The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[FlyDoctor]

He's a wonderful player that saved our buts on a number of key occasions.

Looking forward to USA V BRA!!

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Can't wait for the match tonight! And I love when US or MLS matches are on ESPN. National coverage, muh-fugga!!

 

[HoppyDaze]

Valencia's impressions of MLS Soccer Juan Carcedo

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Thanks for telling us what we're already well aware of, Carcedo!

Last I checked MLS now has higher attendance averages than most leagues around the world, and I'm pretty sure that includes Serie A.

 

[FlyDoctor]

Obviously not the best showing, but I didn't think the guys looked as bad as the 4-1 scoreline would lead one to believe. There were clear holes in the defense - a long-standing defect on the USMNT - but there were good scoring opportunities as well. A good reality check that we've done well lately, but we're still not in that class yet.

 

[edroberts]

Thanks for telling us what we're already well aware of, Carcedo!

Last I checked MLS now has higher attendance averages than most leagues around the world, and I'm pretty sure that includes Serie A.

Here in Kansas City, the owners of Sporting Kansas City have done everything right. Incredible new 19,000 seat stadium (recently named best in the world), awesome fan experience, locally televised games. It course it helps they've done so well the last 12 months, but having owners that are willing to put their money where their mouth is has made a BIG impact for MLS here. Games are sold out the rest of the year already.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Too bad our lazy youth will never put in enough time to become a world class players. This is regardless of popularity...

 

[Catfish78]

Thanks for telling us what we're already well aware of, Carcedo!

Last I checked MLS now has higher attendance averages than most leagues around the world, and I'm pretty sure that includes Serie A.

The average attendance for Seria A is a bit over 23,000, MLS is just over 17,000.

Hate to just jump in without reading all 57 pages, but I saw this and had to make a comment.

 

[aygov]

The average attendance for Seria A is a bit over 23,000, MLS is just over 17,000.

Hate to just jump in without reading all 57 pages, but I saw this and had to make a comment.

Truth...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attendance_figures_at_domestic_professional_sports_leagues

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The average attendance for Seria A is a bit over 23,000, MLS is just over 17,000.

Hate to just jump in without reading all 57 pages, but I saw this and had to make a comment.

My apologies! I suppose they are one of the few that still beat mls

 

[aygov]

My apologies! I suppose they are one of the few that still beat mls

MLS avg attendance is up so far this year to 18,590 unoffically. We may not be above Serie A but we're improving!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/attendance/_/league/usa.1/major-league-soccer?cc=5901

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The improvement in the last few years can definitely be attributed to smart business moves from both the league and individual franchises. Seattle and Portland have yet to not sell-out a match (thanks to a good soccer culture and downtown locales) with Seattle constantly upping the attendance cap (OPEN THE TOP UP! I think they could consistantly fill the 64k+ seats.) Not only that but Montreal have been packing Stade Olympique which means that when they finally open Stade Saputo they will get constant sell-outs of 22k IIRC.

Not only that, but like edroberts said, SKC have done a tremendous job. The renaming confused some people but I find it very appropriate and a nice move away from the Wizard of Oz theme. The stadium is a shining beacon of what American soccer can be. And I don't know how the marketing team was able to go from 9-10k per match to non-stop 19k sell-outs, but hats off to them. (Sold out the rest of the season? Wow..... is the stadium fit for expansion?)

 

[lgilmore]

Seattle has a strong marketing plan in place. It is the reason there's 32,000 season ticket holders and sellouts for everygame. They learned from their USL years that too many available seats means lower attendence, not higher.

Demand is high because the possibility of not getting a seat exists. You can't decide on game day to walk up and purchase, soooo people complain, but they buy tickets ahead of time. This is great marketing, if 90% of your available seats are already filled before the first game kicks off, that's good business.

They've opened it all up for internationals and this year for rivalry games, but don't look at them opening the entire 68,000 seats until they get a 61,000 season ticket commitment. If they win some more, it could be possible. The old Sounders used to sell out the kingdome for games and were quite strong.

The USL sounders were a top notch team too. I worked with them for many years, both with youth soccer and business. But they had too many open seats so people could wait until the last hour or so to decide to come to watch. I think the front office took that to heart.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Seattle has a strong marketing plan in place. It is the reason there's 32,000 season ticket holders and sellouts for everygame. They learned from their USL years that too many available seats means lower attendence, not higher.

