***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (5 Viewers)

[andy_b]

But seriously.. live soccer in 3D! me want.

ESPN will have its first ever 3D broadcast this summer during the world cup.

 

[prefontaine]

But seriously.. live soccer in 3D! me want.

ESPN will have its first ever 3D broadcast this summer during the world cup.

Really?!? How does this work? Do you have to have a special tv? Do I need paper glasses? I'm not up on my 3d technology apparently.

 

[brewer]

#### this ####. Absolutely dreadful....sickening.They don't even deserve to be on the pitch today.

Clichy is a shell of the player he was two years ago. Nani was abusing him even before the first goal.

Clichy isn't 100% fit yet. He was rushed back due to the second stringer, Gibbs going out for the season. The third stringer, Traore simply was outclassed at this level. So, Clichy is fit enough to play better than Traore, but he isn't close to 100% yet.

 

[andy_b]

But seriously.. live soccer in 3D! me want.

ESPN will have its first ever 3D broadcast this summer during the world cup.

Really?!? How does this work? Do you have to have a special tv? Do I need paper glasses? I'm not up on my 3d technology apparently.

New 3D TV's are being produced, the first batch of which will be out in a couple of months.There will be two main types. Once that is a little less expensive, but requires higher quality glasses (roughly $50 a pop), and another more expensive set that uses cheaper glasses ($2 a pop).Not a lot of reviews yet but from what I have read the image is much better with the cheaper set/more expensive glasses.I do not yet understand how non 3D broadcasts look on these sets.Direct TV intends to have 3 full time 3D channels running by this summer I believe.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Wait... a super-injunction?

I read a bit on this. Very weird stuff but it is essentially a curb on freedom of the press as it relates to privacy rights. When enforced, papers cannot even mention that they have a story. Apparently there are a lot of English footballers that have these in effect and the Terry ruling may have consequences as it relates to these. Btw, as far as I can tell, Bridge had split with the chick and while it's still not cool to tap your friend's ex, it doesn't seem like quite as big a deal as it is being made out to be. Now if it comes out that this happened while she and Wayne were still together...

Its a problem for England because they are teammates on the national team. Bridge only recently split with her and they have a 3 year old son together. Its a problem for Terry and maybe Chelsea because his wife has left him and taken the kids, and may seek a divorce (although that didn't stop him from heading home the game winner against Burnley on Saturday).

 

[JMon348]

CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3PEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Great game vs Ghana, scored in the 85th minute to take the Africa Cup of Nations for a record 3rd straight time.

Congrats, Jmon!

for those of us without steel traps for brains, its probably worth reminding everyone who actually won. i believe it was egypt for those who care. i think i watched egypt beat algeria thursday. but that seems ancient now.

Yes, it was Egypt. They beat Algeria 4-0 Thursday.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3PEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Great game vs Ghana, scored in the 85th minute to take the Africa Cup of Nations for a record 3rd straight time.

Congrats, Jmon!

for those of us without steel traps for brains, its probably worth reminding everyone who actually won. i believe it was egypt for those who care. i think i watched egypt beat algeria thursday. but that seems ancient now.

Yes, it was Egypt. They beat Algeria 4-0 Thursday.

Congrats JMon - hope your boys softened up Algeria for us

 

[andy_b]

Cherundolo out 4 weeks with shoulder injury

 

[andy_b]

ESPN Describes Plan for World Cup and releases schedule

ESPN unveiled its television schedule for the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday -- a schedule that includes all 64 matches at 10 stadiums throughout South Africa.

The schedule includes 10 matches on ABC, 10 on ESPN2 and the remaining 44 on ESPN (in addition to coverage on ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV and nightly replays on ESPN Classic. There will be 40 matches on ESPN Deportes -- with announcers in Portuguese.

And in a change from the 2006 event in Germany, crews will be on site for all 64 matches. In 2006, two crews called matches from studios in the U.S.

"At some point you've got to treat it like the significant sporting event that it is," John Skipper, ESPN's executive vice president of content, told The Associated Press. "I understand it has not traditionally stopped work and stopped the country to watch it in past years. But we're going to treat it like it should."

