^Watch English Premier League soccer and you may change your tune. Also, if you ever have a chance to travel to Europe, catch a game. That is what sparked my interest in the game. I was not a huge fan until I witnessed the passion that Europeans have for their futbol. Catch a big World Cup game at the Amsterdam or Scottish Arms. Great time!
As for MLS, I think St. Louis would support their team and eventually be a big draw here. That would especially be the case if the Rams bolt town when they are sold.
If the rams have to leave town in order for the MLS to find support then I say forget MLS. Bring over some european transplants to support your team.
Gosh, people are so backwards. There's no silver lining in the NFL leaving St. Louis and it certainly isn't having more people to support a league that's hemorrhaging money....and people wonder why Americans hate soccer. Its one thing to shove it in our face but its another to try and shove the rams out while doing it.
Also $300 million for a stadium when the average value of a franchise is 37-40 million? I've been on the fence about MLS until now. Count me as a detractor. Be happy to get a USL-1 franchise. Try supporting that first for 30 years through two different failed leagues. That's the Seattle Sounders.
St. Louis has no soccer history comparable to that. That soccer capital of the usa is all huff and puff from a very, very pretentious fringe.
^I sure hope you are not basing your comment on what I just said regarding MLS doing well if the Rams bolt. First off, get a f-ing clue! I never said I wanted the Rams to bolt. If you've ever watched the news, you'd know that the franchise is for sale. Moving is a real possibility. If a local owner does not step up, NFL football is doomed here. I would never want that to happen, nor have I ever heard soccer fans wishing that would happen. I think both could do well here, especially if the stadium is in a good location. I love the NFL and I like soccer a lot. Where you got that anyone was hoping to push the NFL out in favor of MLS, who knows. Whether you like it or not, soccer is very big in St. Louis. MLS will do well. I think the Rams leaving would be devastating for the city. I find no silver lining in that. How you interpreted that from what I said, I will never know. BTW, 'Americans hate soccer'?? Thats why there are soccer games going on in almost every park on weekends and practices during week. Talk about backwards!!! Scarves...I wouldn't wear one, but that is a tradition in Europe. Based on your comments, you likely consider a vacation going to Branson or the Lake of the Ozarks. Sounds like you need to venture out a little and understand that there are other cultures out there and not everything here is the best. I support the NFL here 100%. MLS would be a great addition to the other franchises here. Wake up!!!!
don't forget that there are a lot of MLS players and coaches with roots in St. Louis soccer, and would probably love to come back home to where they all got their start. I'm sure a local soccer legend would step up to coach: We have plenty of original Steamers and Ambush ('95-'97 glory days) walking around that would love to get back into it. Not to mention the hardcore fans that stuck it out to the end at Family Arena. so sad.
Americans don't hate soccer - at least I don't. I hate Southern Europeans/South American soccer, aka DiveFest'09. When players focus more on acting than on playing the damn game, that's when I turn off. I think MLS should ban southern european/south american players until they stop diving, and give any player who is found of taking a dive a year long suspension to stop it from ever happening again. It's a joke when a good acting job can give your team a man advantage FOR THE REST OF PLAY.
Americans certainly don't hate soccer (hate's a really strong word), but I wouldn't say they like it either. Rather, I'd say (adult) Americans are completely indifferent to the sport.
Football, baseball, basketball, nascar, hockey, golf, even ufc. All are more popular than professional soccer and it likely won't change anytime soon.
Personally, I enjoyed watching soccer quite a bit while I was in Europe, but once I came back to The States I couldn't care less. It's just not the same here. I think it'd be great to have a MLS team here, but realistically I wouldn't follow it and can't really see myself regularly attending games.
^I would love for the United Plaza to come to fruition...That is the best proposal on the table.
^^I don't like the diving and don't want it in the game, but it is part of the game. Most players are trying to draw a card...You see that in hockey as well. Diving is stupid, but part of both hockey and soccer. I am glad that hockey penalizes it, but giving a diving and hooking penalty at the same time seems dumb. They should give diving penalties in soccer, if they already do not.
