I used to think that, but his track record is a mixed bag of abject failure to moderate success. The one he does bring is energy and interest, but that only gets a project so far. But a lot of the factors that will dictate success or failure of the NISA are well above his pay grade and controle. Disclaimer: Peter is a good friend that has personally stepped in and helped my career. I'm forever indebted to the man.
Rough night for lower division soccer, well at least for Oakland. The Oakland Roots places a portable turf field over the Laney Stadium football field. It was previously used by the NASL Oaklahoma City team and the NY Cosmos before being purchased by Roots and used for their first 2 season in NISA.— Douglas Zimmerman (@zimpix) June 20, 2021 Oakland Roots home match against Sacramento had to be called off and postponed due to unsafe playing conditions. Apparently they have New York Cosmos and Rayo OKC's old turf. Tis but a flesh wound hopefully.
So I had thought this turf was retired because Benno Nagel said that it was basically unplayable anymore and should be put in the soccer HOF for what it’s been through, and then here we see it getting rolled out again.
Cashman Field in Las Vegas is starting to look like a desert, particularly on the side nearest the cameras.
I could never figure out why, when they were generating all of their hype in NISA, that nobody ever called them out on this. It always looked terrifying on their streams. I wouldn’t expect NISA to do it, of course, they’d let a club play in field of broken glass and cinders, but Oakland was getting so much attention, it’s hard to believe that nobody brought this up.
Honestly I don’t recall it being that bad in NISA’s abbreviated season last year. But maybe that’s why it never came up, they only used it briefly last year? I’m honestly shocked USL didn’t call them on it though, that pitch looks worse than my neighbor’s self installed field turf install.
So basically what happened with the Roots last night: they ordered a new pitch a while back but it hasn’t come yet (global shipping has slowed in the last year because of more orders) and they didn’t anticipate having to play with the surface they used last year— Evan Ream (@EvanReam) June 20, 2021 Story seems awfully “convenient”.
Read: "We didn't think anyone cared that our third hand pitch was a piece of shit, but now that everyone knows and other teams won't play on it we've placed an express order to China for a new pitch that may or may not be here by next weekend."
“And we would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling Sacramento Republic players”
6/26/21 Venue Change (Closed Doors)Learn More: https://t.co/VX0Bk0oNdf pic.twitter.com/EZk6ffVF31— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) June 23, 2021 Apparently the three Rayo OKC turfs in a trench coat the Roots had planned to pass as “the turf that was back ordered and just managed to get here a day late” didn’t fool USL.