Sporting KC Mellinger: Sporting looks like KC’s most successful franchise - Page 2

Deberg_1990 · 10-25-2012, 06:59 AM

Hard to argue.

Do we need to start having a Sporting KC thread prefix icon?

This isn’t about the soccer. Some of you can’t make that leap. Some of you never will. Some of you don’t want to, don’t care, and of course that’s your choice.
Your choice to miss out.

Because even if you’re stuck in the 1980s and refuse to think of soccer as anything more than orange slices and Capri Suns, you must at least wish your team could model the thorough, smart, and fan-first success of Sporting KC — MLS Eastern Conference champions after a 2-1 season-ending win over Philadelphia in front of another sellout crowd at Livestrong Sporting Park.

The Royals have the sorriest last two decades in the American League and the Chiefs have a case as the NFL’s worst team, so why not invest a bit in a winner?

Sporting KC is a serious threat to win the MLS Cup in its second consecutive playoff appearance, something the Chiefs haven’t done since 1995 (when Bill Self coached at Oral Roberts) and the Royals since 1985 (when Bill Snyder coached at Iowa).

Technically, this is the 17th season of the MLS in Kansas City but in reality it is the second season anyone outside a devoted but small demographic of hardcore soccer fans has paid much attention.

And what we’ve seen is remarkable.

Think about this: Sporting KC is not only on its way to joining the mainstream local sports scene … the franchise is changing it.

You would need a wild imagination and perhaps an opiate to believe Sporting will overtake the Chiefs or Royals in local importance, but that’s neither the goal nor the point. Why can’t Sporting turn Kansas City from a two-sport town to a three?

So maybe we didn’t need AEG’s non-promises after all. Maybe we just needed the rich guys at Cerner to buy an afterthought team and turn it into something much more.

You might’ve dismissed the first season of the franchise rebranding and the gorgeous new stadium as novelty, but what now? Every game but one was a sellout this year, and the team’s revenue is actually up across the board. The average (non-premium) season ticket holder is 27 years old. Disposable income is now being spent on professional soccer in a way Kansas City has perhaps never seen, certainly not since the Comets fad of the 1980s.
Sporting is not plotting world domination here, just a bigger chunk of the local sports market and two seasons in the plan is going off almost flawlessly. They are winning, and the management group is putting on a virtual clinic on how to connect with a community and make fans feel part of the process.

The $200 million stadium comes alive in large part thanks to the maniacs in the Cauldron — who have regular interaction with the ownership group, by the way — and the result is the league’s fourth-youngest roster playing with one of the strongest homefield advantages and a fan experience that’s increasing season ticket demand.

The only hiccup surrounds the name on the stadium, an ancillary fallout from Lance Armstrong’s chemically enhanced career finally coming into undeniable focus. But Sporting named its stadium after an organization that provides hope for cancer victims, not the fraudulent cyclist who started it, so backtracking now would be somewhere between counterproductive and cowardly.

Meanwhile, the team for which the stadium exists continues to elbow its way closer to mainstream. Soccer interest and participation continues to rise nationally, with Kansas City an emerging hotbed. Parents reading football concussion stories might give that an extra boost.

Look at this with an open mind, and the franchise that commissioner Don Garber calls the MLS’ greatest success story is perfectly positioned to take advantage of market conditions both in and out of its own control. So this is about much more than just soccer, but if that’s not your thing, then fine.

It’s just that you’ll be missing the best part of Kansas City’s current professional sports scene.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/24.../sporting.html

Deberg_1990 · 10-25-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I agree that the anti-soccer mentality is pretty lame.

It takes time and decades to change a culture. The Chiefs and Royals have been a part of KCs landscape for decades. Pro Baseball and Pro Football have been around for a hundred years.

Pro Soccer in the U.S. is in its infancy by comparison.

CoMoChief · 10-25-2012, 08:45 AM

I never got into tetherball either....

htismaqe · 10-25-2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I agree that the anti-soccer mentality is pretty lame. It's much like the anti-NASCAR mindset, pretty silly to hate just to hate. But alas, folks are folks, and you can't change that.

Without dooming this thead to the DC forum, it's extremely interesting that you just happened to mention NASCAR in comparison to soccer.

I DO think there is a mild bias, against BOTH, in certain parts of the country. And it has to do with bigotry.

**HemiEd** · 10-25-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Im not sure its an "anti-soccer" mindset. Its probably more to do with the fact that watching paint dry is on the same excitement plane however its a notch above watching golf so it has that going for it.

I would rank watching golf much higher than soccer. Tom Watson has done great things since the Royals or Chiefs have.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-25-2012, 09:19 AM

And Zach rejoiced with the angels.

|Zach| · 10-25-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

I don't know much about soccer but the game last night was very entertaining.

"For the Glory of the City"

|Zach| · 10-25-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

One thing I do like about MLS is that it doesn't seem like they do the fake injury thing anywhere near as much as some of the international games. The World Cup gets unwatchable sometimes because it's so ridiculous.

The MLS has done a good job of fostering a style of play that is in line with what Americans find important and what they value in gamesmanship.

Mr. Laz · 10-25-2012, 10:16 AM

If soccer was an actual sport ....

|Zach| · 10-25-2012, 10:16 AM

trololololol

BWillie · 10-25-2012, 10:17 AM

But it's still soccer. Doesn't really count.

**loochy** · 10-25-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

One thing I do like about MLS is that it doesn't seem like they do the fake injury thing anywhere near as much as some of the international games. The World Cup gets unwatchable sometimes because it's so ridiculous.

