April 30, 2009 by f4denz.

I am sorry I totally forgot to post my by the numbers post yesterday, the good part is that Real Salt Lake didn’t play last night so none of the numbers will change. First up let’s take a look at the standings:

RSL sit in 3rd place in the West with 1 game in hand against Seattle and two against Chivas. No other club with just 5 matches played has a better point total than RSL.

With 9 points RSL is really doing well compared to their past:

So only once in RSL history have they had more than 9 points before week 10, and once it took until week 12 to get to 9 points. You have to consider the early season success to be a good thing and the winning streak at home is wonderful but road points will have to come. Right now RSL is averaging 1.8 points per match, which if maintained for the whole season would put them at 54 for the season, that would have been second best in MLS last year and best in the West.

Last weekend the 6 goal second half outburst by Real Salt Lake against New England was the most goals RSL had ever scored in a match and only the 3rd time a team had scored 6 in one half and the first time that all 6 goals were scored by 6 different players, but how does the 12 goals scored by RSL compare to their past?

In 2005 it took RSL 16 matches in order to score 12 goals, in 2006 it took 9 weeks, 2007 it was week 13 before they put up their 12th goal, and last season it took 9 matches to get to that point. This is also the first season in which RSL has scored 4 or more in two matches.

The first clean sheet of the 2009 season came last weekend which is longer than it has taken most seasons, only in 2006 did it take longer (week 7), but RSL is doing well and have allowed the fewest goals in their history through 5 matches as indicated in this graph:

Well those are the numbers but perhaps no number will be important this year than when will RSL get their first points on the road? In 2005 they got them in their first match, but didn’t get anymore until their final road match of the season for record of 0-14-2 on the road. 2006 RSL got their first road win and points in week 7 and ended with a 4-9-3 road record for 15 road points (their best ever), and in 2007 it was at Colorado in week 6 that RSL got their first point on the road with a 1-1 draw on their way to a 2-8-5 road record. Last year it was week 12 when RSL beat Chivas 1-0 to get their first road points, and ended with a 2-9-4 road record and the 10 points was the worst road effort since 2005.

Can RSL get some points on the road and build on their lead over Colorado in the Western Conference standings? I will do my match preview tomorrow and for those heading to Denver for the match, enjoy yourself and remember I don’t have enough money for bail, so stay out of trouble.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

Posted in The soapbox | 1 Comment »

April 30, 2009 by f4denz.

Since the announcement of Everton as the international opponent for the 2009 MLS All Star Match hosted by Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium, there has been a ton of controversy about the selection of the 6^th place EPL side, and even about having the match go back to the East vs. West or US MLS All Stars vs. World MLS All Stars. I think about the current depth in MLS and wonder how those matches would have looked last year? Here were the MLS players selected:
Matt Reis-US
Frankie Hejduk-US
Christian Gomez-World
Juan Toja-World
Jimmy Conrad-US
Jonathan Bornstein-US
Shalrie Joseph-World
David Beckham-World
Pablo Mastroeni-US
Kenny Cooper-US
Cuauhtemoc Blanco-World
Pat Onstad-World
Steve Ralston-US
Juan Pablo Angel-World
Landon Donovan-US
Jim Brennan-World
Dwyane De Rosario-World
Edson Buddle-US

Those were the active players, the first string of the All Stars, MLS did announce 14 inactive All Stars (they have to in order to be in compliance with the CBA) here would be the other players part of a East vs. West match:
Jon Busch-US
Greg Sutton-World
Gonzalo Segares-World
Bakary Soumare-World
Marvell Wynne-US
Kyle Beckerman-US
Marurice Edu-US
Amado Guevara-World
Guillermo Barros Schelotto-World
Brain Ching-US
Luciano Emilio-World

I am not sure but no matter how you slice these players up, it really doesn’t sound as appealing as seeing an international team to me. In fact I would expect a US vs. World match to get ugly and embarrassing for the US. But of all the formats tried only one has lead to sellout crowds, so let’s look at some numbers:

So the first All Star Match, which is quoted by Seth Vertelney in his call for MLS vs. MLS to be the format of the All Star Match, as the model because of the attendance, what he doesn’t tell you is that match was a double header. The other match, which was the big draw saw Brazil take on the FIFA World Stars (Jorge Campos (MEX), Lothar Matthaus (GER), John Harkes (USA), Fernando Hierro (ESP), Marcel Desailly (FRA), Mark Fish (RSA), Michael Laudrup (DEN), Fernando Redondo (ARG), David Ginola (FRA), Jurgen Klinsmann (GER), Kazu Miura (JPN), Nelson Tapia (CHI), Fernando Couto (POR), Krassimir Balakov (BGR), George Weah (LBR), Abedi Pele (GHA), Ned Zelic (AUS)).

