Pre/In/Post: July 4th 7pm New York Red Bull at Colorado Rapids.

You think it will sell out? I sure hope so. I only predicted 15,000 but I may be wrong. A sell out would be great.

 

I think its a huge red flag if it doesn't. One thing the Rapids FO has always been able to count on is a 4th of July crowd. If that's gone away they have to know they're in trouble.

 

Well, they kinda screwed up their last 4th of July party and probably turned off a few of the causual soccer fans/fireworks watchers.

 

May the recent run of beating down the Red Bulls continue!

Red Bulls are in Harrisburg, PA tonight for a USOC match against a motivated City Islanders side featuring ex-Bull Danny Cepero in the net. Hopefully some energy is expended there, but they did seem to use their bench against us. Their last match against KC was mostly won on gaffes and missed opportunities. If the Rapids can regroup defensively, we should win this match.

As for casual fans and last year's mother-of-all-cock-ups, my neighbor who asked me for tickets this year didn't even remember the whole thing because of the make-up show. The interest for the game in this neighborhood seems higher than ever, so I am hopeful for a sellout.

 

I watched the highlights of the Red Bull v KC match too and all the goals were the result of screw-ups on the part of KC, and I mean big screw-ups. There is no reason that the Rapids can't win this match.

It will be interesting to see if the quality of play is better than last week.

 

It feels like a lifetime since the last home match. Cannot wait. Don't see why we can't get 3 points against the metroscum. We were playing well prior to the break. Hopefully most of the rust was shaken off last Saturday, they've got a midweek game and they're gonna be at altitude of course. Gonna be a good time regardless.

 

It does seem like forever since we've seen the Rapids in person. From here on out, we will get to see a lot of them with three home matches in July, two in August, three in September and two in October.

I am assuming that we see the same starters and ofrmation as last week with the possible excpeption of perhaps Clark starting rather than Smith.

 

I expect the exact same line up. Jamie Smith wasn't huge last week, but Clark didn't do anything as his replacing to warrant a change.

I'm hoping for a lot more cohesion in central defense, which includes midfield.

 

Probably not a good sign that I just got an email for a ticket in the Premium East Stands and a mini American flag for $20.

 

Midfield seats for some, tiny American flags for others!

Is Rapids July 4 attendance affected by the Rockies' schedule? They're at home and also doing a fireworks show this season.

 

I think they've been up against each other in the past. If anything's hurting the Rapids it would last year's debacle.

 

Rockies are doing there shows on Fri/Sat. Thay shouldn't be am issue

 

I freaked a little when I got that email too. This game has drawn what - 50,000 people in the past at Mile High? If it's not a sell out at 18,000 ...

 

My neighbors didn't even mention it, they said they've gone the past few years and will likely come again Sunday.

 

The Rockies play at 1 pm on the 4th...Sunday afternoon.

 

Well, gee, those fireworks won't look good at all.

 

The game will sell out, I'm still fairly confident of that. The difference (and issue) at work here is that I think there are going to be a lot of walk-ups. That is the real issue here because people are not perceiving this as an event where the demand is high. That is a sign that the perceived value of the product has eroded, even though in reality it has not.

 

My family has usually been excited about Rapids game for the 4th. Unfortunately this year the memory of last year's debacle is still fresh in their minds and I'm having trouble getting them to want to go. So at least in our case the product isn't the Rapids (playing the best they've played in many years in my opinion) but it's being able to reach beyond the hardcore fan (me) to the casual fan (rest of my family) given their memories of last year. You only get so many chances to screw up your product.

 

Referee: Baldomero TOLEDO
Official MLS Stats: 97 games, 3.9 Y/g, 41 R
My Stats Including Playoffs: 103 games, 3.9 Y/g, 43 R
MLS 2010: 9 games, 2.4 Y/g, 4 R
Assistant Referees: C.J. MORGANTE and Brian POESCHEL
Fourth Official: Alejandro MARISCAL

All-time Colorado matches with Toledo as referee:

5/1/2004
Kansas City Wizards 2 - 0 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: A. de la Torre, D. Castellanos
RED: J. Burciaga Jr. (SFP)

6/12/2004
D.C. United 0 - 0 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: D. Stokes, B. Carroll, R. Cerritos, B. Olsen, M. Crawford, K. Beckerman
RED: NONE

8/28/2004
San Jose Earthquakes 0 - 0 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: A. de la Torre, S. Trembly
RED: NONE

4/9/2005
Colorado Rapids 0 - 0 FC Dallas
YELLOW: A. Nkong, O. Pareja, C. Talley, G. Melamed
RED: NONE

6/11/2005
Columbus Crew 1 - 0 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: M. Petke, K. Beckerman, P. Mastroeni, N. Borchers, R. Fraser
RED: NONE

9/3/2005
Colorado Rapids 1 - 0 D.C. United
YELLOW: H. Freeman, F. Erpen, F. Adu, J. Philippe Peguero, B. Olsen
RED: J. Moreno (VC)

5/26/2007
Colorado Rapids 1 - 0 Los Angeles Galaxy
YELLOW: D. Wasson, P. Mastroeni, K. Beckerman, N. Jaqua, H. Gomez, C. Casey
RED: K. Martino (VC)

5/24/2008
Colorado Rapids 1 - 2 CD Chivas USA
YELLOW: U. Ihemelu, A. Razov, C. Clark, J. Marsch, B. Guzan
RED: NONE

6/28/2008
Columbus Crew 2 - 1 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: E. Ekpo, A. Iro
RED: NONE

8/29/2008
Real Salt Lake 2 - 0 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: M. Petke, C. Wingert, J. DiRaimondo, C. Gibbs, W. Johnson
RED: NONE

9/27/2008
Red Bull New York 4 - 5 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: C. Mendes, J. Peterson, N. LaBrocca, C. Casey, D. Jimenez, A. Boyens
RED: NONE

10/19/2008
CD Chivas USA 1 - 2 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: T. McManus, J. Braun, J. Harvey, B. Burling, C. Talley
RED: NONE

9/12/2009
Toronto FC 3 - 2 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: N. Attakora, C. Barrett
RED: NONE

10/3/2009
Colorado Rapids 1 - 1 New England Revolution
YELLOW: E. Osei, M. Ballouchy
RED: J. Baudet (VC)

5/1/2010
San Jose Earthquakes 1 - 0 Colorado Rapids
YELLOW: C. Leitch, B. Convey, W. Thompson
RED: NONE


OVERALL RECORD: 4-7-4
1.067 PPG

 

2-1 win, brace of goals by Conor Casey. The Rapids are on a 5 game unbeaten streak and are back at home for the first time in a month. That, combined with the annual 4th of July crowd, will give them the boost they need to get past a good RBNY team.

http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2010/07/rapids-try-to-continue-4th-of-july.html

 

Oh joy.

 

Low demand for tickets? Let's see. Last year. 500 mile roundtrip. Anemic play by the Rapids. 2 soundtracks going off simultaneously. No fireworks. Priceless.

 

Which sections are allowed down on the field? Which ones pretty much have to due to poor views (I assume the supporters area and the north corners). Are any of the views blocked by the scoreboard and the roof? I think my group is fairly high up in section 104.