The announcement said that ESPN2 will go all soccer for a 24-hour countdown before the opener. The pre-World Cup concert will be televised live on ESPN on June 10, with an edited version replayed on ABC the following night. ESPN plans about 250 hours of original programming around the games.

Jed Drake, an ESPN vice president who is executive producer of its World Cup coverage, said the network is sending 165 people to South Africa and will have 50 local hires -- double the staff it used four years ago. The network will be broadcasting soccer 12 hours a day during the first round.

"The level of ambition we have for this project is second to none compared to anything we do at ESPN," he said.

 

[Sammy3469]

ESPN Describes Plan for World Cup and releases schedule

ESPN unveiled its television schedule for the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday -- a schedule that includes all 64 matches at 10 stadiums throughout South Africa.

The schedule includes 10 matches on ABC, 10 on ESPN2 and the remaining 44 on ESPN (in addition to coverage on ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV and nightly replays on ESPN Classic. There will be 40 matches on ESPN Deportes -- with announcers in Portuguese.

And in a change from the 2006 event in Germany, crews will be on site for all 64 matches. In 2006, two crews called matches from studios in the U.S.

"At some point you've got to treat it like the significant sporting event that it is," John Skipper, ESPN's executive vice president of content, told The Associated Press. "I understand it has not traditionally stopped work and stopped the country to watch it in past years. But we're going to treat it like it should."

The announcement said that ESPN2 will go all soccer for a 24-hour countdown before the opener. The pre-World Cup concert will be televised live on ESPN on June 10, with an edited version replayed on ABC the following night. ESPN plans about 250 hours of original programming around the games.

Jed Drake, an ESPN vice president who is executive producer of its World Cup coverage, said the network is sending 165 people to South Africa and will have 50 local hires -- double the staff it used four years ago. The network will be broadcasting soccer 12 hours a day during the first round.

"The level of ambition we have for this project is second to none compared to anything we do at ESPN," he said.

...that's a big FU to Univision or whoever has Spanish language rights

 

[andy_b]

ESPN Describes Plan for World Cup and releases schedule

ESPN unveiled its television schedule for the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday -- a schedule that includes all 64 matches at 10 stadiums throughout South Africa.

The schedule includes 10 matches on ABC, 10 on ESPN2 and the remaining 44 on ESPN (in addition to coverage on ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV and nightly replays on ESPN Classic. There will be 40 matches on ESPN Deportes -- with announcers in Portuguese.

And in a change from the 2006 event in Germany, crews will be on site for all 64 matches. In 2006, two crews called matches from studios in the U.S.

"At some point you've got to treat it like the significant sporting event that it is," John Skipper, ESPN's executive vice president of content, told The Associated Press. "I understand it has not traditionally stopped work and stopped the country to watch it in past years. But we're going to treat it like it should."

The announcement said that ESPN2 will go all soccer for a 24-hour countdown before the opener. The pre-World Cup concert will be televised live on ESPN on June 10, with an edited version replayed on ABC the following night. ESPN plans about 250 hours of original programming around the games.

Jed Drake, an ESPN vice president who is executive producer of its World Cup coverage, said the network is sending 165 people to South Africa and will have 50 local hires -- double the staff it used four years ago. The network will be broadcasting soccer 12 hours a day during the first round.

"The level of ambition we have for this project is second to none compared to anything we do at ESPN," he said.

...that's a big FU to Univision or whoever has Spanish language rights

I am not that familiar with the languages but aren't Portuguese and Spanish very different? Also ESPN Deportes does not have any where near the reach that Univision has. I don't think this is going to hurt Univision that much but I may be wrong...

 

[Sammy3469]

ESPN Describes Plan for World Cup and releases schedule

ESPN unveiled its television schedule for the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday -- a schedule that includes all 64 matches at 10 stadiums throughout South Africa.

The schedule includes 10 matches on ABC, 10 on ESPN2 and the remaining 44 on ESPN (in addition to coverage on ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV and nightly replays on ESPN Classic. There will be 40 matches on ESPN Deportes -- with announcers in Portuguese.

And in a change from the 2006 event in Germany, crews will be on site for all 64 matches. In 2006, two crews called matches from studios in the U.S.