The numbers don’t lie East vs. West only sold out twice and only once on their own. Yes the format lead to high scores as teams played no defense and that might appeal to the generic sports fan in the US, but since the matches have started being against international teams, the quality of play has improved and every match has been a sellout. Sorry Seth you are simply wrong on this one, as I stated we all would love to see Barca, Liverpool, or some other top 5 team in the world but the financial reality is that when you have 20-22,000 seats you can sell the cost of the match if you include it with your season ticket package doesn’t allow for the team or league to spend more than a million dollars on the match. Clubs use this match to spur their season ticket sales, and it provides them a chance to showcase their stadium to the nation, but with MLS season ticket prices being reasonable there simply isn’t the money to up the competition at this time.

The solution isn’t going back but going forward, move the match to the weekend, add a second match (US vs. World futures match or USL vs. MLS second All Star team) do it where you can use the event to build local ties by giving away 4-5,000 tickets and then sell the others to generate more revenue, add a skills competition, hold autograph sessions, do more with what you have. This could easily be used to build excitement, figure out a way to bring 50 supporters from each team and have a supporters summit, hold a song/chant contest between the groups, there are so many things that the league could do to build this into a real event that would build its own excitement. Just announcing the match and hoping that it sells itself isn’t a good marketing strategy, in fact it isn’t any kind of strategy.

I expect that sometime in the future when MLS can get a better TV deal and some sponsors for side events that we will see the All Star Match turn into the All Star Weekend like it has for so many other leagues. I have been to both a MLB and NHL All Star event and the buzz is 3-4 days of lots of activities and exposure of the sport and players to the local community and fans, they are great fun for kids and adults and that is where MLS needs to head.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

Posted in The soapbox | 1 Comment »

April 30, 2009 by f4denz.

So all over the blogosphere, online forums, and social networking sites people are split between supporting the selection of Everton FC as the opponent for the MLS All Star Match. For fans of Real Salt Lake part of the issue is that Everton was here two years ago in a match that drew only 12,000 people. For MLS fans, they were expecting Man U, Barcelona or some other of the top 10 teams in the world. Neither of these groups are being realistic about the situation, for a number of reasons:

1. Simple Economics

Rio Tinto Stadium has 20,008 seats for soccer matches, if they keep the seats in the south end of the stadium, when RSL chose to make the All Star Match part of the season ticket package they were limiting how much they could spend on the event. Since there are about 7-8,000 season tickets that were sold at normal ticket price vs. All Star Match pricing ($35 (North Goal, South Goal and Upper Deck), and continue at $45 (Corner Flag), $60 (Lower Sidelines), $105 (Front Row and Midfield) and $200 (Club Seats)) they lost about half the revenue those seats could have pulled in.

So let’s figure after the teams and MLS take their tickets that there will be about 11,000 tickets available for the public to purchase at an average price of $60 dollars, that means income from those tickets will be about $660,000 plus the $250,000 or so from the other tickets so, the gate for this event is under a million dollars. RSL spent a lot more than that when they brought Real Madrid to the states in 2006, and I expect that the 2007 exhibition matches (Fiji, China, Everton, Boca Juniors) probably cost about the same. When Real Madrid was here there were a number of other methods used to make money, merchandise sales, autograph session, the attempt to charge for a practice session, but with a smaller club like Everton those additional methods were either ruled out or overlooked.

So with a little money kicked in from MLS, and the gate being under a million dollars the funds available simply wouldn’t allow for a huge name to be brought in. This is why over the past few years you have seen teams like West Ham, Celtic, and Fullham brought in for the match. All teams with some history and all in that second tier of world class teams, I am not sure if the All Star match in 2006 against Chelsea was part of the Chicago season ticket package or not, but since the international teams were brought in the All Star match has been a sell out each year. The last time we did the East vs. West was in 2004 at RFK and that match drew just 21,000 in a stadium that can hold more than double that.

