On a night where a record crowd came out to support soccer in Montreal, the USL-1 Montreal Impact sent the more then 55,000 fans in attendance for their CONCACAF Champions League match vs. Santos Laguna happy.
Forward Eduardo Sebrango scored two goals to help lead the Impact to a 2-0 first-leg victory over Santos Laguna in their Champions League quarterfinal opener at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
The crowd in attendance, 55,571 to be exact, set a new mark for an Impact match, as well as a record for most fans to ever attend a CONCACAF Champions League match.
Here are some highlights from the match
What did you think of the performance? What impressed you more, the way Montreal played or the turnout for the match? Think MLS needs to reconsider and ask Montreal back to the MLS expansion table?
Share your thoughts below.
Istvan: you know that Mexico is in North America too, right? Do they get a vote?
Jcc: yes, of course most were there to see beckham. That’s the point. People come out for big events, whatever they may be. What percentage of those fans last night had ever been to am impact game, you figure? Watched them on tv? Knew where santos laguna is from?
Actually istvan, it TFC beat Montreal in Montreal and tied Montreal at home. TFC lost to Vancouver at home and tied in Vancouver.
How about we settle the USL vs. MLS thing the way it should be settled, on the field?
The USL champion Vancouver Whitecaps vs. the MLS champions Columbus Crew. Home and home. For the OFFICIAL championship of North America. No more excuses, no more rhetoric.
But we all know there is NO WAY the MLS would have the guts to lay its league’s reputation on the line.
Are the Impact as good as the top teams in the MLS? Probbably not. But, there is absolutely no doubt that, with the lineup it has now, that it threatens for a playoff spot. Joey Gjertsen and David Testo would have no problem taking on any MLS midfield. And, well, the Impact are deeper at striker and fullback than most MLS clubs.
Last year, the Impact already proved it in two, best-on-best games against TFC. And TFC weren’t the worst team in MLS.
And you couldn’t dare compare the most wretched MLS franchises, like the Galaxy, to the Impact.
Still, the Whitecaps, not the Impact, are the USL champs, so they should be the ones to carry the torch.
Let’s settle it on the field!
I’ve read some things that said there was some interesting tactics used to get the attendance that high (like selling tickets for $6), but that doesn’t take away from the fact that 55,000 people showed up to watch the game. It’s a great result for Montreal, but I don’t think they should be “asked” to the table again. I think they should be allowed to present a bid if they want, and not turned down for that $40 million price tag. That’s frickin’ ridiculous. That needs to be lowered, cause even if there are teams out there willing to pay that, who knows what kind of debt people are taking on to make that happen. When a team has to shell out that kinda cash to start how can you be sure they’ll be financially viable in the future?
http://endlines.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/looking-to-the-north/
http://endlines.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/soccer-specific-stadiums-good-or-bad/
Montreal would be a great market. However, they need to pay the $40 million fee. If not, then we’ll just go without expansion after Philly enters. That’s all there needs to be said about it.
If Saputo doesn’t want to pay that amount then great; USL will be better off and MLS will be just fine.
RE: the expansion fee for MLS…
Guys, the question I was asking isn’t “Should MLS lower fees for Montreal?”, it was “Is the fee too high, period?”
Several people pointed out that there are “plenty” of markets willing to pay the $40M. Not sure that that’s true. They are actually dropping like flies, which goes some way to explaining the Commish’s sudden love affair w Ottawa. Some of the candidates have said they’ll pay the full amount, others haven’t been quite as clear on the matter:
Miami was lukewarm on it (Claure said “If everyone else pays the same”, while his partners in Barcelona said “let’s think about this”);
Vancouver seemed fine with it (but have other objections, as has been mentioned;
Atlanta & Montreal were not interested at the price;
NYC’s Fred Wilpon didn’t even apply at $40M (and yes, he has the cash…)
St. Louis still appears not to have it’s financing in order (they aren’t alone, Lew Wolff has just canned his similar “housing pays for stadium” approach);
while Portland and Ottawa (for whom the taxpayer appears on the hook for everything BUT the expansion fee…) appear still to be willing, though neither has a stadium plan approved/funded.
