MLS 2013 -- Deuces Wild

[Section30]

I know he was planning to get married soon but I have no idea about his personal situation. It worked out better for him when Fulham came into the picture but I think he was mostly unhappy with the way the higher ups in the MLS treated the players. I Remember Jeff Larentowiscz was making $16,500 that season. There were a lot of players unhappy with the salary structure and autocratic way the MLS handled things early on.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I don't blame him for being unhappy, but what childless 24-year old can't make ends meet on $80,000?

 
It's certainly possible he was whining and being ridiculous.  However, the guy grew up in a trailer park in Nacogdoches and his family didn't have much money and made a lot of sacrifices for his career.  Childless, but it's hard to know how many people he was supporting.
 
Clint was understandably frustrated, but it's hardly the first case of a club turning down a transfer offer for a star player.  Charlton offered $1.5m.  Fulham offered $4m a year later.  Given where Clint, Fulham, and Charlton are these days, it's hard to argue in hindsight that things didn't work out for the best.
 

I know he was planning to get married soon but I have no idea about his personal situation. It worked out better for him when Fulham came into the picture but I think he was mostly unhappy with the way the higher ups in the MLS treated the players. I Remember Jeff Larentowiscz was making $16,500 that season. There were a lot of players unhappy with the salary structure and autocratic way the MLS handled things early on.

 
When MLS expanded rosters, the "developmental contracts" were very grim.  Yes, the league didn't have any trouble filling the slots, but still.

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

Do you have a link for the Diskerud piece?  I hadn't heard MLS blocked the move before.

 
I don't have a link, but the way I understand the story on Diskerud from BS discussion of Dempsey's return, Mix wanted some kind of no-trade clause.  MLS said that he'd have to be a DP for that, and I think Portland didn't have the ability to take him on as a DP, not sure if it was salary cap related or lack of slots.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The price of the Crew turned out to be $68m.  That includes the stadium as well, though CCS has to be the least valuable stadium in the league.
 
Agudelo is heading to Stoke City on Jan 1.
 
LA signed Jaime Penedo, the GK from Panama's run to the Gold Cup final.  "August" is apparently the answer to "when will LA realize that signing Carlo Cudicini was a terrible idea?"
 
KC signed a defender born in 1997.  I feel old.
 
Toronto signed a defender from a second division Swiss club, because they've had so much success signing mediocre European players in the past.

 

[MetSox1]

Hey, a little random I know but I'm on the Cape the 22-25, and looking to try to get to Foxboro for Revs/Union (im a Union STH) on that Sunday night.  I'm flying into the Cape so I'm carless for the trip (my family will be staying on the Cape for the following week with the requisite vehicles) and will probably Ferry back to Boston.  I think I can hitch back from the game with some Union fans to Philly, but with regards from getting from Boston to the game am I best with:
 
1)  Public transit
2)  Car rental
3)  Begging anyone on the board 
 
Thoughts?

 

[Infield Infidel]

I'd call MBTA. Google Maps https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=South+Station,+Summer+St,+Boston,+MA,+USA&daddr=Gillette+Stadium,+Patriot+Place,+Foxboro,+MA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=42.088541,-71.155701&spn=0.282808,0.528717&sll=56,-96&sspn=56.32806,135.351563&geocode=FY8-hgIddsjD-ynjOp36gXDjiTG1lzNhx5XgSw%3BFfRBggIdxJfA-yHeykv-62v2aClnPfd2JGPkiTHeykv-62v2aA&oq=foxborough+stadiu&t=h&dirflg=r&ttype=arr&date=13%2F08%2F25&time=18:00&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ls&z=11&start=0 says you can take the commuter rail to Walpole and then cab it. I'd check with cab companies there beforehand, but maybe they do that run for Pats games?
 
Might want to check with a Revs fan club or something, there's likely someone else driving in from Boston.

 

[I am an Idiot]

This is the carpool section for the Midnight Riders revs club site. Good people. 

 

[Section30]

The Sounders announce a sell out for Dempseys debut against Portland. 67,000 seats sold plus bleachers and standing room only tickets for the first time in their history.
 
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1515732/seattle-sounders-sell-clint-dempsey-home-debut-portland-timbers?cc=5901

 

[steeplechase3k]

USOC semifinal is tonight. Timbers @ RSL. I'm getting on a plane in a few hours to fly to SLC for the day. Winner hosts the final.

I believe I read that in the 100v year history of the cup the final has never been in Utah or Oregon.

