Entrance to the International Centre
October 2, 2022...My thoughts on The Allstate Soccer Show 2022, International Centre in Mississauga (by Rocket Robin)
Entrance to the International Centre
I had been looking forward to this for months. I'd only attended one before and that was back in 2018 at The Hangar in Downsview. I didn't expect it would be back in Toronto for a few years and that proved to be indirectly right! 2019 was in Calgary (I think) and 2020 and 2021 were only 'virtual' events because of Covid restrictions.
Hours from 11:00am to 6:00pm and I wanted to be there at the beginning. I was there by 10:35am and there was already a line around the building. The weather was cool so I decided to put on a hoodie over my York United FC jersey and Canadian National team jersey (actually 'won' at the 2018 show at the CSA booth). I expected they wouldn't let anyone in until 11:00am and that was right but smartly they had some guys come out with scanners and handstamps to check our tickets (tickets were free but the venue 'sold' out at least a week beforehand). I had printed my ticket but most just turned on their phones for the scan. "Old fashioned, I like it" was what the guy said to me when it was my turn. 11:00am and the line had doubled but now they let everyone in with just the advice "Hold your hand up so we can see the stamp". I was about the 400th person in and it only took ten minutes. So that's the last line I'll have to stand and wait? Nooo. I would find out almost everything was stand and wait.
The list of people in the Meet & Greets
There was actually a three-way split in the show program on-line with some overlap of who would be at a certain event. One was 'Online Meet & Greets' which I'd assume was behind a curtain at an unused section of the room. Another was the personal 'Meet & Greets'. The third was a 'Main Stage' for panel discussions with a group of players or officials. So first thing I did was get in line for the first meet and greet. The stars weren't there yet. There was a separate line. One for Bryan Robson and one for the CPL players...but it took awhile for me to realize that the longer line for Bryan Robson also got to see the CPL players. The ushers let a few people through in groups of maybe six at a time. One group from each line.
It was announced early that fans could only have 'one' item signed. A groan I heard from a guy with a wad of about thirty-five 8' x 10' photo super-glossies. Great, I'm thinking as how long would that guy alone have taken? They also announced that if we didn't have anything to sign, the players have their own cards they will sign. After an hour, it was finally my turn to join the runway to see the players.
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson
Hey. I didn't expect this. Two lines and I was allowed to go in the same line as the Bryan Robson et al line anyway!
Robson had a fold out six page card--well deserved as it took that much space to just list his accomplishments as a player and manager.
As this was a card sponsored by Manchester United, that was the only team in his career that was mentioned. "Hello" from him
and "Thank you" from me is about it. Then the line stalled so I was still in front of him. I said "This is now the second
favourite signature I've received from a man in Manchester. My favourite is Johnny Marr"...silence from him..."Johnny Marr! The band
The Smiths? The 1980s? Morrissey?..."I'm sorry I'm not really into music" he said to me.
Oh OK. Wow. I only said that because he was from the same city as that band. I'd have thought he'd have heard of him. I know in my town I know a few non-music fans who only know Drake from seeing him on TV at the Raptors games and Justin Bieber for peddling donuts on the Tim Hortons commercials.
[OK two days later and I look up Robson's Wikipedia entry just to check his age. He's only one year older than me! Dial back to my twenties and I certainly knew The Smiths even though I didn't listen to alternative radio stations].
Forge FC player Noah Jensen
Jensen had an Allstate Soccer Show 2022 photo postcard. I've seen him at L1O Sigma FC earlier in the year. I asked him if he was the player being scouted and signed on the same day as Forge head coach Bobby Smyrniotis also watched Orlendis Carlos Benitez Hernandez who was playing for Vaughan Azzurri and signed him as well for the next day's CPL game. Yep it was him. That was a very productive day for the coach!
Forge FC player Malik Owolabi-Belewu
I knew the least about him. Another Forge FC player but he I don't know well at all. It just happened that he scored his first CPL yesterday against York United FC. I mentioned that and he thanked me. I'd read he was from Nigeria/England but played for London Whitecaps. I told him I only have seen L1O London TFC but the line moved along quickly. That would be a whole debate of who is the better organization in London.