Out of the 8 prospective candidates a year or so ago, Mr. Garber appears to have two bonafide financial candidates left in Portland and Vancouver. Now, maybe STL will strengthen it’s backing (like Seattle did), or the voters in Ottawa will miraculously decide to fund Mr. Melnyk’s latest dream, or Barcelona will decide MLS is worth the price (which, at present, they don’t seem to).
But if those things don’t happen? Mr. Garber has two candidates for two spots. And I suspect they’ll want to renegotiate the fee if that happens…
My point is, demand for MLS clubs (which was always a little curious once the price rose above $20M or so, at which point the economics of an MLS franchise appear to turn quite sour) seems to be collapsing. Do you disagree?
@Alex
So all those empty seats at Saputo are just season ticket holders who decided not to show? Please.
Everyone that knows the USL knows Montreal inflates its attendance. The estimates are that they give away roughly half their seats every game for free to sponsors.
@ fcmuenchweiler: I can’t believe that I am about to defend Donnie G (my body is about to convulse).
The league is much better off with him at the helm. The conspiracy theories about him trying to subvert the sport–I don’t even know how to respond to that one with a straight face.
I truly respect your passion for the sport and the fact you show the USL love because I got a lot of love for the USL as well.
In my book, Donnie G gets high marks for his stewardship of the league. We’ll see how he does now that he has lost his best lieutenant.
MLS is way better of than it was in 96 or 00 or 02 or 06.
I respectfully gotta disagree with you on that one. The professional game is in a better than it has been in what, almost 30 years and even back then there was a lot of smoke and mirrors.
Hincha Tim, The issue has been explained in law journal papers on the players union case against MLS from a few years back. Part of the case the players had was that MLS had a monopoly on the market sanction by US Soccer. The court sided with MLS saying that it was clear that it is normal practice in the industry that a country’s fed sanction only one league as its first division so that it will be viable. MLS is barely viable right now. USL and all of its former incarnations were always set up to be the grassroots of American soccer. It too is also barely viable. If it tries to be more than a 2nd division I think it will shoot both itself and MLS in the foot and that would be tragic for the US and Canada.
USL needs to maintain its role which is an important one. MLS needs to take notes from the USL on how having a grassroots approach and keeping it simply can take you a long way.
MLS teams are generally better than USL teams. The reason they didnt make it out of group stages is because they played their reserves as they couldnt afford to play the 1st team. In USL, competition is not as high for good team like Montreal so they get away with playing their starters for too many games. But in MLS, the margin between first and last isnt that much and a team can loose at anytime, so they cant afford to field a tired lineup. Just look at what happened to Dynamo in Playoffs.
nate, you RULE! I’m so there with Garber and his lack of vision. I’ve long speculated that he, as an NFL guy, has always had the NFL and MLB’s best interests at heart. The constant disrespect on ESPN and the lack of vision with regard to USL teams is only the tip of the iceburg with this clown. See my post on Soccer Insider. Here’s to hoping the Timbers and Whitecaps give a big middle finger to Garber’s MLS model and we have the MLS teams begging for a $40 million expansion fee into USL 1. The league structure is better there. Garber’s pyramid/Ponzi scheme is bull$h…..
Garrett just for your information, when a season ticket holder decide not to go to a game is seat is reserved. So, vancant.
northzax, don’t kid yourself, the people that went to the Red Bulls vs. LA Galaxy for the most part were there to see David Beckham. Yes there were Red Bulls fans in attendance, but if there’s no Beckham there’s no way they get 66K in attendance.
The people at last night’s game in Montreal were there for the most part to watch and support the Montreal Impact, not anyone player or Santos. Are you honestly telling me that the Red Bulls would get the exact same support if they were playing Santos Lagunas in the CCL? You’d probably get a larger turnout due to Mexican fans, but how many people would actually show up to cheer on the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium in the same situation?
I’m an Impact season ticket holder and I will try to answer some questions and stupid Montreal trash reasons for Santos loss.
PRICE AND 55,000?
I paid 40$ for the game yesterday at the BigO. My two season tickets in Central Midfield of Saputo Stadium cost me 400$ each. It’s not cheaper than what I saw on MLS websites. There are many reason for the 55,000. In Montreal we love soccer and sports in general, the big events, miss the Expos and more important Impact Management is for sure one of the best in North America Soccer. They don’t want to outbid for a place in the MLS, wich is just an other exemple of how bright they are.
