Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber met with members of the Toronto football media at Real Sports Bar & Grill on Tuesday morning.




The MLS Cup Final to be hosted at BMO Field on November 21 was the main topic of discussion, but the writers and broadcasters in attendance did not restrict themselves to the league’s marquee event.




The recent focus on TFC's team performance and direction were on the table. With club executives in attendance, the commissioner didn’t shy away from a single question.




Garber’s message struck the same consistency with which he praised TFC supporters since the inaugural 2007 season when his and the league’s eyes opened up to the possibility of an authentic football experience in North America.




Seattle, Philadelphia and every team that has followed since, Garber intimated, took the same approach as Toronto both in the stands and at the front office.




“MLS is where it is today because of Toronto FC,” said the commissioner, giving credit to the supporters and the organization that made the investment to bring North America’s premier soccer league to Toronto.




Garber doesn’t view the upsurge in strong public sentiment – such as protests – in recent days as a negative.




“It extends from the passion that Toronto supporters have for the club.”




Indeed, the TFC faithful has been as passionate in support as they have been in voicing their displeasure in recent weeks – for which a series of town hall meetings have been scheduled for two-way discussions between season seat holders and management.  Garber thanked the fans and management for taking this step together, viewing this kind of dialogue as a positive and nearly unprecedented in his 30-years of sports experience.




The commissioner further revealed that the choice of BMO Field as a neutral site venue for MLS Cup Final was a way to thank the fans for, as he put it, “teaching U.S. soccer fans how to support” their club.




The media session lasted nearly 90 minutes over finger foods, but a smaller, concise interview with Lee Godfrey will air later this week on GOL TV Canada. Look for it ahead of Toronto’s final MLS regular season match against D.C. United.
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