I just spoke by phone with my Sales Rep, Tim Sinclair, and told him I wouldn't renew my season ticket until Metro made a statement about the reported demise of the stadium deal. Metro FO continues to work with the city of Harrison on the stadium, I was told. I urged him to get Nick or someone from the ofice online with a statement affirming that stance. I doubt we will get that. Mr. Sinclair did say "while we appreciate being included in the Govs. plans for the Meadowlands..." and I said, "Wait. Why would you appreciate having to fund a 700 million rebuild, because the intent is to have the tenants fund the project?" No real answer to that, but he agree Metro/MLS cannot afford to remain a tenant at the rates NJSEA exacts. We need to get to Nick about this: We are working with the city; the stadium is still on. Fact or fiction? The deal is not done till the spade turns some earth, but I'm not ready to say it's dead on the shotgun comments of a caretaker Governor.
Re: Harrison: Not Done, But Not Dead Doesn't Codey realize he has alienated literally DOZENS of hardcore Metro fan voters? Governors are only powerful when they're enforcing laws and disbursing state money. This project uses no state money. He doesn't have jurisdiction unless he changes some rules or the state legislature changes some laws. Also, since he's not putting any money into the Meadowlands on behalf of the Metro, there's no reason for the Metros to do a single thing he says.
Re: Harrison: Not Done, But Not Dead Hey Nick / MFO -- we know you're here. We know you're reading this. Here's what you must do ASAP, preferably today, if you don't want to completely lose your most trusting and loyal fan base: Issue a statement clarifying the status of public financing for the project. I don't want to hear that the Town of Harrison is still committed to it and I don't want to see any flashy new drawings of it, because those things are totally irrelevant today. We know that Harrison cannot float its own bonds to finance the project. They need the HCIA to do that for them. I want to know if/when the HCIA is going to add the $90 million bond issue to their agenda, and if they are, at what meeting it's going to take place. If you, MFO, cannot provide this information ASAP, I'm assuming that the deal is dead and I'm not renewing for next season or any future season. I know that getting things built in Hudson County is like pulling teeth, but I also know that we've been dicked around for years on this and all we really want is someone to level with us on the status. You're still negotiating with the HCIA? Fine, tell us that. You've moved on to some other financing scheme because you've given up on the HCIA? Fine, tell us that. You're just going to pay for it? Fine (and, as a NJ taxpayer, hallelujah), tell us that. You're keeping us at the Meadowlands and renegotiating the lease beyond '05? Then tell us that, too. We're adults here; we can take it. But until then, the silence is deafening, and fans are dropping off like flies. You've fucked us over 50 too many times at this point and you're a leech on the league. I'd rather just buy the MLS Shootout and support the league that way. None of you deserve our money.
Re: Harrison: Not Done, But Not Dead But how much behind the scenes arm-twisting is going on here? Jersey politics is Byzantine even by US standards.
Re: Harrison: Not Done, But Not Dead well said obie. there's alway been to many words like "hoping" "expecting" "confident" etc in every frigggin statement. give us a concrete statement.
Re: Harrison: Not Done, But Not Dead I agree that the Metrostars Front Office owes it's fans (all fans, not just people here or wherever else) a press release. An honest to god, no B.S. assessment of the current status, and the current plans. It doesn't have to be fancy, and I don't expect it here or anywhere else besides on their site. Just type up a simple 3 paragraph explanation. Fans owe them 24 hours of patience to respond. As a professional organization, they owe their customers that much. If this organization would like to be respected, it has to respect it's patrons right back. There is no "hey, come to bigsoccer and explain yourself" mandate needed, just update your web site with a press release for all to read. Tell everyone what is going on, or suffer the PR hit from fans for not doing so. There is the possibility that this is just a wildcat declaration by a Governor that nobody knows, and that the HCIA is really still on track. But, if that's the case, someone has to say it. Let's hope Ives, Michael Lewis, Jane Havsy and Colin Stephenson are driving 90mph down the turnpike in the direction of the MFO.
Re: Harrison: Not Done, But Not Dead Really, why 24 hours? Why can't they tell us what's happening now? Every passing hour, it seems to me, is just a measure of their incompetence.
FYI, Peter Wilt just responded to the question "Is the Harrison Stadium deal dead?" in the Chi forum. One word response: "No". My thought is that, as we'll probably get from the MFO, it means that AEG/MFO is still trying to come up with a way to get the deal done in/with Harrison, but without the HCIA funding. Which leaves us at AEG paying for it, or we're done..
What's wrong with this picture? Metro fans have to get information about a potential Metro stadium from an opposing teams GM?
His response has ben amended to "Not that I know of". For further updates, check the thread yo'selves.