"At some point you've got to treat it like the significant sporting event that it is," John Skipper, ESPN's executive vice president of content, told The Associated Press. "I understand it has not traditionally stopped work and stopped the country to watch it in past years. But we're going to treat it like it should."

The announcement said that ESPN2 will go all soccer for a 24-hour countdown before the opener. The pre-World Cup concert will be televised live on ESPN on June 10, with an edited version replayed on ABC the following night. ESPN plans about 250 hours of original programming around the games.

Jed Drake, an ESPN vice president who is executive producer of its World Cup coverage, said the network is sending 165 people to South Africa and will have 50 local hires -- double the staff it used four years ago. The network will be broadcasting soccer 12 hours a day during the first round.

"The level of ambition we have for this project is second to none compared to anything we do at ESPN," he said.

...that's a big FU to Univision or whoever has Spanish language rights

I am not that familiar with the languages but aren't Portuguese and Spanish very different? Also ESPN Deportes does not have any where near the reach that Univision has. I don't think this is going to hurt Univision that much but I may be wrong...

you're more than right...more than anything I just find it funny that they feel the need to do anything with the channel.

 

[andy_b]

more than anything I just find it funny that they feel the need to do anything with the channel.

I agree, it looks like ESPN just wants to use everything they have at their disposal.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Why the '98 World Cup team fell apart:

Link

NEW YORK -- Breaking more than a decade of silence, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday he dropped John Harkes from the national team roster two months before the 1998 World Cup because the American captain was having an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda.

Harkes has long denied having an affair with Amy Wynalda.

Wynalda brought up the situation Monday night during a discussion on "Fox Football Fone-In" about a scandal in England over an alleged relationship between current English captain John Terry and the former partner of Wayne Bridge, his teammate on the national squad.

Sampson told The Associated Press on Tuesday he was glad the story was coming out now because "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."

 

[Moe.]

Why the '98 World Cup team fell apart:

Link

NEW YORK -- Breaking more than a decade of silence, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday he dropped John Harkes from the national team roster two months before the 1998 World Cup because the American captain was having an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda.

Harkes has long denied having an affair with Amy Wynalda.

Wynalda brought up the situation Monday night during a discussion on "Fox Football Fone-In" about a scandal in England over an alleged relationship between current English captain John Terry and the former partner of Wayne Bridge, his teammate on the national squad.

Sampson told The Associated Press on Tuesday he was glad the story was coming out now because "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."

probably would have won it all if not for that, no?

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Why the '98 World Cup team fell apart:

Link

NEW YORK -- Breaking more than a decade of silence, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday he dropped John Harkes from the national team roster two months before the 1998 World Cup because the American captain was having an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda.

Harkes has long denied having an affair with Amy Wynalda.

Wynalda brought up the situation Monday night during a discussion on "Fox Football Fone-In" about a scandal in England over an alleged relationship between current English captain John Terry and the former partner of Wayne Bridge, his teammate on the national squad.

Sampson told The Associated Press on Tuesday he was glad the story was coming out now because "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."

probably would have won it all if not for that, no?

I'm thinking 3rd place at worst.

Having bad '98 flashbacks: That Iran match was just awful.

 

[Sammy3469]

The Martin Rogers story is priceless. Link

Terry sounds like a complete scumbag:

When, on the day after the 9/11 attacks, Terry and a group of Chelsea players offended a party of grieving American tourists at a London hotel with their lewd and drunken antics, it was quickly forgotten.

When he urinated in a beer glass at a nightclub the following year, then dropped it on the floor, few batted an eyelid.

And even when Terry’s litany of personal infidelities – which allegedly includes cheating on his wife with at least nine women including a porn star, a topless model and a 17-year-old – was made public,

 

[JMon348]

CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3PEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Great game vs Ghana, scored in the 85th minute to take the Africa Cup of Nations for a record 3rd straight time.

Congrats, Jmon!

for those of us without steel traps for brains, its probably worth reminding everyone who actually won. i believe it was egypt for those who care. i think i watched egypt beat algeria thursday. but that seems ancient now.

Yes, it was Egypt. They beat Algeria 4-0 Thursday.

