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Amidst a disastrous 2014 MLS season, the Montreal Impact was still able to win one important trophy crowning the club as Canadian champions and bragging rights: the Voyageurs Cup. As 2014 Amway Canadian Champions, the Bleu-Blanc-Noir booked an economy class ticket and little did they know that a first class upgrade was coming their way.
Professional conditions
If Joey Saputo has always made it clear that he would not splurge ridiculous transfer fees and salaries on players, the owner/president has always made sure to put his team under the best conditions. As the club had 2 MLS games postponed for September (lost revenue for the first home game at Stade Saputo in April), the club is fully committed to the CONCACAF Champions League.
As per monetary investment, Montreal did not leave anything to chance (estimated cost of 300,000$ via America Monumental) with a charter flight, a personal chef, a week-long stay in Mexico, security detail. Frank Klopas and his staff made sure to make the players comfortable, happy and focused on the task on hand.
Win and they will come
58,000+ fans are expected for the second leg at the Olympic Stadium as the club is getting closer to break its own record. While everyone is hoping that the Impact will still have a fighting chance when the club plays the home leg , the buzz generated by this magical CONCACAF run has been tremendous and tickets were basically selling themselves.
The Impact sold 45,000 tickets within 2 days of qualifying to the final, shortly after the second leg against Alajuelense.
THE OLYMPIC STADIUM IS GOING TO BE ROCKING! Stadium’s capacity is close to being reached #IMFC #marquonslhistoire >> http://t.co/eCZPa23ywx
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) April 17, 2015
Media Buzz
20 members of the medias will join the club in its Mexican adventure for the first leg showing an openness to include everyone relevant in the process while embracing the media as an ally and medium to its fans. Flying with the club and covering practices in Mexico should create an interesting dynamic and give a distinct point of view in the coverage thanks to the close proximity.
20 journalistes de Montréal au Mexique pour la finale! 20 media members from Montreal will be in Mexico for the 1st leg v América! #IMFC
— Patrick Vallée (@PatValleeMTL) April 19, 2015
Home is where the montreal media is
Conférence de presse à l'hôtel avec les médias montréalais et mexicains. #IMFC #marquonslhistoire pic.twitter.com/nRVjBDWQOW
— Patrick Vallée (@PatValleeMTL) April 19, 2015
As the club's biggest game of its history (repetitive but still stands true) is upon us, the right conditions are in place to be ready physically and mentally for another fairy tale that is so close to morph itself into reality.