Deseret News | Real Salt Lake: Team showing signs of improvement

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Real Salt Lake: Team showing signs of improvement

Robert | 1:35 a.m. June 23, 2008

Now, boys, remember what we talked about last week. First, the ball. That's that round thing the other guys keep kicking around. Our objective is to kick it to the end of the field; that is, the end where none of our guys are standing. Whatever you do, don't kick it toward where our guy is standing. Got that?

OK, now, the second thing is the goal. It's that metal rectangle contraption in the far end of the field where you're supposed to kick the ball. Yes, thatï¿½s right, there are two of them. But remember: the one with the other guy in front of it is our goal. I know that's confusing, but trust me. Our goal is the one with the other guy in front of it. Try to kick the ball into it. Not over it, or to either side of it. Into it. When you do, we get a point. And if we get more points than the other guys, we win.

And most important of all, if we win, Mr. Checketts has promised to order pizza for everyone. And this time itï¿½s on him! Now go out there and score some points!

Bi-Polar Wannabe | 7:13 a.m. June 23, 2008

RE: Robert

That has to be the dumbest comment I've read in a long time. But I guess posting soccer-hating comments at 1:30am must mean that you really have no life. And that lack of a life you've got is definitely represented in your ridiculous post.

RSL will be gone | 8:48 a.m. June 23, 2008

11,000 fans showed up to see RSL play the best team in MLS. Hate to break it to you, but RSL will not be here much longer.

Comments continue below

OK then | 8:56 a.m. June 23, 2008

Since "RSL will not be here much longer", I guess there's no point in you continuing to come here to comment, is there? I mean, why kick a horse that's already dying?

Re: Robert | 8:56 a.m. June 23, 2008

First thing Robert remember your mommy only allows 30 minutes on the computer, and it looks like you are on it way past your bed time. So go jump in your spiderman bed and go to sleep got that?

Ok now second thing before making a post about soccer make sure you know what your talking about. I know its hard not to be picked for a team on the playground and you have to go play on the monkey bars with all the girls that call you names but that is what happens when you stay up to late playing on the computer.

Remember what your mom said if you get all your chores done on time she will take you to get some pizza at chucky cheese!

Re: RSL will be gone | 9:21 a.m. June 23, 2008

Ok buddy, let's become a little more educated before making such ridiculous comments! Fact is RSL is in the top 5 teams in the MLS in season ticket sales and consistently has bigger crowds than most MLS teams! So hate to break it to you but RSL will be here for awhile. And don't worry we will help you up on the bandwagon later this year when they are in the playoffs.. see you at the new stadium!

Bob | 10:01 a.m. June 23, 2008

Now boys and girls I know your tummy hurts but the pizza is almost ready. Mr. Checketts will bring it to the first home game. It should be enough to feed everybody (the crowds aren't too big these days, which makes me think the people who think RSL will be gone soon are right). Just remember to take a napkin and say thanks.

RE: RSL will be gone | 10:06 a.m. June 23, 2008

Hate to break it to you, but even with just 11,000 fans, RSL still outdraws many teams in the league as far as attendance goes. This year there are 8 teams that have drawn less than 11,000 fans to 20 different games. Many of these teams are in their 13th year of play. In fact, even New England, "the best team in MLS" drew just 8,100 fans when they played DC United, one of the most successful teams in MLS, and that's not even the smallest crowd for a game this season! Just because RSL draws 11,000 fans to a few games does not mean the team will not be here much longer. On average, RSL still draws over 15,000 fans per game. Not bad for a team located in the smallest market in MLS. RSL is here, and they're here to stay!

And I don't want to hear, "The league will fold" either. They've been here for nearly 13 years, and attendance is steadily rising every year. My suggestion, enjoy it.

Some interesting #'s: | 10:58 a.m. June 23, 2008

Average Attendance Leagues (2007-2008) per game

NFL 67,738
Premiership 36,076
MLB 32,703
NBA 17,757
NHL 17,265
MLS 16,229
Arena Ftbl 12,415
WNBA 7,746

LOCALS per game

Jazz 19,907
RSL 15,101
Blaze 14,513
Bees 6,047
Grizz 4,223

Hogle Zoo 16,299/week

RSL is currently 8th of 14 in average home game attendance in MLS.

So if they win... | 11:12 a.m. June 23, 2008

You bash the attendance...? Does anyone else understand this? I have never understood, as many RSL fans point out, why people that "hate soccer" or "hate RSL" find it neccesary to go post on a story about how the team is developing this year. Does this make sense?
oh, and to the person with the "numbers" you fail to recognize that an NFL team plays a total of 16 games during the season... Yeah, of course attendance numbers will be high when you can only play once a week, for a couple months. Thats pathetic man, come on.
And no, RSL is not going to fold, neither will the league, and the stadium is going to be one of the best (if not the best) venues in the state.
Oh, and when the allstar game is played here in the next couple years, I would LOVE to see all you haters try to bash while your kids are begging you to take them to the sold out game.