Congrats JMon - hope your boys softened up Algeria for us

 

[TLEF316]

someone firebombed DeMarcus Beasley's car outside his house in Scotland.

Wow.

 

[Kendall]

someone firebombed DeMarcus Beasley's car outside his house in Scotland. Wow.

Seriously?Link?

 

[Spartans Rule]

someone firebombed DeMarcus Beasley's car outside his house in Scotland.

Wow.

Seriously?Link?

LinkReally not much info there but this really did happen. I'm going to keep looking.

Crazy.

 

[TLEF316]

i guess the Scots really dont like black guys

 

[Christo]

someone firebombed DeMarcus Beasley's car outside his house in Scotland.

Wow.

Seriously?Link?

LinkReally not much info there but this really did happen. I'm going to keep looking.

Crazy.

:(

 

[Christo]

Apparently, John Terry is refusing to voluntarily relinquish his position as England captain.

 

[Texas Football]

http://www.ipswichtown-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw...283/index.shtml

Devann Yao signed with Ipswich until the end of the season. Not a huge story, but another American playing in England.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The Martin Rogers story is priceless. Link

Terry sounds like a complete scumbag:

When, on the day after the 9/11 attacks, Terry and a group of Chelsea players offended a party of grieving American tourists at a London hotel with their lewd and drunken antics, it was quickly forgotten.

When he urinated in a beer glass at a nightclub the following year, then dropped it on the floor, few batted an eyelid.

And even when Terry’s litany of personal infidelities – which allegedly includes cheating on his wife with at least nine women including a porn star, a topless model and a 17-year-old – was made public,

I think John Terry is the only current player on Chelsea's roster who came up through their youth system. I believe that he and Frank Lampard are the only players on the team who pre-date Roman Abramovich. I've been a Chelsea fan for over 20 years and have followed Terry since he joined the first team approx. 10 years ago. He has been a great player on the field, a great leader of the back 4, extremely dependable on defense and good for the occaisional goal off a set piece. Despite all that, I have always hated having him on "my" team and was somewhat secretly happy last summer when Man City was making crazy financial overtures to him. I've seen him spit on opposing players (v Liverpool in a game 3-4 years ago) and his arrogance is legendary, on and off the field. He seems to think it is his job to aggressively charge the refs after every call that goes against Chelsea. I've never met him, but it seems to me he lives his life as though common social conventions and rules don't apply to him in any respect. It is hard to admit because he is such a rock for the Chels on the field, but I severly dislike him and have no interest whatsoever in defending his actions in this case or in any other.

 

[Steve Tasker]

The Martin Rogers story is priceless. Link

Terry sounds like a complete scumbag:

When, on the day after the 9/11 attacks, Terry and a group of Chelsea players offended a party of grieving American tourists at a London hotel with their lewd and drunken antics, it was quickly forgotten.

When he urinated in a beer glass at a nightclub the following year, then dropped it on the floor, few batted an eyelid.

And even when Terry’s litany of personal infidelities – which allegedly includes cheating on his wife with at least nine women including a porn star, a topless model and a 17-year-old – was made public,

I think John Terry is the only current player on Chelsea's roster who came up through their youth system. I believe that he and Frank Lampard are the only players on the team who pre-date Roman Abramovich. I've been a Chelsea fan for over 20 years and have followed Terry since he joined the first team approx. 10 years ago. He has been a great player on the field, a great leader of the back 4, extremely dependable on defense and good for the occaisional goal off a set piece. Despite all that, I have always hated having him on "my" team and was somewhat secretly happy last summer when Man City was making crazy financial overtures to him. I've seen him spit on opposing players (v Liverpool in a game 3-4 years ago) and his arrogance is legendary, on and off the field. He seems to think it is his job to aggressively charge the refs after every call that goes against Chelsea. I've never met him, but it seems to me he lives his life as though common social conventions and rules don't apply to him in any respect. It is hard to admit because he is such a rock for the Chels on the field, but I severly dislike him and have no interest whatsoever in defending his actions in this case or in any other.

I certainly didn't feel bad when he missed that PK against United in the Champions League final two years ago...