 

[OCST]

Here's a piece saying the same kinds of things that Pdx was saying upthread: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2013/08/06/4168112/avi-creditor-dempsey-deal-calls-mls-transparency-into?ICID=OP
 

 
Clint Dempsey's arrival in Seattle provides a great boost to MLS, but the continued lack of clarity regarding the league's player acquisition rules remains a major issue.
Major League Soccer is on the cusp of getting to that next level.

It just lured arguably the top American player on the planet (while already employing one of the other candidates) from the Premier League for a record financial package. League attendance is on the rise. Academies are churning out more MLS-ready talent. The 2013 playoff race figures to be as heated as ever with all but three teams legitimately still having something to play for aside from pride. Manchester City and the New York Yankees have bought in for the intriguing New York City FC project. Four more teams after NYCFC will join the fold. Teams are selling for record value.

But one of the most fundamental issues of running a league remains unsettled: The casual observer -- heck, even the most diehard of fans -- still does not have complete certainty on how all player signings and personnel moves are conducted, and it is as if the rules are still being made up as the league goes.

 
I don't go that far back with MLS, and I don't know this writer and his credibility.
 
I also think that the irregularities here are fairly mild compared to the shenanigans from the early days of other new leagues (check out the histories of the ABA, WHA, AFL, USFL, etc.  - hell, look at the founding days of the NL and AL).
 
Nevertheless, it does seem as if there is a real issue here that demands attention.  MLS seems on the cusp of mainstream acceptance in USA/Canada - it has arguably made it in some markets - and also seems to be improving its stature relative to other soccer/football leagues.  A perception that MLS pulls a lot of funny stuff could derail that progress.

 

[MetSox1]

This is the carpool section for the Midnight Riders revs club site. Good people. 

Thanks to Idiot and Infidel.  I'll check it out tonight.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Here's a piece saying the same kinds of things that Pdx was saying upthread: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2013/08/06/4168112/avi-creditor-dempsey-deal-calls-mls-transparency-into?ICID=OP
 
 
I don't go that far back with MLS, and I don't know this writer and his credibility.
 
I also think that the irregularities here are fairly mild compared to the shenanigans from the early days of other new leagues (check out the histories of the ABA, WHA, AFL, USFL, etc.  - hell, look at the founding days of the NL and AL).
 
Nevertheless, it does seem as if there is a real issue here that demands attention.  MLS seems on the cusp of mainstream acceptance in USA/Canada - it has arguably made it in some markets - and also seems to be improving its stature relative to other soccer/football leagues.  A perception that MLS pulls a lot of funny stuff could derail that progress.

 
Creditor has been working under Ives Galarcep for a while now, he's a familiar name.  I think the points he raises are legitimate, it's just a question of how seriously you think they tarnish the league's reputation.  The reality for a long time has been that only US soccer geeks on message boards cared about the fine print of MLS transaction rules.  While the appeal of MLS has grown somewhat, I still don't think most fans are going to care too much about stuff like this.  There are the US soccer ninnies who like to freak out about everything, and the US soccer self-loathing set who like to point out and highlight every flaw.  Both groups aren't that big and the noise they make is disproportionate to the actual size of their constituency.
 
Still, it's a problem to be sorted out.  It all stems from league's extreme reluctance to do anything that resembles a stepping stone to free agency.  Clarence Goodson just re-signed with San Jose, who had retained his MLS rights since he left for Europe in...2008.  I mean, for Pete's sake.  The "allocation order" and weighted lotteries are other ways to deal with returning USMNT players and returning former YNT players respectively.  But new scenarios constantly arise and the convoluted mess of transaction mechanisms can never keep pace, so new "details" have a way of emerging.
 
If we just blew up the jumble of transaction rules and allowed for free agency, we'd be free of all these questions, but that IS the hill the owners will choose to die on.  In the last CBA negotiations, the players union focused entirely on free agency instead of on salary.  They didn't get very far.

 

[thehitcat]

Rev's signing Charlie Davies?  Has he come back at all from the car accident?  I used to love to watch him play for the USMNT but I don't know what he is anymore.

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

Unfortunately, he's nothing at this point.

 

[ribbito]

I haven't followed him since he left DC but he showed flashes of brilliance with us. Heard a lot about preaccident Davies but wasn't into soccer then.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Rev's signing Charlie Davies?  Has he come back at all from the car accident?  I used to love to watch him play for the USMNT but I don't know what he is anymore.