So the main reason teams like Valencia, Villareal, and Everton are considered with the West Ham’s and Fullham’s is economics, pure and simple.

2. Limited Choices

So when the announcement was made that RSL and Rio Tinto would host the 2009 All Star Match almost everyone, including Dave Checketts thought Real Madrid. What a great way to make up for the cancelled 2008 match, get some great PR and TV coverage. As I stated above economics is a huge issue, and initially Dave didn’t want the All Star Match to be part of the season ticket package. It would have given him a lot more potential revenue and that would have given him more options, think 20,000 seats at $60-75 bucks a pop.

But economics aren’t the only factor this year, there are always things that keep teams from wanting or being able to come to the US on a tour. Things like UEFA qualification, teams that are outside of the top spots in most leagues have to go through a qualification process that starts about the same time as our traditional late July All Star Match. Then there are tournaments and other tours, teams look to tournaments and tours not only as their preseason training, but as stated above to raise money. Every two years some of the top teams in the world compete in the Peace Cup and this year Real Madrid is actually the host of the tournament (Hey Dave and Don, how about the US hosting this in 2011?) and in this year’s tournament there are 12 teams participating (Real Madrid, Olympique Lyonnais, Sevilla, Liga de Quito, Juventus, FC Porto, Aston Villa, Fenerbache, Celtic, Seongnam, Malaga, and Al-Ittihad) some great choices to leverage TV rights as they have teams from Europe, The Far East, Middle East, and South America)

Another thing that really limited choices is the World Football Championship taking place just weeks before the All Star match, which is bringing AC and Inter Milan, Chelsea and Club America to large stadiums around the US, but MLS isn’t involved with that tournament and so trying to negotiate with those clubs would have been dicey at best.

While Everton was here in 2007, MLS wanted a Mexican side and I for one am glad that RSL fought that, we had two teams from Mexico here last year, and even Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissia and none of them drew more than 13,000 people so why go there again?

3. Lowered Expectations

While I am sure you will never get anyone from MLS to admit to the fact, but by playing a lower level team during their preseason against our top players in midseason form, almost ensures a good showing by the MLS side. I don’t think anyone outside the US takes this match seriously but I can see Don and the boys at MLS HQ thinking this makes MLS look more legit to fans. Could this be why the partnership with FC Barcelona didn’t result in them being the All Star foe? Even at preseason form Barca might be too much for any collection of MLS players to beat.

4. It will be OK

As a MLS fan from year one I can say that years of East vs. West and other formulas resulted in big crowds at some non MLS locations, but when matches were played in MLS locations the crowds were less than impressive in large stadiums but in soccer specific stadiums the result was almost always a sellout. Since the format has gone to the MLS vs. an International foe every match has been a full house, from Chivas at the HDC to Celtic at Dick’s and last years West Ham at BMO field. This year will be no different as I expect the MLS vs. Everton match to sellout at Rio Tinto, despite a rough economy and the other international match options for soccer fans. Oh and if RSL keep their current form I would expect at least 2 players to make the squad, here is hoping we can move up to the top of the combined table and get Jason to stack the team with RSL players

This match really could take a leap up in most soccer fans eyes if Everton can pull out a minor upset over Chelsea in the FA Cup final in a month, but should they lose I think Everton will be a good match for the All Stars of MLS. Everton has played well enough to finish either 5th or 6th in the world’s best league, and that is no small feat. They have beaten or taken points from Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea in League play and put Liverpool, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Man U out of the FA Cup. So those who think we are getting a low level team, better think again as Everton is clearly a solid team and with national and international attention on the match, I expect they will bring the “A” squad in late July.

My take

Yes it could have been better, but as a RSL season ticket holder having this match as part of my ticket package and still having a chance to get tickets for the US Womens National Team and a US Men’s World Cup qualifying match is mighty impressive and I expect at least one other International exhibition to be added to the schedule. I would have loved Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Liverpool heck I would have even taken Man U or Arsenal, but when they announced that the match would be included in the season ticket package I knew it really did limit their options. Please remember it could have been much worse, maybe another Santos visit, or the quality of the soon to be relegated Newcastle, or some other bottom half of the table team from Germany or Italy, but no we get a top tier team from the top league in the world.

