With a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Thunder Sunday, the Seattle Sounders held off a late challenge from the Portland Timbers and secured the 2007 USL-1 Commissioner's Cup awarded to the team that finishes atop the league table. With the win, Seattle is lined up to meet the Carolina RailHawks on Friday, September 14th at 7:30pm at SAS Soccer Park to kickoff their home-and-away quarterfinal series. Carolina will then travel to Seattle for a Sunday return leg on September 16th.
I think Seattle made a big mistake when they opted to have the first game at Carolina. That means they have to travel there and play and then traval all the way back for the second leg. Montreal did the same thing in 2005 and 2006 and lost both years to Vancouver.
It's an interesting question. I understand the travel concern but I also know that I'd want the deciding game at home.
The board has been quiet lately... what does everybody think about our chances? I've been looking forward to this game all week... I wonder if there's any way to rig the 100,000th fan contest in my favor
Seattle is a class side. They looked great against Dallas in the Open Cup. That said, we have played Seattle twice to 1-0 results. A bounce here, a bounce there...and it could be different. What I hope we do it jump all over them at home and try to get up a goal or two heading to Seattle. But I'm afraid we'll play defensively and try to win the series 1-0 on aggregate.
anyone planning to tailgate? Personally I've been craving some tacos, so I would be up for going by that Taquiera a few of us went to that one time.
The State campus is pretty excited right now. I went to lunch and was walking down the street when another student said "Go Railhawks!" Then after I left History class a girl was wearing her orange t-shirt too and I stopped her and her friend. She said she can't go tonight, but her and her friend said, "Oh we love you" when I told them I am the yellow card man. I really think the marketing executives need to look at what the Canes and Bulls do and have college night, or discounts on gate tickets next year for students. They need to market the team on State's campus right now since there are plenty of Wolfpack connections to the team. One poster, or banner in the Brickyard in the summer wouldn't hurt anyone along with another at the Talley Student Center.
Why don't you form a little supporters club for NCSU students and approach the team about working with you on promotions. They'd probably give you some free or discounted tickets to get the ball rolling. I think I proved with TSF that a little initiative on a fan's part can go a long way to helping market the team.
Sounds like there is a lot more RailHawk support over at State. I don't know how many times I had to explain my RailHawk jersey (as in "Who the hell are the RailHawks?) to others today. There was an article in the Daily Tarheel over here at Carolina about UNC alums in the MLS. Sadly it said nothing about the USL. I'm considering writing in about it and asking them to take a look at the RailHawks, where there are more than a few Tar Heels on the team.
I'll have to try to talk to someone about it, but the ACC stars would be a good marketing tool. Just put pictures of the players who played at State on a poster and hang it up on campus. There were plenty of people around during summer term. The same could be done at UNC.