The NBA may be broken, but NBA basketball was only recently the strongest sports culture in the US. ANd that is really what I'm talking about. The NBA has slipped from that peak, but it would be a major shock to see it slip out of the top sports in the US. (I basically can't stand the league, so I'm not speaking for myself.) Baseball, which I do love, in in a more precarious spot culturally. African-American kids are not playing it. The demographics are increasingly older (How many Viagra and pain reliever commercials can they fit into a baseball broadcast? Compare that to the NFL - all beer and the army. Which do you think has a younger audience?) The Mitchell report may send baseball tumbling if it implicated enough players in the steroid scandal. The NHL may have a solid financial footing ('ll take your word for it) but the ratings are low and it is increasingly looking like a niche sport with little growth potential. I would be shocked if MLS television ratings don't consistently out pace the NHL's inside a decade. Anyway, my essential point is that I think MLS has gone a long way to assuring its survival and has intelligent future growth plans in place.
glad to hear, while I do not agree with playing in a NFL stadium (I hate my team doing it and feel bad for everyone who is in that situation), that is another conversation I am happy to hear about expansion there, see you guys in 2009
Since your little tangent is all about speculation, I offer this speculation: the Seahawks could go with blank endzones until MLS is over. KC did it for the Wizards. - Paul
Not the threadjack further but, yea, the NHL have problems. The game is fine the way it is, and I catch a few games here and there, but I'd wager over-expansion have diminished quality (30 teams are just too much). NHL execs consider bigger nets
Anyone going to the G & D going to be podcasting/streaming live? I can't make it and would love to follow the action. How about any radio stations covering it?
I figured I would let everyone know that the Seattle website is up and they will be showing the press conference live tomorrow at 11:30. http://www.mlsinseattle.com/
Awesome - thanks for the info! $50 deposit /seat for season tickets - not bad but no choice of section etc listed. Time to look at the budget... The countdown has begun!!
I agree, but don't forget - those are also MLS logo colors. So they may be trying to follow the MLS lead.
Just back from G&D. Drew Carey was there, along with Roth and Hanauer. The only major thing that was announced was a membership program, modeled after that at Barcelona. Those that are members get a vote on club matters. I'm sure all the important stuff will be announced tomorrow.
I like the membership program idea. I talked with the head of Soccer Silicon Valley a few months ago, and I mentioned Barcelona and how proud people were to be card carrying members of Barcelona FC and that I thought it would be neat of the Earthquakes could do something like that. Props to Seattle on actually doing it.
WE'VE GOT THE BEST OWNERS IN THE LEAGUE! WE'VE GOT THE BEST OWNERS IN THE LEAGUE! WE'VE GOT THE BEST OWNERS IN THE LEAGUE! WE'VE GOT THE BEST OWNERS IN THE LEAGUE! - Paul
They are going to drag it out until next Spring. But since they are using the club model with memberships, I think the hardcore fans will have a huge say in the name. And Drew Carey seems to be sensitive to what it is like to be a hardcore sports fan. I think he is on our side. SOUNDERS TIL I DIE! I'M SOUNDERS TIL I DIE! I KNOW I AM, I'M SURE I AM! I'M SOUNDERS TIL I DIE!!! - Paul
His is one of us. I wouldn't be suprised if he sits with the supporters group at the games. We sang the song in front of the ownership group today. Hopefully The will get the message. When Kiing 5 and KOMO interviewed me I kept referring to the Seattle Sounders legacy from the NASL days to now.
As much as I like the colors, I have to agree with Sport Billy in that it is probably more a part of the MLS branding. We will see...
On that note, I hope somebody can DVR the KING and KOMO news tonight. I may not be able to catch it and would like to see the reports.
And we have our very own marching band! Very cool! It was cool to have three of the four owners at the George & Dragon today. Awesome atmosphere, the ECS sounded fantastic, and I love this news about the membership program. Just listened to Drew Carey on KJR talk about it and he's pretty excited. They were talking about this model spreading into other sports and Drew said "can you imagine the Detroit Lions with a program like this?!" They will be showing a live webcast of the OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT tomorrow at 11:30 am PT at www.mlsinseattle.com.
I'm not entirely sure. Anyone remember what the colors were on the Houston, San Jose and Toronto websites? I know that Chivas was Chivas Guadalajara colors... but that was obvious. I don't remember any of the others being green and blue. But my memory for those things isn't reliable.
I hope the representatins on the first page are accurate. Those would be pretty nice! Can't wait to road trip. Laast time to Seattle, I had the best and biggest, most ridiculously good crab sandwich I've ever been lucky enough to taste. I'd like another.