Tuesday's Daily: KC
With J Hutcherson
A couple of weeks ago, we put together our list of Eleven Issues For MLS. Number seven was Kansas City. Here's why.
The Wizards are in a unique position. They're an established team with established issues trying to turn things around over a decade in. If they can get it right in Kansas City, every other team in the League should take that as an indication that the long view works.
Why is this so important? The League contracted two teams and had a few more potential candidates just before the wide-spread era of soccer-specificity. They moved the two-time champion San Jose Earthquakes to Houston. All had venue and attendance issues.
Major League Soccer has sent a very clear message over the years when it comes to venue and attendance issues.
New purpose-built stadiums was supposed to be part of a broader answer. Teams like Kansas City continued with sparse crowds in a football stadium, a not so subtle reminder of what MLS was trying to move past as quickly as possible.
Dallas responded by spending a year in an undersized facility, moving back to the Cotton Bowl, and then finally to Pizza Hut Park. Though in miles they remain the clear winner in distance from the urban center, the Chicago Fire followed by moving to the outer edge of Chicago and Colorado ended up in Commerce City. All three have had issues with regular attendances. All three would very much like to think they've solved their immediate problems.
Kansas City might be setting itself up to offer a working critique of that specific soccer construction model. Like DC United, Kansas City is pointing towards a broader mixed use area centered on the soccer stadium. Unlike the stadiums already built, Kansas City's would be in Kansas City, MO.
For now, the Wizards are in a similar situation to the San Jose Earthquakes, the reinstated former MLS champions who play regular games in a small capacity venue while moving to a bigger stadium for games when they can draw more. It's about as ideal as it sounds.
It's the immediate future for a club that could end up resetting the basic concept of what's possible for Major League Soccer. They're doing it without even the implied threat of the pack up and move model favored by other leagues.
How that works in a declining economy in an area of Kansas City that would require broader construction is an open question, but credit the Wizards for setting up the next step.
It's a bold move, one that hopefully gets rewarded.
On TV
MLS Primetime Thursday on ESPN2: New York - Salt Lake at 10pm.
CONCACAF Champions League: Saprissa - DC at 10pm on Fox Soccer Channel. Firpo - UNAM Pumas on Galavision at 10pm. All Times Eastern
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Europe
Teams in the red face ban from Champions League -- from The Guardian's Matt Scott: "It won't happen this year, it won't happen next year but, yes, that could happen in years to come."
Nick Harris: Billionaires and bad debts mean 'financial fair play' is an illusion -- from The Independent's Nick Harris: Idealism is a minefield.
West Ham concern over Iceland bank collapse -- from The Times' Gary Jacob: "Gudmundsson is not going to take money out of the club but on the other hand these events have limited his options for further investment this year.”
Tony Jimenez leaves Newcastle United to 'pursue other interests' -- from The Telegraph's Rob Stewart: None of the trio have been seen at Newcastle since the crisis prompted by Keegan's exit and were famously dubbed the 'Cockney Mafia' during fierce fan protests before, during and after the 2-1 defeat by Hull City four weeks ago.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Americas
Elementary Education Sends Bradley on His Way -- from The Washington Post's Steven Goff: In the tradition of aspiring players hanging around European clubhouses, he also would make a few bucks cleaning muddy cleats.
Adu, Altidore back on familiar ground with US team -- from The Associated Press: "But you have to keep in mind that you've got to work your way up from the bottom to the top."
Welcome to our house -- from The Salt Lake Tribune's Michael C. Lewis: But for RSL, the game is about more than just the stadium.
New era begins today -- from The Deseret News' Dan Rasmussen: "This is our home, our new home," said Kreis, gazing out at the pitch inside Rio Tinto Stadium.
Letdown worries motivate Crew -- from The Columbus Dispatch's Shawn Mitchell: The Shield is nice, Schmid said, but his focus is on putting the Crew into the MLS Cup championship game for first time in franchise history.
Fire goaltender Jon Busch has moved on -- from The Chicago Tribune's Luis Arroyave: "It doesn't mean anything more than a game against Houston or Los Angeles would."
MLS might come to FIU Stadium -- from The Miami Herald's Pete Pelegrin: Before FIU's football practice Tuesday afternoon, a ''Welcome MLS'' sign was playing on the FIU Stadium video jumbotron.
Nolly's jolly about final -- from The Province's Marc Weber: Vancouver's 2-0 victory lifted them into Sunday's USL-1 championship game at Swangard that's closing in on a sellout.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
