Rey! If the other team does not have the football, then they can't score!!! Texas Varsity association football 101 Coach Olsen has dome well, damn the journalists!
I think you can probably use the singular “journalist” here. Unless you’re talking about him not being a finalist for coach of the year in which case I’m right with you.
Beyonce showing up at Shell Energy Stadium for the Kamala rally and then not performing is perfectly in line with stadium tradition, like the time USWNT stars that played for the Dash were promoted heavily as playing then showed up and sat out the game. Dash never really recovered perception and popularity-wise from that point forward. Everyone felt a bait & switch (which was actually easy to predict days in advance).
I got an email today providing a link for me to choose my 2025 member gift. It says you have until about Thanksgiving to do so. I went for the scarf. My wife has given me the idea of having all my Dynamo scarfs sewn into a quilt like thing. Should be complete for me to pass on to an heir.
A collage of sorts would be very cool for all of us to witness. I wouldn't be able to calculate just how many scarves I have! Our first season ones, plain but so many memories tied to that Cup winning year! That Brad's Brigade, orange and camo one from circa 2013 though!!!
I choose the scarf as well. I've got at least 100 different ones hanging. Probably need to take a pic of them in case the house burns down! I'm very curious as to what the lower tiered folks got to choose from cuz our choices weren't exactly high end. I also found it interesting that you have until the 24th to make your choice or you miss out; once you select it's final; you must hurry because options may not be available the longer you wait; and we won't get them until some time in April. Going back to delivering them is a plus and it looks like they'll save on delivery cuz all the items look to weigh a pound or less. I sure do miss the years when we got to pick a signed jersey though. The process of going through a portal/web site is also an improvement over process of the sales rep generating a spreadsheet of names and responses & hoping that it all gets coalesce correctly (narrator---It never got coalesced correctly). I saw that Super Fan Web Tilton is leaving the country and will no longer be at the games. I don't know if he's leaving because Trump won or if this was planned already, but I hope some one carries on the tradition of hanging the flags. We have so little in the way of ritual, I hope that doesn't leave with him.
Web decided to move a long time ago. Before the season started, this was officially his last season here.
Well, Trump winning probably would have made him move anyway so glad he was able to decide it without being under emotional duress from the election
Found this on MLS Stadiums generating revenue: How MLS Stadiums Are Revolutionizing Revenue Streams - HOK Community Spaces: Revenue Beyond Game Day Investing in community spaces benefits both the city and the team. These outward-facing spaces—community plazas, multipurpose event spaces and restaurants that are all accessible from outside the venue—generate year-round traffic and revenue. Plazas can host concerts, small gatherings, yoga classes or a farmer’s market, while event and restaurant spaces can attract corporate events that continuously activate the building. Inside the venue, the sheer diversity of spaces can allow savvy event managers to sell progressive experiences to corporate clients—letting them move throughout multiple spaces in the venue throughout the evening. At Energizer Park, regular plaza programming has created a true community asset with a definitive sense of place.
We don't have this------ According to Stadium Tech Report, 74% of fans have the St. Louis CITY SC’s app installed and 20% make purchases through the app at mobile-enabled concession stands. The team’s checkout-free stands (using technology similar to Amazon Just Walk Out) boasts an average 90-second transaction time, (enfaces mine) with 33% of customers coming back, and represents 10% of all food and beverage sales in the venue. Or this---- Plazas can host concerts, small gatherings, yoga classes or a farmer’s market, while event and restaurant spaces can attract corporate events that continuously activate the building. Both would be huge upgrades to the game day experience and the year round positive impact of the local area. Changing the current homeless encampment between the stadium and the apartment complex to a open-ended plaza, hang out, walk through, food truck area, etc. would be a fairly easy first step if they could navigate the 1000s of stupid regulations. I'd also build out the whole north side of the stadium at street level (where the BO and team store is) to add structure all the way to the sidewalk and get rid of the dumb trees/tiered concrete area to make a bar that is accessible from the street and enlarge the team store with street front ingress. Yes this would cost millions but they and the city are getting millions from FIFA for the world cup so the cost would be largely offset. PS I know none of this is happening but maybe we will at least get a STH plaque.
