NSFW: www.goats.ex That's sarcasm. The real deal is that the Fire had 100% control of virtually all aspects of the stadium with a relatively low annual fee to pay and they sold those rights back to the Village because they were cheap. Now the Village controls everything and makes things more expensive and difficult for the Fire. The Fire could easily buy back managerial control and thusly control their revenue and fate but Andrew Hauptman is still too cheap so we're stuck between the Village and alligator arms. Overall what this means is that we could buy ourselves out of any issue but we're completely unwilling to invest any money and suffer at every level because of it.
I've asked some experts to helps us out: Don Garber: Now pay particular attention to this first clause, because it's most important. There's the party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the party of the first part. How do you like that, that's pretty neat eh? Mayor Landek: No, that's no good. Don Garber: What's the matter with it? Mayor Landek: I don't know, let's hear it again. Don Garber: So the party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the party of the first part. Mayor Landek: Well it sounds a little better this time. Don Garber: Well, it grows on you. Would you like to hear it once more? Mayor Landek: Just the first part. Don Garber: What do you mean, the party of the first part? Mayor Landek: No, the first part of the party, of the first part. Don Garber: All right. It says the first part of the party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the first part of the party of the first part, shall be known in this contract - look, why should we quarrel about a thing like this, we'll take it right out, eh? Mayor Landek: Yes, it's too long anyhow. Now what have we got left? Don Garber: Well I've got about a foot and a half. Now what's the matter? Mayor Landek I don't like the second party either. Don Garber: Well, you should have come to the first party, we didn't get home till around four in the morning. I was blind for three days. Mayor Landek: Hey look, why can't the first part of the second party be the second part of the first party, then you'll get something. Don Garber: Well look, rather than go through all that again, what do you say? Mayor Landek: Fine. Don Garber: Now I've got something here you're bound to like, you'll be crazy about it. Mayor Landek: No, I don't like it. Don Garber: You don't like what? Mayor Landek: Whatever it is, I don't like it. Don Garber: Well don't let's break up an old friendship over a thing like that. Ready? Mayor Landek: OK. Now the next part I don't think you're going to like. Don Garber: Well your word's good enough for me. Now then, is my word good enough for you? Mayor Landek: I should say not. Don Garber: Well I'll take out two more clauses. Now the party of the eighth part -- Mayor Landek: No, that's no good, no. Don Garber: The party of the ninth part -- Mayor Landek: No, that's no good too. Hey, how is it my contract is skinnier than yours? Don Garber: Well, I don't know, you must have been out on a tail last night. But anyhow, we're all set now, are we? Now just you put your name right down there, then the deal is legal. Mayor Landek: I forgot to tell you, I can't write. Don Garber: Well that's all right, there's no ink in the pen anyhow. But listen, it's a contract isn't it? We've got a contract, no matter how small it is. Mayor Landek: Oh sure. You bet. Hey wait, wait. What does this say here, this thing here? Don Garber: Oh that? Oh that's the usual clause, that's in every contract. That just says, it says, 'If any of the parties participating in this contract are shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified.' Mayor Landek: Well, I don't know. Don Garber: It's all right, that's in every contract. That's what they call a sanity clause. Mayor Landek: You can't fool me, there ain't no sanity clause.
Perfect summation. Cakes (or his proxies) did whatever he could to drive down club expenses. To a very large extent, he's reaping what he's sown (smells bad). Impossible to feel sorry for him. And, yes, he could fix many of the TP problems. But that would require a significant outlay of funds, which, we all know, he's unwilling to do. His MO is ride the wave and keep costs to the bone. He's not building shite here. He's torn it down. Heck, we're more like an expansion club than an established club. And that pretty much says it all.
I am surprised that the practice field is grass instead of turf. Would have thought that carpet would have been cheaper.
Can someone tell me how/where I can watch the fire practice. I really want to see Shweinsteiger train
You think that it would be a good time to shop sponsorship for the stadium. I tried to explain to some young guys at work how big Schweinsteiger was and I used twitter followers as an example. All of the top Cubs players had thousands of followers. The Chicago Cubs team has over a million, the Bears have over a million, Schweinsteiger has more followers than all combined with over 3 million followers. I think that might lure potential sponsors for naming rights. They should be able to capitalize on this and profit from signing him.
Unless you're really, really tall (~10") you won't be able to see the Fire train. The practice field is fenced (no biggie) and said fence has wind/privacy screen all the way around. There used to be a small section of bleachers, but it's been moved. You could scale the rubble piles adjacent to the field, that might work out.
Except, he could be gone at seasons end. We don't have anymore TAM/GAM to pay down Accam's MDL's, Kapp's, Juninho's, Dax's and BS's. Considering Andrew isn't going to use any of his money, there's a very good chance ALL of these players will be gone at seasons end or earlier. #FvckYouAndrew Unless the team IS sold and we get an owner that actually cares about his team.
Being that the slag heap has grown since my last trip out there could it be fill to put a set of bleachers on? I know, I know...Take that sh*t to the Optimism Thread!
A bold burb, weighed down by a debt-ridden stadium, seeks a fresh deal http://www.chicagobusiness.com/arti...me-its-debt-ridden-soccer-stadium-toyota-park
At least someone is trying to do something. I feel for the taxpayers. Between the shady officials that gave AEG a sweetheart deal and the incompetent Fire executives as they sit on their hands and try walking away from doing anything with the contract, it has become a complete mess.
Sounds like the city had a plan for the stadium and surrounding area which has (up to now) failed miserably. The Fire have done nothing to help. AEG did just above the minimum. I guess we expect too much of the Fire. Especially expecting them to act like a model MLS franchise.
Naming rights need to be sold. There is a cornstarch factory nearby. It can be smelled every game. I recommend 'Argo starch field'. (AKA 'the Stiffie')
Great find, thank you! This is concerning, but actually could provide leverage: Selling naming rights to a venue without a marketing rights deal with its anchor tenant and the only one that regularly puts the venue on national television "makes the negotiation tougher in the end" for a brand to sign a naming rights contract without a guarantee that it can partner with the main team that plays there, says Darren Marshall of Chicago-based sports marketing firm Revolution. Hayward says he has had discussions with Fire executives about incorporating a team sponsorship agreement into a stadium naming rights deal, noting that it would help raise the value of such a deal for both the team and the village. "It's in the village's best interest to bring all the parties together and create a winning partnership across the board," he says. I would imagine if a sale was in the works, this might actually be a positive move overall.
That's what that smell is! It used to trigger good memories every time I smelled it. Now, more like some kind of existential dread.
Maybe a rubber dick maker will step up and be the new stadium sponsor. Erecting a huge dirigible would be apropos.
This was interesting as well- "The village's confidence in getting a higher fee from a new partner stems from recent new developments going up around the stadium. Bridgeview is spending close to $4 million to build a 90,000-square-foot indoor turf field dome just north of the stadium set to open this spring. The venue will host year-round recreational soccer leagues and have an adjacent clubhouse with concessions, locker rooms and offices."