Utefan | 11:31 a.m. June 23, 2008

Attendance is high at NFL stadiums because they have big stadiums and people like football unlike soccer. RSL should just play at a high school football field or Franklin Covey Field. The facilities are already their and will cost less.

Re: Utefan | 11:43 a.m. June 23, 2008

people dont like soccer? then why are you in a soccer board talking about it? I dont like baseball, therefore i dont talk about it. Its really hard for you to comprehend isnt it? All you are doing is helping the cause, not hurting it. By bashing you evoke emotions in fans to prove you wrong, therefore attendance and support goes up.

oh and utefan | 11:48 a.m. June 23, 2008

thank you for proving my point. Real wins, so you cant bash that they dont play well so you go to plan b) oh, well they will fold cuz people wont come to the games. Ha ha, i bet you also argue that traffic will be horrible in sandy during games huh? But wait, if people dont go then how would traffic be bad? oh but wait, they won so lets throw in some numbers on how throwball is better then soccer because more people go to it in the US.
Way to cover your own, but at the same time shoot yourself in the foot.
Just accept that soccer is here, you dont have to like it and you dont have to watch, and we ask that you would just leave it alone

The Good News | 12:05 p.m. June 23, 2008

In addition to MLS growing each year, seeing the UEFA cup on Channel 4 in the middle of a Saturday afternoon and all during the week on ESPN is a good indication that soccer is hitting the mainstream. Great games to watch!

Re; Good news | 12:25 p.m. June 23, 2008

its euro cup, not the uefa cup. But yes, i agree, it was good to see on national television. However, i prefer it on ESPN as ABC does not have HD.
And anyone who watched the Turkey vs Croatia game and says its a bore still is just plain old crazy

Even my dad likes it | 12:32 p.m. June 23, 2008

Believe it or not, die-hard american man (only liked american sports) goes to RSL game on Saturday, and leaves a fan. The man even bought a RSL hat!

Progress people, its progress. Maybe Utefan or other haters may enjoy it if they gave it a chance.

BTW - dad is a big BYU fan, maybe they are just smarter than ute fans.

Cheddar | 12:44 p.m. June 23, 2008

WOW, the MLB averages over 32,000?? No way! There must be thousands of fans that dress up as empty seats then. Good for RSL, we'll get to watch up here when the (former NASL) Seattle Sounders play in the MLS.

It is very cool to see Euro 08 on ESPN. Great games have been played.

Roger | 1:32 p.m. June 23, 2008

At least when you buy a ticket for baseball or football you get to watch first-rate players. With soccer, on the other hand, and RSL in particular, when you buy a ticket, you end up watching players who would be nothing more than third-rate if they stayed and played in their own countries. The LA team has the one exception, but he is an aging player who took a big payoff to move to California and live the big life in his pre-retirement years.

The saddest part of the story is the sight of people who wind themselves up about US soccer and attend all the games while, with one eye closed, fool themselves into thinking they are witnessing real soccer.

To Roger | 2:13 p.m. June 23, 2008

Do you even know what real soccer is? I admit that the MLS is not in the top tier in soccer in the world, but it is still a fun league to watch. It will take many years for it to be considered an elite league, but it will happen eventually. Why don't you try to play soccer at a low level. Elementary kids could probably beat you at soccer. Bash all you want, it won't stop soccer fans from cheering for RSL.

BOO! | 3:17 p.m. June 23, 2008

Indoor football is stupid. It doesn't even compare to the NFL! The league will be dead in a few years. The players can even cut it in the real "pros". Oh wait. wrong board.
GO RSL!

Re: Roger | 3:31 p.m. June 23, 2008

so you are telling me that you only watch the NFL and the MLB? you dont go to a high school football game? You dont go to a triple a baseball game? You dont even go to a college football game? By the way you describe that you ONLY watch "the best" players in that particular sport the answer to all of the above questions is yes.
So what if Real and the MLS are not the "top" soccer in the world? People obviously find joy in watching it. They love the game, not just the particular "great" players.
GO RSL!!!

