TORONTO – City of Champions has a nice ring to it, eh?
As Toronto FC prepare for the 2019 MLS Cup Final on Sunday against the Seattle Sounders (3 pm ET | ABC, Univision, TUDN, TVAS, TSN), where the two will meet for the third time in four seasons, the mind wanders back to June when the Toronto Raptors won their first-ever Larry O’Brien Trophy against the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals.
In the days after, an estimated millions of people flooded the streets to take part in the victory parade.
A handful of TFC players, including Ashtone Morgan, however, were a continent away on international duty with Canada.
“We were in L.A. [ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup], going crazy, celebrating, it was surreal,” recalled Morgan. “I wish I was home to experience everything. Watching the Raptors all my life, I was ecstatic. All my friends went to the parade, celebrating after the game. It was a big moment for the city.”
With the Raptors' win, TFC’s MLS Cup in 2017, and the Toronto Argonauts lifting the CFL’s Grey Cup in 2017, there has been a definite winning vibe around town of late.
It hasn’t always been this way: aside from the back-to-back World Series titles from the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993 and the occasional Grey Cup from the Argos, it had been a barren period for the city.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967.
Raptors fans had to wait 24 years to lift the trophy; TFC fans 11.
Richie Laryea, who began his MLS career with Orlando City SC, returned to his hometown at the start of the season and has felt that enthusiasm all year long.
“Toronto is a big sports city. They really rally behind their teams, voice their opinions when it’s very good and when it’s not so good as well,” he smiled. “It’s a passionate, loyal fanbase. Growing up I didn’t see much of that [success], but now it’s nice. It’s shown how much the city has grown.”
He did not venture out with the throngs for the Raps parade, instead savoring it from the comforts of home.
“I was inside with my little man,” recalled Laryea. “But all the pictures and video looked really cool.”
It was a nice reminder of TFC’s parade in December of 2017 when Nathan Phillips Square outside of Toronto City Hall was packed and Jozy Altidore gave that speech.
“Definitely,” agreed Morgan. “To see the city wake up and support the local sports team is amazing. For us to win the league and the Raptors to win the NBA championship as well, the city has been on a high.”
Not that anybody needed a reminder.
“I didn’t need [one], but it was definitely a reminder,” said Justin Morrow, a noted Cleveland Cavaliers fan. “I was out on the streets of Toronto the night [the Raptors] won. Just to see everyone out and enjoying themselves was incredible.”
“Really happy for this city; happy to be a part of a winning city,” reflected Morrow. “And another sign of how seriously people take their sports here and what it means to them.”
TFC now have the chance to bring home another piece of silverware on Sunday.
Laryea was in town for both previous TFC-Sounders encounters: “Since [Orlando City] hadn’t made the playoffs I was home early. Lucky enough, knowing guys on the team, being able to get tickets, I watched both of them live in the stadium.”
He was not able to be at the previous TFC parade, however.
“Hopefully,” he added. “There is another one of those to come.”
