Montreal Gazette

Impact puzzled by order to keep facility closed

Centre Nutrilait would be ideal as players begin voluntary individual workouts

- HERB ZURKOWSKY hzurkowsky@postmedia.com Twitter.com/herbzurkow­sky1

The Impact should have been preparing for a game at Saputo Stadium this Saturday against the Chicago Fire — the team’s 10th match of the Major League Soccer season.

But that was before the novel coronaviru­s.

Instead, team president Kevin Gilmore is trying to comprehend last Thursday’s decision by Montreal’s public health authority, denying it permission to reopen Centre Nutrilait for individual player workouts on one of two private soccer fields owned by the team.

“I’m a little baffled by (the decision), quite frankly,” Gilmore told the Montreal Gazette. “You see people flocking to parks. We’d rather have our players training on a private field, with no public access, in segregated quadrants with a strict protocol that guarantees they won’t be exposed.

“The idea behind this is to provide a safe, secure environmen­t that avoids contaminat­ion.”

While MLS instituted a full-team training moratorium and suspended league play March 12 because of COVID -19, the league approved the start of voluntary individual workouts last week, provided they’re run in compliance with detailed health and safety protocols.

15 of 26 MLS teams have, or will, begin these training sessions — including Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps — although the full-team embargo remains in effect through Friday, while games have been suspended at least until June 8.

MLS is also proposing all 26 teams play in Orlando, Fla., to resume the season this summer.

Gilmore said there haven’t been any further developmen­ts with the city, despite assuring officials that the Impact are prepared to produce public-service announceme­nts, explaining the highly controlled environmen­t their players would be provided while continuing to respect all guidelines.

This delay, in effect, could put the Impact at a competitiv­e disadvanta­ge, Gilmore acknowledg­ed.

“Not being able to do this leaves our players exposed, in my opinion,” he said.

“They’re definitely going to go outside, run and train. They risk contaminat­ion. Doesn’t that jeopardize a return to play?”

The Impact had played two games, a win and tie, when the season was suspended. It also was in the middle of its CONCACAF quarter-final series against CD Olimpia, having lost the opening leg of the two-game Champions League aggregate, 2-1, at Olympic Stadium.

Gilmore understand­ably remains confident games will resume at some point, but isn’t willing to speculate on what form that might take.

“I’m confident we will see soccer this year,” he said.

MLS, much like the Canadian Football League, relies on its gate, sponsorshi­p and merchandis­e sales for a good portion of its revenue. While the Impact has had attendance challenges, thanks to missing the playoffs the last three seasons, it nonetheles­s has a relatively healthy season-ticket base of 9,500, according to Gilmore. And the team certainly created a groundswel­l of support following its November hiring of former French superstar and longtime Arsenal striker Thierry Henry as manager.

“I’d like to think, when we come out of this, the enthusiasm we saw before will be there. And may be even greater,” Gilmore said.

While the president acknowledg­ed he’ll be closely following the CFL’S request for up to $150 million in financial aid from the federal government, a similar move isn’t on the Impact’s horizon. Team president Joey Saputo hasn’t hidden the fact the Impact loses money annually. Gilmore said that trend won’t be reversed in 2020.

Gilmore said he can’t imagine a scenario that sees the remainder of the season cancelled, since MLS play had just begun. Playing well into December, he added, remains a possibilit­y.

“We’re open to any scenario,” he said. “We’ll embrace any format that brings us back on the field.”

Gilmore usually participat­es in one league-mandated conference call each week while continuing to work from home. Most of his time is spent in discussion­s with his staff. The business model has shifted to find creative means to engage its fans.

“From the minute this happened, we’ve been putting together a strategic plan for the relaunch,” he said. “We have to make sure we’re ready.”

Gilmore credited Saputo’s commitment to the team’s employees. There have been no layoffs or payroll reductions, he noted.

We’d rather have our players training on a private field, with no public access, in segregated quadrants with a strict protocol that guarantees they won’t be exposed.

 ?? DAVE SIDAWAY FILES ?? The Montreal Impact have long used Centre Nutrilait, pictured in 2017, as its practice facility. The city is not allowing the team to open the facility for player workouts.
DAVE SIDAWAY FILES The Montreal Impact have long used Centre Nutrilait, pictured in 2017, as its practice facility. The city is not allowing the team to open the facility for player workouts.

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