I know this is a dead horse, but I wish the game wasn't happening. First they didn't have the decency to schedule one game against an MLS team. Now they get their own GRASS FIELD for one flucking exhibition game. How does that make the MetroStars look on their fake pitch? How does it loook that ManU won't step on the field with one of our domestic teams? It's a blow to American soccer's image and we really don't need it. Fluck those bastards.
You make it sound like if someone is treating them "special". They're not. Its all about MONEY. MONEY TALKS AND BULLSH!TE WALKS. Plain and simple. If Metro was bringing in 50K+ a week they'll get the same treatment also.
80,000 people at what I'm guessing will be an average ticket price of about $60 = $4.8 million 15,000 cars at $15 a pop = $225,000 Concessions, assuming $5 a person = $400,000 Total revenue: $5.425 million. You show me any time when Metro - or any MLS team - have ever brought in $5 million in a single night.
Isn't that part of the point - this is a one night event? MetroStars have put butts in Giants Stadium for seven years, on all secondary dates, and they have no say in the turf situation. Are the Metros marketing this game? Weren't they originally against it? If the Metros were going to get nothing out of this but a kick in the balls, couldn't they ask the NJ Sports commission not to support it? Yes, Bobbi Fleckman, money talks etc. You're brilliant. But doesn't Giants Stadium get more $ out of the MetroStars in the long run?
By all accounts, yes they do have a say in what turf goes down at GS. We've had at least three consecutive years of horrible "real" grass, so wouldn't FieldTurf be at least worth a shot? The issue of whether or not to keep the MUFC / Juve grass is irrelevant. The NJSEA grounds crew has shown no ability to maintain grass for the last three years, so after the big-money match it would wither and die and become a hazard for Metro again. But if a temporary pitch is what it takes to make a couple million in one night, the NJSEA will do it. You should hang out here more. NJSEA vs. Metro was all the talk of last year, but now they're buddies. Metro like ChampionsWorld, too. It's the new world order in NYC soccer. Honestly, no, they don't. The long-term gains from keeping traveling major Euro clubs and ChampionsWorld happy far outweigh the long-term gain of keeping Metro happy, especially considering that Nick has already called '03 the team's penultimate season in GS.
Grrr. Even though (A.) I think field turf is NOT worth the experiment and (B) I dislike the above referenced "new world order" (see above referenced "kick in the balls") and (C.) it's only logical the MetroStars blowhard pursuit of their own stadium is now counterproductive to their negotiations with NJSEA, I should hang out here more often because your post was edjumacational. Thanks. ...especially for what looks like the suggestion that the follow-up to "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out" is finally on its way. Greatest Greatest Greatest frickin' album. How close is that Harrison stadium to 'Boken?
Re: Grrr. No problem. The idea now is that Metro can move to Harrison but still use GS for doubleheaders like when Ecuador or Colombia comes to town. Will they? Probably -- those games can draw 40K+, and 1-2 games a year wouldn't be the death of us. There really are few options when it comes to the turf. GS is used too much to get grass its necessary root structure, and the field crew is not competent enough to do anything about it. If FieldTurf causes injuries, then it's inexcusable. But enough European teams use it for practice fields that I think it's worth a shot. Yes, yes it is. Four stops on PATH, though you have to switch trains during the week.
It really is all about the money and not the fans when it comes to any and all decisions about the Metros and games at GS. So what if the Metros look like goofs? So what if Man U doesn't want to play against an American team. The bottom line in MFO and Metro management is making money. Die hard fans' opinions mean nothing.
They're not the only ones. The scalpers could make a decent buck. Great! Exactly what we need. More fat guys standing off of Rt 3 with signs saying, "I need Tickets!"
If the concessions suck like at spartan stadium it would be more like $1.25 per fan as only 1 in 6 to 8 fans would buy that crappy 7-11 or lower quality stuff for crazy money. LA is better but they are on the decline (drink cost is going up / quality down).