I am happy with the choice, not overwhelmed but happy. I still wish that MLS would do more with the match, first move it to the weekend so it is easier for fans to attend or watch on TV. Second, add some more to it, other leagues do a great job with futures matches, skills contests, and other events that promote the event, the league, and the sport. If you want the match to be a bigger event, then use some common sense to do the easy little things to make the All Star Match, a real event.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

Posted in The soapbox | 1 Comment »

April 29, 2009 by f4denz.

The following is the official communications from MLS and Real Salt Lake announcing the selection of EPL side Everton as the opponent for the MLS All Star team (bet there are a couple RSL players on the side this year):

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE’S EVERTON FC TO FACE

MLS ALL-STARS AT JULY 29 RIO TINTO STADIUM’S

2009 MLS ALL-STAR GAME ON JULY 29

Led by former MLS standout and current U.S. National Team star Tim Howard,

the FA Cup finalists will face the best of MLS in Sandy’s World-Class Venue

SANDY, UTAH and NEW YORK (Wednesday, April 29, 2009) – Major League Soccer announced today that legendary English Premier League side and current FA Cup finalists, Everton FC, will face the MLS All-Stars in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium, the home of Real Salt Lake, on Wednesday, July 29 (live on ESPN2 and TeleFutura at 7:30 p.m. MT). This midseason showcase will continue the theme of “MLS Takes on the World.” The MLS All-Star team is 5-0 in previous All-Star Games against international opponents.

“Everton FC’s inclusion as the 2009 MLS All-Star opponent completes the stellar lineup of world-class soccer at Rio Tinto Stadium this summer, bolstering the U.S. National Team visits,” said SCP Worldwide Founder and RSL Owner Dave Checketts, referring to the May 23 U.S. Women’s game vs. Japan and the U.S. Men’s World Cup Qualifier on Sept. 5 vs. El Salvador. “We embrace the promise to our fans to deliver the best soccer the world has to offer on an annual basis, and the 2009 Rio Tinto Stadium lineup continues the storied progression of teams that have visited Utah.”

Everton FC, based in Liverpool, England, has one of the richest histories in English soccer. It has competed in the top division for a record 107 seasons, winning nine League championships. The club recently advanced to the prestigious FA Cup Final by defeating Manchester United in penalty kicks, and it will face current UEFA Champions League semifinalists Chelsea FC on May 30, attempting to win its third FA Cup Championship. Everton FC currently sits in sixth place in the English Premier League – two points behind fifth-place Aston Villa, six points ahead of Fulham and eight points ahead of 2008 All-Star opponent West Ham.

“We are very excited about Everton FC agreeing to be the opponent for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “Everton is an elite European club that features many world-class players – including former MLS standout Tim Howard – who will challenge our unbeaten record against English Premier League teams in the MLS All-Star Game series.  We’re looking forward to seeing Tim back in action against many of his former MLS teammates, and providing our fans with another exciting All-Star matchup.

The Toffees, as Everton is known to their supporters, are led by U.S. National Team star, former MLS standout, and one of the top goalkeepers in Europe, Tim Howard. The team also boasts England National Team veteran Phillip Neville and a recent call-up to Fabio Capello’s England side, Joleon Lescott. Among the club’s international stars are Tim Cahill (Australia), Marouane Fellaini (Belgium), Louis Saha (France) and Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Nigeria). Everton FC is managed by Scotland-born David Moyes.

“We are all looking forward to the match in Salt Lake City,” said Everton Manager David Moyes. “I am sure there will be a lot of interest in the game and it will be a valuable part of our pre-season schedule. We always enjoy spending time in America during the summer because the facilities are first-class and there is a warm welcome wherever we go.”

Howard, who made 12 saves in the 2001 All-Star Game and also played in the 2002 edition, said: “I can’t wait to play the MLS All-Stars. I will doubtless know a few of the guys from the U.S. team and I know full well that it will be a real test for us at that stage of our preseason. The fans over there always enjoy watching English teams in action and I’m sure there will be a terrific atmosphere in the stadium.”

