TCF Bank Stadium may play host to MLS soccer for a season

[mnsportsgeek]

It's the WNBA.

I hope we beat Wisconsin someday.

 

[Ralph_Wiggum]

Soccer has a high risk of concussions also--more than baseball and basketball. I think the U did their part as good citizens of Minnesota in working with the Vikings in sharing TCF Bank stadium. If they have to partner with a soccer team, I'd rather see the U share their field with the new women's professional soccer league.

 

[Ron Johnson Super Fan]

If the MLS is a fad and will fade in time why are you worried about them taking their fanbase from Gopher football?

 

[Ron Johnson Super Fan]

If the MLS is a fad and will fade in time why are you worried about them taking their fanbase from Gopher football?

Edit: Quote didn't show but this is in response to Ralph.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Actually I'm a bit worried that football is going to be on the downside of participation -- I'm guessing that with all the concussion news that a lot of parents these days are wanting their kids to play soccer versus football.

Soccer can be pretty dangerous when it comes to concussions as well. I think the rise in soccer popularity among youth has hurt baseball more than any other sport.

 

[Tlsbhansen]

If the MLS is a fad and will fade in time why are you worried about them taking their fanbase from Gopher football?

I don't believe the MLS is a fad. As we continue to become a more global/multicultural country (good or bad) soccer will continue to grow in popularity and the MLS will benefit from it. I personally am a Barclays Premier League fan, but will eventually join the MLS bandwagon as they move to a more central location in the Twin Cities (the Bank and then the new stadium) and as the level of play increases with international players choosing to end their careers in the US.

COYS!

 

[bottlebass]

Soccer a fad? The most popular sport world wide that has been around longer than the NFL a fad? Someone fell off the crazy train.

 

[bemidjigopher]

I'm not that impressed with the MLS and it's fanbase. I think the Gophers shouldn't allow them to use the stadium. It's a given that the Vikings have a lot of fans, but why allow soccer to steal media attention and a fanbase as long as gopher football struggles.

The MLS fanbase is hipster with their long beards, flannel shirts, goofy sweaters, craft beer, boots, knitting, and foreign automobiles such as Subarus. I really think MLS is a fad and will fade in time.

Are you serious or is my sarcasm meter broken?

 

[Mvgopher]

Soccer a fad? The most popular sport world wide that has been around longer than the NFL a fad? Someone fell off the crazy train.

Yeah, I am still a Kicks and Striker fan. Fad it is in the US even though ESPN is pushing it like SEC football

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

I'm not that impressed with the MLS and it's fanbase. I think the Gophers shouldn't allow them to use the stadium. It's a given that the Vikings have a lot of fans, but why allow soccer to steal media attention and a fanbase as long as gopher football struggles.

The MLS fanbase is hipster with their long beards, flannel shirts, goofy sweaters, craft beer, boots, knitting, and foreign automobiles such as Subarus. I really think MLS is a fad and will fade in time.

MLS is not a fad, but right now it is a niche sport.

 

[Tlsbhansen]

Yeah, I am still a Kicks and Striker fan. Fad it is in the US even though ESPN is pushing it like SEC football

Probably aren't any "halter top day" promotions in the MLS like the Kicks had back in the day!

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Yeah, I am still a Kicks and Striker fan. Fad it is in the US even though ESPN is pushing it like SEC football

Tickets sold as a percentage of stadium capacity (Based on most recent completed season):

1. NFL - 96.58%
2. NHL - 95.37%
3. NBA - 92.81%
4. MLS - 91.55%
5. MLB - 70.43%

Team with Lowest Stadium Capacity Per League:

1. MLB - Cleveland Indians - 41.0%
2. NHL - Carolina Hurricanes - 61.0%
3. MLS - DC United - 70.58%
4. NBA - Denver Nuggets - 72.6%
5. NFL - St. Louis Rams - 80.2%

Ticket Sales Per Game:
1. NFL - 68,278
2. MLB - 30,505
3. MLS - 20,425
4. NBA - 17,809
5. NHL - 17,391


What part of the MLS is a fad? The United will outdraw the Twins, Wolves, and Wild in TCF next year. Heck, they already almost outdraw the Wolves in the NASL playing in the middle of nowhere up in Blaine.

