Happy day - I picked up my season tickets and tickets for UNC on Sunday. Had snow showers yesterday and the day before with a few flakes in the air today. Rumor has it that not many tickets for Sunday have been sold. We're still coming out of hibernation here.
There was no marketing for the game, as is usual. (Most season ticket holders do sit on the other side, though.) But, in reality, that was probably a good thing. The city hadn't turned the water on for the facility yet for the season, which meant port-o-potties and no concessions. (Don't fear though, the locker rooms are in the administrative building which obviously has water all winter.) So, charging for the game was a stretch. Heard five from the starting eleven started. Sounded entertaining, I had a conflict myself, but it's easy to see why people weren't lining up to pay $10 for it. Still holding my breath for just one billboard with Abby on one side and the Flash logo on the other before the regular season. (Or any marketing.) I probably shouldn't, though. Thank goodness the media will pick up some of the slack when Abby rejoins and the season approaches.
I posted a game report in the 'Pre/In Season Friendlies Season 1' thread. I estimated there were 400-500 fans there. They had everyone sit on the side across the field from the benches, general admission fashion. You are right, no marketing was done. They did have programs, concessions (beer, too) , but no water for the restrooms. And you are right about Frontier Field - there were 3,200 fans at the Red Wings game down street at the same time who had water service. I think Flash have planned to wait to market the team until the roster was settled (today). They have 3 weeks until the first home game 4/27 vs. Breakers.
So, it's not Buff Ortho as jersey sponsor, but Sahlen's. Not sure I love the sponsor shifted toward the side, but good to see this resolved. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...43698634.26320.130013330403112&type=1&theater
I like that red color. It reminds me of these: But I still think the Flash could have gone with all-yellow.
I am taking bets Joe will be announcing their focus on hot dogs/deli meats in Seattle and Portland. Makes complete sense for him to jersey sponsor his own team. The return for his company is greater than any jersey sponsor can fork up, esp when those California franchises pop up He didnt even bother with a secondary sponsor below the number.
Alex Sahlen went up against Kelley O'Hara Wednesday night and Sydney Leroux on the previous Saturday. Neither player broke her down. If you see video of Syd's assist a) it deflected off another player, and b) HAO had been left wide open by the right side defense. O'Hara's assist came from a failed clearance; Sahlen was moving out wide to be a target for the clear. Right now I nominate her for Most Improved Player. The following is from the Sahlen's Sports Park web site, so it is self promotion ( http://www.sahlensportspark.com/About/News/NewLeagueNewChallengesStillSahlen ). It is a long article covering her soccer history and off-field role for Sahlen's and for the Flash. Nevertheless I think it gives there is some interesting info. The following excerpt addresses her work ethic and desire to keep getting better. Alex Sahlen. She was a dependable outside back on the Buffalo Flash and team captain. She missed the majority of the WPS campaign after suffering a painful upper body injury scrimmaging a men’s team. Then in 2012 she again became a mainstay of the defense. Now back in a league with the best of the best, where would Sahlen fit in? Turns out right where she left off. Despite the league welcoming back the top players in the world — including Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd to WNY — Sahlen earned a spot starting at defender in the Flash’s 2013 NWSL opener at Sky Blue FC. There with players who starred at Florida, UCLA and Rutgers was that pesky Purple Eagle. “Alex is someone I truly admire,” said WNY Flash midfielder McCall Zerboni. “The average person may not recognize what an incredible accomplishment it is for her to be doing what she’s doing at the highest level possible.” There’s no doubting her now, though people will talk and she knows that. The unsavory backroom soccer chatter was motivational early in her professional career, when she felt the need to prove herself to her teammates and the world at every practice, game and function. She would have had to be ignorant not to know that some naysayers claimed she was only on the team due to her lineage. “A couple years ago I was so concerned with what everyone else thought of me and proving myself, every day,” she said. “Now I know inside that I deserve it and my teammates know, so I’m just doing my thing.” “(Aaran and I) wouldn’t have been successful if we couldn’t do it properly,” Alex Sahlen said of being coached by her husband. “A lot of it comes down to me being honest with myself and where I am. If I’m not there, I need to be honest with myself and not blame anyone else but myself. Alex Sahlen went about her business. She ground out every day on the pitch and when the other players went home, she kept grinding. She dragged Lines back to the field to play ball after ball, meticulously working on her touch, her footwork, her everything. He was happy to oblige. Her teammates and assistant coaches may not have been at the workouts, but they saw the results. “She’s one of the hardest working and most fit players I’ve ever coached,” said Scott Vallow, assistant coach of the Western New York Flash and former assistant for the Rochester Rhinos. “She has a tremendous drive to continue to improve her game and it amazes me how she is so dedicated and able to balance everything on her plate.”