I have no quibble with what you are calling for. Getting more use (oh, wait -- "activation!") out of that hunk of land makes sense. What I'm curious about is your statement that "they and the city are getting millions from FIFA for the world cup." What do you base that on? Is there a report I have missed? The following is my understanding, but I welcome correction where appropriate: FIFA pays nothing to the host city or host venue. Rather, the host city agrees to a whole bunch of expenses and provisions with no remuneration from FIFA. This coincides with another new first for 2026. All previous world cups the organizing committee (think national) ran the tournament and in turn received a small share of revenues from FIFA. Organizing committee revenue used to be shared with host cities/venues at discretion of the organizing committee. There will be no USA 2026 organizing committee. Rather, FIFA is establishing their own organizing office and will not share any revenues with the host country. The revenues host country revenue used to be shared to some extent with host cities and venues. None of that anymore -- all World Cup revenue goes to FIFA. None is shared. So, for the first time, in 2026, FIFA is going to allow host venues to sell a limited number of local sponsorships and keep that revenue. This "split" of revenue potential has been a HUGE source of contention between FIFA and the host cities. SoFi stadium in LA even pulled out and said they would no longer host over this dispute. That kerfuffle was ironed out -- presumedly resulting in the current arrangement for some revenue. Note, it is not money from FIFA. Just the right to go hunt and kill a handful of relatively minor sponsorships. Here are some links. I'm sure there are more and probably better. I welcome anyone correcting what I have written -- I don't claim expertise here. Just a strong interest. NYTimes/TheAthletic article KC 2026 announce on local sponsors
More accurately stated, "they and the city are getting millions from FIFA FROM (read-because of) the world cup.". The net windfall will be substantial even after the upfront costs, especially for the dynamo and stadium owners. They could either secure any loans needed due to guaranteed income or wait until after the cup and use the new found wealth. In recent tournaments, FIFA has allocated a share of the profits from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and sponsorships to the host nation and cities but the exact figures vary widely depending on the specific circumstances of each cup. I'm desperately trying to find the articles talking about this but they are old & with every major newspaper site having a paywall, I'm pretty much out of luck. Also, I was ignorant of some of the recent rule changes surrounding the 2026 concerning profit distribution & revenue allocation so the transparent asset allocation seems to be off the table. Cities may have to make most of their profit via tourism & hospitality and via pass throughs from other organizations or through sponsorship deals as you pointed out.
I'm skeptical on any windfall for cities the way FIFA has things structured now. There's a reason that cities like Chicago said no thanks to hosting based on the new FIFA rules.
There have been myriad plans to do a park-like feature on six then-city-owned blocks adjacent to the stadium since as far back as when the stadium itself was just a design or a pile of dirt, rather than a structure. All attempts have never materialized, however. The first of which I'm aware of was in 2010, when the city and the tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ 15, commonly called EaDo TIRZ) that covers EaDo could transform those lots into a linear park. It died silently: https://www.houstontx.gov/planhouston/sites/default/files/plans/2010_Design_Plan_EaDo_Promenade.pdf The second was in 2011, when the international Sister Cities organization pitched the Sister Cities Promenade for the same spot. It would have art and vegetation from many regions of the world, etc. Shovel never hit the ground. I can't find it on their site anymore, but here's a 2011 story on it: https://houston.culturemap.com/news...ional-park-grow-around-the-dynamo-new-stadium Those same blocks became the EaDo promenade for a second time in the 2014/15-ish range. TIRZ 15 would foot the bulk of the costs, and the Dynamo (MLS, actually, I'm sure) would contribute minor funds. I attended many community public hearings on the topic at the Dynamo stadium. The dynamo offered free stadium tours to attendees (presumably in hopes of boosting public support for the project, since activating that land likely benefits stadium use). The TIRZ had produced renderings and such. That one also died. https://eadohouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EaDo-Development-7_2016-sm.pdf
It is possible that 100% of the tourist revenue (rental car, hotel/motel tax) that will be realized from WC2026 hosting is allready pledged via contract to defease the myriad of municipal bonds involved in the four stadiums we currently have. I think I recall a cap on the amount of those revenues that go to existing bonds where excess growth of the revenue stream is then available -- but have no idea if current revenues (and WC2026 "extra" revenue) will exceed those projected revenues in the bond covenants.
Good question. At one point revenues were less than projected and they had to refinance the bonds. The state of Texas does allow the organizing committee to apply for the major events trust fund rebate of sales taxes generated by the event. F1 in Austin gets a big kickback from that. I do recall in the last year a number of articles written about how FIFA was controlling more of the revenue flow vs. local operating committees and host cities than in the past.
I have heard from the corporate world that that Houston has already sold local corporate sponsorship packages.
come on now! Will be weird to not have someone hoisting Ukraine flags at the game, considering the billions this country gave them
https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1324166 USL Championship (level right below MLS) is expanding to Garland, TX.
Good find! From that article: Home to around 250,000 residents, Garland is a vibrant and diverse community where soccer is more than a game — it’s a reflection of the city’s culture. Known for its successful manufacturing legacy, Garland is also a thriving center for business innovation, home to a dynamic mix of Fortune 500 companies, startups and small businesses. As Garland continues its exciting transformation, the city aims to become a premier entertainment and experience hub for eastern DFW, making it an ideal location for USL Dallas. USL Dallas has partnered with the City of Garland to establish a team that will bring new economic growth and entertainment to the city and the surrounding North Texas area. This partnership reflects a shared vision of creating a lasting impact through sport, community events and local engagement. “In Garland, we want to provide the best quality of life for our residents and visitors — a destination for all to live, work and play,” said Mayor Scott LeMay. “We feel confident this opportunity will not only bring unforgettable experiences but also drive future economic growth and create connections across the community and metroplex.” More development plans will be shared in the coming months as USL Dallas and the City of Garland engage with local fans, partners and businesses in their mission to build a community-centric club.
Got this off of Libtwitter, err bluesky. (I keed, I keed). This chart undercuts our eyes when we come away thinking Bassi passes the ball backwards and laterally too much. I'm assuming that HH and CQ are not present due to missed games.