Jamie Nye: Soccer is moving on up

There is another major threat to the Canadian Football League that quietly is rising in its three biggest markets.
 
Soccer.
 
Have you noticed? You should. The Lions were in competition before with the Canucks. The Habs were the only thing up against the Alouettes and in Toronto, the Argos played fourth fiddle to the Leafs, Jays and Raptors.
 
But this 2016 season things have been quite good for the MLS teams in those three markets. Attendance numbers are fantastic for the Whitecaps, TFC and Montreal Impact.
 
All of their attendance are up. Vancouver is up nine per cent, that’s the lowest rise out of the three teams. Toronto is up 13 per cent, Montreal up 16 per cent.
 
All three soccer teams now have better attendance than their CFL counterparts according to reported attendance records. Now the TV ratings aren’t there yet as a universal coast to coast sport that engages the fan bases to tune in.
 
However, soccer is getting butts in the seats in three markets who traditionally have the hardest time doing so in the CFL.
 
We can ponder ratings dips and attendance problems all we want, but soccer is out drawing Canadian football in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and last time I checked, there is a lot of sponsorship money in those office towers and if the bums are in the seats at soccer games, that’s where the money will go.
 
And thus a major issue for the CFL.