http://www.mlsnet.com//news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090923&content_id=7115024&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp So typical of Nick Sack... It looks like they're opening up vs. DC. While I like the idea of opening against a rival, I definitely am not a fan of this decision. Why not play a few games on the road?
probably because they don't want the union to open the season 0-4 or whatever it would be. expansion teams historically don't do well on the road. play a couple at home, even a temp home like lfc, and get some wins and build up the excitement for union soccer!
That's PU's first HOME game, not their first game. By the April 10 game, they should have already had two away games.
Sorry.. I forgot where I was.. I shall now officially correct myself and state that my initial post in this thread should have read: OMG!!!!! That's so messed up!!! WTF is wrong with MLS!! With the World Cup break they only have 29 weeks to fit in 30 games and PU isn't playing a single game until the third week of the season?? WTF. We should immediately start an email writing campaign to Garber's office and demand that he resign!! Or kick a puppy. Whichever.
Because I clearly was hysterical and ranting in my first post? Grow up. Anyone who has followed this league for more than 2 years would know that as usual, Nick Sakiewicz promised something related to a stadium timeline and he was wrong...again. Pardon me for pointing out the irony of that situation.
As a Union Season ticket holder, I really don't care.... as long as the team is playing somewhere I'm happy.... 1 or 2 games at the linc isn't the end of the world.... I just hope we fill it out pretty good, maybe get close to that 35K or so they are capping it at..... I'm sure DC will bring plenty of fans up too.... it should be fun. besides both stadiums are about equally easy to get to from my house, so what do I care?
What exactly did Nick S promise? He promised everyone that there was no possibility what so ever that the new SSS might not be ready for the very first home game? Really?
Hold a grudge much? And how does anything Sakiewicz does anymore impact you in any way? Seriously, get over it already. What's a couple extra weeks to a highly fast-tracked construction schedule in the grand scheme of things? Hell, we could have a terrible winter, and mother nature could push the schedule back even further ... hopefully the building envelope is completed by then and all the work is occurring inside, so it's more or less a non-issue. And for those who haven't seen, here are construction photos as of Monday, September 21st. [ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewdillon/sets/72157622432153764/show/"]Seaport Drive Construction Photos [09.21.2009][/ame]
This could turn out to be a good thing for Philly franchise. Opening at Lincoln gives the opportunity to market the first game real hard, maybe offer some group discounts for youth clubs, etc. And some DCU supporters will come, including me, adding to the atmosphere. Then a month or two later you get to hold another big media event with the first game in the new stadium, so two big publicity events to introduce the team to the Philly public.
Not only that, but it will expose the live experience of MLS to more than the season ticket holders, thus creating further demand. This may be a shrewd move on the ownership's part. But the no banners, except Joe Banner, rule at the Linc sucks a nut.
There is no irony in that situation, unless maybe you're Alanis Morrissette. Anyway, this seems like it's not a big deal at all. If they were scrapping the whole Chester stadium and playing at the Linc permanently, then maybe there'd be reason to complain.
Why so pessimistic? There are 10,000 season tickets sold already. And "International soccer matches...played at Lincoln Financial Field, featuring teams like AC Milan, Chelsea, and Barcelona...have featured attendance numbers of over 60,000." (http://www.examiner.com/x-7377-Philadelphia-Soccer-Examiner~y2009m4d7-Professional-soccer-returns-to-Philadelphia)
And the Dick continues to hold the record for being the only SSS erect enough to host First Kick as its grand opening