Rio Tinto Stadium, a 20,008-seat stadium and home to the MLS club Real Salt Lake, opened in October 2008 in Sandy, Utah. The breathtaking venue will host the League’s 14^th annual MLS All-Star Game, one of the League’s premier events, for the first time. The stadium is the seventh soccer-primary building to be built in the United States and first to open since the Colorado Rapids’ Dicks Sporting Goods Park and Toronto FC’s BMO Field opened in 2007. The Rapids’ home was the site of the 2007 MLS All-Star Game while last year’s MLS All-Star Game was hosted in downtown Toronto’s BMO Field.

All Real Salt Lake season ticket holders are assured of their current seats for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, and have an exclusive window through Friday, May 1 to purchase additional All-Star Game tickets. Following the Saturday, May 2 launch of a pre-sale window for VISA cardholders and MLS “Friends and Family” (National MLS partners and other MLS team season-ticket holders), tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday, May 9 at 10:00 a.m. via www.RioTintoStadium.com.

Ticket prices for the July 29 MLS All-Stars vs. Everton FC begin at $35 (North Goal, South Goal and Upper Deck), and continue at $45 (Corner Flag), $60 (Lower Sidelines), $105 (Front Row and Midfield) and $200 (Club Seats).

For more information, please visit www.RealSaltLake.comor www.RioTintoStadium.com. Special event credentials will be required for media wishing to cover this event. Media credential application information for the 2009 MLS All-Star game will be distributed at a later date.

By hosting international opponents, MLS ensures the most competitive All-Star spectacle in American professional sports. The MLS All-Stars have won all five previous meetings, outscoring their opponents 13-4. Last year, the MLS All-Stars defeated English Premier League side West Ham United, 3-2, on goals from Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco, D.C. United’s Christian Gomez and Dwayne De Rosario, now with Toronto FC. Blanco received the game’s Most Valuable Player award, and De Rosario’s game winner sent the MLS All-Stars to victory in front of his hometown fans. In 2007, the MLS All-Stars defeated Scottish League powers Celtic FC 2-0 behind goals from New York Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel and former FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja.

In 2006, the MLS All-Stars defeated former Premier League Champions Chelsea FC, 1-0, on a goal by De Rosario. The 2005 event saw the MLS All-Stars defeat English Premier League club Fulham FC, 4-1, at Columbus Crew Stadium and in 2003, the MLS All-Stars downed storied Mexican club CD Guadalajara, 3-1, at The Home Depot Center with Carlos Ruiz capturing MVP honors.

Previous MLS All-Star games offered fans a variety of formats. On six occasions, All-Stars squads from the Eastern Conference and Western Conference have squared off. In 1998, the best players in the League faced each other in a USA vs. World format, while in 2002, the MLS All-Stars defeated the U.S. National Team 3-2 at RFK Stadium in a celebration of the national team’s historic World Cup Quarterfinal finish.

This is the first time a marquee MLS event will be played in Utah. Ten different markets have hosted the MLS All-Star Game, but only three have hosted it twice – Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., and Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Salt Lake City served as the host of the NBA All-Star Weekend 16 years ago, in 1993.

Posted in The soapbox | 1 Comment »

April 28, 2009 by f4denz.

Well there still in no official word from Real Salt Lake communications, or MLS but the SL Trib have gotten another scoop and I have verified it with sources at RSL. This is a good choice as Everton is playing well in the EPL in 6th place just two points out of 5th and will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on the 30th of May.

It sounds like the official announcement will be made on ESPN2 tomorrow morning, but it will be Everton and that is an improvement over what I expected. Once I knew Real Madrid wouldn’t be coming due to the Peace Cup, my hope was Barcelona but rumors had Valencia as the front runner for a while and then it was Villareal, but for various reasons neither of those worked out. My fear was that it would be a Mexican team, which would be fine except we saw two of them last year in Salt Lake and I was hoping for a top level European team.

Everton is anchored in net by US national team player Tim Howard and brought a great side when they came to Utah two years ago for an exhibition match. I expect that the past couple years have given RSL the experience to market the match better and hopefully this time they will fully leverage the merchandising options that come with such a huge match and quality foe.

I am going back to listen to the US Open Cup match, it is half time and RSL is down 2-1. If you want to listen in you can go to http://www.kall700sports.com.

More details about the All Star Match will come out tomorrow and I will post the updates as they come. This has been a busy day so far, and I think we will get more news tomorrow.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

Posted in The soapbox | No Comments »