San Jose Earthquakes - Seattle Sounders FC U.S. Open Cup (Wed., 6/28) pre/in/postgame thread [R]

It's the Club. And it's only the Club that will allow the Quakes to succeed. If the Club is vital, wins and losses won't matter, just like they simply don't matter in Portland. The Timbers are an expression of that community, whose residents attend games to commune with their friends and neighbors, first and foremost, not to watch soccer. Of course Silicon Valley cannot understand the concept. But the Valley of Heart's Delight did.

 

While position in the table probably doesn't matter all that much if they are winning at home, championships can matter (even if they didn't matter all that much after 2001 and 2003). The combination of a championship team, the new venue, presumably more exciting soccer, etc. could in fact move the needle.

 

For those who may not have seen it:

 

Jazzy, the weak attendance after winning a MLS Cup at Spartan was due to the club moving situation. It was constant news that the team may be shut down or relocated. Hard to get behind a team in that situation. Watch what happens to Oakland Raider attendance now that they are moving to Las Vegas.

 

What about the weak attendance in 2002 after winning the 2001 MLS Cup?

 

Figures don't bear that up:

Avg Attendance
2001 9,635
2002 11,150

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_attendance

Also note that league-wide season attendance was down in 2002 from 2001, likely due to the dot-com bubble burst and resultant economic downturn.

 

Even though there was a bump from year-to-year, average attendance of 11,150 is weak.

 

I'm willing to bet that the sparse amenities at the aptly-named "Spartan" Stadium had something to do with that. As much as a lot of us loved Spartan, it really was terribly sub-optimal for any professional sport, especially (with its narrow pitch) soccer.

 

Spartan Stadium had spare amenities in the 1970s, too. That didn't stop people from attending. Similarly, in Portland, a Depression-era stadium doesn't suppress support. Works at LaBombonera, too, because Boca has a sense of community.

 

The 1970s comparison is inapt, because that was really prior to the advent of modern stadium with modern amenities. Also, Portland's situation is different in many respects: No large metropolitan area with many competing diversions and the stadium is smack dab in the middle of the urban center, conveniently located next to public transportation and in the midst of a hip location, rather than the grittier environs of Spartan. It's not apples and apples IMO.

 

Portland reportedly has a over 100 microbreweries, along with a few (so I'm told) strip clubs, so I would say there are competing diversions.

Portland's stadium location is, frankly, less urban than Houston's and not particularly hip.

Most of all, Timbers fans were fervent about USL and MLS teams before ever earning any hardware. When John Spencer was their head coach, doing a pale imitation of Dom Kinnear with lesser results, they filled the stadium. It's not about the soccer, and it's sure as hell not about the amenities.

 

Attendance figures in those days were very sketchy, and you could game it by having a doubleheader with some big Euro team or a "youth soccer game" where you fill Spartan with 30k via youth soccer deals.

Anyway, the game that sticks in my craw is the 1st home game in 2004, with ring ceremony and the whole bit, after the incredible championship run. I don't remember the attendance but IIRC it was well below 10k. May have even been in the 6k's. It was a day game, but still, the fans couldn't bother to show up and honor the champions? I don't think talks of relocation were that much of a factor, and I don't even know how many people were aware of that, other than hardcore fans.

 

I am really looking forward to attend the game tonight. There is a sense of a something new, and I also want to see how my team and the players approaching it. Personally it feels like going to the home opening game of the season. Well, may be the pre-season game since it is Open Cup and not all starters will play?

 

Can't wait! Come on You Quakes!

 

Hoping Sac Republic lay a serious hurt on the filth tonight!! GO SAC!

AND GO QUAKES!!!

 

I'll go with a 3 back and Yueill right smack dab in the middle of a 4 or 5 man midfield.

Colvey (if back) and Lima as wingbacks...Tommy either under the forwards or all the way up.

Let's see what you got Leitchy...hopefully we see a wide open thriller...

Go Quakes!

 

starting 11: Tarbell, Colvey, Lima, Sarkodie, Imperiale, TT, Yueill, Salinas, Godoy, Hyka, Wondo

 

Is Kofi at center back?

 

I don't believe so...CB will be Imperiale. This should be a 3-5-2 with Lima and Sarkodie as fullbacks, Colvey and Salinas as wingbacks, but we'll see at kickoff.

 

MLS site showing as a 3-5-2 as well.

 

Who are the refs tonight? I see Joe Dickerson is 4O

 

minus Sarkodie...

 

Well it's still a lineup that's completely different than anything Dom would have done....and we do have to play LA in a few days.