Comments on: On the Pitch with an American Novice: Focus on MLS http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/07/28/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice/ 'Cause there's always room for one more on the bench. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:17:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/07/28/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Casey Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:10:25 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-47 wait - I thought Joanie dumped Cha-chi. wait – I thought Joanie dumped Cha-chi.

]]> By: Reynell http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/07/28/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Reynell Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:05:48 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-46 but Joanie loves Chachi but Joanie loves Chachi

]]> By: yeri http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/07/28/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-42 yeri Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:59:33 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-42 i love joanie i love joanie

]]> By: Reynell http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/07/28/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Reynell Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:51:36 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-45 That's something I forgot to include. I love the all-star game format and the fans enjoy it. I think everyone is smart enough to know that the MLS all-stars' record is not valid. I know lasrt year Celtic showed up without any of its top notch players. Hopefully they can keep making arrangements with UEFA and Champions League participants. I don't remember the PK from that game; I watched most of it and saw that there is some top talent in MLS. The small market approach is the way to go to me. They have their big markets set with LA, NY, Chicago, NE, and DC United. They've had two franchises in Florida fold. I think Atlanta will be a terrible choice and perhaps anything south of DC. Keep inflitrating Canada, too. Toronto seems to be flourishing. Speaking of small(er) markets, the reason I love the Philly situation in 2010 is that they take the Philly name and play in a nearby affluent neighborhood that is probably thriving with youth soccer programs. There is no room for another professional team in Philadelphia (two hockey teams, arena football, lacrosse still? and of course your big four Flyers, Sixers, Eagles, Phillies). A stadium in that city is not going to draw a crowd because soccer is not popular there and the suburbians aren't looking to travel to South Philadelphia to sit in traffic on I-676, pay $50 for parking, and temporarily fear for their lives. I mean, to me this is similar to the Rhinos when they were thinking about building in Greece. I've watched games at the new stadium on FSC and the sectional finals get more attendance than the Rhinos. Wouldn't a move to Greece bring in the masses from the heartland of youth soccer? I think the biggest issue with a stadium there was parking, was it not? Then moving into a topic that both you and I love - relegation. The danger of the small market in MLS is growth: these owners are not going to invest in an MLS team who is in danger of being relegated to the USL and lose out on a lot of $$$. So it's interesting to see these new markets like Philly (Chester, PA) and Seattle sell a ton of season tickets already. Plus the USL has some dedicated fan bases that could lend itself to a possiblilty of more small market teams (one of the articles mentioned Charleston, SC as having a hardcore fan base that could compete with major markets). That’s something I forgot to include. I love the all-star game format and the fans enjoy it. I think everyone is smart enough to know that the MLS all-stars’ record is not valid. I know lasrt year Celtic showed up without any of its top notch players. Hopefully they can keep making arrangements with UEFA and Champions League participants. I don’t remember the PK from that game; I watched most of it and saw that there is some top talent in MLS.

The small market approach is the way to go to me. They have their big markets set with LA, NY, Chicago, NE, and DC United. They’ve had two franchises in Florida fold. I think Atlanta will be a terrible choice and perhaps anything south of DC. Keep inflitrating Canada, too. Toronto seems to be flourishing.

Speaking of small(er) markets, the reason I love the Philly situation in 2010 is that they take the Philly name and play in a nearby affluent neighborhood that is probably thriving with youth soccer programs. There is no room for another professional team in Philadelphia (two hockey teams, arena football, lacrosse still? and of course your big four Flyers, Sixers, Eagles, Phillies). A stadium in that city is not going to draw a crowd because soccer is not popular there and the suburbians aren’t looking to travel to South Philadelphia to sit in traffic on I-676, pay $50 for parking, and temporarily fear for their lives. I mean, to me this is similar to the Rhinos when they were thinking about building in Greece. I’ve watched games at the new stadium on FSC and the sectional finals get more attendance than the Rhinos. Wouldn’t a move to Greece bring in the masses from the heartland of youth soccer? I think the biggest issue with a stadium there was parking, was it not?

Then moving into a topic that both you and I love – relegation. The danger of the small market in MLS is growth: these owners are not going to invest in an MLS team who is in danger of being relegated to the USL and lose out on a lot of $$$. So it’s interesting to see these new markets like Philly (Chester, PA) and Seattle sell a ton of season tickets already. Plus the USL has some dedicated fan bases that could lend itself to a possiblilty of more small market teams (one of the articles mentioned Charleston, SC as having a hardcore fan base that could compete with major markets).

]]> By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/07/28/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Casey Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:08:26 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-44 Reynell Top notch search efforts finding these articles. Sounds like the financial plan for many of these clubs is to build small and hope to grow. The idea of using smaller soccer-specific stadiums will help build a base and create a much better atmosphere at these games. While it is hard to accept the MLS all-stars beating Chelsea, Celtic, and West Ham as valid, it still makes for a nice headline. Speaking of that did you see the PK goal in the West Ham game? Reynell

Top notch search efforts finding these articles. Sounds like the financial plan for many of these clubs is to build small and hope to grow. The idea of using smaller soccer-specific stadiums will help build a base and create a much better atmosphere at these games.

While it is hard to accept the MLS all-stars beating Chelsea, Celtic, and West Ham as valid, it still makes for a nice headline. Speaking of that did you see the PK goal in the West Ham game?

]]> By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/07/28/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Casey Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:01:46 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=647#comment-43 Interesting how US soccer wants to control MLS - they don't stand much of a chance being successful with that tact. Interesting how US soccer wants to control MLS – they don’t stand much of a chance being successful with that tact.

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