Demand is high because the possibility of not getting a seat exists. You can't decide on game day to walk up and purchase, soooo people complain, but they buy tickets ahead of time. This is great marketing, if 90% of your available seats are already filled before the first game kicks off, that's good business.

They've opened it all up for internationals and this year for rivalry games, but don't look at them opening the entire 68,000 seats until they get a 61,000 season ticket commitment. If they win some more, it could be possible. The old Sounders used to sell out the kingdome for games and were quite strong.

The USL sounders were a top notch team too. I worked with them for many years, both with youth soccer and business. But they had too many open seats so people could wait until the last hour or so to decide to come to watch. I think the front office took that to heart.

 

[lgilmore]

Thanks I guess.

 

[Joker]

Here in Kansas City, the owners of Sporting Kansas City have done everything right. Incredible new 19,000 seat stadium (recently named best in the world), awesome fan experience, locally televised games. It course it helps they've done so well the last 12 months, but having owners that are willing to put their money where their mouth is has made a BIG impact for MLS here. Games are sold out the rest of the year already.

Going to be in your area (well Missouri) in July trying to figure out how to catch the game against Houston.

 

[edroberts]

Going to be in your area (well Missouri) in July trying to figure out how to catch the game against Houston.

There is a local ticket broker I've used that always seems to have good-priced tickets for things... Tickets For Less in Overland Park, KS. Might be your best chance. They have a website but I can't remember what it is attm. Ticketsforless.Com or something like that.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Stub hub as well. First LA match I ever went to was sold out but some people were selling them on there.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Oh... oh damn... DAAYYUUUM!!



There should be a Global Goal of the Week!

 

[FlyDoctor]

Sweet!!

 

[mrgstiffler]

Very impressive!

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Okay, so it was an interesting warm-up stretch leading up to WCQ but it's finally here!

June 8th at 11am PDT, Cuba vs Canada at Estadio Pedro Marrero

vs

June 8th at 4pm PDT, USA vs Antigua and Barbuda at Raymond James Stadium

vs

My predictions:

Cuba - 2
Canada - 2

USA - 3
A&B - 1

 

[Reno_eNVy]

First Euro 2012 match was a good one.

Poland 1-1 Greece

Both goals were a result of keeper errors that each team was able to capitalize on. However, Poland's goal was f**king textbook! Snap that header on the ground; skipped headers have a significantly higher rate of success. If he put-it-on-a-rope at head-level the keeper would have stopped it.



EDIT: And I finally found a highlight reel of the Russia/Czech match.

Russia 4-1 Czech Republic

Not bad. The Ruskies 3rd and 4th goals were a bit soft. Granted they were cracker shots but directly at the keeper who apparently has holes in his hands

 

[dwarven_stout]

My predictions:
USA - 3
A&B - 1[/B]

Check out the big brain on Reno!

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Check out the big brain on Reno!

 

[furloaded]

Holy Cheesewheel !! Holland looses. Robben is a world class player, until he has to finish like WC 2010 final, CL final. Bad way to start in the Group of Death.
Germany bored the Portugese to death and then struck but defended the onslaught well. But 3 points is 3 points.

 

[OhCrap]

For all the Irish on here....... COME ON YOU BOYS IN GREEN......
A bbq then A couple of pints watching your country play...is there anything better
COME ON IRELAND

 

[FlyDoctor]

Great soccer Saturday - watched both DEN-NED and POR-GER matches, great level of play. Was brewing yesterday on the patio with the audio of the SPA-ITA match. Sounded great - need to find a highlight vid.

It must be tough for Guiseppi Rossi to sit in the studio instead of playing. They asked him in the studio about his decision to go Italian instead of US - I think the answers were good - but one always wonders about how the US game will improve if the good players go to the more established leagues - and national teams.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

but one always wonders about how the US game will improve if the good players go to the more established leagues - and national teams.

This! Seriously, it drives me crazy when there is a new young star in MLS and everybody says "he'll do great in Europe."

F**k that noise.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

This! Seriously, it drives me crazy when there is a new young star in MLS and everybody says "he'll do great in Europe."

F**k that noise.

"fraid that's just something some leagues have to live with. Players only have short careers and need to follow the money and the experience of higher levels. It will get better over time. Ya just can't rush these things.