http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-orlando-city-harrisburg-city-20110903,0,174907.story only NASL has home and away finals.
Game .. of..the...year. First we're going to lose. Then we're going to win. Then we're going to who-knows. Then we're going to lose for sure. Then we're going to win. Then we win. Wow. Also, My MOm - whose been to her share of LA Galaxy games said the crowd was much better because they were there for the soccer and for the team , not to " be seen." She said atmospher was better.
Congrats Orlando. fine freshman season. Exciting match for a "neutral" fan and for the good of the game, I hope you can build on the momentum and take it even further next year. Shame about the American football lines, especially after not having them all season. The OC press release made it sound like ESPN and the the college game were calling the shots. See ya next season, -signed a Battery supporter
It was essentially logistics. That game is tomorrow at Noon. There was no way they could get the pointyball lines and necessary logoing on overnight. They began working on the logos while we were doing the trophy ceremony.
When that league draws fewer fans in TWO championship games than Orlando did in one? . Doesn't look like the frogs will be in it to boost attendance.
Picked a good first game to go to. Just moved to Orlando recently and one of my good friend has been going to see them ever since the Newcastle Exhibition. Got a couple extra tickets so he invited me. Nice to have a local team to support and the game was great (even if the linesman we pretty poor). Lots of excitement, and the level of play was better than I was anticipating. Used to go to quite a few Rapids games a few years ago when I lived in CO and never saw a crowd quite like that. Looking forward to next season.
Great job guys, wish I could have beeen there. I guess this probably felt better than those Latin American friendlies or even the Kraze winning it in 2004, right? (Lets not compare it to the WC94). Very proud of City, great job!
Absolutly amazing game couldnt ask for a better one either. Fans were also great, real loud and pumped!
When the difference between D2 and D3 isn't all that great when Montreal is removed (and really isn't even WITH Montreal), IT IS ALL ABOUT ATTENDANCE!!! Because attendance = revenue. And if a D2 team with all the financial requirements isn't drawing significantly more than a D3 team, they are in a much tighter financial bind. There! I said it!
Gotta give it up for the Islanders - they stepped it up big time. Specifically their central midfielder and left winger were monsters - especially the left winger was killing us. The coaches game plan almost worked...
Amazing game, best sporting event I've ever attended. Already pumped for next season cheering with the Ruckus.
Said what??? if it was ALL about attendance 10 MLS teams would be in trouble. Can any MLS team compare to Seattle?
Is this the game that went to penalties(or as you Americans call them, "spot kicks" or whatever ) If so I watched it, very good game
The financial requirements of D2 were to provide stability which USL always lacks. As successful as Orlando was, three teams still bolted USL-Pro during the season. USL-Pro was forced to drop an entire division. That is just embarrassing for any league and makes it look amateur. And who knows what will happen to FC New York, Dayton, and Antigua, and the LA Blues? I am no fanboy of NASL. And I believe Orlando doesn't need NASL and could easily go to MLS from USL. But the standards have at least gotten NASL through the year with all their teams intact. Although a lot of thanks goes to Traffic. Without them, the league would collapse. No question Orlando is stronger on and off the field than any NASL team(sans the obvious MLS bound Montreal). The RailHawks despite their success do not have an owner like Orlando and rely on money from Traffic. That's why Orlando are the only current minor league team that MLS is probably looking at. But the overall health of both leagues isn't exactly great. And I do wonder what Orlando will draw next year since teams historically drop their second year. Will the fans continue to fill the cavernous Citrus Bowl at 7,000 to 8,000? Or will they start demanding a higher level and drop in numbers until Orlando City provides it? What does that even mean? Far more important than attendance is control of the stadium. It's the reason DC United has to leave RFK while the Revs can exist at Foxboro no matter what they draw.
of course but to some gettig 11,000 at a final game means that they are MLS-bound. I will say it again ATTENDANCE is not a factor look at Toronto, Seattle, when they were in USL.... I don't think OSC FO has enough funds for MLS anyway, if they did they easily could of competed in NASL, but they didn't due to travel costs.
Remember: MLS is single-entity. Even if individual teams have issues, the rest of the league can bail them out far easier with that model. Why do you think KC and San Jose still have teams? Down here, the peons of American soccer have to succeed on their own merits. Your team has to make its own money, and down here the primary driver of that is attendance. Unless, of course, Traffic owns half the league like they do with you guys.
and it's not like that with USL, looks like you guys are holding the whole USL-Pro league with your pockets..they will never part with you, it would be the death of USL
USL was okay before us, and will be just fine without us. Just like they were okay before you, and will still be here long after you're gone.