News & Notes - MLS 2011 [R]

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In a lot of ways, the Rafa Márquez experiment in NY was a more
important experiment than the David Beckham experiment was for MLS.
Márquez was supposed to bring in Mexicans — a huge untapped fan base
just hopping up and down in the tunnel to step out and support an MLS
side, the El Tri fans that bring with them big money and an insatiable
appetite for football, that other Big Green Monster that USMNT fans
love to hate.
Mexican fans, along with soccer-mom families and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
were supposed to be the holy triumvirate to take MLS to the
profitability promise land. But there’s an inherent conflict among the
three. Supporters and Mexican fans like to cuss, families don’t.
Supporters groups and families largely support the USMNT, Mexican fans
don’t. So, how do you expect three completely disparate groups to
harmonize into one big happy family in MLS stadia around the United
States? Moreover, how are you everything to everyone?

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4. FC DALLAS (13-10-7, 46 pts.). If
FCD isn’t quite in freefall, it’s close enough to cause concern. It
lost to state rival Houston, 1-0, when it conceded a header from a
corner kick in the 87th minute. FCD hit the woodwork three times and
lost an apparent goal to a pushing foul. That’s three league losses in a
row, all by shutout, and next up is a midweek trip to Panama for a
crucial CCL game and then on to Colorado, which is just four points
behind in the standings. Last week: 4.

I'm guessing our Ruben Luna can relate to this...

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FCD is 16th out of eighteen teams (Columbus, San Jose). However, FCD's average attendance in 2011 is 2,000+ higher than its average last year.

gwar0127 wrote:

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Over 64k at the Sounders game last Saturday:

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Davies has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the owner of a
nightclub and the company that hosted a party at which alcohol was
served to the driver responsible for a car accident that severely
injured the soccer player and killed another passenger.

Good story on Sporting KC and its ownership group.

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GK- ZAC MACMATH, Philadelphia Union

7 starts, 3-0-4 record, 3 shutouts

D- A.J. SOARES, New England Revolution

28 starts, 1 goals, MLS-rookie best 2860 minutes played

D- JALIL ANIBABA, Chicago Fire

27 starts, 2 goals, 2508 minutes played

D- PERRY KITCHEN, D.C. United

MLS Rookie Best 31 starts, 2781 minutes played, 1 goal

D- ZAREK VALENTIN, Chivas USA

24 starts, 2114 minutes played

D- ETHAN WHITE, D.C. United

21 starts, 24 games, 1928 minutes played, 1 goal

M- DARLINGTON NAGbE, Portland Timbers

21 starts, 28 games played, 2 goals, 3 assists, 1651 minutes played

M- MICHAEL FARFAN, Philadelphia Union

13 starts, 21 games played, 2 goals, 3 assists, 1460 minutes played

M- JEB BROVSKY, Vancouver Whitecaps

16 starts, 24 games played, 1509 minutes, 1 assist

F- C.J. SAPONG, Sporting Kansas City

22 starts, 2096 minutes played, MLS Rookie Bests 34 games played, 5 goals, 5 assists

F- WILL BRUIN, Houston Dynamo

21 starts, 24 games played, 1679 minutes, MLS Rookie Best 5 goals, 1 assist

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Asked why he stuck with the shoes made of kangaroo leather (a variation on the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], which has molded studs), Rost went off on a riff about the footwear choices of some of today’s players.

"Why would you wear those new plastic cleats?” Rost said. “Luke [Rodgers] has those [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and he said the ball slides off his foot. What do you expect?"

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The Timbers sold out all 17 home games during the 2011 season. Capacity at the stadium was 18,627 for 15
of the 17 games, but the Timbers expanded seating for two home games
that increased capacity to 20,323 for the games against New England
Sept. 16 and Houston Oct. 14. The team rolled back the tarp in some
sections of the north end of the stadium to increase capacity for those
games.

gwar0127 wrote:

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The Timbers sold out all 17 home games during the 2011 season. Capacity at the stadium was 18,627 for 15
of the 17 games, but the Timbers expanded seating for two home games
that increased capacity to 20,323 for the games against New England
Sept. 16 and Houston Oct. 14. The team rolled back the tarp in some
sections of the north end of the stadium to increase capacity for those
games.

Always wonderred why FCD didn't tarp sections of PHP. Would make sense to try to keep your supporters bunched together.... oh that's why, because it would make sense LOL!

Hammer wrote:

gwar0127 wrote:

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Quote :

The Timbers sold out all 17 home games during the 2011 season. Capacity at the stadium was 18,627 for 15
of the 17 games, but the Timbers expanded seating for two home games
that increased capacity to 20,323 for the games against New England
Sept. 16 and Houston Oct. 14. The team rolled back the tarp in some
sections of the north end of the stadium to increase capacity for those
games.

Always wonderred why FCD didn't tarp sections of PHP. Would make sense to try to keep your supporters bunched together....

It would cost the FO money to buy tarps.

gwar0127 wrote:

Hammer wrote:

gwar0127 wrote:

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Quote :

The Timbers sold out all 17 home games during the 2011 season. Capacity at the stadium was 18,627 for 15
of the 17 games, but the Timbers expanded seating for two home games
that increased capacity to 20,323 for the games against New England
Sept. 16 and Houston Oct. 14. The team rolled back the tarp in some
sections of the north end of the stadium to increase capacity for those
games.

Always wonderred why FCD didn't tarp sections of PHP. Would make sense to try to keep your supporters bunched together....

It would cost the FO money to buy tarps.

They already have ones to cover the endline that got used during the College Cup games a few years back and it's my understanding they use them for several of the high school football games as well.

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What’s the state of the club’s finances?

“It’s a struggle for us here at RFK. We have the highest expenses and lowest revenue.”

How long can you keep going at that rate?

“We can’t.”

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With potential U.S. Men's National Team call-ups on the horizon, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
will spend ten days training with West Bromwich Albion of the English
Premier League. The 20-year old goalkeeper is en route to England this
evening and will join Albion's squad as early as Friday. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] will return stateside on November 7.

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Former New England Revolution star Taylor Twellman said Friday that the
Major League Soccer team ignored his symptoms of multiple concussions,
even sending him back on the field after he said, "I have a concussion,"
following the hit that eventually forced him to retire.

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MLS has a long way to go to catch baseball and football. Most MLS stadia
have a capacity far below their average park gate counts. But look at
the growth rate in soccer than the NFL and baseball don’t have: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] in 2011, up 37 percent from 2010.