THE GAME?
Maybe Santos Laguna is a better team, but Montreal had a good game strategy and won by respecting it. I was a bit scared after the first goal, Santos seems more dangerous but most of their shots missed the goal. I don’t see where Montreal have been outmatch!?! The team behind have to control the game if they want to score, but maybe I miss something.
THEY TOOK MONTREAL LIGHTLY?
They don’t, in many interviews in Montreal medias before the game their coach explained the respect he has for Impact’s achievement in the tournament. They saw the games Impact-Atlante and were aware of what Impact was capable. The top 11 of Santos was also on the field. Impact 2 – Sanchez 0.
FIXTURE CONGESTION?
During the Canadian Cup (between TFC, Vancouver and Mtl) the fixture was according to MLS schedule, so, favorable to TFC (the club supposed to easily win it all). Both Vancouver and Montreal (USL) where dissapointed, but the result is the Montreal-based USL team won. It should not be an excuse, these guys are pro, and should be fit.
ARTIFICIAL TURF?
BMO field (TFC ground) is artificial turf but Montreal players are used to the comfort of Saputo Stadium natural grass surface.
HISPANIC ATTENDANCE?
Yesterday, I was sit in a section close to the ‘Guerreros’ and I can say they where not very vocal. There was also a dozen mexicans (Chivas fans) in the row behind us (all dressed with National team jersey), also mute all the game. There are many latin descents living in Montreal, but in the stadium yesterday most of them were cheering for their team… the IMPACT.
NORTHERN CLIMATE?
In a dome… I think I’m missing something on this one. It’s not a Zenith Saint Petersburg game.
MLS TOPIC
If MLS don’t want Montreal market and the Impact it’s just too bad. Impact is a great club, with big league management and a great fan base. They will find a way to kick some MLS butts from time to time (Concacaf-CL, Canadian Cup, etc.) and make the league look stupid.
I think it’s a no brainer that MLS should find a way to reconsider their position.
guys, this was one event. let’s not get crazy here. in Saputo’s own words, this was a ‘soccer carnival’ in Montreal. yes, it’s great to see those numbers, but let’s not forget, the Red Bulls drew 66k to see the Galaxy the other year. one event can bring out a huge crowd. I don’t see the RB repeating that attendance night after night.
as for last night, 35,000 of those tickets were ten dollars. the fifty dollar price quoted above was only for 300 tickets. out of 50,000. not a big percentage.
As for actual numbers over a season, the Stade Saputo holds 13,000. the most expensive season tickets are 390 for the season (for 17 games) or 22 bucks a pop (canadian) which is on par with the second cheapest season tickets you can get at DC United (I use that for comparison because I know the team) Montreal sells 2,000 of those.
so let’s say the deferred plan went into effect. and Montreal had five years to make up ten million US. at 20 home games (including other competitions) and 13,000 seats, a complete sellout for the season is 260,000 tickets. that’s only a surcharge of five bucks per ticket, per game, including season tickets, to pay the fee. of course, they’d also need to expand to make any money (last year only two teams in MLS didn’t average above a sellout of Saputo) so add that cost in as well. and you’d need some suites, and hospitality areas, heads, food, etc. figure another ten million to amortize. now you’re looking at ten bucks a game, per head. to make the same revenues for operations. obviously, Saputo looked at those numbers and figured he couldn’t make it work. if he could, he would have gotten the financing from somewhere else and kept his bid alive.
Montreal is about as good as a fair number of MLS teams. That doesn’t mean MLS should roll out the red carpet for them, though.
I wouldn’t be so sure about the USL not going after the MLS as the premier league. The USL could approach owners and keep their entry fees low and let the owners actually invest it in their clubs and have a promotion and regulation system (which it is set up to do now if it wanted with USL-1, USL-2). As as far as FIFA mandating that the MLS be the top league, what does that mean anyways? USL teams, if they are better, could still qualify for the top tournaments. I’m by no means an expert on this, but I’m not sure in American courts that FIFA designating the MLS the top league and trying to restrain the USL would neccessarily hold up under anti-trust laws or in the World Court under free trade agreements, if the USL ever pursued it.
Wow, great point Garrett…I mean, how long must it have taken the Impact to construct the 50k cardboard cutouts of fans for last night???
