Toronto FC “has made mistakes” as a Major League Soccer franchise this past year, commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday.

However, he allowed “this is not an easy business” and that steps are being taken to address the on-field and off-field misplays.

In Toronto to promote the league's championship game at BMO Field on Nov. 21, the MLS boss addressed the lacklustre performance of Toronto FC and the unrest among fans of the franchise.

Garber said that one of the mistakes was raising ticket prices, which have almost doubled since the club's first season.

“They made a mistake,” and the team is “working to address it,” he said.

But the franchise, Garber said, remains a model for the rest of the league. You won't find many other sports franchises that talk directly to the fan base, he said.

“This is a good soccer organization. They just need a better team,” said Garber.

MLS and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., the owners of the franchise, will work out issues of ticket pricing and player development, he added.

The problem is that the league doesn't have the talent pool it needs, both at the coaching and player level.

At the managerial level, “we don't have a long list of Brian Burkes (the Leafs' general manager)” to choose from, Garber said.

Last week, MLSE chief operating officer Tom Anselmi told about 50 supporters that the team's performance has been “unacceptable.”

Fans have become disenchanted with the club, Garber admitted, but he suggested this is natural when the fans base is so passionate.

“I wasn't surprised to hear (about the unrest among fans),” he said. “This is consistent with the passion that supporters have shown for the club.”

He said it's good that soccer fans in North America are “more sophisticated” and he welcomes the fact that “they are putting pressure on us.”

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Garber said the league still believes Toronto FC is a model franchise and noted that the rich fan support was a key reason the league awarded Toronto the championship game.

“This (awarding the MLS Cup to Toronto) wasn't for the money,” he said. “The idea was that we wanted to thank the fans for their support.”