I don't know what's this attitude against 7-11. 7-11s are great. Once i met Chungy in a 7-11. I said, "hey Chungy". He said, "yo". I said, "what you doing?" He said, "I'm getting some beef jerky." I said, "cool. You are amazing. I love you." He said, "get lost." I said, "why?" Then he remembered who I was and signed my 196 MLS player card of him I carry in my wallet wherever I go. God bless you, Chungy. God bless.
Hmmm... Seems I remember every time a Euro club comes to play another Euro club everyone argues how these Euro clubs are coming here to the US and aren't willing to play any US sides. Yet when a Euro club comes and plays a US side everyone argues "why are we wasteing our time playing these Euro friendlies. Our players need to concentrate on the season. We need to rest our better players, give them time to recover from injuries, etc..." We don't want our Metros to play against ManU anyway.
Re: Re: Fluck Man United You would have to recognize there are very small number of fans with that view. The problem you are facing is more about money then anything else. The metros stand to loose no matter what, if they play Man U and win people say Man U didn't try hard, they played with reserves. If Man U wins , people will say ,yes MLS sux. On top of this a Man U apperance fee just won't be fesiable for MLS to pay, not if only 15 k show up. I was surprised at the low attendance at metro games when they had doubleheaders with other foreign teams, I don't know anymore what gives. True, Metrostars just never advertise this games.
I run into a lot of "fans" (and have been attacked by many on this website) that think these teams send inferior squads full of "unknowns" with "three numbers on their backs." They think their being swindled or something. Well, I'd like to see the MLS teams take on these "inferior squads" a little more often and we'll see about inferior. By the way, has anyone noticed that the former MLS all-time great, Luis Hernandez, now with VeraCruz, has been wearing # 114. (NO, I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP!)
Did you call Luis Hernandez an MLS all-time great or was that sarcasm that I just didn't get? Listen, the AC Milan vs Metros game last year was so boring. There were some nice reserve players, no doubt, but the Metros brought out their reserves too. Honestly, I couldn't stand the match. Why should I waste my time watching that? It's if a college team from here went to Argentina to play basketball. I highly doubt that anyone would show up.
Let me put it nicely: THE GUY'S AN EMBARRASSMENT. How the hell Mexico let him near (much less on) the field during the World Cup is something I still can't fathom.
You are absolutely right, since the metros management are not serious, neither are the fans. Question is, Will They Ever Learn ?
What's ManUre's cut? The honchos of MLS are missing a great deal, here. Cancel the season. Fire the players and coaches. Use their money to bring in Arsenal and some big clubs to play 4 matches across the country. They could even call it Major League Soccer. The average American doesn't want soccer, and the average immigrant/ex-pat doesn't want American soccer (unless it's South American or Mexican). AEG could run rings around ChampionsWorld and corner the market within a year. As for the rest of us, there's always the A-League and the faint hope the US would qualify for the next World Cup. Fortunately, St.Phil, Lamar and Co. do care about soccer as a part of American life, not just a marketing ploy for a quick return (God knows the've yet to see anything like that!). I didn't go to the Real/Roma circus, and I sure won't spend money to see ManU. I wouldn't mind a gander at Arsenal, though.
Well, I will be boycotting this game! Why would I want to fly all the way the New Jersey to see Man Utd play Juve. Instead, I will take a 20 minute tram ride and watch them on Wednesday night instead. If only 1% of the 80K people attending the NJ game think, "Hey, I want to watch more Soccer and will come to Metros games" then I am all for it. Anything that raises the profile of soccer is good for me. Sponge. p.s. Can we trade Clint for Ryan Giggs please?
The only Metro vs International team I liked was Metro vs Bayern Munich. All others were underwhelming, especially Boca
The position I have always had is this: there is no rerason for Metros to be playing against teams of Champions League caliber. How about Fulham, Southampton, Aston Villa? If these teams brought their starting sides to play against Metros I would attend because it would be a genuinely good game that the Metros might be able to get a good result from. Anyone else see where I am coming from?