It looks to me like a Rev Team that does well enough to advance in the USA Cup, the Champions League and into the playoffs could be playing 40 or more games. With an 18 man senior roster I think that's unrealistic. What do you think?
I am hoping the league expand the Rosters as has been rumored about. Some are saying we could see a 21 or 22 man squad for 2003. The CCC, MLS season, and possibly a couple of friendlies are what I think the Revs should play, skip the USOC, it is meaningless. SUPAH REVOLUTION!!
A very reliable source who regularly covers DC United for the media, John Dyson (who posts here under the nick "Diceson"), has mentioned that the rumor is that 1 or 2 developmental spots will probably be added to the roster, not 1 or 2 full roster spots. This makes sense as our youth talent is increasing rapidly and our 10 teams don't have that many spots for them. Currently there is an 18 man full roster and a 4 player developmental roster. The developmental players make a hideously low amount per year unless they are P-40 player (taken out of high school or college on a special P-40 program contract). The P-40 players can make any amount that the league and team feels is appropriate, but most are in the 30-40k range. Developmental spots that are not P-40 make less than 20k, which is difficult to live on in most MLS cities. So, the roster increase will likely be almost exclusively P-40 players, all age 21 or younger and most aged 19 or younger. -Tron
From the Capobianco/Nicol press release: "Season tickets for the Revolution 2003 season are available now. Individuals that purchase Revolution Season Tickets between now and November 15th will get a FREE certificate to a New England Revolution soccer clinic, to be run by a Revolution player and coach. Season ticket prices are $240 (Category III), $340 (Category II) and $440 (Category I). The season ticket package is composed of 20 games, including Revolution regular season matches and special events (could include U.S. National Team friendly matches, International games, U.S. Open Cup and/or Revolution playoff games), as well as many other benefits available through the "Center Circle" credential that will be provided to all season ticket holders. To order season tickets or for more information, call the Revolution toll-free at 1-877-GET-REVS." So to get 20 home games let's start with 14 regular season games, 3 CONCACAF Champions' League home games (they haven't finalized the format, but in past years it was a group of four, so that would be 3 home and away games). That's 17, one more for the Man U game, and that gives us 18. So where do we get the other 2 games? A US friendly, or an Open Cup game perhaps? Or even if they included a playoff game or two I wouldn’t have a problem. Or the CCC may have fewer games, if they don’t go with the Group format. In any event, they would have to include those games in the season ticket package. If they can’t promote a game with a familiar team from an obscure place like Chicago or Columbus, how will they get people to come see Communicaciones, Cruz Azul and Joe Public? There’s a rather disturbing thread elsewhere in BigSoccer where the rumor is that the league is considering having each team play a couple of friendlies vs foreign clubs and have them count in the league standings. Play the friendlies and include them in the season ticket package, sure, but that idea ought to be taken outside and shot! Tom
I don't know about Joe Public, but if they played Communicaciones or Cruz Azul, they'd sell a gazillion tickets w/o any promotion. Of course they wouldn't be rooting for the Revs, but ...
I think we can count on seeing the "Shoot Out" back before we see such a crazy idea. If we were to have games with teams from out of MLS count in the standings the outside teams would need to have played all MLS teams. Now if someone is suggesting having a Mexican or Canadian team as a guest participant in the league for the 2003 season it would be ___________!
Tom, I'm hoping Evan or someone else who was at the Summit can correct me or tell me I'm right, but I thought I had heard Garber mention that they were actually going to lengthen the schedule, both games wise and time wise (going into November for the MLS Cup). I don't remember if he said a number of games (up to 32?) or not though. Evan? Amy? Jon? Beuller? Monty
From what I recall... The season will be extended, ending with MLS Cup being played in November. I do not recall Garber saying the number of matches would be increased. There will be a mid-season "break" where MLS clubs will compete in some fashion of a tournament featuring high profile clubs from around the world... this while any number of MLS players will be off on National Team duty in the Confederations Cup, etc. I don't think they're lengthening the MLS season. So let's assume that as part of those 20 games we have Open Cup matches, possible playoff matches, the Manchester United match (makes too much sense not to include as part of a season-ticket package) and perhaps one U.S. friendly. Then again, there's a rumor going around that the mid-season tournament matches might actually count with respect to the league records... sounds kinda far-feteched, but then, those could also be matches which could be included in the season ticket package. Who knows.... The Magpie
Interesting From today's Globe ... "The US national team will be based at Gillette Stadium during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, scheduled for July 12-27 next year, Gulati said. ''This will be the best schedule of games since the 1994 World Cup tournament,'' Gulati said. Well that sounds really interesting...
