The holidays are upon us and I'm beginning to think that I won't be getting anything from my
Revs Christmas wishlist this year. While other teams are signing international players and brand
new soccer stadiums are being built, Revs fans are settling for some stocking stuffers this
year--and I guess a little coal, too.
Time to start the annual end of the year process of lists. Over the next couple of weeks we'll
review end of the year of posts and some of the top business stories of the year. We thought it
makes sense to start by looking back a year to the end of 2010 at some of the top business stories
from that year.
Hello everybody. It is Thanksgiving Day, one of those rare days during the year when soccer goes
on the backburner and there are no major games to watch.
American soccer fans have plenty to be thankful for, from a growing and strengthening Major
League Soccer to a continuously growing number of soccer television viewing options.
You know you love football. You love watching the players racing across the field with the smell
of cut grass setting fire to your team spirit. You sit at the edge of your seat when the players
get the ball down the field, avoiding the opposing team as one good whack against the ball with a
head or foot sends the ball past the goalie.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By AVI CREDITOR
HARRISON, N.J. -- With the U.S. national team frequently playing in the New York-New Jersey
area, the novelty -- but not the joy -- of coming back has worn off a bit for a few of the players
who call the region home.
Yesterday we posted a poll to determine what you think the best candidate destination would be for
Major League Soccer's 20th team. The overwhelming winner was Minnesota, and although an e-mail
and Twitter campaign may have significantly contributed to the success of the Twin City area, there
are definite upsides to moving MLS up North.
Last week, Juventus unveiled its new stadium, called Juventus Stadium until naming rights are
sold. The 41,000 seat stadium is smaller than the Old Lady's previous home, the Stadio delle Alpi,
but that is a good development in that there is no longer a running track between the fans and the
pitch.
Last week, Juventus unveiled its new stadium, called Juventus Stadium until naming rights are
sold. The 41,000 seat stadium is smaller than the Old Lady's previous home, the Stadio delle Alpi,
but that is a good development in that there is no longer a running track between the fans and the
pitch.
The Philadelphia Union are changing ticket prices to fall more in line with other soccer
stadiums throughout the USA, according to an email sent out to season ticket holders today.
Non-River End endline season tickets will fall in price and corner seats throughout the stadium
will have raised costs, starting next season.
Before we get to our weekly attendance roundup, here a couple of business related stories from
the weekend that was. We'll start with popular radio program World Football Daily, where I was
invited to chat with the hosts for 25 minutes on Friday about the business of the American game.
This was my third time on the program and it is always fun.
This post is a slightly edited reprint of an article in
Sports, Inc., a magazine edited by
students at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. To read the full issue, which is full of
analytic insights about the major professional sports, click here or on the image below.
Open publication - Free publishing - More analysis
The article is a little bit of this, that, and everything from SBTN - some highlights and some low
lights - intended for people with an interest in analytics but not necessarily expertise in soccer.
Geoff Gibson, Managing Editor of SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog
Stumptown Footy, joined me to talk about tomorrow's match between the Philadelphia Union and the
Timbers.
Portland is 3-0-0 in MLS play at home. Can it attributed to JELD-WEN's
minimalistic dimensions?
Geoff Gibson: Jeld-Wen isn't actually as small as some make it out to be.
New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Jamaican-American singer Sean Kingston's 'Ready or Not' is the official
song for the FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in Germany June 26-July 17. The track is a
follow-up to last year's World Cup anthem "Waka Waka" by Shakira.
'Ready or Not' is a collaboration between Kingston and German house and dance producer duo
Michael Mind Project, and it is expected to conquer the German soccer stadiums and international
dance floors soon, said a statement.
Can TH14 be the player Red Bull paid for?
That's the label that's pretty much been put on this Red Bulls team by fans and "experts" alike
(please note the quotes). With all the expectations that come with having two world-class DPs
along with the addition of quality European talent, New York has no other option but to go all the
way.
Matthew Lewis - Getty Images
Clint Dempsey celebrates last week against Aston Villa.
View full size photo »
Clint Dempsey says he wants to finish his career in Europe.
- Jason Davis
The Houston Dynamo broke ground on their stadium on Saturday, an event which prompted some wistful
stadium-related musings from me in the days prior. In a general sense, things are pretty good for
us when it comes to soccer stadiums. Specifically, Houston's new digs (opening in 2012) could very
well put that city over the top as the leading soccer town in the country.
It was an admittedly slow week in American soccer as the American sports scene shifted to Dallas
and the American football Super Bowl. Within the soccer world some amazing results and goals from
the English Premier League overshadowed almost all the other soccer news. But nevertheless there
were some noteworthy happenings in MLS this past weekend; as usual, share your thoughts and
anything I missed in the comments section.
A rendering of the Houston Dynamo's new grounds
View full size photo »
Every time a shovel goes into the Earth for the purposes of a professional soccer stadium,
everyone should stop and take a minute to honor the late, great Lamar Hunt.
Photo by Monasosh
The United States is scheduled to play an international friendly next week in Egypt against the
host country, and as many of you are well aware, the political situation is unsettled, to put is
lightly. By the February 9 friendly there may not be a government in Egypt, or even a new one,
but the situation is incredibly fluid.
