It's more a point generally about the owners. We all get frustrated by the club not spending money, but the fact is these guys have invested LOTS of money over the years, and in Stan's case I know for a fact that the Rapids lose about $2m per year. You can argue that franchise values have increased, perhaps even significantly, but certainly couldn't have faulted the owners for getting SOME return on their investment. From a business perspective, they are all being pretty patient. They are willing to subsidize each OTHER, much like the NFL does with the rev share from TV money. Rising tide floats all boats and that stuff....
Ah this is something potentially exciting! Also glad to see Claderon as a LCB it makes much more sense.
Overall point is, Stan's not averse to a DP, especially if we can line up a shirt sponsor that takes us from $2m in the red to break even or better, and he might not be opposed at all if the business side continues the generally upward trend it has been going over the last year. Full confession, I'm an investment banker so I guess I have a bias towards wealthy guys who sink money into projects year after year as, at least in part, a labor of love or at least a labor of like, and always find it funny how quick we all are to criticize and spend someone ELSE's money......but that's what's great about being a fan. Stan routinely went well into luxury tax land with the Nuggets when they had Iverson and Melo, so the guy will spend if he thinks he's getting something in return.... Now, those jokers downtown that run out a second-rate product for 82 games a year, and know they don't have to spend because John and Jane Suburb will continue to show up because baseball is held in the same regard as mom and apple pie, all the while pocketing somewhere between $40-50m per season, now THOSE guys are crooks and should have to pay the city/state back for the stadium we all built for them....
I work have worked in finance/ accounting for a long time and that is a tremendous increase ($700K) for a small company year over year.
For an operating company definitely, for a speculative sports enterprise, not that big of a swing. Especially given the complexities of single entity accounting. It could have just been a change in the way MLS allocates overhead (Garber's salary and all)...
I posted in the "Kroenke Fans," thread that it's a lot more interesting trying to find an owner who is well liked than one who isn't, (Same could be said for league leadership and FA's) and I think it's still true. It's easier on the owner if they have a winning team, but even among winners fans will gripe about the owner. What beyond a Sugar Daddy do people want?
actually the defender the rapids are looking at is patrick mcarthy http://www.futhead.com/fifa/players/1805/ decent pace decent in the air decent size on another side note i was hoping we would try to dp rodolph austin i heard he was on the market but he would probally cost a little to much young jamican box to box mid tho http://www.futhead.com/fifa/players/7164/
Can't remember where I saw it last week, but I read that China's league is all over Central and South America trying to grab players from financially strapped clubs, maybe MLS is trying to expediate/ motivate MLS teams to try and get some of these players. China can offer more money but USA has an appeal and possible local national communities that would be idea for them.
I understand that some would, but there's not enough money in the world to make me go there, for anything.
Agree but I think a steady pay check is the attraction for a lot of players. A lot of teams (especially lower league teams in Europe) have difficulty paying the players on time. The stability alone should make it attractive for lower-quality players while guys like Drogba are looking for a big paycheck at the end of their careers.
No. the only thing it gets "offset" by, to any extent, is league-wide sponsorship and TV money. MLS owns SUM as an asset, which has real value in any sort of liquidity event, but my information is that SUM money stays in SUM or if any goes to the league it doesn't make it down to the individual team owners. they rejected a dividend when SUM sold the minority stake.
I figured the fact that McCarthy was Crystal Palace's captain would make it obvious he wasn't the one considering leaving Palace for MLS, but I forgot who reads these boards...
Training camp porn: Calderon curls one in http://www.coloradorapids.com/video/2013/01/23/quick-clip-calderon-curls-one-training Also Pickens training shots & interview: http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2013/01/pickens-feeling-refreshed-after-offseason-break