It looks like Richmond had a very good season. Too bad the final wasnt' in Richmond. What's the latest news on a soccer specific stadium for the team? I heard that goochland turned down the idea.
Richmond had a great season! They just fell short in the final. Look for them to make another strong run to get to the final though. If they got a soccer specific stadium, that would be great. I'd have season tickets.
They won't be getting a soccer specific stadium in the near future, but it looks like they'll be playing at Sportsbackers Stadium for the 2003 season. That's an unreal stadium and facility...holds about 4,000, which would be perfect for them, rather than the huge U of R Stadium which costs a ton to rent...
But Why? Sportsbacker seems like a great choice. It was a severe shock for me to go to the U of R stadium and watch the Kickers for the first time. Given that I had season tickets to the Metrostars, I was not prepared for such a quiet crowd. I wanted to know if anybody knew why they're not getting a stadium. Is it their priority. I want a Blackbaud like stadium down here.
why not now? How is not having a SSS preventing you from having season tickets today? I would think that if you wanted to support the team you would buy season tickets no matter where they play.
They won't get a stadium of their own for a LONG time, if ever. The city doesn't have a new soccer stadium as a high priority, so we'll have to go to Sportsbackers in the meantime. When I was there for the Richmond/Rochester game, I thought the atmosphere was incredible, better than anything else I've seen in a few years. Yeah, it's a bit smaller and the parking isn't as easy, but I really enjoyed being there. Should make for an interesting 2003 campaign...
The reference to Goochland County is, I believe, incorrect. I am not aware that the Kickers sought to put a stadium there. However, the Richmond STRIKERS, a youth club, unsuccessfuly sought zoning approval to put a facility (fields, etc.) in Goochland. Personally, I prefer City Stadium. It allows you to get right close to the action. The size of Sportsbackers in nice, but having the running track between the stands and the field is a big disadvantage.
Re: why not now? I like your style... I am buying season tickets next year no matter where they play because I want to support a professional team in the community. I'm not used to such a laid back crowd, but that never stopped me before. As for my line of questioning, I want to know whether the Kickers front office has prioritized a SSS for themselves. My primary reason for wanting to know is that a SSS brings uptold revenue to the club. Charleston is very tough team to beat, I credit this to them having more revenue by having Blackbaud. I also think this is why they were the only A League club who could buy Arce and Wynalda. So to reiterate, does anybody know if the Kickers are planning to build a stadium? I read that goochland turned the soccer complex idea down. Has anybody heard more?
I was out of town for that one and was livid for missing that one. I'm looking forward to next year and curious about any new aquisitions.
To answer your question, no, they are not planning on building one any time soon. It is just not realistic for them. How do I know? I've asked members of the front office. Obviously, the goal is to get one, but they need to establish a stronger fan base and do a few other things before even thinking about building a stadium. Charleston can afford their players because their ownership group has a ton of money and the like to spend it. Richmond isn't quite as lucky. They have to be smart... Besides (and I mean NO disrespect by saying this), all of the money Charleston has spent hasn't really won them anything yet.
SSS Stadiums Stadium projects cost LOTS of money - so where does that come from. Most A-League clubs are struggling from year to year as it is, never mind putting up $$$ for a soccer-specific stadium! The Charleston Battery are part of a unique situation with ownership willing to part with their own money to finance such a projet - the stadium did not provide the funds! "Blackbaud" Stadium is named after the computer company, which is the owenership group of the team. I've never seen "Sportsbackers" in Richmond, but have seen Kickers games at UoR City Stadium...that place is very big for the market. - but whatever you do, BUY SEASON TICKETS to whatever local team is near you! This support not only helps teams with their budgets & cashflow - it helps them get into the doors of local businesses for SPONSORSHIP $$$$ because the team can say "Look at how many season tickets we've already got for next season - don't you want your company to get that exposure?!"
my doctor (Dr. Cutter) and my dad were discussing plans for a huge sports complex in chesterfield where the kickers were going to relocate. so maybe in 2 years the kickers will have a new home.
I think the soccer complex is going to be the home of the youth teams. I'm not sure if they'll be able ot build a big enough stadium on the site they want to put it. I could be wrong, though.
Re: why not now? Well I would have had them for this season but I didn't get my license untill a few weeks ago. So next year I have to decide if I'm going to have season tickets of DC United of the Kickers or if I'm just going to randomly buy tickets to both teams and flip flop each week.
It's the real name of the UR stadium, because it's owned by the City of Richmond and leased by UR for $1 per year (UR then pays for all the maintenance). Some members of City Council want to sell it off to real estate developers; UR, awash in dough, would then presumably build a stadium on campus. I like the stadium for soccer--it just needs 10,000 more people per game. The USA/T&T qualifier they held there in 97 and the NCAAs were great. But Sportsbackers is pretty close to a soccer specific stadium, and if Lazio can put up with a running track I guess we can too. Just don't move to Burbs!
From my article in the pre-season: You think the Kickers will eventually need a stadium to call their own? LC: I think the number one priority is the fields for youth kids, the stadium will be last. I think we want to make sure that we have excellent facilities to develop the children in our program, the children in all of Richmond to be honest. I'd like everyone in the Richmond area to be able to play, train, develop their skills at the facility. Sportsbackers isn't bad but I would prefer the stands to be moved forward. Also those portable "sub benches" block some of the action.
Qualifier A qualifier. God, how I wish a MNT qualifier would land itself in Richmond. What's the liklihood of that happening again?
No doubt about Charleston not getting the silverware they hoped for. I do still muse over how nice it might be to have that much cash flow for talent. I'm not sure about the cost regarding stadia. I have some mixed opinions based on what I saw in New Jersey. The Metrostars front office has spent a lot of time and effort to get a stadium - a big stadium, a stadium with retail space, and other amenities. It seemed that the whole scope of the project was getting out of hand. I credit them for choosing a location in Harrison which is God awful to the eyes and putting something substantial there (we hope). Yet, I'm still left wondering that if they only scaled down their ambitions to create a bare bones soccer stadium, would it have been up by now. Southern bleachers built Crew Stadium, Hofstra Stadium, and numerous others. I shall have to look up the costs to know how much is LOTS OF MONEY. My question to you is, what OTHER things do you think they need to fix. I'll start you off... THE WEBSITE.
Just throwing out a quistion for the Richmond fans. Are you any of you guys in The CornerKicks? I know some people on this board are but some I am not sure about?