 
Well, he's hardly played for his mediocre team in Denmark.  That means that nobody has really seen what he is these days -- and also that we probably don't need to.  My expectations are low and I'm glad it's only a loan.

 

[Senator Donut]

Agudelo, holy shit

 

[steeplechase3k]

The Timbers won the first of 4 very tough games in a 2 week stretch that will show if they are going to just make the playoffs or if they are fighting for the Supporters Shield with a 2-1 win over FC Dallas last night.

Wednesday the Timbers host RSL, then at Seattle on Sunday (on ESPN2), then at RSL on Friday (on NBC Sports).

 

[steeplechase3k]

The Timbers host RSL at 8pm tonight, a win put the Timbers even with RSL on points at the top of the table.  Sadly this isn't on National TV because it could end up being one of the best MLS matches this season.  Both teams are aggressive, possession oriented teams.

 

[steeplechase3k]

15 buses depart Portland in about 2 hours to head to Seattle. 65k fans,1500 from Portland. ESPN2 at 7pm Pacific/10pm Eastern.

Portland is missing most of its normal central midfield due to injury and yellow card accumulation but Seattle has struggled to integrate Dempsey into their lineup.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Landon re-signs with LA.  According to Straus, he's making around $4.5m a year now.  This comes two weeks after they signed Omar Gonzalez to a DP contract.  It seems like teams are having more and more success retaining their best players.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Robert Warzycha is the third managerial casualty of the season.  Crew TD Brian Bliss is taking over on an interim basis.
 
SKC sold Kei Kamara to Middlesbrough for, reportedly, $1.4m.  SKC has a lot of good forwards, particularly with Dwyer and Saad coming into their own this season.  Still, it's a tough loss for SKC.  At least they got money for him instead of losing him on a free like they did with Roger Espinoza last winter.
 
The Revs signed a Jamaican left back.

 

[javaisfun]

Will Johnson is fantastic: 

 

[steeplechase3k]

The Timbers traded Bright Dike (plus a draft pick and some Allocation cash) to Toronto for Maximiliano Urruti (and an international roster spot).
 
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/09/09/toronto-fc-deal-argentine-striker-maximiliano-urruti-portland-timbers-bright
 
As a Timbers fan I'm sad to see Dike go, he was on the team in the USL and is a really nice guy and wokred his ass off to come back from TWO horrific injuries (torn Achilles and torn ACL) in the last 2.5 years, but his skills just don't really mesh with they style of play the Timbers are playing.
 
Also I love that gif of Will Johnson, but it was also kind of a stupid move to get a yellow for that.  However, if a ref can't pace of 10 yards correctly shouldn't be in charge of a high school match.

 

[steeplechase3k]

The Supporters Shield race is getting really tight after Seattle lost 5-1 to Colorado tonight.

Max points possible:
Seattle 63
Portland 61
Sporting KC 60
New York 59
Real Salt Lake 58
Montreal 58

However Portland and Seattle face off so both those numbers aren't possible...

 

[Titans Bastard]

Orlando is one vote away from securing stadium funding.  If successful, MLS expansion will be right around the corner.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Portland beat free-falling Seattle last night and the Supporters Shield race is now incredibly tight.
 
Portland -- 53
New York -- 53
Kansas City -- 52
Salt Lake -- 52
Seattle -- 51
 
 
In other news, the Revs picked up a huge win in Montreal that keeps their playoff hopes alive.  It's down to, essentially, a home-and-home with Columbus.  They probably need to win out, but could get lucky and squeak by with four points.

 

[Billy R Ford]

Portland beat free-falling Seattle last night and the Supporters Shield race is now incredibly tight.

 
Dempsey's first year in MLS is starting to look a lot like David Beckham's: not a lot of production or playing time caused by a bunch of niggling injuries.
 
Hopefully he can turn it around and be in peak form when the World Cup roles around.

 

[steeplechase3k]

MLS has announced the dates for the Playoffs:
 
Knockout Games: Oct. 30-31 (Wed.-Thurs.)
Conference Semifinals, Leg 1: Nov. 2-3 (Sat.-Sun.)
Conference Semifinals, Leg 2: Nov. 6-7 (Wed.-Thurs.)
Conference Finals, Leg 1: Nov. 9-10 (Sat.-Sun.)
Conference Finals, Leg 2: Nov. 23-24 (Sat.-Sun.)
MLS Cup: Dec. 7 (Sat.)

 

[steeplechase3k]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-major-league-soccer-stadium-orlando-20131022,0,5198898.story
 
Orlando Approves $$ for stadium construction.

