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 .
I hate soccer.
It is the most boring thing to watch.
Back and forth, back and forth for two hours. And then the score is 1-0. Big Woop.
Guess I should of put a big fat SARDONICISM sign on that... for the humor-impaired among us
So, vote against it and encourage others to do the same. But, to call soccer unAmerican is just plain stupid. I thought we celebrated our diversity, not just try to cram people into the same baseball/ football mold.
In the Service of the Lord,
Christian.
Oh, it's just an outlet for xenophonbia, nativism, parochialism and plain old chauvinism, all to live up to the Leftists ugly stereotypes of conservatives.
Besides, no sport can catch on in this country in which we can't call every championship "World Series" or something with "world" in it, pretend the world is competing and always win against the world of our imagination! "Super Bowl World Champions!" Yeah, sure!
I absolutely refuse to watch any more soccer until they change that stupid $@^#%!&?^&+# offsides rule.
For 20+ years, they've been promising that soccer is the 'next big thing'. All these kids who played soccer were supposed to grow up and be hungrey for professional soccer.
That never has happened. But it's still 'the next big thing'.
Always will be.
To give baseball some credit, it is planning on having a World Cup . . . maybe as early as next year.
I soured on watching football when it became aparent that it was nothing but a bunch of money grabbing thugs who seem to be more interested in where to find their drugs than exhibit any kind of American ideals. Baseball is better, but, and perhaps this is just me being a closeminded male, I can't stand watching 9 innings of guys adjusting themselves on national TV.
Christian.
Have we solved every other problem in America then, that this is actually important?
The brand I like is called fútbol, not footie, butto each his own.
:o)
Bears repeating.
Soccer threads tend to bring out odd stereotypes of conservatives.
Oh, please do explain.
Essentially, with some slight regional exceptions, the group who as youths played soccer in large numbers are younger than the Baby Boomers. Once the demographic effect of the Boomers starts to diminish, I reckon a much larger percentage of the adult population will want to see pro soccer.
Good couch sleeping sport . . .
***Besides, no sport can catch on in this country in which we can't call every championship "World Series" or something with "world" in it, pretend the world is competing and always win against the world of our imagination! "Super Bowl World Champions!" Yeah, sure!***
To be honest, when any country in the world can field a team to beat the Americans in football or baseball, then they are entitled to call it a world championship. Notice that the Stanley Cup Finals is not called a world championship. The know there are plenty of countries that can compete at that level. Of course, the teams are full of those players right now, so maybe they should call it a world championship.
Christian.
They don't attack them because at present the Mexicans are outnumbered. They're working on that.
Soccer is a niche sport in the U.S. and will always be a 2nd tiered sport in this nation. It is a great game (if you understand it) and the passion for the game is bigger than any sport in the world.
It will continue to grow gradually in the U.S. as these soccer specific stadiums keep being built. As the the Latino population continues to increase as well as the U.S. team continues to improve in world competitions, soccer will replace hockey in popularity. It will never supercede football, baseball or basketball but it will always have a niche in American society. Get over it.
How many people said they would never ever watch guys doing left turns all day. Now there are many that are die hard NASCAR fans.
If you ever get a chance to go to a soccer game overseas (especially an English Premiere League game), you will be amazed by the passion of the game. You might even start watching Fox Sports World.
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