^^^The fact that Nascar was mentioned as a "sport" puts it all in focus.
I can honestly say that at this point the only reason I believe soccer hasn't caught on full force in America is because of people who refuse to get to know the sport solely because they are "Uh-Merican" and we didn't start soccer. I think the fact that we have long been under-dogs would rile that American spirit and make us want to be the best solely to shove it in everyone's face, but, as sad as it is, I feel "Uh-Merica" is going the opposite way of national pride and prestige and more towards...well...idiocracy.
As I said, I'm not a fan of soccer, but I don't hate it either. I had fun playing it in gym class, and I went to a number of games at my high school and followed the team around a bit, but I still can't really get into watching it. The World Cup is different, because it's entertaining when you have two countries and two fan bases ready to explode the way they do in Europe.
Shy of being in the city this looks like a great plan at first glance. Good metro access, highway access, central location, good incorporation of residential, office, parks, etc.
I still love the idea of the koskiuscko (sp?) area along the river being developed. The interplay with Soulard and pedestrian traffic to the stadium would give a European feel.
A St Louis marketplace overhaul would be nice too.
I certainly don't hate soccer. I followed Athletica their entire season and managed to get out to a game and I'll be following them again next season.
I've also been following the mls bid for quite sometime. DogtownB&R I've never been to the ozarks or branson OTH I'm not going to get into my travels to try and compete with your 'worldly' cultured self.
Back on topic. MLS is looking to pause at 20 teams. How soon after that, do that start adding teams again is unknown. It'll probably depend on the success of the league. Right now #20 is expected to begin play by 2012.
There's 15 teams now and Philly Vancouver Portland are all expected to be added by 2011. The general consensus is Montreal is all but guaranteed one of the final two teams. MLS also wants to hit the southeast market with Miami being a strong candidate. I believe at one point FC Barcelona was expected to pursue an MLS franchise in Miami.
Another thing to look at is the potential for another big league starting up, with owners of these franchises leading the way.
So you might not end up w/ an MLS team. You might end up building a stadium for an entirely different league.
Now, who wants to talk soccer?
Oh and throatybeard that blog was pretty spot on -- very funny
I certainly don't hate soccer. I followed Athletica their entire season and managed to get out to a game and I'll be following them again next season.
I've also been following the mls bid for quite sometime. DogtownB&R I've never been to the ozarks or branson OTH I'm not going to get into my travels to try and compete with your 'worldly' cultured self.
That is a 360 degree turn from your previous post. I didn't try to insult you, but your comments sure seemed to paint you in that light.
Btw, KC Wizards are in trouble, could be a good candidate to move to
St. Louis, if a stadium is built. I only see MLS doing good here, over the long haul. I can't see a second tier league doing good here.
I certainly don't hate soccer. I followed Athletica their entire season and managed to get out to a game and I'll be following them again next season.
I've also been following the mls bid for quite sometime. DogtownB&R I've never been to the ozarks or branson OTH I'm not going to get into my travels to try and compete with your 'worldly' cultured self.
That is a 360 degree turn from your previous post. I didn't try to insult you, but your comments sure seemed to paint you in that light.
Btw, KC Wizards are in trouble, could be a good candidate to move to
St. Louis, if a stadium is built. I only see MLS doing good here, over the long haul. I can't see a second tier league doing good here.
What do you think of KC and STL sharing a team? The KC owners could sell a large share of the team to Cooper and his investors and then let half of the home games be played in STL.
^ I'd prefer a team of our own, but that would be a way to unite the cities. I doubt KC would want to share their team, if anyone cares out there. Doesn't seem like they do. You could call it 'Missouri United'
IN all seriousness, I would want it to be a St. Louis only team. If a shared team was the only way, I guess I could deal with it.
