Players, owners settle it without a strike Guess we'll have to go about getting fans into the stadium the old-fashioned way: By convincing them that soccer is something fun to watch and worth their time, energy, passion and money as a fan.
During the buildup to this Friday I thought I was more or less ambivalent about all this. I didn't think a strike would help soccer and I really don't care about baseball. I had not been following the progress of the talks closely and I didn't even know the issues involved. But when I heard this news this morning I suddenly realized just how much I loathe baseball and how gleefully I had been looking forward to a strike. I'm actually quite disappointed but I know that this disappointment has no real basis. It was the experience of shaudenfreude, I suppose, that I was looking forward to.
Same here. I'm also surprised and embarrassed. Maybe we all need a little therapy... Btw, MLB and the PA are about to start the press conference.
I love how so many people spent so much time saying they didn't care, yet as soon as there was an agreement, they rushed to BS to talk about it, locking up the server for a few minutes. Tell me again how no one cares about baseball? I figured they wouldn't strike (or, if they did, it wouldn't last the weekend), but I didn't care much. Number of minor league baseball games I've been to this summer: 4 Number of major league baseball games I've been to since 1994: 3
even though there was no strike, alot of people are leaving the game. I, for one, got sick and tired of the high prices and lack of action years ago and only watch baseball if I'm with my friends or if I want an afternoon nap. Never again will I pay $35 to sit near Pesky's Poll in Fenway and pay $20 for refreshments, while I can go to Gilette Stadium, watch a Revs game and eat cheaper refreshments for about $40 (includes parking), and thats for 6th row tickets.
F***ing Bastards!!Oh well doesn't really matter to me the season is already over in Chicago thanks to the Cubs and the White Sox.
Gents: It would appear from all accounts that things are set for a disaster in 2006. The baseball players agreed not to challenge any contraction in the next agreement (2006). Furthermore, it would appear that baseball failed to address some of the systematic problems that are harming that game (e.g. competitive balance issues). In other words, the kicked the can down the road for four more years. Point in case. If things are bad today for baseball (attendence is down), don't expect that to get any better between now and 2006.
This post coming some 21 minutes after the press conference started. Damn. There goes the MLS Attendance Bump we were all counting on.
Kenn LOL funny Between us, though, I presume you understood my point (especially on the issue of contraction) and failing to address the systematic problems of expanding costs v. dimishing revenues (attendence, TV revenues, no more new stadiums, as a whole)
?!?!?! There's gonna be a ton of money flowing out of New York and Dallas and into Kansas City and Miami.
Dear Romey, Damn, back to being a victim again...I feel persecuted right about now. Sincerley, SoccerFan
This deal is a "September 11th, we'll miss huge playoff TV money, can't get the owners to agree anyway" 4-year long bandaid, and nothing more.
I really could have cared less if there was a strike or not. MLS will have to find its own way anyway. However, it would have been poetic justice to all those baseball writers out there who bashed soccer constantly during the world cup.