Toronto FC Dealing with Disgruntled Fan Over Seats

According to a recent article in the Toronto Star, Toronto FC has a predicament in their midst when it comes to the seating of their home games.

When the MLS all-star game came to BMO Field, Toronto FC ticket holder Frank Garzelli settled into his usual seats - northwest corner, section 126, second row. Except on this occasion he was actually four rows from the soccer action. Apparently, TFC installed two rows of field-level chairs directly in front of Garzelli's section.

Garzelli is angered by the fact that the team never gave season ticket holders the chance to upgrade. Garzelli said that he'll meet with other season ticket holders in section 126 to figure out their next move.

TFC officials said that the team is scrambling to supply a demand that keeps surging. TFC's average home attendance is 20,133. BMO Field officially seats 20,000. "This is about trying to maximize every inch of the building, for sure," said Toronto FC business manager Paul Beirne. "But these new seats have a higher value." Beirne said that he understands Garzelli's frustration but points out the new chairs don't affect his sight line, so he's kind of putting apples and oranges together."

If the team decides to keep the seats, Beirne said, all season ticket holders will have a chance to purchase them - but said the priority goes to the people who have held season tickets longest, and not those who happen to be seated nearby. Until a decision is made, the team will continue to sell the two rows in front of section 126 as single-game seats.