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A day after wrapping up fourth-place and home field advantage to start the MLS playoffs, Toronto FC players were given the equivalent of exploding cigars from the league.

On Monday morning, Major League Soccer announced that TFC and D.C. United would open the playoffs on Saturday, Oct. 19 at BMO Field — at 12 noon.

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Not exactly prime time. And not a optimal time for the players or Toronto fans. Essentially the time slot was a kick in the chops.

MLS’ playoff schedule was released just hours after a number of TFC players said, following their 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on Sunday, how great it is to play post-season games at BMO Field under the lights. TFC president Bill Manning certainly wasn’t thrilled when he said the playoff schedule and the 12 p.m. time slot.

“I was like, ‘Oh, boy. That’s a tough one,’” Manning said.

The Prez decided that he was going to do whatever he could to change it up.

“I shot a text to Gary Stevenson (president and managing director of MLS business ventures) and I said, ‘Hey, tough time slot.’ And he called me right away and said, ‘If I could get TSN on board and we can find another window, what could work for you?’ And I said, ‘Look, I’d like to play in the evening. I think it’s better for our fans, I think it’s better for our players.’ And he called me back later in the day and he said, ‘We got you 6 o’clock. How does that work?’ And I said, ‘Great.’