 

[prefontaine]

Chelsea wherever you may be

Don't leave your wife with John Terry

His Dad deals coke

And his Mum steals tea

He cried when he missed a penalty.

Chelsea wherever you may be

Don't leave your wife with John Terry

He can not shoot

And he can't ####### pass

But he'll take your missus up the ###

 

[guru_007]

I swear, Terry is a dead ringer for Kevin Spacey

Ashley Cole looks like the lead singer for Fine Young Cannibals

 

[El Floppo]

I swear, Terry is a dead ringer for Kevin SpaceyAshley Cole looks like the lead singer for Fine Young Cannibals

In Greek news, it's Adu to Johnson!

Associated PressATHENS, Greece -- American forward Eddie Johnson has scored his first goal in Greece for Aris -- off a pass from teammate Freddy Adu.Adu set up a long lob for Johnson, who dribbled past Xanthi goalkeeper Michael Gspurning to score one minute into overtime.Xanthi won Sunday's game 2-1 despite a chance two minutes later by Adu, who shot wide off a pass in the penalty area. It was Johnson's second game with Aris, and Adu's firstThe 25-year-old Johnson has been loaned to Aris through June from England's Fulham.Johnson left Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards to sign with Fulham in January 2008, then was loaned to Cardiff City for the 2008-09 season.

 

[editor47]

Chelsea wherever you may beDon't leave your wife with John TerryHis Dad deals cokeAnd his Mum steals teaHe cried when he missed a penalty.Chelsea wherever you may beDon't leave your wife with John TerryHe can not shootAnd he can't ####### passBut he'll take your missus up the ###

 

[editor47]

mls schedule is out. union plays a game in april and a game in may at LFF. no true home opener until june 26. up against the world cup. not a genius move.

for others in the thread: i keep seeing commercials and promos for FSC in HD, and the picture does look better ... but its on the same channel. so is this an upcoming thing? or is it already in place?

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

I swear, Terry is a dead ringer for Kevin Spacey

Ashley Cole looks like the lead singer for Fine Young Cannibals

In Greek news, it's Adu to Johnson!

Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece -- American forward Eddie Johnson has scored his first goal in Greece for Aris -- off a pass from teammate Freddy Adu.

Adu set up a long lob for Johnson, who dribbled past Xanthi goalkeeper Michael Gspurning to score one minute into overtime.

Xanthi won Sunday's game 2-1 despite a chance two minutes later by Adu, who shot wide off a pass in the penalty area. It was Johnson's second game with Aris, and Adu's first

The 25-year-old Johnson has been loaned to Aris through June from England's Fulham.

Johnson left Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards to sign with Fulham in January 2008, then was loaned to Cardiff City for the 2008-09 season.

It was a really nice lob from Freddy Youtube link

 

[andy_b]

mls schedule is out. union plays a game in april and a game in may at LFF. no true home opener until june 26. up against the world cup. not a genius move.for others in the thread: i keep seeing commercials and promos for FSC in HD, and the picture does look better ... but its on the same channel. so is this an upcoming thing? or is it already in place?

FSC is being broadcast in HD. Very few if any providers are carrying the HD signal as of yet but they will be coming.You wouldn't just notice a better picture, if you were getting it in HD, the difference (picture quality and aspect ratio) would be definitive.

 

[andy_b]

Very good news for Portland area fans. This is going to create a fantastic rivalry with Seattle

http://blog.oregonlive.com/timbers/2010/02...o_portland.html

 

[andy_b]

It was a really nice lob from Freddy Youtube link

it is ironic to see these two players who left MLS for bigger and better things to be playing in front of such small crowds.

 

[prefontaine]

It was a really nice lob from Freddy Youtube link

it is ironic to see these two players who left MLS for bigger and better things to be playing in front of such small crowds.

Not sure if you are trying to defend MLS but imo it highlights some real problems. Neither is in Greece bc that is where they moved to. It's a function of not being good enough to make it in bigger leagues. EJ at least was a star in MLS which is going to make big clubs think twice about buying midtier type players. There have been successes but fair or not, MLS has a stigma that this perpetuates. MLS is best served by the players it sells doing well. Neither Adu or Johnson are exactly success stories to this point. I also think it highlights a couple of other problem MLS has -- a reverse schedule vs the rest of the world and pay rates. These aren't perception issues like the first but makes it problematic for teams to work with MLS (for example loaning to and from bc players get burned out) since they aren't playing while the rest of the world does. And frankly, despite the attendance, Johnson and Adu are making more money than almost every player in MLS and that also makes it difficult to loan players into MLS.

