use Rogers place facilities as well as the slendid Commonwealth facilities. Would have to be considered by the team that they have never seen facilities like Edmonton is proferring. BMO is a rodeo ground compared to what they're getting here.

Herdman comments won't go unnoticed in Toronto. He'll get push back for the remarks but full kudos for him stating it and been saying it for ages but its about time CSA wakes up to the fact that the best support, and facility, are here.

Its astounding to people that have followed the Canadian soccer landscape for 50yrs, how little respect Edmonton gets as a National team soccer host. Both the Mens and womens team had long stints away from the kind of support they get here, which is always better here.
 

Drivesaitl

Finding Hemingway
Oct 8, 2017
49,602
63,926
Islands in the stream.
Is natural grass even possible in frigid november?

Frigid where?

The lowest Temp in Edmonton at gametime was around 0C.


The game day high was 5C yesterday and has been in the plus every day this month. I last cut the grass around November 1st. never did that before. The grass here was still growing (slow) throughout October. All the neighbors had to cut grass 1,2 times in October. Weather is changing it seems and Edmonton typically not as frigid as before.

In anycase multiple Grey Cups, games have been played here in November, on Natural turf. The underlay for Artificial turf at similar temps is hard anyway. If anything more give to Natural Turf if the grass is even a couple inches.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oilers'72

Drivesaitl

Finding Hemingway
Oct 8, 2017
49,602
63,926
Islands in the stream.
The only game rumoured for bc place so far is January 30. The other two matches in that block are away games. You’ll have to ask some Central Americans about the other two games that window. :D
In servicing no need for banter comparison both Edmonton and Vancouver are solid Soccer hosts. Having the MLS team heritage also helping Vancouver to grow the game through the decades and as a traditionalist I feel that the Whitecaps have been Canadas club team for a long time. Long before the upstarts like FC Toronto. I think we could all agree that BMO, and Toronto, ought relinquish their grasp on the NT team hosting. Both Edmonton and Vancouver are the gold standard in Canada when it comes to soccer hosting.

Edmonton would really benefit from having an MLS club. I'm probably dreaming there.

I go way back to when Edmonton Drillers and Vancouver Whitecaps were both in the NASL. 1979-82. Edmonton wasn't competitive Outdoors but had a decent Indoor Soccer club.
 
Last edited:

OfCorsiDid

Time is a flat circle.
Mar 20, 2017
21,278
33,530
Toronto, ON
If Edmonton is slotted to get 2026 WC games the commitment is to go back to natural turf. Have to say as well with weather changes, milder weather, it makes so much more sense to have a good natural turf. It was always a mistake going away from it. I think they figured they could do more events with artificial turf but in todays entertainment business stadium events occurring are less common. Also the building of the fieldhouse or Clarke being right next door allows the club to never have to practice on Commonwealth turf and overuse it.

Just a side note that the Oilers have allowed CMNT to use Rogers place facilities as well as the slendid Commonwealth facilities. Would have to be considered by the team that they have never seen facilities like Edmonton is proferring. BMO is a rodeo ground compared to what they're getting here.

Herdman comments won't go unnoticed in Toronto. He'll get push back for the remarks but full kudos for him stating it and been saying it for ages but its about time CSA wakes up to the fact that the best support, and facility, are here.

Its astounding to people that have followed the Canadian soccer landscape for 50yrs, how little respect Edmonton gets as a National team soccer host. Both the Mens and womens team had long stints away from the kind of support they get here, which is always better here.

I think a big key for Commonwealth's pitch is to move it into a more modern blend of natural grass and turf.

Most of the best pitches in the world use some sort of blend. Anfield, Old Trafford and Camp Nou all use Desso Grassmaster which is one such blend. Lambeau also uses it. The stadium for Rosenborg BK in Trondheim, Norway uses it and has a similar climate to Edmonton.

I think we can make this work here. The CFL is usually wrapped up by early-to-mid December and last time we hosted the Grey Cup it was rather balmy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oilers'72

oilers'72

Registered User
Jul 3, 2006
5,650
4,486
Red Deer, Alta
The only game rumoured for bc place so far is January 30. The other two matches in that block are away games. You’ll have to ask some Central Americans about the other two games that window. :D

I should mention that a good part of the crowd was the return of Alphonso Davies. Extremely rare to have someone of that football pedigree come from Edmonton. Canada and the US should draw a huge crowd. Hopefully not a lot of Americans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: im gangster

im gangster

SMD
Sponsor
May 3, 2021
8,906
8,932
Thats impressive. Never saw that, because they never show when a fan is on the field. you just hear about it. Its like theres been a rule since the 70's you can't show somebody running on the field. Every program has sex in it, but you can't show a streaker. lol. Any ladies bouncing around out there?
Did you see Herdman escorting a fan off of the field, smiling and arm around him? Am I dreaming this? Mistook it for something else?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: oilers'72

madmutter

F**king Phenomenal
Jun 6, 2009
615
135
Thats impressive. Never saw that, because they never show when a fan is on the field. you just hear about it. Its like theres been a rule since the 70's you can't show somebody running on the field. Every program has sex in it, but you can't show a streaker. lol. Any ladies bouncing around out there?
I think they don't show it because it encourages it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oilers'72

Drivesaitl

Finding Hemingway
Oct 8, 2017
49,602
63,926
Islands in the stream.
I think they don't show it because it encourages it.