The diving really is a cultural thing, not a sport thing.

htismaqe · 10-25-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |Zach|

That's ****ing BAD ASS.

**loochy** · 10-25-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie007

But it's still soccer. Doesn't really count.

It counts more than trotting out a losing team for 20 years while every year taking about how "next year will be better because we have prospects"

|Zach| · 10-25-2012, 10:22 AM

There is a multi page story about the team and the city embracing it in Sports Illustrated...I actually think the issue is available just today in news stands. I have not read it just but was interviewed for it so I need to find a copy.

ottawa_chiefs_fan · 10-25-2012, 10:22 AM

So if some local JR. A hockey team was winning a cup - he would be pimping that too? The sad, sorry state of KC sports.

10-25-2012, 06:59 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $174454	Mellinger: Sporting looks like KC’s most successful franchise Hard to argue. Do we need to start having a Sporting KC thread prefix icon? This isn’t about the soccer. Some of you can’t make that leap. Some of you never will. Some of you don’t want to, don’t care, and of course that’s your choice. Your choice to miss out. Because even if you’re stuck in the 1980s and refuse to think of soccer as anything more than orange slices and Capri Suns, you must at least wish your team could model the thorough, smart, and fan-first success of Sporting KC — MLS Eastern Conference champions after a 2-1 season-ending win over Philadelphia in front of another sellout crowd at Livestrong Sporting Park. The Royals have the sorriest last two decades in the American League and the Chiefs have a case as the NFL’s worst team, so why not invest a bit in a winner? Sporting KC is a serious threat to win the MLS Cup in its second consecutive playoff appearance, something the Chiefs haven’t done since 1995 (when Bill Self coached at Oral Roberts) and the Royals since 1985 (when Bill Snyder coached at Iowa). Technically, this is the 17th season of the MLS in Kansas City but in reality it is the second season anyone outside a devoted but small demographic of hardcore soccer fans has paid much attention. And what we’ve seen is remarkable. Think about this: Sporting KC is not only on its way to joining the mainstream local sports scene … the franchise is changing it. You would need a wild imagination and perhaps an opiate to believe Sporting will overtake the Chiefs or Royals in local importance, but that’s neither the goal nor the point. Why can’t Sporting turn Kansas City from a two-sport town to a three? So maybe we didn’t need AEG’s non-promises after all. Maybe we just needed the rich guys at Cerner to buy an afterthought team and turn it into something much more. You might’ve dismissed the first season of the franchise rebranding and the gorgeous new stadium as novelty, but what now? Every game but one was a sellout this year, and the team’s revenue is actually up across the board. The average (non-premium) season ticket holder is 27 years old. Disposable income is now being spent on professional soccer in a way Kansas City has perhaps never seen, certainly not since the Comets fad of the 1980s. Sporting is not plotting world domination here, just a bigger chunk of the local sports market and two seasons in the plan is going off almost flawlessly. They are winning, and the management group is putting on a virtual clinic on how to connect with a community and make fans feel part of the process. The $200 million stadium comes alive in large part thanks to the maniacs in the Cauldron — who have regular interaction with the ownership group, by the way — and the result is the league’s fourth-youngest roster playing with one of the strongest homefield advantages and a fan experience that’s increasing season ticket demand. The only hiccup surrounds the name on the stadium, an ancillary fallout from Lance Armstrong’s chemically enhanced career finally coming into undeniable focus. But Sporting named its stadium after an organization that provides hope for cancer victims, not the fraudulent cyclist who started it, so backtracking now would be somewhere between counterproductive and cowardly. Meanwhile, the team for which the stadium exists continues to elbow its way closer to mainstream. Soccer interest and participation continues to rise nationally, with Kansas City an emerging hotbed. Parents reading football concussion stories might give that an extra boost. Look at this with an open mind, and the franchise that commissioner Don Garber calls the MLS’ greatest success story is perfectly positioned to take advantage of market conditions both in and out of its own control. So this is about much more than just soccer, but if that’s not your thing, then fine. It’s just that you’ll be missing the best part of Kansas City’s current professional sports scene. http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/24.../sporting.html
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10-25-2012, 08:45 AM	#17
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $7672254	I never got into tetherball either.... __________________
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10-25-2012, 09:19 AM	#20
Sweet Daddy Hate Unsparing Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	And Zach rejoiced with the angels. __________________ 1. Merciless, severe. 2. Given freely and generously. 100% refusal to overrate 20 year Head Coaches with ZERO **ing rings as a Head Coach. CP's Official Professor of 'Dem Blues for 2019/2020!**
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10-25-2012, 10:16 AM	#23
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	If soccer was an actual sport .... __________________
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10-25-2012, 10:16 AM	#24
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $3076768	trololololol
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10-25-2012, 10:17 AM	#25
BWillie Are you ready to Rumble? Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $-1398759	But it's still soccer. Doesn't really count.
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10-25-2012, 10:22 AM	#29
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $3076768	There is a multi page story about the team and the city embracing it in Sports Illustrated...I actually think the issue is available just today in news stands. I have not read it just but was interviewed for it so I need to find a copy.
Posts: 54,726

10-25-2012, 10:22 AM	#30
ottawa_chiefs_fan Starter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada Casino cash: $9311312	So if some local JR. A hockey team was winning a cup - he would be pimping that too? The sad, sorry state of KC sports.
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