 

[bottlebass]

Tickets sold as a percentage of stadium capacity (Based on most recent completed season):

1. NFL - 96.58%
2. NHL - 95.37%
3. NBA - 92.81%
4. MLS - 91.55%
5. MLB - 70.43%

Team with Lowest Stadium Capacity Per League:

1. MLB - Cleveland Indians - 41.0%
2. NHL - Carolina Hurricanes - 61.0%
3. MLS - DC United - 70.58%
4. NBA - Denver Nuggets - 72.6%
5. NFL - St. Louis Rams - 80.2%

Ticket Sales Per Game:
1. NFL - 68,278
2. MLB - 30,505
3. MLS - 20,425
4. NBA - 17,809
5. NHL - 17,391


What part of the MLS is a fad? The United will outdraw the Twins, Wolves, and Wild in TCF next year. Heck, they already almost outdraw the Wolves in the NASL playing in the middle of nowhere up in Blaine.

That is all.

 

[Ron Johnson Super Fan]

I don't believe the MLS is a fad. As we continue to become a more global/multicultural country (good or bad) soccer will continue to grow in popularity and the MLS will benefit from it. I personally am a Barclays Premier League fan, but will eventually join the MLS bandwagon as they move to a more central location in the Twin Cities (the Bank and then the new stadium) and as the level of play increases with international players choosing to end their careers in the US.

COYS!

I just want to make clear that I don't think its a fad and don't want to be associated with that flawed position. I was questioning a poster above that stated it was a fad.

Make the trip up to Blaine for a NASL game this next year if you can (easy for me to say as I live about ten minutes from where they play). If you haven't been up there I think you'd be surprised at the quality of the experience. Parking is free and tailgating makes it a nice scene, especially in the warmer months. The level of play is better than you would expect.

 

[Ron Johnson Super Fan]

As a side note my son has defied me and taken up the Spurs as well. Much better choice than Man U I guess.

 

[dpodoll68]

The United will outdraw the Twins, Wolves, and Wild in TCF next year.

A team playing in a stadium with 50,000 seats will outdraw teams playing in arenas with 20,000 seats? The hell you say.

They rarely (if ever) fill a small stadium in Blaine. Even given the move to a higher level, where are the extra 20,000 fans going to come from in order for them to outdraw the Twins?

I very much doubt that they will outdraw the Twins next year.

Heck, they already almost outdraw the Wolves in the NASL playing in the middle of nowhere up in Blaine.

How do you figure?

United Average Home Attendance, 2015: 8,767
Timberwolves Average Home Attendance, 2014-15: 14,528

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Sounds neat. TCF is so nice during good weather. Would be good to get some extra use.

Their season is March to October... I guess that might be a pain for school and I know EVERYONE has to have their own dedicated facility but TCF would be a cool place to have soccer location and atmosphere wise.

Also I wish MLS teams would drop the euro style names. I get the initial appeal but it's time to become their own thing, they smell like wannabes with those names...

 

[mnsportsgeek]

A team playing in a stadium with 50,000 seats will outdraw teams playing in arenas with 20,000 seats? The hell you say.

They rarely (if ever) fill a small stadium in Blaine. Even given the move to a higher level, where are the extra 20,000 fans going to come from in order for them to outdraw the Twins?

I very much doubt that they will outdraw the Twins next year.



How do you figure?

United Average Home Attendance, 2015: 8,767
Timberwolves Average Home Attendance, 2014-15: 14,528

I admit the Wolves jab was mostly a joke. Almost is relative, right?

Not sure what you're talking about when you say the Loons rarely fill their stadium in Blaine. They sold out 9 of 16 home matches last season.

The Loons will be right around 30k if their inaugural season is at TCF. Orlando City SC just did 32k in their first season in a smaller market. The Twins will be close. Not that it means anything as you said since there are other variables.

Just trying to point out that MLS isn't a fad. It's not going anywhere, and if they keep doing things the right way there is no reason to think they can't be a top 5-10 soccer league in the world. We can overtake the likes of Ukraine, Liga MX, Netherlands, Turkey, Russia, etc. Not overnight but eventually.

 

[4four4]

They rarely (if ever) fill a small stadium in Blaine.
How do you figure?

United Average Home Attendance, 2015: 8,767

I agree with your original post but I am going to nitpick here.

Before the beginning of last season NSC stadium had a capacity of 8,500, during the middle of the season the club added 1,000 club seats. Moreover, last year they sold out every home game before the expansion. They are planning to expand another thousand seats this year for the NASL swan song. When MLS averages around 22,000 this club will have no problem averaging 20,000 in their new 20,000 seat stadium. If by chance they play in a bigger stadium for one year of their honeymoon period I bet they average between 25k and 35k. As of today they have 4,800 season tickets, not bad for a Division 2 pro soccer team in the NASL. The club is really fortunate, they don't have to advertise a ton for NASL tickets or MLS season ticket priority tickets. It will be successful.

So do you still believe they rarely (if ever) filled the small stadium in Blaine?

