2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup: Both Revs games in Costa Rica

Did they sell the game to Alajuela, or did they just say 'not interested'? cause while dumb either way it's profoundly dumb if the second.

Seems odd after they talked about maybe playing matches in New Britain, Providence, or whatever.

Cap it off with the fact that this is one of the closer first round matchups. Alajuela is a good team.

 

a) If this is true, it is indeed indefensible, even if they had to play in Williamstown.

b) Magpie, I would recommend in not being too rash and not renewing your season tix. No need to cut off your nose to spite your face (or however the saying goes). Get the tix but write the most mean-spirited letter to the Vice-Pres, the GM and Pres you can muster. Then send it to the letters to the editor section of the Globe and the Herald.

I don't think the players or Nicol would put up with this. I just don't.

 

This is shocking. What better way to expand the fan base in the New England region by getting Costa Ricans to the stadium.

Perhaps there's a rush to judgement, or maybe an error somewhere...

 

Soccer America has New England as the home team, but has the site as (TBD), i.e. to be determined. SA

I would assume it is a typo.

If it is not, then it would be shocking!

 

No final decision yet.

As I posted on the Revs forum...

I just got off the phone with someone from the Revs office.

No decision has been made about where to play the 'home' leg.

Clearly, Gillette Stadium has been ruled out. They are actively searching for another venue, but I am told that they have not found a suitable one, yet. I am told that with the feet and inches of snow on the ground, it has been difficult to evaluate the conditions of the local pitches.

Playing in Florida is an option as is playing both games in CR.

 

Re: No final decision yet.

When seeing this phrase repeated, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

 

why the hell is Gillette "not an option" ??

 

I do prey to the Gods that MLS and the Revs have more brain then to play both games in CR. Worst case senarion ( maybe not that bad idea) to use this game in a potential expansion city to test the market, but give the Revs some kind of home feel as well. Of course best would be to have it at home stadium.

 

That's my question, too.

 

Probably too expensive to open for the likely attendence. Is this game part of the season ticket package?

Sachin

 

It's obviously a typo. Anything else would be unheard of, and that's just not the case. Rest assured - there will be a home game somewhere for the Revs.

 

It's obviously a typo. Anything else would be unheard of, and that's just not the case. Rest assured - there will be a home game somewhere for the Revs.
So roarkstown1, you really think you know? These are the Krafts we are talking about, so I wouldn't be sure. I hope you are, but...

Well, I called the Revs office, and after listening through a recording hyping a game that happened 4 months ago, I got a guy in sales. I gave him a piece of my mind in a polite way, since he was just the messinger, etc.

He said that they had "discussed" various options read: other potential stadiums in New England, i.e. Providence, New Britian, Nickerson Field (Breakers) Ludlow (D3 WMass Pioneers), and "none of them could guarantee that the field would be playable. Obviously the field at Gillette would be playable, since they have undersoil heating and we knew that we'd be in this tournament the moment we sent the Crew packing in mid-October.

The Revs have clearly made their choice. They don't want to open up Gillette for the game, even if it was part of the season ticket package and would be guaranteed at least 6,000+ tickets sold. And God forbid, they might get even more if they promoted the @#*&%$# game (maybe the phone message on 1-877-GET-REVS might be a start, huh?)

We should let them know that this is not acceptable, and that playing both legs in Costa Rica is a disgrace. Winning one game against a good team down there will be difficult enough, but winning two will be near impossible.

There is a petition going around and we are asking all fans (even of other teams) to sign this. Hopefully I got the URL right. Thank you for your support.

N.E. Revolution to play their "HOME" leg at home
http://www.petitiononline.com/revsccc/petition-sign.html

Tom

 

Don't the Krafts own the stadium? How can it be more expensive for them than for the Galaxy (who are renting out Titan Stadium in Fullerton for their home game) or the Quakes (who are renting out Spartan Stadium for their home game)?

I gotta go with the Revs fans on this one -- the Krafts suck. Sure, opening up Gillette costs money, since you gotta pay the staff for parking and concessions, etc. but at least the other MLS teams are making the effort in this competition even if it may be a financial hit for them.

 

Apparently you're unfamiliar with our management/ownership. I'd put a home game in NE at no higher than 40%.

 

This must be a typo. Any suggestion that a mid-February storm jeopardizes an early April game is insane. Play the game at some college and hire Hell's Angels to do security. Make it BYOB.

 

Bring Your Own Biker?

 

Bring your own Bitch?

 

Wow, that's pretty harsh. With the winter we've had, there is zero guarantee that any grass field in New England will be playable in late March.

I'm guessing a game like this wouldn't attract 1000 fans to Foxboro. Keep in mind there's a good chance that it'll be raining with temperatures in the low 30's.

I'm wondering if they might actually make money playing Costa Rica because I would assume they would get a larger share of the gate.

 

What an apologist.

Play it in another US city. Like the MLS test games in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Just don't play the game in Costa Rica.

If you're worried about money - just keep winning and advancing. You'll get some nice warm weather games.

 

I will fully agree that the Krafts suck, but perhaps another reason that they are taking this tournament less seriously than others is that these CONCACAF clubs don't have the same drawing power in New England that they do in the rest of the country. If the Revs can get past the first round, they will likely face America (unless America tanks the first round, since they probably don't care about this tournament). Pretty much anywhere else in MLS, except Columbus, where they will take the tournament seriously simply because the folks running that team have more clue, the prospect of a competitive match against America would give the GM visions of many dollar signs and cause them to do whatever possible to get past a difficult opponent like Alajuelense. But the greater Boston area isn't crawling with Americrap fans, so the Pats/Revs management doesn't care.

Of course, they should have been spending the last 7 years building a loyal and knowledgeable fan base that would show up regardless of the popularity of the opponent, but they are the Krafts, after all. Though the lack of a large number of fiercely loyal home fans is a problem for all MLS teams.

 

This is the God's truth, ask any Quakes fan about the Krafts and they'll tell you the same.

 

Looks like Seattle's available March 29th. Probably get 20,000 just because they want to see some soccer after being broomhandled by USSF, who as the match kicks off will still be saying "we expect Japan to show up any minute..."

Kevin