MLS Toronto FC said that it has "sold more than 2,000 new season tickets in the last week in the buildup and hoopla surrounding Monday's announcement of the signings" of F Jermain Defoe and MF Michael Bradley, according to Neil Davidson of the CP. The renewal window for the club's existing 14,600 season-ticket holders "runs through January, with the team expecting" about 95% to be renewed. Season tickets at BMO Field, which "has a capacity of about 22,000, will be capped at 17,000 with club officials expecting a possible return to a waiting list." Toronto FC also is "looking to create more premium seats, perhaps via a lounge on the North side of the stadium given existing field seats and tables are sold out." The team last year "ranked 10th in the 19-team league with average attendance of 18,131" (CP, 1/14).
HOW THE DEAL WAS DONE: GOAL.com's Ives Galarcep wrote it was a "shrewd idea" from Bradley's agent, Ron Waxman, which "sparked the series of events that would lead to Bradley returning to MLS eight years after leaving, becoming the highest-paid American in MLS history after signing a record six-year, $40 million deal that has turned the league on its head." Bradley said, "When I learned about Toronto FC’s interest and was able to speak to [MLSE President & CEO] Tim Leiweke and [GM] Tim Bezbatchenko and [coach] Ryan Nelson, I realized really quickly how committed they were to building something special here." With Bradley "struggling for consistent minutes" at Serie A club AS Roma, and Waxman" exploring options for a new destination for the 26-year-old American star, he came up with the idea of approaching Toronto FC, a club he knew had grand ambitions under new leadership." Waxman said, "I know Tim Bezbatchenko well from deals we had done together and I know Tim Leiweke gets things done and is a winner." Bradley was "sold on the idea of coming back to MLS" once the two sides met (GOAL.com, 1/14).
