http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/103666398078660.xml Surprising part of the story is that even if the Metros move in 2005 to Harrison, they still might play some of their games at GS (which is as likely as the Harrison stadium being built). It will be interesting to see how they work together to "co-promote" these international games when Zoffinger prefers bringing the "big-name" clubs, while Nick prefers bringing Colombian teams.
A once-a-year trip to a high-quality doubleheader at GS wouldn't bug me too much. My only concern would be that Ecuador-Haiti would be considered "high quality".
I think this 'Nick prefers Colombian teams' thing is a bit shopworn by now, don't you? I mean, how many friendlies have we had against Colombian teams in the last couple years? Maybe one? This year we played an Italian team, an Argentine team, and a Mexican team, so this thing about us only playing to the Colombian crowd doesn't hold much water IMO. I'm sensing that you'd rather see more European teams - but really, unless it's against one of the top 2 or 3 teams from most European leagues (perhaps the top 4 or 5 from England, Italy or Spain), a friendly against a European opponent just isn't going to draw any more than a friendly against a Colombian team. Sure, Bayern or Real would pack em in, but spending the kind of money it would take to bring them in would be insanity. And bringing in the second-tier likes of Olympiakos, Aston Villa or yes, Croatia Zagreb probably isn't going to be an appreciable improvement on those teams we've been bringing in anyway. I'm not saying they shouldn't look to bring in teams from all over, just that it's a bit simplistic to say that all Metro cares about is the Colombians.
I know, all of Astoria would turn out for it!!! I wish we would get mre eastern-Euro teams, great talent and it shouldn't cost a lot as far as getting them to show up
F that, I was more stricken by this: "MetroStars general manager Nick Sakiewicz said, however, that the team has the right to back out of the contract if its attempts to build a stadium in Harrison fall apart within the next six months and the team winds up moving out of the Meadowlands." Am I wrong in assuming here if Harrison falls apart that they will actually hurry up the process of changing venues?
I think the NJSEA and the Metros have already buried the hatchet - right in the back of each and every Metrostars fan who have devoted their loyalty to this team and been rewarded with sh!t each and every season.