So they show 58,500 people getting murdered on TV every week, but showing a streaker on the field. "Can't have that" heh. I'm just citing the ridiculous duplicity in what gets allowed in our seeming remaining puritanical ethic. I really don't get it. I mean I see what you're saying and thats the oft cited rational but..
 

Dynamic

Registered User
Dec 21, 2004
1,073
861
Edmonton
It’s hard to make perfect better. No need to impose pressure on a team, the other team is responsible for that.

I am a casual soccer fan, I will confess that much. I love the flow of the game and the rules themselves are as close to perfect as there is but a few tweaks can be made. There is one part that the game of soccer that makes me cringe and we all know what it is. I cannot stand diving, unsportsmanlike conduct, and theatrics. I seen it on both sides Friday night and it is hard to watch grown adult athletes flail around like they are actually hurt and then get up and continue playing like nothing happened. I've seen a few professional soccer games and as a hockey fan our sport is much better at governing the diving aspect. Heck the players do much of the governing on that themselves. In hockey it is seen as dishonorable to dive. In soccer it is expected. I started going to a pick up soccer group in town and its the exact same way. Coming from a hockey background and trying not to laugh at some of the things people try to pull at a drop in pick up game is something else.

I'm not trying to s**t on soccer. I think it is a serious issue that as a sport they have dropped the ball completely. But if you had refs call obvious diving it would be a start. Also have a rule if you are on the pitch for more than 10 seconds you are out of the game for 10 minutes. End the theatrics and getting back up right away. Wanna put on a show, your sitting for 10 minutes to make sure our "okay".
 

Drivesaitl

Finding Hemingway
Oct 8, 2017
49,602
63,926
Islands in the stream.
Was a poor decision to remove it in the first place.

I argued this point long and hard 20yrs ago and even wrote messages to CSA as well as local affiliate. The national word at the time was that Toronto represented the future for where they needed to be, to be big profile in Canada, and as much as Edmonton was the best currently, Edmonton could pound sand. The CSA head at that time, forget his name, was such a dick. Basically hated Edmonton, hated Commonwealth. He wasn't alone though. There were even some FIFA deluded officials who would come here and critique every aspect of Commonwealth stadium while loving Swansguard *stadium* it was all surreal.

Theres some beliefs in Soccer, a lot of people that feel the best venues are intimate, and 20K capacity. I don't get it. Theres nothing as spectacular as being in a stadium with 50-100K in attendance. It becomes a near communal religious experience. heh. 20K atmosphere is nothing like 50K+ atmosphere. Always felt that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oilers'72

oilers'72

Registered User
Jul 3, 2006
5,650
4,486
Red Deer, Alta
3:55 PM MST Monday 15 November 2021
Snowfall warning in effect for:
  • City of Edmonton - St. Albert - Sherwood Park
Heavy snowfall for parts of Alberta tonight and into Tuesday. Total snowfall amounts between 10 and 20 cm are expected.

Snow will continue tonight before tapering off from west to east through the day on Tuesday.

In addition to the snowfall, strong northerly winds, with gusts to 70 km/h, will develop over portions of eastern Alberta tonight and continue through Tuesday. Visibility may be reduced in blowing snow.
Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions. Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Take frequent breaks and avoid strain when clearing snow.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports using #ABStorm.
 

oilers'72

Registered User
Jul 3, 2006
5,650
4,486
Red Deer, Alta
Forecast:

TonightSnow at times heavy. Blowing snow in outlying areas late this evening and overnight. Amount 10 cm. Wind becoming northeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 early this evening then northwest 40 gusting to 70 late this evening. Low minus 3. Wind chill minus 11 overnight.
Tue, 16 NovSnow at times heavy ending late in the morning then cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Clearing late in the afternoon. Blowing snow in outlying areas. Amount 2 to 4 cm. Wind northwest 40 km/h gusting to 70. Temperature falling to minus 6 in the afternoon. Wind chill near minus 14.
NightA few clouds. Wind northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light near midnight. Low minus 10. Wind chill near minus 14.
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Football weather.
 

SupremeTeam16

5-14-6-1
May 31, 2013
8,856
8,804
Baker’s Bay
I’m going tomorrow so no thank you lol

I had tickets and was going to go as well but it’s looking like absolutely brutal out there so I’ll probably just stay home and watch the Oilers game but we’ll see how the weather is this afternoon. The wind is going to be absolutely killer in an open stadium like commonwealth. I can’t imagine it’ll be world class kind of play in this weather. Probably more like two teams desperate to get off the field as soon as possible.
 

iCanada

Registered User
Feb 6, 2010
20,228
21,168
Edmonton
The half a foot of snow will likely be a huuuuge advantage for our club vs Mexico.

A guy like Alphonso Davies likely spent half his childhood playing Soccer on a sheet of snow. I doubt there is a single guy on that Mexican squad that's even done that once before.
 

Snipes45

Registered User
May 26, 2020
14,035
13,334
Edmonton
Couldn't they have scheduled these games like 1-2 weeks earlier before this garbage winter weather started?
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad