World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

[Jimjamesak]

That's the kicker: You have 60 and 90 day minimums for venue selection and it seems that is about when things are announced. There is absolutely no need to announce right at the deadline. Name another sport where you don't know where your team will be playing three months in advance of an international level match. (This also plays into the fact that US Soccer rotates these single matches through about 15-20 different venues all across the country based on their particular needs). It's a great way to keep the most important matches for the team inaccessible for a good chunk of their potential fanbase.

Like I said, I think gamesmanship is a factor here (keep in mind US Soccer is required by the players' CBA to create the best advantage possible for WCQ games). I mean it's CONCACAF, that kind of stuff is every day stuff. Qualifying games aren't really necessarily for growing the fanbase anyway, their first and foremost priority is three points and World Cup qualification (one of the points that I brought up in the WNT lawsuit discussion was that the MNT does limit their revenue potential in favor of home field advantage). I understand your frustration, believe me I have those problems at a level 10x to you, but I'll just say there are other factors in play here.

[Jimjamesak]

How far out is the FIFA calendar made? They may not have the international break blocks yet.

I believe the International Windows are set already and that's why they're already scheduled out like this.

[Jimjamesak]

Does anyone not in the first pot actually have a shot to move out of group play? Based on the Gold Cup last year, maybe Guyana, since they have the weakest Pot 1 opponent. The plan was to get everyone more games and increase competition, but this definitely looks like it will end up like a reverse UEFA group with one team running away with it by 8-10 points.

Guyana and Guatemala are really the only two I can think of, maybe Antigua if El Salvador lays an egg. It is CONCACAF after all.

[RaceBoarder]

Like I said, I think gamesmanship is a factor here (keep in mind US Soccer is required by the players' CBA to create the best advantage possible for WCQ games). I mean it's CONCACAF, that kind of stuff is every day stuff. Qualifying games aren't really necessarily for growing the fanbase anyway, their first and foremost priority is three points and World Cup qualification (one of the points that I brought up in the WNT lawsuit discussion was that the MNT does limit their revenue potential in favor of home field advantage). I understand your frustration, believe me I have those problems at a level 10x to you, but I'll just say there are other factors in play here.

It's more or less the same procedure for all matches though... The timetable I posted earlier is the same for friendlies too. US Soccer has the ability to make their 4-8 home dates/year for the USMNT destination events. Despite the assinine execution I mentioned, they still can manage to get 10K people to go... Actually make it accessible and you can get 20k or 30k and maybe be able to actually show the crowd on the side of the field with the cameras or in the upper deck.

I get wanting a "home field advantage". I'm not saying put US/Mexico in the Rose Bowl at $200/ticket. We are also at a point however, that there really isn't a way to filter out opposing fans from buying tickets. There isn't a single effort in any sport where this has been both successful and NOT gotten the team roasted from a P.R. standpoint (Nashville/Chicago in the NHL seems to be the most recent example of this from the US Big 4).

If you really want to do this, allow A.O. to buy 10k+ tickets for US/Mexico and don't allow resale. The tech capability is present to do this. US Soccer can create the home field advantage.... Their heads are so far up their asses while sitting on a mountain top, they just can't see that they are alienating the people that will allow them to do so...

[Jimjamesak]

It's more or less the same procedure for all matches though... The timetable I posted earlier is the same for friendlies too. US Soccer has the ability to make their 4-8 home dates/year for the USMNT destination events. Despite the assinine execution I mentioned, they still can manage to get 10K people to go... Actually make it accessible and you can get 20k or 30k and maybe be able to actually show the crowd on the side of the field with the cameras or in the upper deck.

I get wanting a "home field advantage". I'm not saying put US/Mexico in the Rose Bowl at $200/ticket. We are also at a point however, that there really isn't a way to filter out opposing fans from buying tickets. There isn't a single effort in any sport where this has been both successful and NOT gotten the team roasted from a P.R. standpoint (Nashville/Chicago in the NHL seems to be the most recent example of this from the US Big 4).

If you really want to do this, allow A.O. to buy 10k+ tickets for US/Mexico and don't allow resale. The tech capability is present to do this. US Soccer can create the home field advantage.... Their heads are so far up their asses while sitting on a mountain top, they just can't see that they are alienating the people that will allow them to do so...

Friendlies are a whole different ball game, I doubt that many of them signed are more than 6 months in advance (pre-World Cup friendlies are not signed until after the draw is held for example) and they come with a whole different level of bureaucratic and contractual messes. Again, I don't think US Soccer is an innocent party here and they do make mistakes (ticket prices lately) but I also think you mistake bureaucratic and competitive realities for negligence.

And US Soccer has been filtering out opposing fans for WCQ games since qualifying for the 1998 World Cup. It's always brought up by Pancho Villa's Army and others and generally gets ignored.

[Kepler]

10 ET / 7 PT Sunday, Jim.

Clash of the titans. Or something.

[Jimjamesak]

10 ET / 7 PT Sunday, Jim.

Clash of the titans. Or something.

It seems like Seattle will have its full lineup available for the first time this season. So that’s fun.

[Kepler]

70 mins of great soccer from Portland.

The last 20... um...

[Jimjamesak]

70 mins of great soccer from Portland.

The last 20... um...

So take away the fans and Seattle wins by 3 instead just one!

[Kepler]

So take away the fans and Seattle wins by 3 instead just one!

[Jimjamesak]

Messi wants out of Barcelona.

Let the speculation begin!

(It’s probably gonna be Man City)

[Kepler]

Messi wants out of Barcelona.

Let the speculation begin!

(It’s probably gonna be Man City)

Is he old and worn out enough to come to MLS?

[Jimjamesak]

Is he old and worn out enough to come to MLS?

Miami yes, Galaxy not quite.


All joking aside, I’m sure there are clubs everywhere checking their finances and calling his agent.

[Jimjamesak]

MLS seems to going ahead with tonight’s games as Orlando and Nashville has kicked off.

Kind of disappointing but understandable considering how little leverage MLS players have.

[Jimjamesak]

Welp, nevermind. Rest of tonight’s games are postponed.