North American Soccer 2008

[Bobby]

Catch-all thread, bitches.

Teams and crap:

MLS -
Chicago Fire, est. 1997, Toyota Park (20,000) Bridgeview, IL
Chivas USA, est. 2004, Home Depot Center (27,000) Carson, CA
Colorado Rapids, est. 1995, Dick's Sporting Goods Park (18,086) Commerce City, CA
Columbus Crew, est. 1995, Crew Stadium (22,555) Columbus, OH
DC United, est. 1995, RFK Stadium (56,692) Washington, DC
FC Dallas, est. 1996 (as Dallas Burn), Pizza Hut Park (20,500) Frisco, TX
Houston Dynamo, est. 2005, Robertson Stadium (32,000) Houston, TX
Kansas City Wizards, est. 1995 (as Kansas City Wiz), CommunityAmerica Ballpark (10,000) Kansas City, KS
Los Angeles Galaxy, est. 1995, Home Depot Center (27,000) Carson, CA
New England Revolution, est. 1995, Gillette Stadium (68,756) Foxborough, MA
Real Salt Lake, est. 2004, Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,634) Salt Lake City, UT
Red Bull New York, est. 1995, Giants Stadium/The Meadowlands (80,242) East Rutherford, NJ
Toronto FC, est. 2007, BMO Field (20,500) Toronto, ON
San Jose Earthquakes, est. 1995 (2007), Buck Shaw Stadium (17,500) Santa Clara, CA & McAfee Coliseum (63,026) Oakland, CA

USL First Division -
Atlanta Silverbacks, est. 1993, Silverbacks Park (7,500) Chamblee, GA
Carolina RailHawks, est. 2006, WakeMed Soccer Park (7,130) Cary, NC
Charleston Battery, est. 1993, Blackbaud Stadium (5,116) Charleston, SC
Miami FC, est. 2005, Tropical Park Stadium (7,000) Glenvar Heights, FL
Minnesota Thunder, est. 1990, James Griffin Stadium (4,367) St. Paul, MN
Montreal Impact, est. 1993, Stade Saputo (13,500) Montreal, QC
Portland Timbers, est. 2001, PGE Park (19,566) Portland, OR
Puerto Rico Islanders, est. 2003, Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel (12,500) Bayamon, PR
Rochester Raging Rhinos, est. 1996, PAETEC Park (13,768) Rochester, NY
Seattle Sounders, est. 1994, Starfire Stadium (2,500) Tulwilka, WA
Vancouver Whitecaps, est. 1986, Swangard Stadium (6,868) Burnaby, BC

USL Second Division -
Bermuda Hogges, est. 2007, Bermuda National Stadium (8,500) Hamilton, BD
Charlotte Eagles, est. 1993, Waddell Stadium (6,000) Charlotte, NC & Matthews SportsPlex (10,000) Matthews, NC
Cleveland City Stars, est. 2007, Krenzler Field (1,680) Cleveland, OH
Crystal Palace Baltimore, est. 2007, UMBC Soccer Stadium (2,000) Baltimore, MD
Harrisburg City Islanders, est. 2004, Skyline Sports Complex (4,000) Harrisburg, PA
Pittsburgh Riverhounds, est. 1999, CVHS Stadium (4,500) Bridgeville, PA
Real Maryland Monarchs, est. 2008, Maryland SoccerPlex (3,200) Germantown, MD
Richmond Kickers, est. 1993, University of Richmond Stadium (22,000) Richmond, VA
Western Mass Pioneers, est. 1998, Lusitano Stadium (3,000) Ludlow, MA
Wilmington Hammerheads, est. 1996, Legion Stadium (6,000) Wilmington, NC