 

[GophersInIowa]

Tickets sold as a percentage of stadium capacity (Based on most recent completed season):

1. NFL - 96.58%
2. NHL - 95.37%
3. NBA - 92.81%
4. MLS - 91.55%
5. MLB - 70.43%

Team with Lowest Stadium Capacity Per League:

1. MLB - Cleveland Indians - 41.0%
2. NHL - Carolina Hurricanes - 61.0%
3. MLS - DC United - 70.58%
4. NBA - Denver Nuggets - 72.6%
5. NFL - St. Louis Rams - 80.2%

Ticket Sales Per Game:
1. NFL - 68,278
2. MLB - 30,505
3. MLS - 20,425
4. NBA - 17,809
5. NHL - 17,391


What part of the MLS is a fad? The United will outdraw the Twins, Wolves, and Wild in TCF next year. Heck, they already almost outdraw the Wolves in the NASL playing in the middle of nowhere up in Blaine.

I'm assuming you mean per game, not overall? That generally happens when you play less games.

 

[Tlsbhansen]

As a side note my son has defied me and taken up the Spurs as well. Much better choice than Man U I guess.

Yeah, my son is a City fan, and agreed, at least not Man U.

Was fortunate enough to see two games at White Hart Lane last year and I would put that experience up against any NFL or probably college football game experience. If the MLS can find a way to have a third of the atmosphere of a BPL game they will overtake the "paint drying" sport of baseball within ten years.

 

[bottlebass]

They rarely (if ever) fill a small stadium in Blaine.

Uneducated opinion. I thought you were suppose to be reliable at facts like this doll? They sell out all the time and they do it at a stadium that is a pain in the d!ck to get to and home from in the middle of nowhere.

 

[GopherJack]

NBA 92.81%?! That's tickets sold, not butts in the seats, right? You ever watch an NBA game on TV and see how many people are NOT there? (not that I watch NBA on TV)

 

[mnsportsgeek]

NBA 92.81%?! That's tickets sold, not butts in the seats, right? You ever watch an NBA game on TV and see how many people are NOT there? (not that I watch NBA on TV)

I think the NBA actually set an attendance record last year. It absolutely is tickets sold, and the top half of the league really carries the bottom half of the league. I think the top 15 teams pretty much sell out every game.

TV ratings on the other hand are not the NBA's strength.

 

[dpodoll68]

Uneducated opinion. I thought you were suppose to be reliable at facts like this doll? They sell out all the time and they do it at a stadium that is a pain in the d!ck to get to and home from in the middle of nowhere.

They did sell out all the time, before they expanded. And yet some think the crowds will just continue to grow exponentially with further expansion. The fact is reliable, ass.

 

[bottlebass]

They did sell out all the time, before they expanded. And yet some think the crowds will just continue to grow exponentially with further expansion. The fact is reliable, ass.

You fell off your rocker. First you say "They rarely (if ever) fill a small stadium in Blaine" now you say the above, then state you are "reliable"...

 

[dpodoll68]

You fell off your rocker. First you say "They rarely (if ever) fill a small stadium in Blaine" now you say the above, then state you are "reliable"...

"Fill" is a present-tense term, as I originally (and accurately) stated. "Did sell out" is past tense, meaning before the expansion. How many times did they sell out after they expanded?

 

[bottlebass]

"Fill" is a present-tense term, as I originally (and accurately) stated. "Did sell out" is past tense, meaning before the expansion. How many times did they sell out after they expanded?

Maybe you missed the part in the parenthesis up there where you stated "(if ever)" you moron.

I'm not going to put time into this when you are clearly wrong. They sold out more than half their games last season. What other MN pro teams have sold out more than half their games? Vikings? Wild? Definitely not the twins or twolves.

 

[justthefacts]

I'm not that impressed with the MLS and it's fanbase. I think the Gophers shouldn't allow them to use the stadium. It's a given that the Vikings have a lot of fans, but why allow soccer to steal media attention and a fanbase as long as gopher football struggles.

The MLS fanbase is hipster with their long beards, flannel shirts, goofy sweaters, craft beer, boots, knitting, and foreign automobiles such as Subarus. I really think MLS is a fad and will fade in time.

 

[dpodoll68]

Maybe you missed the part in the parenthesis up there where you stated "(if ever)" you moron.

I'm not going to put time into this when you are clearly wrong. They sold out more than half their games last season. What other MN pro teams have sold out more than half their games? Vikings? Wild? Definitely not the twins or twolves.

Calling someone a moron when you are debating the meanings of clearly understood words is rich. Whether or not they sold out games before the expansion is immaterial. If I wanted to debate that point, I would've brought it up and used the past tense. Answer the question - how many times did they sell out after the expansion?