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Is Soccer Un-American?
Denver Post ^ | August 03, 2004 | David Harsanyi

Posted on 08/03/2004 10:08:04 AM PDT by aynrandy

The late Mike Royko once wrote that soccer's worldwide popularity only proves that most of the world is too poor to build bowling alleys.

I'm inclined to agree, and so is the American public, which has rejected the sport by paying it absolutely no attention.

So why then is Commerce City, a working-class municipality, banking its future on a soccer stadium?

Last week, Commerce City officials and Kroenke Sports Enterprises announced plans to develop more than 360 acres of land that would house a soccer utopia. (Is that an oxymoron?)

The complex would include a 20,000-seat soccer stadium for the Colorado Rapids, youth soccer fields, retail outlets and a civic center.

Under terms of the agreement, Commerce City will contribute 160 acres for construction, and Kroenke Sports will purchase 200 acres from the city for commercial or retail development.

But the plan, unanimously approved by the City Council of Commerce City, can only commence if voters approve a $64 million bond issue in November.

So much for the free market.

A $64 million loan. ... Strike that. Any loan in the name of soccer is just asking for trouble.

David Ehrlich, Kroenke Sports' chief operating officer, obviously disagrees, and in a statement said the Prairie Gateway is an "ideal location" for the site. A somewhat disingenuous statement, considering there really is no there there.

In fact, a quick experiential survey of the proposed site at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Quebec Street reveals that the closest entertainment is a "gentleman's club" called the Landing Strip.

What doesn't bode well for the future soccer stadium is that the Landing Strip probably outdraws the Rapids on any given Sunday.

Before you send me indignant messages about the growing popularity of soccer, or the evils of stripping, remember, we've been hearing both for decades.

Admittedly, recreational soccer is almost as popular among children as strip clubs are among men - youngsters, evidently, don't know any better.

But professional soccer, the financial anchor of the deal, has reliably failed to attract an audience or revenue.

If we use the dismal history of professional soccer in the U.S. as a guide, Commerce City will be extraordinarily lucky if the Rapids even take the field in the spring of 2007, when the stadium is projected to open.

Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rapids, and seemingly every other sports team in Denver, for that matter, may not be able to see Commerce City from his penthouse atop the Pepsi Center, but he's certainly a man who knows what he's doing when it comes to professional franchises.

If anyone can make soccer a hit in the area, he can. But Kroenke can also afford to fail. Commerce City's working class can't.

Yes, city officials have promised that this deal won't raise taxes. And yes, they contend that around $12 million of the bonds will be paid back through sales tax revenue generated by the stadium.

That's if Major League Soccer (another oxymoron?) breaks the mold and stays in business for a couple of decades. And even if they do stay in business, and even if the Rapids sell tickets briskly, it will take decades to pay $12 million in debt by the annually generated sales tax revenue.

Perhaps this cynicism is misplaced, a personal crusade against soccer. Perhaps Commerce City will become the soccer capital of Colorado, which is about as prestigious as being the croquet capital of Alabama.

Perhaps well-to-do fans might occasionally wander up from Stapleton and Park Hill and spend a couple of bucks on beer and treat themselves to a 0-0 tie.

If, however, the plan fails, Commerce City will definitely be stuck with a deserted stadium and millions of dollars of debt.

All because of soccer.

David Harsanyi's column appears Monday and Thursday. Contact him at 303-820-1255 or dharsanyi@denverpost.com .


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antiamerican; athletesmakemenervy; centralamerica; nflrules; soccer; soccerisformexicans; soccerisgay
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1 posted on 08/03/2004 10:08:08 AM PDT by aynrandy
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To: aynrandy
Los Angeles just got its 2nd soccer team. .......and it doesn't even have a football team!

But to answer the question......yes, soccer is both un-American and un-watchable.

2 posted on 08/03/2004 10:11:09 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: aynrandy

Is Golf Un-American?


