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 .
Oh, my ... cricket? My Australian wife has been trying to get me interested in cricket since we got married and, if you want a game that has rules and terminology so confusing and mind-boggling, cricket is it.
That being said, I have played several times while in Australia, always as the back-catcher (which feels comfortable as I am a baseball/softball catcher). I've got the defense down pretty good, but always feel like I'm back in a sandlot game while batting, trying to chase the ball down before I can take a swing at it.
Besides, I agree with Flashman: the leg-before-wicket rule is stupid. Batters should not be allowed to wear anything protective on their legs; then, if they want to step in front of the wicket to block the ball, the result is its own reward.
Helllooooo, ever hear of World Cup.........
agere contra are you must be joking. England was not robbed at Euro 04, what happened is that Beckham can not score from the penalty spot. And Sven dont get me started with that Swedish conspiracy to belittle English football.
Everytime England scores early it is a sure thing that they will lose cuz if Sven gets a goal he pulls the team back and tries to defend for 80 minutes against teams like Brazil WC 02 France Euro 04 and so on. England, dump the Swede, he may be on the payroll of the DFB.
Tschuss
Any programming in England that diverts from watching BBC is a GOOD thing, IMHO.
Promotion/relegation
Don't know what I'm talking about?
Figures.
LOL......my son and daughter played Rugby in college. They consided American football for wimps cause the players wear padding!!!
You are correct. I grew up playing soccer and it payed for my college. My dad was a college football coach and would not let me play football until I got into 7th grade. I decided to not play football and continue to play soccer. I have been to 12 countries playing and have an unbelieveable time playing.
Now I have 3 kids and they all play soccer. I believe you will see the sport continue to increase in popularity in this nation.
And if you fail, you get a yellow card. As far as laying on the ground for a while, it's how the players catch their breath . . . you would also if you just alternated between sprinting and jogging for seven miles.
The reason that you don't see American footballers doing the same is because they simply have to make a quick trip to the oxygen tank at the sideline. Furthermore, "faking" injury became such a problem in the NFL that it was forced to change its rules by charging a timeout to the "injured" team (near the end of the game, I know). Somehow I don't recall folks streaming onto NFL threads complaining that NFL players cheat because of it.
Unfortunately, York was relegated from 3rd Division to the church leagues (Conference).
Bummer ...
That said, the most important thing to me is my son. He is going to a major college next year and getting about 75% of it paid.
I do understand why so many people don't like soccer. For Americans there is not enough instant reward. There is not enough bell ringing by the chicken to get an instant satisfaction piece of corn. I am not knocking anyone that doesn't like soccer. It all depends upon what your conditioned reflex is.
To call Soccer Un-American might be correct. It is a World sport. In 15 years the USA Soccer Team has come from #54 to its current ranking of #7.
Hmmmmmm, it is catching on, but will take another 25 years.
Too bad for York. Maybe they will make a nice FA Cup run!
Is there any wonder why soccer fans fight and riot?
I'd be willing to wager that, worldwide, most soccer fans hate America.
Back in the late 80's we went and played York City's U18 team and it got very physical. They thought we were going to just roll over like and they would destroy the Americans. We went over there and beat them and it got physical. One of our players went in for a tough tackle and he broke one of their star players legs. York went nuts! When we got home my coach got a letter from the coach of York City trying to get my coach banned from coaching. It was a great trip. We beat Spurs youth team, lost to Doncaster and beat Middlesborough.
Hello, ever hear of America's Cup? A couple of weeks ago I asked my regular non-farmer seller at the local farmer's market who he thought might win Copa America, and in response he launched into a speech about how they build "those boats" nowadays! Boats? What could I do? I went home and watched Uruguay (which should have been in the final) beat the sh*t out of Paraguay.
Heck, I don't know. I know of the Premier League, and then Divisions 1, 2, and 3, and then the Conference Division (after which, I guess, it's the Vacant Lot Division). I guess they do have sponsors now, but I have no idea who they are.
***I'd be willing to wager that, worldwide, most soccer fans hate America.***
So, what's your point? I'd be willing to wager that, worldwide, most oxygen users hate America.
Christian.
Huh? That's like saying that, citywide, most BoSox fans hate New York.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.