 

[Zososoxfan]

Just curious as to your opinion on this: do you think there's a market for another FL MLS team? Either in Miami or Tampa Bay? IIRC, there's already talk of a team in Atlanta. The mid-Atlantic seems ripe for expansion as well as a soccer hotbed. Should/could there be an aim towards building a southeast division?

 

[dirtynine]

Though MLS folded both early Florida franchises (TB and Miami), it's kind of a different model now - Orlando City is the latest to build organic fan support, get a stadium in place, and then join the league.  I think that could definitely happen in Miami - especially with Beckham's almost certain involvement.  
 
I hope they stay away from Tampa.  It seems like a graveyard for professional sports. 

 

[Titans Bastard]

I think MLS would like to put another team somewhere in the southeast.  Orlando is only #21 and since they've discussed 24 teams, there's certainly room.  That being said, expansion is all about having a properly capitalized owner and a stadium situation in which the team controls all revenue streams.
 
I think Orlando's built-in support for the existing third-division team is a nice bonus, particularly for smaller markets like Orlando or Portland.  I don't think it's a key factor for expansion, though, especially when you are talking about top 10 MSAs like Atlanta and Miami.
 
David Beckham has been rumored to be in talks with a few different investment groups regarding a Miami expansion team.  His deal included a franchising option with a discounted expansion fee, but I believe it expires at some point soon.  In Atlanta, Arthur Blank's new Falcon Stadium plan is moving along and he's been talking with the league.  So both are on the table, but nothing is ever certain with expansion.
 
There's very little chatter about Tampa or about anywhere in the mid-Atlantic region.  That being said, there was no chatter about Salt Lake City back in the day, either.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Oh, and the Revs beat Columbus last weekend 3-2 on a late Diego Fagundez goal (his 13th of the season...).  This puts them in the 5th and final playoff spot in the East for now.  They control their own destiny, but pretty much need to beat the Crew again in Columbus on Sunday.  NE could finish as high as 3rd or as low as 7th.
 
In other news, Fagundez received his green card this week.
 

 
Fagundez, 18, now counts as a domestic player for the Revolution after securing his green card. He didn't delve into the specifics surrounding his new status, but he noted the positive outcome represents the first substantive step toward a possible shot with the US national team.
 
“Now it's about working towards citizenship and, hopefully after that, playing for the national team,” Fagundez told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday.

 
I expect Fagundez to change his tune as he gets more familiar with the process.

 

[saintnick912]

Is there somewhere with an up to date and easy explanation of the whole domestic/international and salary rules for MLS? I hear things like "trading for allocation pool" and it's really not something that I'm up on.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Is there somewhere with an up to date and easy explanation of the whole domestic/international and salary rules for MLS? I hear things like "trading for allocation pool" and it's really not something that I'm up on.

 
MLS has a zillion different player acquisition mechanisms, it's a bit ridiculous and overdue for reform, but the league has twisted itself up into knots to avoid anything that resembles free agency.
 
MLS teams start with eight international roster slots, but actual numbers by team vary because they are tradable.  Players with a green card or asylum status count as domestic players due to US labor law.  The Canadian MLS teams operate under the same rules (eight internationals), but for them both Canadian and US players count as domestic, as well as those with the Canadian equivalent of a green card.
 
"Allocation" can refer to various things.
 
The player allocation process is the mechanism by which returning US national team players come to the league.  The allocation order is essentially the reverse standings of the previous season, so bad teams get the first crack.  When Carlos Bocanegra signs with the league, the team at the top of the order can claim him, pass, or trade their slot to an interested party.
 
You also hear of "allocation money".  This is a concept the league has created to give teams a little flexibility with the salary cap.  Teams can use allocation money to "buy down" contracts and make less of a contract count against the cap.  Teams get allocation money (or at least have in the past) for doing poorly the previous season.  This is colloquially called the "You Suck" allocation.  Lately, MLS has been giving teams participating in the CONCACAF Champions League allocation money to mitigate the depth issues caused by the extra travel and fixture congestion.
 
There are probably other ways in which allocation money is distributed, some of which I've forgotten and some of which the league has never made public.  It's a rather opaque process and one for which the league receives some criticism, and rightfully so.
 
It's easier to just not pay attention to the details here...

 

[steeplechase3k]

And all of the rules the Titans Bastard just explained can be changed at any moment to suit MLS as a whole.

 

[Titans Bastard]

And all of the rules the Titans Bastard just explained can be changed at any moment to suit MLS as a whole.