Montreal usually reports sellouts. They give away so many seats and charge very little for the ones they sell to inflate their numbers so it looks like their attendance is better than it really is.
If you don’t believe me dig up some footage of Stade Saputo last year from USL Live when they reported a sell-out. You’ll see what I mean.
What will attendance by in Puerto Rico tonite? Anyone care to guess?
Posted by: Marc Silverstein | February 26, 2009 at 12:57 PM
——————————————–
If we get 5K at Loubriel tonight I will be impressed. After some people paid to see the friendly with DCU last Saturday and will World Baseball Classic games coming up, I am expecting more like 3500 and that might be a stretch.
Our attendance is not one of our strong points. We have hardcore supporters who go to every match (like a lot of other places).
It’s a great stadium to visit because of the concourse atmosphere as well. It is different than compared to anyplace in the States.
It’s economics (significantly poorer than even the poorest state in the USA) and the plain truth is that in Puerto Rico, to paraphrase Joe Serralta, the federation president in an article a week or so ago “There is not a culture that wants to pay to watch soccer”.
I’m not Puerto Rican and I don’t live on the Island so I’m not making any “judgements” about the reality. I’m just communicating what is a (perceived) reality by what i have seen personally and what people who know much more than I do.
The biggest crowds that the Islanders have drawn have been for USL playoff or run up games and they have been 13.5 K a few times. Which, when the first time it happened and I was in the crowd, I never dreamed that I would see for a futbol/balonpie/soccer match in Puerto Rico before the Islanders joined USL.
Northern climate, the game was played indoors ffs…
They got 55000+ the same way that the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007 drew almost 2 million spectators across Canada. Canada is more open to the outside world than the US and we don’t consider that the MLS is the be-all and end-all of American (in the continental sense) football.
Americans suffer from a “not invented here” syndrome which is why they don’t get it.
Couldn’t care less if the MLS never comes to Montreal, and I think the Impact doesn’t either. The Impact is a not-for-profit corporation by the way so most of the proceeds from last nights attendance go to soccer all across the province of Quebec. That too is not the MLS way.
A.S., that’s because the Red Bulls don’t have that much of a supporter base due to crappy Stadium location etc.
And because MLS teams refuse to take this kind of thing seriously. Just imagine a CONCACAF region with a CL as important as the Copa Libertadores. If the MLS teams could get this kind of support for CL, the revenue would be awesome. And it would be exciting as f*ck.
simon b- i dont think the issue would be in the MLS headquarters, but rather the other teams who paid more to get the same spot… unless they dropped the other team’s fee as well, it wouldnt make much sense…. you’d have bad blood between owners and the headquarters….
again i say they pay a portion of it (ie. 30M USD) then pay the remaining amount (10M USD) through portions of the gates/tickets… this way the amount is such a burden up front and they could pay it off within X amount of years….
What will attendance by in Puerto Rico tonite? Anyone care to guess?
This is great. Anytime Sanchez gets scored on is fun 🙂
Yes, Montreal needs to be considered again, and IMHO should be the front runner. 50,000 fans for a weeknight CCL game is amazing. Trying to run a league on expansion fees is so short sighted. You need to be in markets where you will have a strong fan base, that’s how your going to make money in the long run. I doubt there is any MLS team that could draw 50,000 fans for any game…
I don’t see MLS and USL getting into a turf war over who is the top league. US Soccer by way of a FIFA demand designated MLS as its 1st division. Its the only way the sport can survive in North America. To have two warring leagues is simply not in the interest of the sport here and it has happen before in North America with soccer. MLS and US Soccer have gone out of there way to avoid those mistakes of the past with having two leagues trying to be top dog and getting into transfer bid battles with Euro clubs. MLS just makes plenty of others mistakes is the problem.
I don’t think MLS should reconsider asking Montreal. They should beg Montreal to join! There are some teams in the MLS that can’t even turnout 55,000 you combined the total for 2 games maybe even 3. Adding Montreal to the league will do nothing but help. and to answer someone’s question if the MLS is asking 40 million to join that’s ridiculous and yes they should lower that.