York United FC player Isaiah Johnston
He recognized me. He might not have seen me in my York United FC kit before as in the press box we are discouraged not to wear team colours. I've asked him a question in the post game press conference when he was the player chosen to attend.
While in this line I missed the first Main Stage program of "Canada Soccer Women's Professional Soccer". I would have liked to hear that but the acoustics and crowd noise were so bad I just heard a buzz of sound. I suppose if there was any news, it will be released to the public in due course. Anyway with my lining up and knowing the upcoming program, I mostly stuck to the Main Stage events.
Next cycle of Meet & Greets starts at 12:45pm. I catch the last 15 minutes of the Main Stage presentation and record the audio.
Panel for "Being a Veteran in a Growing League": MC Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (from the CPL) with Niko Giantsopoulos,
Jordan Wilson, and Kyle Bekker
Last 13 minutes of the "Being a Veteran in a Growing League" panel...13 minutes 25 seconds
Questions asked: There's never been a better time to be a soccer fan? Canada's always been a soccer country but has never had something to rally around? What's different about playing in the CPL vs your time in other leagues? How much does CPL coaching effect your play tactically? What is it like to play for Bobby Smyrniotis? (for Kyle) What's it like to play goal against CPL players? (for Niko) How big a gap is there between CPL and MLS players now that you've all played against them? What do you see as the difference? (for Kyle) Where do you think the CPL will go and grow in the next five or ten years? How will Canada do at the World Cup this year?
The players leave the stage but some father and son catch Kyle Bekker before he disappears behind a curtain with a ball and jersey for him to sign. He agrees but now they realize they don't have a Sharpie. They ask me. I hadn't thought of it until today but I'd put a Sharpie in my pocket. Saved. Ok they're gone. Kyle gives the marker back to me and says 'Thank you'.
I think I missed about 50% of this panel. Oh well. Next Main Stage event is "Fireside Chat With Bryan Robson". Hmm. Should I ask if I get a chance "Well what music do you like?" No I join the next Meet & Greet lineup. Oh Oh! This is another split line for TFC's Lorenzo Insigne and the three players I'd just seen onstage for the panel discussion. The Insigne line is twice as long. Neither line seems to move. This time the shorter CPL line is not allowed to cross to see the 'star' at the line. One of the ushers is my favourite 'Tiger Woods 2005' who let me into the 'closed to the public' TFC II games up at York Lions Stadium even though I wasn't a relative of a player. We waved to each other. Even this shorter line ended up with many children just sitting down beside their standing parents and eating lunch like a picnic. An obstacle course. I guess dad and mom plus three kids under eight gets the family five articles signed? Still it was an adult fan who was squating with his hands over his eyes who we had remind that the line had moved ahead a few feet. "Sorry man, I had too much last night". He admitted he'd been at the Forge game but took a Go Bus home and didn't drive.
I looked around and then left the line to watch the next panel. I knew these people too. Lightly attended I will say.
Panel for "Canada Soccer's Referee Panel": MC Yusri Rudolf, Marie-Soleil Beaudoin, and Chantal Boudreau
Audio of "Canada Soccer's Referee Panel"...34 minutes 44 seconds
Questions: (mostly asked by fellow referee Yusri Rudolf) Tell us a little bit about yourselves. What has the last cycle of preparation been like for you? Have you been to any tournaments lately? What is a day in the life of a referee like while a tournament is on? How do you balance home life vs work life? What brought you into refereeing and why have you stayed? Have you ever thought that you are inspiring the next generation of referees? What's your greatest memory/accomplishment so far? Fan Questions: (if I ask it, it's in bold If you three got a chance to officiate a 2026 World Cup game in Toronto between Japan and Arabia how would you be able to communicate with the players who may not speak English nor French? How do you elevate your game to the next level? How do you find it having to have a real job and officiating vs refereeing in Europe where it could be a full time job? Do you think there's a place for a Canadian team/league for women in Canada?
