Jamie Nye: MLS momentum challenging CFL

The Major League Soccer season is here and it’s going to be a story to follow to see if the rise of the MLS continues in Canada or if this sport will start to plateau.

Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are bringing in the same, and sometimes more, people to their stadiums than the CFL counterparts in those cities.

Television ratings aren’t comparable. CFL still rules but the MLS numbers are rising.

Of course, that is buoyed by Toronto making the final and battled Montreal in the semi-final.

Will the fans still be there if these teams start to struggle again? We’re not too sure.

The one thing we are certain about is a lot more people watch the CFL in these markets, yet aren’t showing up for the games.

Soccer has become the ‘cool’ kid in the sporting landscape in the CFL’s three biggest markets.

The CFL is trying hard to repair the image of the league in Toronto. They need the Lions to be sold in Vancouver and Montreal just has to win again.

But the momentum of MLS is going to be hard to fend off.