I agree, dropping the fee in the case of Montreal makes a lot of sense. getting upset about Montreal not having to pay the same is very short sighted. It’s franchises like Montreal that will raise the profile of the entire league as well as the price for future expansion. Want to know why they’re asking for 40 mil this time around, Toronto FC! if TFC hadn’t been such a major success there’s no way they would’ve been able to ask that much. Now with seattle a major success it’s more fuel to the fire.
not only would montreal add another fantastic franchise to the league, it would add value to every other franchise.
Sanchez is a loser! Dos a Ciero!
Dude, the equation is simple, and I simply can’t believe MLS hasn’t figured it out yet:
1) The entire continent is covered in immigrants and their children; my parents are from Britain, my Buddy’s are from serbia etc. That’s the excellent consequence of both the U.S. “melting pot” and Canadian “multiculturalism”: both sodcieties are built on immigration.
2) People everywhere else love football. But up until recently — i.e. the last couple of years and the signings of Angel and Beckham — none of them were willing to watch the local brand of football; it’s pretty poor, let’s face it, compared to the top leagues most of them follow.
3) The day Beckham signed, TFC’s season tickets jumped from 4,000 to 10,000. It wasn’t because of Beckham, it was because of what he represented: the sport being taken seriously by professional owners. As soon as it seemed like serious football, it drew out the serious fans. I’ve followed every second I can of Liverpool for nearly 35 years; I didn’t follow a minute of USL until it started playing MLS teams for the continental title.
4) Once fans in Seattle saw that a) they were getting a DP with real skills (albeit hips and ankles of glass) and b) that Toronto’s hardcore fanbase had proved you could recreate the European club enviornment, their season tickets took off.
THe obvious conclusion, and one many TFC fans will admit is true, is that MLS is taking off among formerly-dormant fan bases. There’s no reason to think the same isn’t true in large USL cities like Montreal and Vancouver.
And in truth, you’ll find the same thing now in just about any large north American city. As long as people believe the right environment will be created (SSS, hardcore fans singing throughout, some top level players), it’s going to be the norm from now on, not the exception, for new franchises to sell out their season ticket base.
In fact, I imagine the next step will be getting the league’s founding franchise communities to catch up, which won’t take long. That’s the beauty of a grassroots, fan-driven process.
————————————–
STEVE WROTE: I find myself, a huge mls supporter, rooting strongly for montreal and puerto rico (and houston of course). And the fact that Oswaldo “Dirty” Sanchez was the goalie makes it ten times better.
If a USL team can get 50,000 in attendance, it seems like MLS teams should be able to average better than 10,000. Soccer is not much more popular there than many places in the US. What did they do that we don’t, and how can we improve? Thoughts?
I don’t see the point in MLS ignoring the cities in North America that thrive and show that they can support the game at this level of competition, but rather look for someone with deep pockets that can’t sell **** because they put the team in a “MAJOR LEAGUE” town that doesn’t have any interest in the game at any level.
You either want the game to work here and grow, or you can sell to deserts of Phoenix and smug citizens of Florida to cushion Kraft’s ass.
“You’re doing it wrong!”
Nate hit the nail on the head. The 40 Mil. or nothing crowd will be calling St. Louis TTT when they have poor attendance.
Montreal has great support, is a major tv market, and good ownership in place. The city is a great expansion opportunity, and MLS is seriously considering letting this opportunity pass itself by.
I was at the game last night.
Top tickets were $50, scalpers were getting $100 at the Pie-IX Metro station outside the stadium. So, there goes the theory about tickets being cheap. Actually, it cost more to go to this game than it would a TFC match.
As well, there were lineups like crazy to buy replica Impact Puma jerseys at $110 a pop, or T-shirts, anywhere from $25-$40.
This was NOT a discount event.
As for the MLS vs. USL debate, in Canada, where the MLS is new, and the resident team LOST in the Canadian championships to an established elite USL team, fans here see no marked difference between the leagues.
Yes, it’s easy to say Montreal is fluking its way to wins. Except, when you think about all the teams that its dispatched, well… maybe not so fluky.
Then, well, there were FIVE, count ’em, FIVE, MLS teams that had the chance for Champions League honours. There were the four U.S. qualifiers and Toronto FC, through the Canadian championships. All but one, Houston, are LONG GONE. Now it’s easy to SAY MLS is superior, but there is no proof of that on the field.
I am sure Mr. Garber is not going to tolerate his MLS sides putting out reserves for Champions League games in 2009. But, as it stands, the international optics is that MLS is very overrated. And until MLS can get international results, that perception is warranted.
