Toronto FC "will not raise season seat prices for existing ticket holders who renew their seats ahead of a Dec. 15 'Early Bird deadline,'" according to Kurtis Larson of the TORONTO SUN. Existing season-ticket holders yesterday received a letter from TFC GM Tim Bezbatchenko "outlining the club’s decision to hold prices at 2014 levels after 'falling short'" of its stated MLS playoff goal in '14. Bezbatchenko wrote, "Last season, Toronto FC embarked on an aggressive plan to put this club on a path to success and make the playoffs in 2014, but despite our best efforts, we fell short." The club's "big investments in players" like MF Michael Bradley, Fs Jermain Defoe and Gilberto "received mixed results." The club is also "banking on improvements to BMO Field providing a better game day atmosphere." Bezbatchenko said, "With the first phase of renovations (adding an additional 5,000 seats) already underway, BMO Field will be a world-class home to match our vision of being a world-class club. In 2016, a canopy will be installed over the stadium that will not only protect our fans from the elements" (TORONTO SUN, 11/18). The CP's Neil Davidson noted single-game ticket prices "have yet to be determined." The club two seasons ago "rolled back season ticket prices" to the '07 level "because of poor performance on the field." The freeze "continued last season -- for those already holding season tickets -- with the club delaying the date to renew so they could see the off-season signings." The big-ticket additions "did boost total 2014 attendance to 375,463 fans to BMO Field, up 30,928 over the previous franchise record of 344,535" set in '11. TFC averaged 22,086 a game this season, second only to the Sounders' 43,734 and "well above the league average" of 19,147. The club "had a record 17,000 season tickets in 2014 with a waiting list of 3,500." It "had 14,600 season ticket-holders" in '13 (CP, 11/17).