Carli Lloyd will be on the road tomorrow. If you are on I-81 between Binghamton and Philadelphia in the morning wave as she goes by. Likewise if you are on the expressways between Buffalo and Binghamton in the afternoon. What? You don't say? Her car is the one with the license plates that say "Princess" ? Shut up. I don't believe it. Just go away.
All joking aside, I'm beyond excited that Carli is finally going to join the team. She most likely won't start against KC, but I wouldn't be surprised if she came off the bench at some point.
I was not sure how Carli Lloyd was going to fit in. Unfortunately for VP, I think she lost her starting spot last night. There is no way Lines can split up the Zerboni-Salem combo. The Flash played an incredible first half. In lacrosse, it is called a " hard ride," in basketball it is called a full court press, and Lines called it "not giving them an inch." No wonder they were gassed at the end. My three favorite Alexes: Alex Scott, Alex Morgan, and ALEX SAHLEN! Another stellar outing for our #2.
A quick look ahead. June 5 @ Bo's. need to rest Abby and Carli - June 2 v. Canada and June 8 v. Sky blue. June 8 @ Skyblue - full team. June 15 @ Wash and June 19 @ Chicago - No Abby or Carli. June 23 Home v. Seattle - Full team; USWNT played in NJ June 20.
Tough road trip in July. 4 games in 10 days. CRS with the Germans, FCKC per usual, Seattle with Rapinoe and Solo, and Portland with Heath. Thursday 7/4/2013 1:00 PM @ Chicago Red StarsSunday 7/7/2013 3:10 PM @ FC Kansas CityThursday 7/11/2013 7:00 PM @ Seattle Reign FCSunday 7/14/2013 2:00 PM @ Portland Thorns FC
I'm still shaking my head at this schedule. This is going to be one tired team at the end of that stretch.
So here the Flash are, in the Championship game. Earned on the field over 22 regular season games and one playoff game. I just want to sincerely thank Joe Sahlen and Alex Sahlen for starting the Flash and keeping the Flash going. I am sure it is harder work than I could imagine. The Flash organization is First Class in everything it does. And thanks to Aaran Lines, the coaching staff, and the Flash team staff for all their Championship efforts. The players, I love the players, all of them, all the time - thanks to you for being Champions. When do 2014 season tickets go on sale?
Do you think it's premature to start to referring Lines as Sir Aaran? If the Flash win out that would be five straight titles in four leagues with massive roster changes between ALL years. If we knighted people in the US, that would be a feat worthy of it. BTW, my wife and I decided to take the plunge for season tix for '14 on Saturday.
Not sure if typo or if counting regular season titles as well - in which case is should be six (WPS '11 and NWSL '13)
I only know what I read on the internet, but it appears that the Buffalo Flash played its first season in 2009. They finished second in the league and lost in the semi finals of the playoffs. 2010- W-League First place regular season & playoff champions. 2011 - WPS First place regular season & playoff champions. 2012 WPSL-Elite Second place regular season & playoff champion. 2013 - WPSL - Regular season champion. So if you want to count regular season titles, they have 6 'titles' in five seasons; four leagues. AND terrific news, BlitzSpiele about getting season tickets - you are going to have a blast.
Actually not - they finished first in their division with a 10-0-2 record, but second in the league; the Hudson Valley Blues went 11-1-0 to finished first over all divisions in the 2010 W-League. The Flash only have five titles at the moment, though could make it six by winning this weekend.