TORONTO

The only thing missing is an MLS Cup, Toronto FC’s top boss told the Toronto Sun on Wednesday.

Asked what else he’d add to the new BMO Field given another $25 million, MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke didn’t know what to say.

“We tried to get the MLS Cup here, but they reminded us we had to earn it,” Leiweke said.

“You can always add another $25 million and upgrade, but when we’re done with Phase 2, people will be pretty impressed with how we stretched our money and didn’t miss a season.”

GALLERY: Scroll down to see more photos of BMO

Beyond the aesthetics of Toronto FC’s new 30,000-seat venue, MLSE’s top brass believe Sunday could usher in another new era in MLS — one that will at some point see MLS clubs finally compete with this continent’s top four leagues.

To do it, though, MLS has to think bigger than Columbus Crew Stadium and Toyota Park.

That’s what this Sunday, when the Reds host Houston in front of an expected sellout crowd, represents.

Toronto FC — backed by massive support — reinvigorated Major League Soccer when it stormed into the league in 2007.

There’s hope 2015 could be a repeat.

“We knew the economics of this stadium would allow us to make our investment in Designated Players work,” Leiweke said.

1,000 seats remain for Toronto FC's home opener. Club is considering standing room only beyond that. #TFC#Houstondynamo — Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) May 6, 2015

Toronto FC now has 18,000 season seat holders + 2,000 "premium seat" holders for a total of 20,000 season seat holders. — Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) May 6, 2015

BMO Field will be 90% complete for Sunday's opener. Some minor things like wall painting and railings might not be finished. — Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) May 6, 2015

“If we aspire to be one of the best leagues in the world, if we aspire to be one of the best clubs in the world, if we aspire to be treated like a major league, then we need to show there’s an economic model that can be phenomenal.”

That model, Leiweke added, could bring in close to $60 million in soccer revenue this season.

“As much as everyone wants to say we’re crazy for spending (more than $20 million per season) on those three Designated Players, no, we’re not. Sunday will be a testament toward that vision.”

There are concerns, of course.

With gridiron lines expected to litter the pitch at some point in the near future, TFC supporters are wary of a potential CFL tenant.

But as MLSE chief project development officer Bob Hunter explained to the Sun, the organization is already doing testing to determine the best method of removing football lines for MLS games.

“We’re testing it at the Kia Training Ground now,” Hunter said. “It would be a steam cleaning system to remove the lines.

“We’ve had a mandate that we can’t screw up the soccer experience. Rest assured that the guy sitting in Row 1 at an MLS game today will feel the exact same in Row 1 if the CFL comes.”

The club’s top brass want to make it clear the venue will remain soccer-first.

“There are rules: TFC is the No. 1 tenant and always will be,” Leiweke said. “BMO Field will always be grass. We’ll never, ever go away from grass.”

Outside Toronto, the lack of attention to TFC’s stadium re-opening league-wide is astounding.

Nobody seems to care. All the focus is on New York City FC and, as always, the Seattle Sounders.

Orlando City is receiving an immense amount of attention despite being an average side.

“What we keep preaching to the league is that this is not about a renovation, it’s about a revolution,” Leiweke said. “We gotta prove to people that we can go get (expensive players) and pay for it. Nobody thinks we can do that. The lack of attention and buzz this is getting is pretty amazing.”

Everyone wants to be a part of it.

Heck, around 350 volunteers from MLSE will arrive on gameday to help clean up the venue in the hours before fans arrive.