Watching that meant I missed the Montreal players' Meet & Greet. Next up was the Women's National team players or staying here with some seeing the booths (I describe that later) but be back in time for the Men's National Team 'Main Stage' event.
Panel for "National Team Road To Qatar": MC Camila Gonzalez (TLN Network) with Richie Laryea, Kamal Miller,
Mark-Anthony Kaye, Sam Piette, and Doneil Henry
Audio of "Canada Soccer's Men's National Team Road To Qatar"...55 minutes, 59 seconds
Questions: asked by Camila Gonzalez from TLN Network. (FQ means it's a fan question) What was the experience playing against Qatar and Uruguay? Has it sunk in that you're going to the World Cup? How are you planning to prepare for the teams you face in the World Cup? Will it be any different preparing for (non favourite) Morocco? Is there any one you are looking forward to playing and if you could swap jersey with any one player, who would it be? What was your journey like from being a youth player to where you are now? (ie the different routes you chose) Was it difficult to be a student athlete? FQ: When you were in elementary school who was your favourite teacher? (oops wrong school) FQ: How do you feel when you move with the ball and pass? (for Richie) FQ: If there's any tip for soccer, what would it be? What is it like to play with Sam Piette on Montreal? (for Kamal Miller) Did you three TFC players plan on all being together at this time? Where do you see the national team going in the years to come? How much of the team success is due to coach John Herdman? What is advice to your younger self? (to Doneil Henry) What helps you pull out of that injury rut to stay motivated? (to Doneil Henry) FQ: Do you guys have a pre game ritual? Any pre game superstionions? FQ: How are you putting yourselves for the mindset of playing in the World Cup? Are there any differences in North American and European football? (for Richie) FQ: Who are your inspirations? FQ: How do you guys overcome your own failures or shortcomings? FQ: Who was your favourite player when you were growing up? FQ: How does it feel to have kids look up to you now? What do you think you will feel when you hear the national anthem before your first game in Qatar?
Time's up. My question had evolved because the former L1O players dropped what it was like playing at that level when they were asked about their backgrounds. I would have asked Doneil Henry (who didn't play in L1O) what it feels like to be a co-owner of a L1O team with his mentor Jonathan de Guzman? They are two of the famour owners of Simcoe County Rovers.
The three TFC players plus Chris Mavinga and Jonathan Osorio (although I'd heard from two different Allstate people that it was unlikely Osorio would be there after all) were now scheduled to go over to the last Meet & Greet of the day. The last Main Stage panel was the Women's national team players. I was tired, not hungry as I'd brought my own sandwiches, so it was 4:30pm and I decided to leave even though the crowd was thinning.
It there's one thing I would have mentioned to Osorio is it's my sleeve that's beside him in his picture on his Wikipedia page. I had asked for my picture with him when he was at a TFC II game (not playing but just as an autograph booth signing guest). Wed August 19, 2015 vs Harrisburg Islanders if you want to see the other 50% of the picture.
Now let me see some of the exhibits that I'd seen between events on the schedule.
Me at the Canada Soccer Association booth beside Stephanie Labbe's Olympic gold medal
We got to have our picture taken with Stephanie Labbe's gold medal at the CSA display. There was a trivia contest to enter to win a signed jersey from the Men's and Women's team. (they'd each signed one of the jerseys). I didn't wait around for that. They gave me some stickers and a poster of both the men's and women's national team.
There were at least a half dozen youth academy's here today. Biggest clanger was I mixed up Brams United with Bryst United and complemented Brams on providing York United with an emergency contract 15 year old back up goalie for a CPL game. Nope Brams only has girls' teams beyond the age of 12. Looking up to try the player's name (Michael Williams) I realized I'd messed up.
There were some sponsored booths that I could understand for being here, many of them sponsoring the CPL and OneSoccer telecasts. Some exhibitors must just come to every trade show like a honey maker and another who was selling saugages.
