Translation: We are minor league, low rent if you will, but we do have a Chief Tattoo Artist and an absurd mascot, so...yeah. We're good.
It amazes me how many MLS clubs are doubling down on the narrative that churning out players and selling them is more important than having a competitive team... this is the second time this week an MLS FO person pointed to Bilbao as a model club..(Chicago fires Nelson Rodriguez was the other). I can only assume they attended the same seminar on how to spin things to fans... Not to say Bilbao doesn’t have an amazing track recird of development, but they haven’t won jack shit in the last 30 years either. Ajax is great at what they do too, but the Eredivisie is what it is...that model will never translate 1:1 with MLS. Ambition to win is what matters most... Development might help you get there, but there’s much more to it than that... it’s so clear that isn’t the top priority for most teams. Modeling ourselves after mid table European team selling clubs isn’t a reality that most people will accept.
MLS will never be a successful selling league. Our costs are simply too high. Let's say MLS develops players who are as good as English, German, or French clubs. Why should the big leagues buy an American player vs one of their own or a cheaper South American player? Plus, "selling leagues" or "selling teams" never get better.
Plus quite a bit of the players the league have sold didn’t pan out all that well. Manly because the player made the jump to Europe to quick. Yea some of those transfer fees where nice, but it seems like teams in Europe may be wising up a bit and not buying players for absurd amounts. Think that’s why Almiron hasn’t moved yet.
Ajax actually wins quite few trophies still (33 League, and 18 Cup). Athletic made it to the Europa League final a few seasons ago, and won the Spanish Super Cup. This has no bearing on how the Union continue to languish/flounder in the Philadelphia Market & MLS though.
Got a 2018 Matchday Experience Survey in my email today... Some Highlights/a Mini-summary: If we played a 10th season Commemorative Match in Philadelphia, where would you like to see that match played?* Lincoln Financial Field Franklin Field (Univ. of Penn.) Citizens Bank Park If the Union were to have its own soccer-specific bar/restaurant, where would you like it to be located? * University City, Philadelphia South Philadelphia - Stadium Area South Philadelphia - Queens Village/Passyunk Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia Northern Liberties, Philadelphia Fishtown, Philadelphia Center City, Philadelphia Bucks County Delaware County Montgomery County Old City, Philadelphia Other: And some interesting rankings to give out... I slammed them on a lot of these. The Union have a well-known rivalry with another MLS club The Union play an exciting style of soccer The Union have a strong pipeline for Youth Development The Union organization provides a sense of belonging The Union's values reflect that of the city of Philadelphia The Union are a competitive club within MLS The Union provide an authentic soccer experience Talen Energy Stadium is a place where you can express your passion for soccer Talen Energy Stadium's location is convenient The Union receive lots of media coverage in the Delaware Valley The Union are a championship contending team Also had the normal "Game Day Experience" type questions... asked what you think of the 2018 Doop Hoops jersey. (I said "Unsatisfactory") A nice area for comments that I wrote a mini-essay complaining about Jay Sugarman, the lack of ambition and spending money. Ranking the TV broadcast team and the overall PHL/6ABC broadcasts. And then some other general questions about other sports/leagues.
What I wouldn't give to see the raw data on this one. Can't say I've ever held back on any of these, and I was particularly harsh this year.
That's like one of those questions pollsters put in to see who is really paying attention so they know which results to just throw out.
Come on, they're definitely a contender. So what if they contend and end up in the middle of the pack. Everybody else is contending too.
It really would be awesome to have bar to go pre-game.. but I get it... what the hell is going to happen to that place the other ~348 days of the year? Probably just sit empty. It's a shame... Houston has a collection of bars right outside of their stadium, it's fantastic.
Sure. But Minute Maid Park is right on the other side of I-69. Same with the Toyota Center. And the Convention Center. TES doesn't have those types of neighbors.
Houston seems to be neck and neck with the Union when it comes to incompetence... that building is downtown and beautiful. I'm stunned they can't fill it up.
1. They play in Texas in the summer. It's hot. It's humid. No one wants to go sit and watch a team for two hours in that climate. People say MLS can't switch to the international calendar because of the northern teams...true, but the same arguement can be made against the summer calendar because of the southern teams.