 

 

[saintnick912]

I appreciate you writing that out. I have read bits and pieces, and some of it is brand new to me. What's the system with a player like Dempsey coming to Seattle, that would (I think) blow the salary cap apart? Is that the "designated player" thing? Do most teams use that?

 

[Titans Bastard]

I appreciate you writing that out. I have read bits and pieces, and some of it is brand new to me. What's the system with a player like Dempsey coming to Seattle, that would (I think) blow the salary cap apart? Is that the "designated player" thing? Do most teams use that?

 
I'll let steeplechase handle the Dempsey-to-Seattle transfer, as I'm sure his take will be more entertaining than mine.  :buddy:

 

[steeplechase3k]

Dempsey is a DP so only a small portion of his cost counts toward the salary cap.  This is no different from any other DP.
 
However Portland was first in the allocation order that every returning national Team player has gone through.  Portland didn't want and couldn't afford Dempsey, but most people in Portland think we should have gotten some sort of compensation for trading out allocation spot so that Seattle could sign him.  But MLS said that Dempsey was some special case in a way that no one understands and that didn't have to go through the allocation order so Portland didn't get any compensation.  MLS also as a whole paid the transfer fee, so all 18 other teams helped bring in a player for another team.  No one out side of Seattle and the MLS front office thinks this is fair.
 
Whatever, I'm over it, Dempsey has not helped Seattle any so far.  I'd much rather have the team that Portland has right now.

 

[steeplechase3k]

It is also amazing how tight the conference races are with 1 game to go.  in the West 4 teams are in, and (I think) 2 of them (Portland, RSL) can't finish below 4th, and Colorado can't get better than 4th, but that's it.  San Jose is still mathematically in the race, but they'd have to win, and score 18 more goals than Colorado scores in a loss.  
 
As a Timbers fan all I'm looking at is this: win and the conference is ours. 
 
I haven't look carefully at the East, but seeing 49,49,48,48,46 points for spots 3-7 is amazing.  I don't even want to start looking at all the possible permutations there.

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

 
MLS has a zillion different player acquisition mechanisms, it's a bit ridiculous and overdue for reform, but the league has twisted itself up into knots to avoid anything that resembles free agency.
 
MLS teams start with eight international roster slots, but actual numbers by team vary because they are tradable.  Players with a green card or asylum status count as domestic players due to US labor law.  The Canadian MLS teams operate under the same rules (eight internationals), but for them both Canadian and US players count as domestic, as well as those with the Canadian equivalent of a green card.
 
"Allocation" can refer to various things.
 
The player allocation process is the mechanism by which returning US national team players come to the league.  The allocation order is essentially the reverse standings of the previous season, so bad teams get the first crack.  When Carlos Bocanegra signs with the league, the team at the top of the order can claim him, pass, or trade their slot to an interested party.
 
You also hear of "allocation money".  This is a concept the league has created to give teams a little flexibility with the salary cap.  Teams can use allocation money to "buy down" contracts and make less of a contract count against the cap.  Teams get allocation money (or at least have in the past) for doing poorly the previous season.  This is colloquially called the "You Suck" allocation.  Lately, MLS has been giving teams participating in the CONCACAF Champions League allocation money to mitigate the depth issues caused by the extra travel and fixture congestion.
 
There are probably other ways in which allocation money is distributed, some of which I've forgotten and some of which the league has never made public.  It's a rather opaque process and one for which the league receives some criticism, and rightfully so.
 
It's easier to just not pay attention to the details here...

 
The one other significance of "allocation money" that you didn't mention is that it can be designated to pay the transfer fee for a player acquisition.  The amount of money available is small enough that it won't buy a star, but it can bring in a decent player from Latin America.

 

[Infield Infidel]

I think MLS would like to put another team somewhere in the southeast.  Orlando is only #21 and since they've discussed 24 teams, there's certainly room.  That being said, expansion is all about having a properly capitalized owner and a stadium situation in which the team controls all revenue streams.
 
I think Orlando's built-in support for the existing third-division team is a nice bonus, particularly for smaller markets like Orlando or Portland.  I don't think it's a key factor for expansion, though, especially when you are talking about top 10 MSAs like Atlanta and Miami.
 
David Beckham has been rumored to be in talks with a few different investment groups regarding a Miami expansion team.  His deal included a franchising option with a discounted expansion fee, but I believe it expires at some point soon.  In Atlanta, Arthur Blank's new Falcon Stadium plan is moving along and he's been talking with the league.  So both are on the table, but nothing is ever certain with expansion.
 
