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January 27, 2006
California Custom offers Quakes 2005 commemorative shirt
Our friends at California Custom, the uniform supplier to the Quakes and many other youth and adult teams in the area, have donated 150 custom-printed t-shirts to SSV as a fundraiser. These white shirts have the San Jose Earthquakes word mark on the front, just like the team's uniforms, and printed on the back is the message you see above.
These shirts are available for $10, while supplies last, at California Custom, 3270 Keller Street, Santa Clara. Their phone number is (408) 727-4477. A map and store hours are available on their web site.
Thanks to Brian Holmes of California Custom for the donation.
Posted by Jay at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2006
Johnson County moves forward in pursuit of Wizards' stadium
The Johnson County Sun reports in their story "County kicks off planned soccer complex" that local officials in the area are moving forward with their work to build a soccer stadium and a connecting complex of youth fields.
Their situation is strikingly similar to what San Jose and Santa Clara County have faced but their approach has been different. Rather than looking towards a single government entity to support the project, the Johnson County effort is soliciting input and assistance from the county level as well as from several cities within the county. The business community has also played an active role in providing their input into a study of the situation and the opportunities it presents.
The Sun's story reports that this study stated that the area lacked a "premium quality multifield soccer tournament facility capable of hosting major regional and national tournaments."
The story adds:
(The study) projected a positive economic effect on the community, based on estimated attendance levels at complex events and corporate support.
"Cities with similar complexes attract events and people, but having an anchor of an MLS team would attract major events," the study said.
It projected the complex to have a net operating income of $800,000 in 2008, rising to $1.1 million a year within five years.
(Please note—that's net income, not net revenue.)
Sun columnist Steve Rose also weighs in on the issue, suggesting that the stadium and youth fields make a natural partnership.
Posted by Jay at 11:15 AM | Comments (1)
January 14, 2006
Construction begins next week on Toronto MLS stadium
What would life be like with a local hockey franchise taking an interest in soccer and helping fund a stadium? We in the Bay Area have no idea but the folks in Toronto do. The Globe and Mail reports today that stadium construction will start next week on the facility that will host Toronto's MLS team, due to begin play in MLS in 2007. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment—the same outfit that owns the NHL's Maple Leafs and the NBA's Toronto Raptors—are the owners of the yet-to-be-named side.
Posted by Jay at 06:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
"America's Great Leap Forward Leads Straight to Germany"
Paul Gardner has a story under that headline in today's New York Sun. He does a good job at summing up the last 16 years of U.S. soccer evolution, from the country's first World Cup appearance in 40 years at the 1990 World Cup to their quarter-final finish in 2002 while also taking a look at the team's possibilities for 2006.
One quibble: U.S. midfielder John O'Brien doesn't play for Ajax anymore. He's at another Dutch club, ADO Den Haag.
Posted by Jay at 03:10 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2006
Civic leaders back soccer complex outside Kansas City
Add the elected officials of Johnson County, Kansas, to the list of people who get it when it comes to soccer. Today, 13 civic leaders there endorsed a study urging speedy construction of a soccer complex, at a cost of as much as $125 million, which would include a stadium for the Kansas City Wizards as well as youth fields and retail space.
The Kansas City Star notes the unique consortium of private and public entities that has come together to study the issue. Representatives from local corporations are part of the group as well as representatives from Johnson County and the cities of Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Overland Park, Gardner, De Soto, and Leawood.
This committee has come to a number of conclusions regarding the proposed complex, the article states:
- There is “tremendous” demand for high-quality youth soccer fields in Johnson County. A complex with as many as 30 fields with a combination of natural grass and artificial turf would be used for regular league play and regional and national tournaments.
- A stadium with 18,000 to 22,000 seats is “critical” if the project is to attract commercial development and national recognition.
- While a stadium could be home to the Wizards, it also could serve high school and intercollegiate competition and be host to emerging sports such as rugby, lacrosse and field hockey and entertainment events.
- Development would require a public-private partnership. Any “significant” public financing would be submitted to voters.
If the situation is not resolved by October, Wizards owner Lamar Hunt is expected to move the team.
(The story on the approval of the study is located here.)
Extra! The Kansas City Star published two more stories on this topic in Friday's paper: County to look at soccer study, a news story, and Let’s get the field ready for soccer, an opinion piece by columnist Mike Hendricks.
Posted by Jay at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)