Cathal Kelly Strikes A Nerve With Column Bashing Edmonton

Cathal Kelly sure knows how to get a city all riled up.

The Globe and Mail sports columnist published a column Thursday, asking why in the world FIFA would choose Edmonton over Toronto as a host city for the Women's World Cup.

In his rant, he called Commonwealth Stadium "actively ugly," and slammed the city for the relative lack of ticket sales, so far.

"As an ad for the country, then, the marketing tag line of the opening match of the 2015 World Cup goes something like, “Canada: Well, you know," he wrote.

Kelly is in Edmonton covering the opening game Saturday afternoon, which will see Canada square-off against China.

"The global audience is used to seeing this level of event played on landscape architecture so pristine it makes Versailles look like urban farmland. Canada’s version is going to look like the house that gets cleaned by piling all the junk behind the couch," he continued.

It's clear, however, where Kelly's true loyalty lies:

"The world is going to tune in on Saturday expecting Toronto because that’s the city that matters. It may hurt to hear it, but it doesn’t make it less true."

As his column was about to go to print, Kelly began to troll social media:

I wrote about Edmonton for tmrw. Two separate editors have now written to warn I will have to flee the city after it's published. Wheeee!

— cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) June 4, 2015

And some people got a bit upset:

It takes a lot to get under my skin, and even more to actually piss me off. This article actually pissed me off. #yeg http://t.co/tzMwBfOvQv

— Tom Sedens (@Wildsau) June 5, 2015

Suddenly feeling like #yeg's protective brother #yyc. Toronto, this is why we all dislike you. http://t.co/iJXNmGJGOI

— Alicia Hope-Ross (@poor_choices) June 5, 2015

Lacking reason, generosity, humour, or even good sense this #Toronto writer takes a crap on #yeg https://t.co/UvV8y7xlfy

— Wil Fraser (@FraserTSN1260) June 5, 2015

Many took it with a grain of salt, however, pushing it aside as another inflated Toronto ego:

This may be the most Toronto-center-of-the-universiest column that has ever been written. http://t.co/Vv3ei4IVQ5 Well done, @cathalkelly.

— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) June 5, 2015

Somebody should get @cathalkelly medical attention. Sounds like he has an advanced case of CentreoftheUniversitis #yeg #WWC2015

— Chris Cuthbert (@CCtsn) June 5, 2015

@cathalkelly Toronto in the centre of the universe isn't it? What was FIFA thinking having the game in Edmonton #YEG is still city of Champs

— Darryl Ross (@DJRoss_72) June 5, 2015

For Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, it was water off a duck's back:

It's either self-deprecating satire or a case of newfound T.O. insecurity. It's hard to tell. Either way, who cares? https://t.co/ubemMYCscg

— Don Iveson (@doniveson) June 5, 2015

And others agreed:

My advice, #yeg? You've been trolled. Poorly. Ignore it. Check out what mayors of cities that don't matter are up to https://t.co/vDiYO7F6lX

— Chris Turner (@theturner) June 5, 2015

National media is trolling us #yeg. Don't bite.

— Bill Mah (@MahSpace) June 5, 2015

I know they grow grapes near Toronto. Very sour grapes. @cathalkelly #yeg

— Paula Simons (@Paulatics) June 5, 2015

Marcel and Brad win for best argument, though:

Typical high school stadium in #YEG. pic.twitter.com/mqRBZUHy3K

— Brad Ferguson (@EEDC_BRAD) June 5, 2015

According to @cathalkelly 30,000 BMO Field is more suitable to welcome the world than 54,000 CWS. #yeg #FIFAWWC #nope pic.twitter.com/m6G959tPN9

— Marcel Schoenhardt (@mschoenhardt) June 5, 2015

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