There's very little chatter about Tampa or about anywhere in the mid-Atlantic region.  That being said, there was no chatter about Salt Lake City back in the day, either.

 
The tough thing with Miami is they just built a publicly funded stadium for the Marlins. I don't think they could get any public money for another one. There were talks with FIU to share their stadium, going back to before it was expanded, ~5 years ago. Almost ideal size (20,000) and a decent location. But that didn't go anywhere, since MLS wanted to put a roof on it and FIU is building their stadium in stages, with a last stage going to 40,000+, which would be too big for MLS, and tough to roof to boot. Miami is hot and has flash thunderstorms, so you want a roof for shade and a rain cover.
 
The current stage (3rd) would expand to close to between 20-25,000 since they are replacing an existing section. I don't think FIU really needs a bigger stadium; even in their best season the attendance was 18K, so maybe if they don't go far above 20K it could still work with an MLS team. 

 

[Billy R Ford]

Oh, and the Revs beat Columbus last weekend 3-2 on a late Diego Fagundez goal (his 13th of the season...).  This puts them in the 5th and final playoff spot in the East for now.  They control their own destiny, but pretty much need to beat the Crew again in Columbus on Sunday.  NE could finish as high as 3rd or as low as 7th.

 
And it is sure to be a great game, and everyone should watch it and buy season tickets for next year afterwords!
 
In an unrelated story, I got a part-time job working in the Revs' marketing department  a while back (really). So don't listen to me.

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

Or do, because Revs games are fun even if you have to drive to Foxborough and watch them play in a way-too-big stadium to do it!

 

[Zososoxfan]

Though MLS folded both early Florida franchises (TB and Miami), it's kind of a different model now - Orlando City is the latest to build organic fan support, get a stadium in place, and then join the league.  I think that could definitely happen in Miami - especially with Beckham's almost certain involvement.  
 
I hope they stay away from Tampa.  It seems like a graveyard for professional sports. 

 
 
The Bucs are huge down here and averaged a near full house from 2006-2009. In 2010, things went to shit and they averaged attendance in the 70% range (following a 3-13 season, although they were 10-6 in 2010). Starting in 2011, they've bounced back and have been in the 80s, in line with other teams in the lower rungs, but about what I'd expect for a sub-500 team (outside of marquee franchises). I don't know what the hell happened in 2010 (I just moved here this year), but people are definitely into the Bucs here, but there is just so much resentment about the team recently (Schiano billboard, lolz). 
 
The Lightning are also very well supported. In 05-06 and 07-08, they were top 3 in attendance. Between 07/08-10/11, there was a lot of volatility, likely due, at least in part, to the recession. However, since 11/12, the team has been in the 90s again for average home attendance. Anecdotally, I was at the Bruins game last week and it's a solid fan base with a terrific venue.
 
Long story short, I could see a team working here if it was located well (Ybor maybe? Definitely NOT St. Pete - IMHO what's REALLY hurting the Rays). There are big migration shifts to FL and the southeast generally, so I think it bodes well for the future.

 

[saintnick912]

And it is sure to be a great game, and everyone should watch it and buy season tickets for next year afterwords!
 
In an unrelated story, I got a part-time job working in the Revs' marketing department  a while back (really). So don't listen to me.

If Somerville happens I'll be first on the list to buy season tix. But I've said that before.

 

[Titans Bastard]

If Somerville happens I'll be first on the list to buy season tix. But I've said that before.

 
Me too.
 
Assembly Square is the dream, but it's not going to happen.  The Revs are playing in Kraft's stadium right now; the only way there's even a chance that he'll build a new stadium for them is if he gets a boatload of public funding and that's not going to happen.  Wonderland is a stronger possibility, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
 
We should be hearing the annual late fall "Revs stadium rumors" about some vague development in talks -- just in time for season ticket renewal season!

 

[Titans Bastard]

Saturday's results were positive for the Revs.  KC finished off Philadelphia, which eliminates the Union from playoff contention.  And Montreal managed to lose to Toronto, which means that the Revs now control their own destiny.  A win combined with a Chicago tie/loss would actually put New England in third place(!)  The Fire have a tough game against New York, who need a win to capture the Supporters Shield, potentially their first-ever trophy.
 
If NE ties or loses, they'll need Houston to do the same or worse against D.C.  The Dynamo are on the road, but D.C. is just terrible, so winning out will likely be necessary.