 

[Steve Tasker]

mls schedule is out. union plays a game in april and a game in may at LFF. no true home opener until june 26. up against the world cup. not a genius move.for others in the thread: i keep seeing commercials and promos for FSC in HD, and the picture does look better ... but its on the same channel. so is this an upcoming thing? or is it already in place?

thanks for this. I probably would've been way behind the 8-ball otherwise.Picked out two games I want to see - June 26 TFC vs. Galaxy and Aug. 28 TFC vs. RSL - and I'll look into tickets soon.

 

[andy_b]

And frankly, despite the attendance, Johnson and Adu are making more money than almost every player in MLS and that also makes it difficult to loan players into MLS.

I agree, but you also have to remember that when they were in MLS they also made more money than almost every player in MLS so its not the best comparison.Out of curiosity, do you know what EJ makes for a salary now? I am unsure how loans affect salary. Back in 2005 he was pulling in $875k from MLS per season.

 

[andy_b]

mls schedule is out. union plays a game in april and a game in may at LFF. no true home opener until june 26. up against the world cup. not a genius move.for others in the thread: i keep seeing commercials and promos for FSC in HD, and the picture does look better ... but its on the same channel. so is this an upcoming thing? or is it already in place?

thanks for this. I probably would've been way behind the 8-ball otherwise.Picked out two games I want to see - June 26 TFC vs. Galaxy and Aug. 28 TFC vs. RSL - and I'll look into tickets soon.

Steve, I just saw that Toronto got the ok to have a small expansion on BMO field. They will be adding about 1250 seats to the place which should help considering they sell out almost every game. And I believe they now have grass their right? I seem to remember them wanting to make that change for this season.

 

[andy_b]

mls schedule is out. union plays a game in april and a game in may at LFF. no true home opener until june 26. up against the world cup. not a genius move.

Historically MLS has always drawn well during the WC's. They have been smart about doing tieins (like letting fans in early to watch games on the big screen score boards etc). They also plan to break for 2 weeks which lines up with the first round of the world cup. This is what they have done the last couple of world cups.In terms of Phili, I don't think they have a lot of choice. The new stadium is obviously not going to be ready at the beginning of the year as there is still a ton of work to do.

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/Content3.aspx?cid=4.2

 

[andy_b]

Some interesting notes about the MLS schedule from MLSnet

* For the first time in MLS history, the league will be playing a balanced scheduled. Every team will play every other team twice, once at home and once on the road. 30 games total per team, 240 total for the league

* All 240 games will be televised one way or another

* 25 HD games on ESPN2 and 1 HD game on ESPN

* 31 HD games on FSC

* FSC adding 30 minute pre and post game shows, allotting a 3 hour block for all MLS games

* 23 games on Telefutura (are any Spanish channels in HD yet?)

* 75 percent of games will be played on Saturdays; 85 percent of games will be played on weekends.

* A two-week break in the MLS season aligns with the group phase of the FIFA World Cup.

* The first MLS game to be played on natural grass at BMO Field in Toronto will be Toronto FC's April 15 match against Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. ET (this answers my question to Steve from earlier)

 

[Sammy3469]

Some interesting notes about the MLS schedule from MLSnet* For the first time in MLS history, the league will be playing a balanced scheduled. Every team will play every other team twice, once at home and once on the road. 30 games total per team, 240 total for the league* All 240 games will be televised one way or another* 25 HD games on ESPN2 and 1 HD game on ESPN* 31 HD games on FSC * FSC adding 30 minute pre and post game shows, allotting a 3 hour block for all MLS games* 23 games on Telefutura (are any Spanish channels in HD yet?)* 75 percent of games will be played on Saturdays; 85 percent of games will be played on weekends.* A two-week break in the MLS season aligns with the group phase of the FIFA World Cup. * The first MLS game to be played on natural grass at BMO Field in Toronto will be Toronto FC's April 15 match against Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. ET (this answers my question to Steve from earlier)