Numbers guy..... | 4:03 p.m. June 23, 2008

I posted the numbers to show that attendance for RSL is comparable or better than other local choices. Obviously, it can compete with anything else going on around here, particularly due to the summer season. I am an RSL supporter and believe the the numbers by league also show the sport to be viable in the United States. Afterall, we are the 5th or 6th tier soccer league. Anyone who took offense may have seen something different in the numbers than I did. For the die hard soccer fans:

Average Attendance by Soccer League (2007-08)
Bundesliga (Germany) 39,426
Premiership (England) 36,076
La Liga (Spain) 29,124
Serie A (Italy) 23,180
Ligue 1 (France) 21,817
Campeonato (Brazil) 17,461
Primera Division (Argentina) 17,363
MLS (United States) 16,229

Stadium Need Justified? | 6:23 p.m. June 23, 2008

Beyond all the flaming going on between soccer lovers and haters, I do find this an interesting debate. Based on the actual data someone else provided, if Real and other MLS teams are inflating actual attendance figures (regardless of the percentage), then a credibility issue arises with the business plan. As a Sandy resident watching this unfold in our backyard, I can't help wonder why MLS teams don't just continue playing in the college and NFL stadiums until they prove demand to expand by selling out those venues on a regular basis?

Stadium Need? | 7:49 p.m. June 23, 2008

MLS can't continue to play in football stadiums because it's harder to turn a profit in them. MLS teams have to lease the stadiums from whoever actually owns them, and often cannot keep all their profits, like concessions. And if pro sports are like the movies, money is made selling snacks, not tickets.

Having their own stadiums will allow MLS teams to keep more of their profits and avoid unfavorable leases. Think of it as renting versus buying a house. Renting may work for a while, but ultimately, having a fixed mortgage versus constantly-rising rent will save you more money long-term.

Smaller soccer-specific stadiums also look better on TV. One problem with MLS on TV is that seeing 16-17k fans spread out over 40-60k seats makes the event look insignificant, even if attendance is healthy. This makes the league look second-rate. A packed house makes the league look better to networks and to fans. That's why NBA teams don't play in 50k arenas - it's not the right size for them.

MLS reported last year five teams (Galaxy, Dallas, Colorado, Toronto, Chicago) were either in or near the black. All five have soccer-specific stadiums.

boink | 8:21 p.m. June 23, 2008

If anyone thinks that the MLS is going to fold or that RSL won't be here much longer are swimming upstream. The MLS finacially is getting stronger each year and are adding teams each year. Also, at minimum, one team is opening their own soccer specific stadium each year. Obviously the MLS is not as big as in Europe, well duh, which league has been around longer??? Growth takes time.. and if you look at the numbers in the MLS in keeps growing each year and even the league minimum goes up. So, go to another board and waste their space. Soccer is here to stay and I would be willing to bet that if any of you haters have a family and kids that at least one of them plays soccer.. Go RSL

wrong shape and size | 8:42 p.m. June 23, 2008

All, American Football and baseball fields are too small and the wrong shape for professional soccer. That is why they need their own stadium. MLS only let RSL use RES as a temporary means and would not let them play there on a permanent basis because the field is way to small.
that is another reason ;p

Stadium Need Pt. 2 | 8:42 p.m. June 23, 2008

Also, regarding the article on MLS attendance being buoyed by free tickets, the numbers in that article were taken from the 2005 season, before a lot of these soccer-specific stadiums were built. Smaller stadiums means fewer seats, which should, theoretically drive up demand for tickets. I would be interested to see if comped ticket totals decreased for teams that have built their own stadiums.

Finally, to imply that inflated attendance due to free tickets is strictly an MLS problem is simply wrong. An article in the San Diego Union-Tribune entitled "Mythinformation" spells out how this trend is rampant in MLB, the NBA, the college ranks, and various minor leagues. While it's certainly a problem, it's hardly MLS' problem alone.

to roger | 10:06 p.m. June 23, 2008

I couldn't agree with you more. MLS is a joke. Its about like single A baseball or the NBA's development league. Did you know Ronaldihno just got offered a huge sum of money to play for the galaxy and he refused! Good for him. Sports are about more than money and he obviously wants to play against the best in the world as any good athlete does.

I can watch the champions league and eurocup, but don't ask me to watch an MLS game. I'll get bored out of my mind. So as long as you all realize that you are watching very poor soccer and you still want to be a fan thats fine. Just don't try and convince me to be one too. You'll never be able to do it!

Ronaldihno... | 10:21 p.m. June 23, 2008

...sure he said no, this year. I give him 2 more years, then he'll come.

But guess what...McBride is here, and rumor has it that a handful of other BIG names are on there way as well. MLS is growing, and attracting a bigger fan base. Awesome time to be a soccer fan.

elrey3 | 10:39 p.m. June 23, 2008

Roger nobody is trying to convince you to watch the MLS, but dont bash the leage just cause you dont want to watch it. where did you here about Ronaldihno because the Galaxy have already used the DP on Beckham and unless they have aquierd it form another team the can not sing some body ells for a huge amount of money.