Re: Interesting I may have just found the final reason for jumping back into 'season-ticket-holder' status! This would be huge for soccer in New England! Scott
14 home games 1 man u match 2-3 gold cup games 1 c.c.c. match 1 usoc and/or p.o. that about takes care of it.
O.k., here's what it could look like: 14 regular season MLS matches... 1 Manchester United match... 2-3 gold cup games... 1 CONCACAF Champions Cup Match... 1 Open Cup or Playoff Match... If that's about right then yeah, season-tickets here I come. The Magpie
Never any doubt about renewing for me (what a difference a year makes, huh?) Based on past formats of tournaments (which are always subject to change), my guess would be the CONCACAF Cup would be 3 games (4-team groups) and the Gold Cup as 2 games (3-team groups). Then the Man U match would be the 20th game. I'd guess that if they decided to un-bundle any of these games with the season tickets, the USA games would certainly be a better bet for standalone game sales. And I have no problem with them including a playoff game or two as an extra ticket in the season ticket package. I honestly can't see them using Gillette for the Open Cup, and I believe there was a suitable stadium (Brown U?) they had considered last year. In general, I think they ought to play all Open Cup matches at the home of the lower league team whenever possible, provided they have a suitable field (yeah, I know, that's a big if, considering the places some of these teams play). So for the good of the game, I say let the Revs take out their passports and get out the Canadian 65-cent dollars for their trip to Saginaw for our bi-annual date with the Mid-Michigan Bucks. Tom
don't know if anyone noticed or wrote about this already somewhere else.....revs website says 2003 season tix include: 15 regular season matches 1 mls playoff match 4 major international matches did anyone ever get a better handle on those "4 intl matches"? 1. man u 2-4. now, do we think 3 gold cup match dates....or 2 g.c.'s and the home date for the first round of the ccc....or is there a random international in there somewhere that is just a plain friendly?
you know....i just caught that "15 reg season matches" thing. did i miss something? has mls announced a revamped 30 game season already?
I talked to Craig T Sunday and he said that the CCC would not be group play like we had assumed. Apparently we are a "big" club, and we will go to the knockout stage. Whether that means the round of 16 is a knockout is another matter. He also said that the CCC games would not be part of the season ticket package and would likeley be played at one of our "auxilliary" home fields, like Chicopee (W. Mass Pioneers), New Britain (CT Wolves) or maybe Providence (Brown U). So we can speculate on a few things as to how we get to 20 games: The "15 MLS games" might include the first playoff game, which would ease the crunch of selling on really short notice when we might not even know the opponent, dtae/time, or sequence at the last home game. Or it could be a 30 game league schedule which would be easy enough to do: 4 games vs own division (16) 2 games vs the other division (10, 26 toal), and one additional game each vs 4 teams from the other division (or a home-home with 2 of them). If the Gold Cup has 3-team groups, then there will be 2 first round games, and the second round game would likely be included as well. And the Man U game would make 20. Any Gold Cup and CCC final round games would probably be extra tickets that we could get at the usual discount. And I'd also guess that any home Open Cup ties would be played at one of the other "home" fields somewhere in New England. Tom
tom, thanks for the info. just some questions/clarifications: 1. the ccc was played entirely as home and away matches last year (in "knockout" format) and from all concacaf website indications....its not changing this season. [though b/f last year's tourney...speculation was that this event would switch over to a 4-team in 4 groups format by the 2003 edition]. ayway, i've looked everywhere since mls cup and haven't seen any indications that its a mixed bag. they could be changing it, yet again...for the umpteenth time, i suppose though. 2. i don't think there will be a time where they go to odd numbers of game v teams. i'd be inclined to think they'd play 4 matches in their division and 4 game against 2 teams in the other if there is, in fact, 30 reg season matches. i'll dig around some more to see if other bds are talking about this. 3. fda makes the comment today that the us will "be based" at foxboro for the g.c.....that 3 game scenario seems feasible, but leaves me wondering where the semis and finals would be. i'd think if foxboro has it locked up already...it'd be part of the package. anyway, sounds like a most interesting 2003 is on tap.