As for Montreal… remember that USL has no salary cap. A lot of the Impact players are making more from Joey Saputo than they would in the MLS. Peter Byers turned the Quakes down because they couldn’t pay him close to what he gets in Montreal. Now that Saputo and Garber have made it personal, watch Saputo use money to try and strengthen USL and his franchise and hurt the MLS.
In the end, I can see both Vancouver — who aren’t sure about the MLS wanting it to alter its youth program, which is a MAJOR sticking point — or Montreal in MLS. What I do see down the road is the money of Saputo and Kerfoot making USL into a real rival league for the MLS.
If MLS diehards think that, without massive changes to the way the league is run, that Garber can keep the MLS well ahead of the USL, well, keep your heads in the sand.
I think the MLS should absolutely reconsider; I always did. I can’t see why established teams like Portaldn and Montreal aren’t leading the pack to begin with, but I’m sure it has to do with $.
Anyway, I’d like to see the USL and MLS be one league with a system of relegation and promotion. They could even keep their playoff system, if they even wanted to. Anyway, a boy can dream…
Don – i highly highly doubt both Portland and Vancouver get a team… maybe 1 or the other but not both….
personally i hope they hold off on the expansions after these 2 are picked and let the teams build up in strength… then i hope they reinstate the Reserves league better and stronger….
Andy,
you are right, of course, you can always go the Marlins route and bank your profit sharing, pay the minimum to barely compete and trundle along. but that only works in a revenue-sharing scheme there there are clubs that make a ton of money to share. The Yankees, for instance, lose a lot of money every year, the Steinbrenners get a very nice write off, as the other corporate arms make millions more than the yankees lose (last year the Yankees lost something like $100million, luckily, their side deals, held in other corporate names, made $200 million) do the Galaxy actually make money? I doubt it. especailly when amortizing the losses over time. Does AEG make money off the brand, and the stadium? probably. ancillary revenue is a wonderful thing.
as for your other example, yes, ManU makes money. but then they have insane revenues, based on buying those players. it’s just a question of which revenue streams you are counting. but the real money isn’t in the year to year profits, it’s in the long term growth of the franchise. Think of it like buying an investment property to rent out. does my landlord make money on my rent compared to his mortgage? probably not a lot, maybe a hundred bucks a month. compared to the $500K he put into the place, that’s not much (you’d do better putting it in the bank and leaving it) so why bother? because I am basically paying for his investment cost, he’s guessing that in 5, 10, 15 years, the place will be worth much more than it was when he bought it. that’s where the money is. he’s not going to retire on my rent, even ten years from now, but if the place is worth $750K in ten years, and I’ve been paying his costs, he’s done ok, right?
Take, as another American example, the Redskins. Dan Snyder bought the club a decade ago for about $500m. since then, he’s made paper profits (who knows how much he and his partners have invested year to year) of about $30m/year, assuming he hasn’t invested anything. not bad (but then he has spend money, a lot of it) that’s peanuts compared to the value of the franchise that has increased from $500m to $1.4billion over that time. now THAT’s real money.
MLS isn’t at either of these places yet, not even close. the value of having the operating rights to a team is in the long term growth of the brand (and in the ancillary streams) not in operating profits. That model is no longer successful beyond the minor leagues.
Andy, I gotta comment on something that you posted, Bro:
“USL in several cities has just as good of an atmosphere as MLS…”
What cities are those other than Portland? Charleston? And maybe Vancouver? Rochester used to. Puerto Rico does during playoff time. Look at what ATL had in it’s Silverback fans. Great fans, good supporters group.
But KC and Colorado and some of the other often maligned clubs have some great hardcore fans.
I do agree that pretty every USL1 and USL2 clubs have some diehard fantastic fans but that is not the same as atmosphere. But those because the numbers are a lot smaller so I wouldn’t call it the same.
All I’m saying is that atmosphere is relative. Red Bull can play in Giant Stadium and ESC and the other supporters, even in that cavern–just like their arch enemies down here in DC can still bring atmosphere.
