I just had a really scary thought, and felt compelled to share it with everyone, and ask for their thoughts. (gotta love BS) What if this new ownership group is smart, does it's research, and is committed to making thier team IT in MLS. They could fire all the incompetent folks who've been screwing Metro (much to our thanks) for all these years. While not having a larger salary cap, they would/could have money to hire quality staff, and build quality infrastructure to support the team. Now - and this is where I got scared - what if they dropped a whole wad of cash in front of PW and said - this is yours if you can do in NY what you've done in Chicago. I mean - I can handle an MLS team in Milwaukee, and PW there. It's home for him. And nothing out of Milwaukee is ever really intimidating anyhow. But even the thought of Peter making any team in NYC solid gives me the willies. OK - so panic is over for me. Unlikely to happen and lots of 'ifs' listed here. But isn't that really the heart of good paranoia anyhow? FiredUP
Pretty sure Peter is totally committed to Milwaukee, and he is a guy who seems to be in it for more than just the money, so I don't think it's a big worry; but who knows, maybe the man himself will weigh in.
I don't think that is the 'scary thought' to be worried about. I think the real 'scary thought' is despite all we've invested financially, emotionally, and cronologically as fans/players/club; Johnny Boeing or the like could walk in tomorrow and relabel/rewrite all of it if his wad is big enough. This isn't necessarily a huge problem per se, but it's worrying if it becomes a trend. To add to it, as much as I think John is doing pretty well as head of the club - I don't know if when push comes to shove he'd stand up for our identity and tradition here in the face of serious galactic big bucks where you knew PW would, even if it was only symbolic. Even Kevin Payne, egomaniacal bastard that he is, would fight to the death to protect DC United's tradition. JG's first allegiance may well be to AEG, for all the good and bad that connotes. I don't think there's a huge chance we become Toyota FC tomorrow or even in ten years. And even if they did you're damn right they'd always be Chicago Fire to me and many others and we'd fight tooth and nail to keep that identity. But it may be clear that for the first time the fans may have a greater emotional investment in the club than any sum of the owners, front office and playing staff; who together hold 99.9% of the steering wheel driving things forward. Don't mean to be gloom and doom but it's all just got me thinking. I don't really give too much of a damn about the specific RB New York situation because it was the ********ing Metros. They were a disaster. A positive is, I suppose, that AEG may be more willing to sell us than previously thought. Theoretically all this shit we've spent a substantial portion of our lives on in every sense of the word could become meaningless in an instant. Then again, the earth could implode tomorrow too and I'm not overly worried about that.
The really scary thought is that if Red Bull shitcans all of Guppy's old cronies, AEG might give them jobs here.
I don't know why, but I'm actually surprised that you all have come up with much more scary scenario's than my first jump. Maybe it's the weather that's driving us all to depression. Makes me wish I was a drinker... Thanks guys
I'm sure that over time, we'll hate them as much as we ever have. But I must say, that, upon initial change of name - It's harder for me to hate a can of red bull than 'them'. At least they were an odious entity unto themselves. Now, they've sullied a beverage.
I hope this isn't the tip of the iceberg. I don't mind Red Bull buying the team, the less teams owned by AEG, the better, but incorporating the company name into the team name is a bonehead move that's going to backfire when the next trendy soda comes along and Red Bull goes belly up. I'd hate to see MLS team names change as frequently as ManU sponsors (Sharp, Vodafone, Mansion).
It was encouraging (though hollow) to hear Garber say this isn't something they see becomind a trend or even happening again. but then again, it's not his decision to make, it's AEG's. Half of me wishes I had the knowledge or financial muscle to put together a group to buy the club. It's apparent now if you throw the money at them, AEG will sell. Just as long as the guys who own the Storm aren't involved. Yeesh.
Forbes Fortune 400 folks who live in Chicago (data from 2003): I know people who MIGHT be able to get you meetings with either of the Pritzkers or Sam Zell. Sam's one of the minority owners of the Bulls (or was as of a half dozen years ago), so at least one person on that list is not opposed to owning a sports franchise. How do you want to play it?
You're pretty funny. What the eff would I even say? "Dude, you totally should give me 100 million dollars so we can buy into this soccer club that I think is the greatest and have some left over to purchase Raul's contract from Real Madrid. You've never heard of Raul? Or Real Madrid? How much money do I put in? Uh, I've got change for a 20!" A 23 year old college art/architecture student with zero business experience isn't exactly the guy to corral a multimillion dollar investment group. Then there is the whole business of convincing AEG it's worth their while to sell. It'd be a 4000 step process and we're at step negative 12. personally, if i can in some small way bring about this club membership idea (even though it really wouldn't be as meaningful as in some other situations) before losing my mind at 70 or so maybe i'll be content with how I've affected things.
Because I don't think he'll move and who would willingly move to New York just for money when they have a home and family and a job that pays them well enough as it is in a situation of his own devising? For me, Metro's problem has never been players or personell or even their staff (well, it's not their major problem), it's the fricking stadium that nobody wants to play in and nobody wants to visit. If and when they get Harrison, I expect their stock and quality of play to rise, but in the Ghettolands I expect them to always wash out in the first rounds of the playoffs, no matter who owns them. Red Bull may be serious about making a great team, but they have a number of hurdles to overcome before they can make a winner out of this one. They're not going to do what they did in Austria because the salary cap is going to stifle them and the parity of MLS is going to keep the lid on them just like everyone else no matter who is driving the bus. Afford 3 or 4 "star" players, 10 good ones and 14 people who just like being on the field.
If they threw a bunch of benjamins in front of him and he said sorry I am commited to Milwaukee I would slap him silly. To be GM of a team in the largest sport market in the US is an honor. Do you know how much good drugs that can buy????
I dont think the issue was that. lets be honest Metrostars were a failure from day one with the exception of a couple of decent seasons. No championships nothing to hang a banner for. NADA.. I think AEG told them fine the market is terrible go ahead and change it. BUT if the team had a succesful storied history with good crowds a successful chamionship name that everyone indentified with then its possible that AEG would say hey guys your better off incorporating your logo with the current team name. Like RedBull Fire FC. I think the teams historical failure was more a reason for the change. After all the METROMEDIA company named them the Metrotars, already a corporate name of the entity that bought them. Common sense would prevail, hopefully. AEG and MLS knew Metros were a dead brand associated with failure which is why i think it was allowed to happen. JMHO
Funny you mention that. I know people who could get him in front of the Pritzkers too. PM off list see if they are the same folks! Sam Zell as well. I used to work for him at 2 North Riverside plaza. Small world
i have architectural contacts that could get me in front of the pritzkers but talking about this is stupid. what on earth could i do aside from give them a tshirt?
I know for certain that at least one of the people listed on that list still plays soccer, saw his company invest in a major Euro club, and had the fire staff work his company summer picnic a few years back....
Passion and dreams sometimes move these guys. But what most of them need to see if a strong business case. I bet you could PW to give some show of support. Either help with a strong presentation, or a strong, experienced voice in the 'industry.' Heck - The worst thing that could happen is that they'd say no. Where would you be. At least you would have taken a shot. I don't think I'd have the passion to try and pull it off, but for some of you guys who do give your heart and soul to it - might have a shot. A long one - but hey - at least give it a try. All it takes is the right presentation, at the right time. Optimism is fine - so long as reality doesn't destabalize you once it hits : - ) I'm assuming that Sparky G must be talking about one of the two guys who is under 40. I hope to high heaven that none of the 70 year olds are still playing!!!