3 posted on 08/03/2004 10:11:26 AM PDT by maestro
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To: aynrandy
Is soccer unamerican?YER G-DDAMN RIGHT IT IS!
4 posted on 08/03/2004 10:13:59 AM PDT by gunnygail ("I am Hitlary Klinton, see my thighs giggle and quake. Fear me!")
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To: aynrandy

Daughter lives in Colorado. Has been to some soccer games, called 'friendlies' between the USA team and the Mexican team. It's great fun and while the crowds are almost entirely rooting for Mexico they are good natured and don't trouble the girls at all for cheering for the USA!


5 posted on 08/03/2004 10:14:41 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF IT'S KERRY.....HELL IS ON THE WAY)
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To: aynrandy

Two weeks ago, 65,000 people showed up at Soldier Field to watch Bayern Munich play an exhibition against Manchester United. If you give Americans top-quality soccer, they'll pay. Unfortunately, MLS doesn't do that.


6 posted on 08/03/2004 10:16:02 AM PDT by TedsGarage
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To: aynrandy
Is Soccer Un-American?

Nope, but it damn sure is boring.

7 posted on 08/03/2004 10:17:54 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: aynrandy

What is it with all the anti-soccer threads and comments lately?

It's a great sport when you understand it (like kockey). But it's a personal taste. I cannot stand watching American football, baseball, golf or fishing shows. It doesn't mean those are awful sports. They're just not for me.

The dangerous thing is when soccer becomes a religion...which it is for many fans in other parts of the world.


8 posted on 08/03/2004 10:18:23 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Let's enervate the Democrat base. Right, Mr. Affleck?)
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To: aynrandy

Is Soccer Un-American?

Well, it's definitely socialist... you gotta play with both hands tied behind your back.


9 posted on 08/03/2004 10:18:29 AM PDT by Lexington Green (It just ain't right to ask an American soldier to salute John Kerry.)
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To: aynrandy

Looks like someone is expecting a large influx of mexicans and south americans.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

10 posted on 08/03/2004 10:18:49 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel (Winner of the Ron Ridenhour Award for Truth-Telling)
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To: aynrandy
Soccer is a great team sport, especially at the youth level. Soccer programs for under-18's across the country are huge, but there's something that doesn't make those programs develop people into hard-core soccer fans at an adult age.

Un-American? No. Unpopular for most people, except grade-schoolers and early teens? Yes.
11 posted on 08/03/2004 10:19:14 AM PDT by July 4th (You need to click "Abstimmen")
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To: Choose Ye This Day

"kockey" should be "hockey"

Note to self: try spell-check once in a while...


12 posted on 08/03/2004 10:19:38 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Let's enervate the Democrat base. Right, Mr. Affleck?)
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To: Lexington Green

Ah yes, the old "if I cannot understand it, it must be socialist" argument. If soccer is socialist, then most other sports are as well.


13 posted on 08/03/2004 10:20:22 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: aynrandy

Soccer is not Un-American. I never said it was. Now SHOVE IT!


14 posted on 08/03/2004 10:21:26 AM PDT by bondjamesbond (We live in a wonderful country where any child can grow up to be the next Ronald Reagan.)
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To: aynrandy

I meant to ask if this writer ever gets around to answering the question, but then I realized you changed the title.


15 posted on 08/03/2004 10:21:58 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: aynrandy

Please don't change article titles. Especially when your new title has NOTHING to do with the article.


16 posted on 08/03/2004 10:24:07 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Let's enervate the Democrat base. Right, Mr. Affleck?)
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To: 1rudeboy

Calculus is un-American, too. Too complex, takes too much time.


17 posted on 08/03/2004 10:25:16 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Let's enervate the Democrat base. Right, Mr. Affleck?)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

Agreed, Choose Ye.

I would have to go further, as I'm safely five time zones from any form of retaliation. American Football is like lane swimming. It's duller than basketball.

Remember chaps, "Football" is what the great game is called, not "soccer". And take it from me, we were robbed in Euro 2004. Eng-land! Eng-land!


18 posted on 08/03/2004 10:25:40 AM PDT by agere_contra
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To: aynrandy

Soccer utopia?


19 posted on 08/03/2004 10:25:56 AM PDT by Petronski (Edwards threatening al Qaida is like Pee Wee Herman threatening Luca Brazzi.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

No commercial breaks, either.


20 posted on 08/03/2004 10:25:59 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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