“Also…sports franchises do turn profits if managed the correct way….the money comes from TV revenue, merchandising, gate receipts and lucrative eqipment and team sponsorships”
Yes, management is important but even when you do everything “right”, many clubs still lose ca$h. Obviously, I would prefer to see a club maximize the likelyhood that it will succeed by trying to maximize the things that you mentioned. Those a key elements. But the economics are just not that easy. Even when there is demand.
I agree with you that all of the MLS apology stuff is really tired.
andy in atl- if you have the fan base to fill a 50k stadium then i see no reason to not have a 50k stadium…. however, MLS teams’ fan bases are not that strong yet nor large enough…. so i agree…. hitting the margin of 20-30k stadiums is more then sufficient for now….
wasnt there rumors of Montreal simply paying 40M Canadian and then paying the rest over the next couple years on partial ticket sales??
i dont recall where i read it or if it were simply a poster making a suggestion, but i would think that would work for both side… MLS get their expansion fee and Montreal get their team without the large up front sum…
Eric, it was indoors and 65 degrees
You know the same dellusional people on this board who want $40 million or nothing will be calling MLS bush league when St. Louis is drawing 7,000 on a Wednesday night.
When the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps join the Seattle Sounders in the MLS, I’m certain the passion and rivalry will be unmatched by anything in the league. Yes ownership financial ability and stadium conditions are important considerations, but in the end the determinant of franchise success comes down to the team supporters. Go Timber Army!
Northern Climate my ass…they were inside….
Also for all you MLS apologists…USL in several cities has just as good of an atmosphere as MLS….also….YOU DO NOT WANT 50K SEAT STADIUMS….you want 18-30K and right on top of the field…there is a reason Toronto games are exciting…. the players feed off the crowd’s energy….
Also…sports franchises do turn profits if managed the correct way….the money comes from TV revenue, merchandising, gate receipts and lucrative eqipment and team sponsorships….
The ones like Manure, Chelsea etc… are constantly spending 100s of millions of dollars on players because they feel that having the best players raises their visabiity up globally and thus makes their stake worth more as you said…not all franchises work like that…
LA Galaxy has turned profits even before Becks came…
“. . . everyone is worth less today on paper than they were yesterday. not a good model.”
You’re right. Everyone IS worth less on paper than they were yesterday! How’s that 401k and mutual fund working out right now.
Dominick above said it best, “Soccer on this continent is a sport that is building, the Champions league is a new tournament–last night showed, with time, what this sport can look like.”
This was very awesome to see, more so the crowd than the play. I see this as a statement! Montreal takesaway there bid, and Impact fans come in the thousands on a WEEKDAY, lets not forget this, its a weekday, for a young tournament with no hype! I mean this is incredible!!
As for expansion, I hope Garber truly sees the importance of atmosphere in the MLS. Fans is what makes money and creates a sport. The last thing we need is to bring in another KC, FC Dallas, or a Colorado. Montreal needs to at least be considered again, dot those eyes and cross those tees! It could be a great thing!
Ives, to answer your question: No discounts for Saputo and his group.
Uncle Joey wanted a discount and no discounts are given. It’s business, not personal. You set a price and you stick to the price as long as the market will bare it. It wouldn’t be fair for Saputo and his group to get a deal just because the Impact are a great club and already have a lot of things in place. Or because Montreal is one of the most enchanting cities in all of North America (which includes Mexico, my friends). It’s simple supply and demand.
Uncle Joey did have his chance. He blew it. MLS didn’t change the price on him or his group. The value of the looney changed. The price was always clear and always firm.
Right about now, does Montreal really need MLS? Seriously…They look like they are doing just fine where they are.
When they pony up more money they will get in if the price is there is still a spot for them.
A well supported USL side with a built in rival in Toronto FC. I believe Montreal would be a better fit for MLS than, say St Louis or Miami. Look at what KC draws for their games. Would St Louis be any different. Look at what happened with the Miami Fusion. People there are more interested in getting to the beach than getting to the game, especially in the summer.
What Montreal accomplished was freaking fantastic. They showed their class, their talent. The fact that they managed to get that many fans out (discounted tickets or not)–the whole organization should be proud.
You guys reprezented the USL well again.
You reprezente Canadian soccer very well.
Your fame is growing and deservedly so.
Well done!!!
If my Puerto Rico Islanders can play half as well tonight then we will have a good chance to get three points, also.
Mexican teams are good but highly over rated.