Looks like MLS is getting smart about scheduling

 

[andy_b]

Some interesting notes about the MLS schedule from MLSnet* For the first time in MLS history, the league will be playing a balanced scheduled. Every team will play every other team twice, once at home and once on the road. 30 games total per team, 240 total for the league* All 240 games will be televised one way or another* 25 HD games on ESPN2 and 1 HD game on ESPN* 31 HD games on FSC * FSC adding 30 minute pre and post game shows, allotting a 3 hour block for all MLS games* 23 games on Telefutura (are any Spanish channels in HD yet?)* 75 percent of games will be played on Saturdays; 85 percent of games will be played on weekends.* A two-week break in the MLS season aligns with the group phase of the FIFA World Cup. * The first MLS game to be played on natural grass at BMO Field in Toronto will be Toronto FC's April 15 match against Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. ET (this answers my question to Steve from earlier)

Looks like MLS is getting smart about scheduling

it is also the first season with 16 teams which makes the balanced schedule workable. The following season two more teams are coming in (Portland and Vancouver), bringing them to 18 teams. A balanced scheduled then would mean 34 games per team and 306 games league wide. That would likely force many more midweek games which have no historically drawn all that well. Hopefully they can manage it as I really like the balanced scheduled.

 

[El Floppo]

Speaking of MLS tickets... I looked into it for da BullStars- only selling season tickets at this point, or a two game package including the Stadium opener vs Santos of Brazil and the season opener vs the Fire. No individual tics available or even partial season packages. Don't get the strategy here. unless they're doing their best to try and milk season tickets.

I am definitely going to the Santos game when the tickets open up- and will get tickets for the Gals and probably United and Union games too- those last two should be our brutal rivals for a while (United already is).

 

[andy_b]

Speaking of MLS tickets... I looked into it for da BullStars- only selling season tickets at this point, or a two game package including the Stadium opener vs Santos of Brazil and the season opener vs the Fire. No individual tics available or even partial season packages. Don't get the strategy here. unless they're doing their best to try and milk season tickets.

Most every sports team does this. Season tickets are significantly more valuable than single game tickets. You never want to cut into your season ticket base by opening up single game tickets too early.It is not a case of milking per say, it is just the right thing to do business wise. The single game tickets will come on sale eventually (late Feb/early March I would think).Note that Red Bull is paying very close attention to the CBA mess right now so I don't know how that will affect some of these ticketing situations.

 

[andy_b]

I am definitely going to the Santos game when the tickets open up- and will get tickets for the Gals and probably United and Union games too- those last two should be our brutal rivals for a while (United already is).

how close will you be to the Phili Union in case you wanted to catch a game down their? I think the stadium is in Chester once it is finished

 

[El Floppo]

I am definitely going to the Santos game when the tickets open up- and will get tickets for the Gals and probably United and Union games too- those last two should be our brutal rivals for a while (United already is).

how close will you be to the Phili Union in case you wanted to catch a game down their? I think the stadium is in Chester once it is finished

No car, so anything out of subway range is too far- that's the beauty of the new stadium for us city-folk.By car... dunno. Probably close enough to catch a game- Philly is close.Good info on the "why not offer individual tickets" question Andy- thanks.

 

[prefontaine]

And frankly, despite the attendance, Johnson and Adu are making more money than almost every player in MLS and that also makes it difficult to loan players into MLS.

I agree, but you also have to remember that when they were in MLS they also made more money than almost every player in MLS so its not the best comparison.Out of curiosity, do you know what EJ makes for a salary now? I am unsure how loans affect salary. Back in 2005 he was pulling in $875k from MLS per season.

When looking it up, everyone seems to quote his MLS salary as $750k base. Johnson supposedly makes £19k/week but I don't think EPL wages are public so that may be entirely inaccurate. If correct, then he makes about $1.5m/yr which seems reasonable given his MLS wages. Players generally receive the same salary on loan so his salary in Greece is (likely) the same as it was at Fulham.

 

[The Z Machine]

My Atleti are up 1-0 on Racing... wonder how long that will last.