Skylar Thomas at one of the booths
There was a guy who I saw who looked like a player at a booth for a children's charity. I had to ask. Wow it was Skylar Thomas! I watched him plenty of games for Toronto FC II. I was thinking deep and asked him if he was the 'table kicker' in the CPL. He thought that was funny and said he was playing for a team in the first year of the league that was having a really poor season. No it wasn't him but when I asked he admitted it was Valour teammate Jordan Murrell. Yeah Murrell played for Toronto FC II as well. Thomas also works at UVU Training which does private and team training and camps and coaching consulting.
Other displays were the City of Vaughan. No it wasn't Vaughan Soccer club but the city was here to promote themselves as the host of both the Jubilee Trophy (for women) and the Challenge Trophy (for men) which is a battle of the best 'adult' teams in Canada. One per province and no Memorial Cup rules letting the host city have a team. Could be hard to interest locals with the best teams in Ontario there are the Ottawa Gloucester Celtic FC (men) and London Alliance FC Galaxy (women). I got a swag bag with a pencil and some stickers inside.
The Voyageurs supporters group had a booth. I bought a souvenir 25th Anniversary scarf from them. I have an original design (actually two but I must have lost one). They know me from being one of the funders of them commissioning the Voyageurs Cup now given to the winner of the Canadian Championships.
Volkswagen was there with a contest of spin the wheel. Like the Price Is Right tv show but with one of 20 spots being a 'win a CPL jersey'. 1/20 in their long line? No thanks. However I asked a guy wearing a CPL scarf where he got it and he said the Volkswagen booth so I went into their exhibit but not their contest line and they gave me one just for filling out my e-mail. Nice scarf. Yes I can see why they'd be giving it away. It has the eight teams in the league which will have to be redesigned next year to include the ninth team from the Vancouver area.
Just like the Allstate Insurance exhibit. Just my name and e-mail for a show souvenir t-shirt. Let the Spam mail begin!
Forge FC had a booth here just like they did in 2018 when held in Downsview. They were the only CPL team with a booth. York United FC is geographically closer. Tom Walker the ticket sales manager was running it and selling season tickets. I took one of each player card. Ten I saw. I was really glad of this as I remember getting four smaller cards of players and autographs at a car show held at the downtown Toronto Convention Centre (York players and cards had been down on whatever day I couldn't get there). Must have been weeks before the pandemic. I then took them to a York game in 2021 and lost them.
There was a Toronto FC booth here too. They were selling 2023 season tickets. I balled them out for preventing fans from attending Toronto FC II fans games at York Lions Stadium. The guy lied and said only TFC season ticket holders could go but I'd been reading message boards all season saying SSH were also banned from attending. Officially it was just family. I'd had to save my wrath as when I was down at the CNE in August, because it rained earlier in the day, no one from MLSE Entertainment was sitting under their canopy shilling tickets to TFC, Leafs, Raptors, Marlies. They should have had an intern out there dry under the canopy like every other year. I knew TFC II were playing in the MLS NEXT Pro semi-final in Columbus later in the afternoon.
At the exit we were given a package of GoGo Squeez juice boxes.
Swag from the show. Only thing I bought was the Voyageurs 25th Anniversary scarf for $20.
The reverse of the scarves.
Cards and posters I picked up at the show.
I was glad I could go to a show like this for the first time in four years. I'd certainly go again. I didn't like the long lineups for the meet and greets. Only way I could have suggested to break that up is they could have had the two lines NOT merge at the end. Most fans of Bryan Insigne and Lorenzo Insigne would have had minimal interest in the CPL players. After they saw that one player they could have just been shown the gate to get off the stage instead of butting in on the CPL line.
I'm not really an autograph guy. I was turned off early when some Leaf player from one of their awful early 1970s teams was at the Hockey Hall of Fame when it was at the CNE spelled my name wrong. Then at a TFC II game years later, Justin Morrow was there although he was playing for their MLS team and signed his autograph with a large 'O' and a small '2'. How would anyone not an absolute super fan know who that was? I asked superfan Biag who brought a big binder of photos for autographs if today's lining up was worth it as opposed to lining up after games near the exits. He was disappointed except he did say this was the only chance he'd get to meet Bryan Robson.
Tuesday and here come the surveys from Allstate. Well I'll go next year if they hold one in the Greater Toronto area.
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