Separation of Church and State Separation of Stadium and State Is that too much to ask..... It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that most of the money comes frorm the soda, hots dogs, beer and all the other concessions at the stadium. Remember a while back in the stadium there used to be guys that'd carry around trays of soda, beers and ice cream.... You know how you don't really see them anymore? Maybe McGreevy got them all postions on the board in Harrsion. Like the last line that Jack Nicholson movie. They lead him down the block away form the degradation, the carnage, the lost hopes and broken dreams the sullied llives and corruption that permeates every pore of the city and they tell him, "Come on Jake, It's Chinatown" Come one, Fellas, "It's The Swamp..."
I get the feeling Nick only needs fans who will shell out for the season package, no questions asked; accept any level of performance from the team, no questions asked; accept any player from anywhere at any price (under the cap) of any ability or lack there -of, no questions asked. I also get the feeling Nick does not need me -- no answer expected.
I won't be quiet. I posted an email to the Metrostars.com contact us address. Simply, I won't renew my season ticket till we get word from the MFO about this matter -- one way or another. Honest answers -- straight, no chaser. They sent me a certificate this year, in honor of my holding a season pass since '96. I fell like returning it, and I told them that. WE don't want to abandon Metro, but we would like the truth -- plain, unvarnished. I don't want to hear that negotiations are delicate; that premature info releases will upset whatever apple cart is loading the pipins that will end in a stadium BS does not always stand for BigSoccer.
I did receive an e-mailed response from the MetroStars early this evening. The final sentence indicated: We are still on course for a new stadium in 2006. They're still working on the Harrison Stadium issue, but on the other hand, they're also delighted that the new stadium is being mentioned in Codey's plans as being part of the redevelopment project in the Meadowlands. So, just like Obie has already stated, no specifics given such as the status of the public financing of the project. If they're still working on Harrison, why would they be exited to hear that they're being considered for the redevelopment? If anyone here is expecting to hear "specifics", you're going to be very dissapointed.
I spoke to Mr. Alessandra at METRO. His reasoning was now there is just another option on the table that wasn't there a couple weeks ago. Both Harrison and The Meadowlands are now viable choices. He also said the team will release a statement when they are ready. Guess they are not ready yet. But expect to above line to be their spin. 'This is a good thing, now we have to sites to choose from.' Several weeks ago I declined my 5 season tickets. My reason, which I explained to Alessandra, was that this organization was moving backwards. This has nothing to do with the team on the field, I support METRO with all I have. Financially, emotionally and a pretty decent sales person bringing lots of people to games each season. But I was, and still am fed up with the way they run their 'club'. They don't know a thing about selling soccer and building something meaningful. Its just about selling tickets, to whomever. It's not about building a fan base in a true soccer club sense. To be fair, another reason I cancelled is becuase I view the regular season as meaningless. And from the sense of urgency I have seen over the past few regular seasons, so do the players. Ofcourse, I will still go to games. Just not as many as I have over the last 2 seasons. I will not financially commit to a team whos leaders lie, I don't support nor respect. If I see some progress I will be the first person on the phone ordering my tickets again. Not becuase I have too. I can go buy a $5 dollar ticket from a scalper and sit where ever, anytime I want. I would do it because I want to support a REAL SOCCER CLUB. PS: How do I become a member of the ESC? Thats one organization I should have supported earlier, but I was remiss in not doing so.
Peter Wilt is forthcoming on some issues and toes the company line with many other issues. He is a good man and a great GM for coming here and being available. he doesn't have to do that. Just remember though, he is entrenched in and works for this league. Take what he says, then give it some thought before buying it.
Wilt has been nothing more than honest. When he can't comment, he says he can't. Here he was careful to say, "no, as far as I know". Why would he know the inner details of the HCIA situation? There's no company line here. But there's a good chance if the deal is dead that he wouldn't know.
go to www.empiresc.com check out the boards at www.metrofanatic.com Come out to the annual membership drive at Nathan Hales join the club!
Not cool AT ALL. Peter has been an honest man that is straightforward and honest with his fans, even when the league many times wishes he'd keep his mouth shut. Keep your focus on your front office, not on taking jabs at Peter Wilt.
I stand behind what I said. If you guys look at him as the second coming, then by all means, carry on. He is a good GM and outs himself outthere, thats admirable. Especially in a league where noone else does. That aside, I am entitled to my opinion.
I agree, he appears to relay facts to the best of his knowledge. Very true. When it comes time to offer his opinions on the league; he generally just blindly defends or talks around the question. This is just my take and I havn't read all things Peter, so perhaps I could be wrong. It is just the impression that he left me with. In this case, we are talking about a fact... the stadium deal... So I suspect he would be as forthcoming as he usually is. My bad.