Go RSL Let Get a win at KC

Re: to roger | 8:37 a.m. June 24, 2008

Do you really think that MLS fans don't know where the league stands with respect to the rest of the world? You're the one who sounds ignorant.

Given the apparent level of your eurosnobbery, I'm going to guess that you haven't been to an RSL game. You should probably do your best to condescend to try it out. Soccer on TV doesn't come close to the feel of a live match. Again, since you're such a d-bag about the team, you should probably wait until October, when RSL will be in the new stadium, to maximize the probability of a good experience. Footbal, Futbol, Soccer -- it's not as bad as you think.

REAL fan | 4:49 p.m. June 24, 2008

No one believes the MLS is the Premiership or Bundesliga but perhaps they aren't "light years" ahead of MLS. When Premiership teams come to play here in their preseason they basically split their games. Although it is their preseason players are fighting to make both the team and the starting 11. It is fair to say none of them are just "going thru the motions." Last year when Everton, who I believe finished 5th out of 20 teams, in the Premiership, this year, played RSL, they lost. Most of the players who were part of Everton's starting lineup, for the 2007-08 season, played at least half the match. Preseason or not, they don't want to have the "embarassment" of losing to an American MLS club....By the way RSL played several of its reserves in that match as well...Similar results have been the "norm" betweeen MLS clubs and top flight foreign competition....Something else to consider. Our own "Doctor Goals," Kenny Deuchar, scored two goals against Rangers, which was in the UEAFA cup final recently. He scored tons of goals in Scotland but is struggling to score in MLS......We may not be the Premiership or LaLiga but the MLS is pretty good.

About the Dr | 5:07 p.m. June 24, 2008

The reason he is not scoring a bunch of goals is because Jason and the team are not using him correctly. Think about it, how would you properly use a guy his height... according to Kreis you have him recieve the ball at his feet nearly all the time and attack.
He is most dangerous when he is in the middle of the box, with a ball in the air. last game was the first time i felt like we actually started to use him the right way.
If we could exploit this more, we could DOMINATE the league.
We got everything you need up front, height with the dr, speed with mr findley, and espindola is creative and has that perfect finishing touch. Real, at full strength, is one scary bunch

corrections | 12:19 a.m. June 25, 2008

Guys- Its Euro2008. Not UEFA Cup (Zenit St. Petersburg won it a few weeks ago), and not Euro Cup. Also- don't bite the bait guys. The dude trying to play himself off as a eurosnob is obviously trying to get a rise out of you by making the Ronaldinho comment. Anyone who knows anything about how the European transfer market feeds off of rumors would know that it is total hogwash made up by Ronnie's agent to try to get clubs to pay him the big bucks. Also- the guy who said that the only good player in MLS is Beckham, and that he is only hear to collect a paycheck is, with all due respect, an ignoramus. To suggest that Beckham is here for the big payday is a bit misleading b/c his actual salary would have been a lot higher had he chosen to stay in Europe. His potential earnings may be bigger here b/c he gets a rip on jersey sales. Its not like he is a shell of his former self- the main resurrected Real Madrid at the end of last season to win La Liga. Let the haters hate. IGNORE THEM

Cheddar | 11:29 a.m. June 25, 2008

A comment above suggested that the MLS talent is a bunch of 3rd level players when compared to MLB, NFL or NBA talent. Not necessarily true. I would submit that there are a plethera of players in all leagues that are no-names.

Please don't tell me you pay to watch Rony Turiaf, or Luke Walton. Each MLS team has one or two stars, and then good players to fill behind them. I would also submit that the top MLS teams would compete well against the top club teams from other worldwide leagues.

Not all the best basketball players are playing in the NBA. Most are, but there many euros and south american players that don't come here (04 Olympics anyone?) and it is arguable that the worlds best baseball players are in Cuba and Central America.

The MLS will not be like the mainstream sports here for fan following, but that's quite alright with me. Just don't tell me the worlds best baseball players are on the Rockies and Royals.

Cheddar's right | 12:40 p.m. June 25, 2008

The MLS will not be like the mainstream sports here for fan following, but that's quite alright with me. Just don't tell me the worlds best baseball players are on the Rockies and Royals.
--------------------------------

The key is it doesn't have to be, it's just something the haters are foisting off on us because they know it's an insecurity. MLS doesn't have to have a stockpile of the world's greatest talent to draw a reliable 17-20k crowd at worker-friendly prices and provide them with an entertaining game.

Just remember the score October 9 before the game even starts:

Real 1,
Haters 0

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