Primera División de México -
Club de Futbol América, est. 1916, Estadio Azteca (115,500) Mexico, DF
Atlante Fútbol Club, est. 1916, Andrés Quintana Roo (22,000) Cancun, QR
Fútbol Club Atlas, est. 1916, Estadio Jalisco (62,384) Guadalajara, JA
Club Deportivo Guadalajara, est. 1906, Estadio Jalisco (62,384) Guadalajara, JA
Cruz Azul, est. 1927, Estadio Azul (38,500) Mexico, DF
Jaguares de Chiapas, est. 2002, Estadio Víctor Manuel Reyna (27,500) Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chia.
Club de Futbol Monterrey, est. 1945, Estadio Tecnológico (33,485) Monterrey, NL
Monarcas Morelia, est. 1924, Estadio Morelos (41,500) Morelia, Mich.
Necaxa, est. 1923, Estadio Victoria (27,500) Aguascalientes, Ags.
Club de Futbol Pachuca, est. 1901, Estadio Hidalgo (33,000) Pachuca, Hgo.
Puebla Futbol Club, est. 1944, Estadio Cuauhtémoc (45,396) Puebla, Pue.
Pumas, est. 1954, Olímpico Universitario (75,849) Mexico, DF
Club San Luis, est. 1999, Estadio Alfonso Lastras (26,400) San Luis Potosí, SLP
Santos Laguna, est. 1983, Estadio Corona (20,000) Torreón, Coa.
Tecos, est. 1935, Estadio Tres de Marzo (23,000) Zapopan, Jal.
Tigres, est. 1960, Estadio Universitario (41,000) San Nicolás, NL
Toluca, est. 1917, Estadio Nemesio Díez (29,700) Toluca, Mex.
Veracruz, est. 1943, Estadio Luis de la Fuente (30,000) Veracruz, Ver.

 

[easyeasyeasy]

Pizza Hut Park

Do they do meal deals there for like 10 bucks?

*Sorry, went random there!!

 

[::shinji::]

too bad in 2009 Seattle will have to play at Qwest, that place is too big for a soccer team there. I can't help but think it's always gonna look empty..

EDIT: I really hope Montreal gets a team in 2010. The Montreal Impact's attendence is insane, in MLS they'll definitely rival Toronto's atmosphere

 

[Hopeunited]

Man, North American is definitely home to the lamest arena/stadium names.

 

[easyeasyeasy]

They'll be having the McDonalds Big Mac & Fries Park hosting a football match next!

Yeah sorry Bobby I'm after your king of randomness crown

 

[bjmenge]

Where's the Crew?

 

[Bobby]

What?

 

[Rochester Rhino]

EDIT: I really hope Montreal gets a team in 2010. The Montreal Impact's attendence is insane, in MLS they'll definitely rival Toronto's atmosphere

I've heard that they gave away a lot of free tickets in past years. I'm sure though with the new stadium they will be able to keep up the same numbers.


The news about us being bought has gone south when talks with city officials haven't gone as planned. This really is a do or bust situation for us. If the investor does buy us, Rochester will be even more amazing than 9 years ago. If the investor doesn't, expect the Rhinos to fold within 2-3 years.

 

[Xifio]

so how exactly is Nike going to give the USL the impetus to overtake MLS?

EDIT: are Figo and the other Nike guys going to be dispersed around the league after European retirement?

coz I wouldn't mind going to catch an Atlanta game in Chamblee, just as long as the quality of football is going to be significantly better than we can manage with our uni club team ...

 

[::shinji::]

The news about us being bought has gone south when talks with city officials haven't gone as planned. This really is a do or bust situation for us. If the investor does buy us, Rochester will be even more amazing than 9 years ago. If the investor doesn't, expect the Rhinos to fold within 2-3 years.

How did Rochester go from having one of the best attendances in the league and being called "Soccertown, USA" to being in danger of folding in a couple years!?

 

[Bobby]

A lot of fans believed they were MLS bound so they showed up, now they don't so only the dedicated ones are left. And in fairness, 7000 is a good amount of dedicated fans.

Xifio, they'll more than likely simply stablize USL instead of spending crazy money. Atlanta's team isn't bad, they have one of the better American goalkeepers (really). Their rivalry with Charleston is pretty entertaining too, both teams play in actual soccer stadiums.

Edit: http://www.boutiquemeteo.com/saputo/stadesaputo.htm Stade Saputo pics

 

[#1 Stunna]

So... since you named it the North American soccer thread, wheres Mexico Bobby?

 

[Bobby]

Don't know the post codes for Mexican states. What are they?

 

[Avalanche]

Pat Noonan has moved to Aalesund on a free transfer. If you want a link, I cbf'd right now.

It will be a major success if we don't finish in last place this year. I don't like our draft class, and failing to finish the job three years in a row has got to destroy the confidence of even the most hardened soul. We have just entered the tunnel, and it will take at least 3-5 years before we even start to see the first glimmer of light. Maybe I'll be proved wrong, but I really doubt it.

