Claure's visit to Barcelona bodes well for South Florida expansion [SIZE=-1]Sun-Sentinel.com, FL [/SIZE]A soccer wish list for new year [SIZE=-1]MiamiHerald.com, FL[/SIZE] Beckham says playing in Italy fulfills a dream [SIZE=-1]San Francisco Chronicle, USA[/SIZE] A Is for Appiah [SIZE=-1]Washington Post Blogs, DC[/SIZE] Close Up: Chivas USA Year-in-Review [SIZE=-1]Goal.com, Switzerland[/SIZE] Beckham Back At Best With Milan? [SIZE=-1]Goal.com, Switzerland [/SIZE] Warzycha hopeful of top Columbus Crew job [SIZE=-1]Tribalfootball.com, Australia [/SIZE]Nicol feels settled at New England Revolution [SIZE=-1]Tribalfootball.com, Australia[/SIZE] Ljunberg Has Surgery - May Miss MLS Opener [SIZE=-1]Goal.com, Switzerland [/SIZE]
A couple nice quotes in the article though. First: Keeping up sponsors and their $$ is important to MLS' teams bottom lines. That's good news. Plus they mention Cannon & the Quakes seem close to the deal. More good news for MLS and the Quakes.
Good stuff, but what sticks with me is how they paired the Quakes up with not the A's, Giants, Niners, etc...but with 'minor league teams.' Get that stadium done, boys!
I'm only responding because you seem like a level headed guy. Compared to those other sports profiles, history, money, resources, press coverage, etc. we are minor league. It is what it is. I'm OK with that. Gotta start somewhere...just like those other leagues did decades ago. Don't let it stick you. No need. We will get there.
David Beckham's love match with AC Milan [SIZE=-1]Times Online, UK [/SIZE]Columbus To Announce New Coach Monday [SIZE=-1]Goal.com, Switzerland[/SIZE] Becks relishes a return to big time [SIZE=-1]The Australian, Australia[/SIZE]
Yeah it's a bit rough since the Earthquakes average about 14,000. The Sharks average about 17,500, and the other teams that do have attendance figures mentioned in the article hover in the 2,000 range. I'm not sure if a new stadium will change the "minor" perception among local sports journalists, but I'm certainly hoping that it registers on their radars that it's a significant step forward.
There will be a certain group that doesn't understand, didn't grow up with, didn't play who will always look at soccer as minor league. Those people would look at MLS and say the same if every stadium was sold out and ratings quadrupled because it's bigger in the EPL, LaLiga, etc. Still minor compared to that. Is what it is. I will say that for someone who has followed the game, and played it for about 35 years, the changes in attitude are pretty damn significant. It's easier for me because I'm old and I have seen the growth over decades. If you are gonna compare to our big three, and hockey in most cities, you are gonna be dissappointed. However, it may not be comforting for many, but the changes are pretty big, and positive from my time...and even the beginning of MLS.
There's always a stigma attached to soccer and a lot of Americans will never turn to soccer no matter what. If they build the soccer stadium as it is promised the team will get a lot of attention, case in point the Rio Tinto stadium and the media coverage that RSL gets is phenomenal, same thing at TFC land and a few other markets as well.