Adrian Hanauer Frustrated

Yeah- bring home the fucking hardware!

This is bunk.  This should be home and home at least.  We deserve an explanation as to why this game is in DC.

I think they’re going to say, “It’s not about money”, but that’s bunk.

You think they don’t choose where to play the Champions League final over money?  or the Super Bowl?

This is a bush league decision.

I think the “home field” argument isn’t a good one, because it’s exactly what we want too.  It’s kind of circular logic to get pissed at someone for home field advantage, when what we want is home field advantage.  And, we have played the majority of our games at home as well.  Not as many as DC, but the majority.

I think the real argument is that we outbid them…and therefore deserve the game.  Hanauer is right, we would sell out Qwest (at least up to the 32,000 mark) for this final.  DC will pull in 10.  How can MLS not want that kind of reaction and response?  The only thing I can imagine is that they believe a sold out Qwest would be too much of an advantage for the Sounders.  And that is exactly what is wrong with the MLS.  The pursuit of “parity” means clubs that could excel get held back.

The Sounders will always be limited by the MLS.  If the MLS was smart, they would let the Sounders (and other clubs that have the ability) raise the level of play and take the MLS to another level.

Adrian needs to shut up.  There is no guarantee on an attendance number for a 1 pm weekday game.  This is about tv and promoting the tournament.  If the bids were equal and it was a differnce in a 4 pm EST game and a 7:30 pm EST game, I wonder what they would take?  Come on people, we aren’t getting 32K there for a 1 pm tuesday game and you know it!  I think we could draw quite a few, but not 32K.  This is all TV in my opinion.  This is on FSC at 4:30 on the 2nd.  I do think they should make bids public, but we have had quite a few home games in this tournament and we should be happy we are still in it!  We have played great so far, just get behind the team and get excited for the game. 

And this is NOT done by the MLS.  The US Open Cup has been around for over 90 years, MLS has not been around that long.  Blame the US Open Cup for this.

Joe Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 am

Did you really just tell Adrian to shut up? After everything that he has done for this organization and the fans…wow! That’s unbelievably sad.

The 1pm kickoff is complete and utter b.s. There is no doubt we would outdraw the Mariners game that night, meaning they should be forced to move their start time to the 1pm slot. Unfortunately, that’s the position soccer holds in this country. I hope the 16,000 fans who show up to Safeco that night have a great time.

Steve Edholm Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am

I mean on this topic.  I probably should have said he needs to stop complaining about this.  I really appreciate all he has done for the Sounders.  I go to to as many games as I can and love the team/game.  He has been amazing so far and so has the rest of the FO.  They may have had a bit of a misstep on this tourney, but other then that they have been nearly flawless.

I know we would outdraw the M’s on a 7:30 game.  No one would doubt that, our average beats their average.  I think the 1 pm start is BS too.  It is too bad they can’t switch, but they have had the time on the schedule for a long time. 

I just have a hard time listening to someone in the FO complaining about not getting it when the sport is trying to become bigger and there is a difference in a 7:30 EST game and a 4:00 EST game.  I think anyone would say that the 7:30 is better for the sport.  We just couldn’t provide that and I don’t think we should complain because we couldn’t offer it.  I do think it is odd they have had 9 straight home games in the tourney, but until it is revealed as to what everyone bid, we can’t say we outbid them.  Fact is we bid a 1 pm game here and they bid 7:30 there and virtually that alone would make me lean to DC as getting it since it will promote the game/tourney more. 

Joe Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:14 am

Gotcha. Agreed.
I’d like to see the FO maybe focus on an outdoor viewing party for this. I’d say 95% chance that the weather would be at least decent and I’d expect enough people could make it down in time to have a good showing. We could bring out our flags, chants and whatnot. If we win, it would be one raucous celebration and could be much more fun than everyone being segmented in various bars around the Sound (this is, of course, if you can’t make it to DC for the match!).

Mike Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am

I wish we knew an Alliance Council member who could help make this happen…

further reading this, unless you know the dc bid, they may have topped us in money. plus maybe they think exposure is better then money to them. maybe FSC is giving more for the evening game versus the early game so the complete package is better. no one knows. really until bidding is open you can only assume its the issue of time of day

yeah yeah mike….   i will bring it up.

also, don’t read into the mariners night game too much. think more about the fact that the seahawks play the next day… hence needing anough time to turn the field around from soccer to nfl.

All I know is my hubby is going to roll his eyes when I tell him I want to fly to DC!  Suppose he’s known me long enough to already expect the conversation.

yamsmos Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm

let me know if you get a $50 companion fair that i can latch onto LJ

LJ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Thinking of turning in miles if I get the nod But I will let you know! And if it doesn’t work then I’m there for the big viewing event you’re hosting!!

The thing with TV time is that soccer fans, at least those that watch the EPL, are used to watching soccer games at ungodly hours.  If it is a championship they will take the day off or be happy to watch a recording of it.  I don’t think showing the game on a 3 hour television delay is that bad if necessary.  The thing is it is important to sell seats.  Part of the allure of watching a televised game is seeing a packed stadium and wishing you were there.  I think everyone agrees it is underwhelming to watch a tv soccer match and see a ton of empty seats.

First, until DC shows their bid, they’re under fire.

Second, with the game so far out, it should be easy to schedule accordingly.  Why is Sept 2nd the date – and does anyone really care about the date?  August is crazy for both teams.  Sept only has 3 matches each – so something like Sept 23rd would match up with a MLS pitch from the Chivas game, mid week for Sounders, on a bye week for DC.  No Mariners in town, and Hawks play on the 27th.

US Soccer is the downfall to this…  Trying to squeeze in a mid-week match in a crazy month isn’t going to work.  Hopefully when they build the schedule next year, things like this are better dealt with.  Bid for the game, then decide on the date based on team schedules.

Otherwise schedule the All-Star break and the US Open Cup for the same week,   Open Cup on Wed, All-Star on Sat.

RFK is a fortress!

Well, I believe it’s right of them to have it at RFK.  You can’t argue the fact that by having won the cup before, they have earned the right for their next final to be at home.  It’s up to Seattle to try and make a case for it to be theirs the next time they make it to a final.