 

[#1 Stunna]

Props on that Bobby

 

[easyeasyeasy]

Only in Mexico can a football team possibly have three kits and all of them be the same colour *cough* Monarcas Colourblind Morelia *cough*.

 

[Bobby]

I still don't see how splitting the talent in the USA between two competiting leagues -- one of which is just starting to gain recognition and another which is as well known as the Indian NFL (if even that) -- can be good for the development of the sport ... and the talent pool was/is pretty meagre in the first place ... surely cooperation, not competition, in terms of investment is what is needed here ... even if Nike can render the USL financially and competitively stable, what do they and others hope to achieve with the USL after that?

Well, it's kind of complex. I'll explain it the best I can.

The USL has existed in some form for 22 or 23 years. It came around as an indoor league in the southwest in the mid 80's following the demise of the NASL. It quickly jumped to the outdoor game and served as the de facto first division although it was never given first division status by FIFA as the US Federation nearly saw itself blacklisted due to the arrogance of the NASL.

The USL continued under various names with various set ups until the 1994 World Cup. At which point FIFA demanded US Soccer appoint a first division. Three groups bid, what is the present day USL obviously, what would become MLS, and a third group called League One America which was apparently run by some guy who's blood-type was LSD. The MLS group won and got first division status.

That said, the USL still operated, it was now, officially Divisions 2, 3, and 4. Now some people would say they should give up, they're hurting MLS but in reality they aren't. USL incubated Seattle for years until MLS decided to expand there, the Sounders are a large part of why Seattle is so fond of soccer. Also, you can't expect Francisco Marcos, as questionable as his credentials may be, to "give up the ghost" he's fought long and hard to keep the league alive, and he's done a decent job.

There's more than enough talent to go around.

 

[Avalanche]

a third group called League One America which was apparently run by some guy who's blood-type was LSD.

I went fishing through an old thread on BigSoccer pondering the possibilities if either the USL or League One America had won the sweepstake, and here's some of the screwed-up sh*t that L1A was planning on doing:

-Dividing the pitch into multi-colored zones.
-Unitards replacing the traditional kit (think Cameroon's one-piece from 2004).
-Three periods instead of two halves.
-Instead of a referee and two assistants, there would be eight officials, responsible for a different part of the field.

In other words, they wanted to take the indoor game outdoors, and merge it with American football, hockey, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Bobby, forget about his blood type being LSD, it very well could have been every illicit drug known to man.

 

[#1 Stunna]

Here is the US U-23 squad

GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (Chicago Fire), Tally Hall (Esbjerg f, Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake).

DEFENDERS (8): Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Chance Myers (Kansas City Wizards), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Mike Randolph (LA Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC).

MIDFIELDERS :Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas).

FORWARDS : Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Adam Cristman (New England Revolution), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (LA Galaxy), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

Interesting they called up Mike Orozco, one of the better your defenders in the Mexican league IMO. I wouldve called him up for Mexico instead of lets say, Inigo, but Hugo is on crack. Orozco stated his dream was to play for Mexico, but hes very excited to represent the country of his birth.

___________________________________________________________________

Mexico's U-23 team, not including European based players that wont be there for the tournament since the teams wouldnt let them go. Guardado (Depor), Vela (Osasuna), Gio Dos Santos (Barcelona) and Moreno (AZ)

Porteros
Guillermo Ochoa (América)
Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey)
Jorge Villalpando (Puebla)

Defensas
Severo Meza (Monterrey)
Daniel Guerrero (Atlante)
Julio César Domínguez (Cruz Azul)
Rodrigo Iñigo (América)
Luis Omar Hernández (Necaxa)
Francisco Gamboa (Toluca)
Adrián Aldrete (Morelia)
Efraín Velarde (UNAM)

Mediocampistas
Pablo Barrera (UNAM)
Patricio Araujo (Guadalajara)
Alan Zamora (Atlante)
Gerardo Rodríguez (Pachuca)
Juan Carlos Silva (América)
Edgar Castillo (Santos)
César Villaluz (Cruz Azul)
Sergio Ávila (Guadalajara)

Delanteros
Enrique Esqueda (América)
Ismael Valadéz (Toluca)
Edgar Andrade (Cruz Azul)
Santiago Fernández (Toluca)
Luis Ángel Landín (Morelia)

 

[newbie original]

Great thread Bobby.