York Offers To Share Stadium With Soccer Team

[MarcusCA420]

Personally, i think this is a terrible and lame idea.
I know most will disagree since many dont mind leaving
home here in SF but, man......
sharing with a soccer team?

He spent a lot of money and wants to get some money back.
Seems fair enough.
But, I don't know.
It just seems like he doesnt understand the feeling of
a being at your teams stadium.

Goooooooooooooal...lllllllrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:(

[Mr Spoons]

It's not like he's offered to share with the Raiders..

I don't see what the problem is with sharing the stadium with a team playing a different sport on a different day. How many teams used to do it with baseball teams? At least soccer won't require half the pitch to be cut up and overlaid with red clay, or whatever they use for the base paths.

[firekid0669]

Of course it's a good idea. This stadium will primarily be a 49er stadium but if we can ease the burden of the high price tag by using it AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE then they should do that! I would, however, oppose using it in a 50/50 capacity with a soccer team (such as the jets/giants). This stadium must be a 49er stadium, that also had the ability to house other sporting events/concerts!

[MarcusCA420]

I know what you mean, man.
And thats what im worried about...

that 50/50 thing.....:wild:

[tbone420]

We Earthquake fans have been talking about this for a few days already.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=528889

As a fan of both sports and teams, I would rather have separate stadiums but I also know something needs to be done soon.

[Laddybuck]

Personally, i think this is a terrible and lame idea.
I know most will disagree since many dont mind leaving
home here in SF but, man......
sharing with a soccer team?

He spent a lot of money and wants to get some money back.
Seems fair enough.
But, I don't know.
It just seems like he doesnt understand the feeling of
a being at your teams stadium.

Goooooooooooooal...lllllllrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:(
You mean like when the Giants played at Candlestick?

[MarcusCA420]

Yeah, but I like the Giants.

Not a Soccer fan.
Not discrediting the people who do,
its a real sport but.....
definitely not into the idea of sharing our
stadium with a soccer team.

They deserve their own stadium.
The A's owner is looking to bring
in a soccer team up here.

I dont agree with sharing anything with
the A's organization.

[co2112]

No problem, its still futbol

[MarcusCA420]

No problem, its still futbol

umm....:whistling:


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a351/MarcusCA420/comingamerica2.jpg
"Personally, I dont like any sport where you cant use your hands."

"But it is real cute the way you all bounce that ball off your head."
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a351/MarcusCA420/1-4.gif:lightning:

[Fromthe3rdRow]

Hmm. Lets see.

If the city decides to build the stadium - it will belong to the city. They will ultimately decide what to do with it, and if bringing in another professional sports team helps pay the bills - they would be silly not to consider it.

Many props to the 49ers for stepping up and saying they would not object if the city choses to pursue this option.

Think of it this way. Brand new state of the art stadium for Niners Football AND professional futball - or possibly no new stadium at all.

I prefer the former...

[49ers Ephon]

whats the bfd?

[Fromthe3rdRow]

whats the bfd?
Absolutely nothing negative ...

Different sport, different season, different time of year, different set of fans - AND

Increased ticket revenue, increased concession revenue, increased parking fees, increased lease payments from the team and a big jump in advertising revenues due to the added fans ....

The only big deal is that this idea increases the probability of generating revenue for the City of Santa Clara, which will be making a decision on whether or not to help build a new stadium in the near future.

IMHO - it's a great idea.

[Khannie112]

I live in NJ and the NY Metrostars (or they called Red Bull or something now?) used to play at Giant stadium.

Lets say the grass got really torn up during those games.....and same thing was happening at Gilette Stadium where I think Bob Kraft's soccer team plays.

That would be my only concern

[49ers Ephon]

Absolutely nothing negative ...

Different sport, different season, different time of year, different set of fans - AND

Increased ticket revenue, increased concession revenue, increased parking fees, increased lease payments from the team and a big jump in advertising revenues due to the added fans ....

The only big deal is that this idea increases the probability of generating revenue for the City of Santa Clara, which will be making a decision on whether or not to help build a new stadium in the near future.

IMHO - it's a great idea.


haha, i was going to say something like that. and it's not like they have to take apart the stadium to play soccor like the stick.

[49ers Ephon]

I live in NJ and the NY Metrostars (or they called Red Bull or something now?) used to play at Giant stadium.

Lets say the grass got really torn up during those games.....and same thing was happening at Gilette Stadium where I think Bob Kraft's soccer team plays.

That would be my only concern

soccor and football are different times of the year though, so unless your field crew is cheap, shouldn't be a problem

[Finer9rFan]

Exactly....I mean, it's not quite sharing the field like oh....the Giants and Jets now is it???...

[MarcusCA420]

Still, double the usage means double the clean up
and double the time of it getting worn down.
the field will get thrashed and, I know they have
crews specifically for this but.......

it just feels all wrong.

:wink:

[LAniner4life]

Would sharing a stadium bring down the ticket prices?

[krueger70]

Love having the half erased soccer field lines all over our professional football field!!

Since soccer attendance drops slightly below what the NFL draws every Sunday, why can't they find another venue....like maybe Chabot College or Golden Gate Park?

[MarcusCA420]

OR MAYBE JUST CONTINUE HOGGING UP PUBLIC PARKS AND KICKING THEIR BALLS INTO MY BACKYARD!:bubble: WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I REMEMBER MY OLDER BROTHER KNOCKING OUT THIS MEXICAN DUDE AFTER HE HOPED OUR BACKYARD FENSE TO GET HIS BALL OUT OF OUR POOL WITHOUT COMING TO OUR DOOR OR ANYTHING. IT FREAKED ME OUT AS A LITTLE KID BUT, I'LL NEVER FORGET THE BIG COMMOTION IT CAUSED. HE WAS OUT COLD FOR LIKE 5 MINUTES
I KNOW I KNOW:N1offtopic:

[cds49ers]

I love soccer, and although I don't live by the Bay any longer, I think this is a great idea. What is going to happen at the stadium during Feb-July?? Not much. Using it for another sport would keep people coming and revenue will be steady. Great idea.

I do dislike how teams use stadiums for baseball and football, but soccer is played on grass, on a field roughly the same size, so not many changes would need to be done.

[Scottish49er]

I dont see a problem with it as long as the niners are not affected in anyway. At least with soccer it should not affect the pitch too much not like baseball does.
If it means the club get some extra revenue and help to repay back a fraction of the costs for the new stadium then so be it.:smile:

Also the 49ers get to call the shots!!:wink:

[TheWiz]

Funny. We played half a season or so each year for a long time with a baseball diamond over much of the surface. Not to mention the high tide causing severe sogginess in the turf that has led to plenty of muddy and cold and breezy battles. Yet people are worried guys on cleats on our new all grass surface which will probably be a lot nicer than anything we've had for decades.

Would sharing a stadium bring down the ticket prices?

No.

Love having the half erased soccer field lines all over our professional football field!!

You know what, they can paint whited grass GREEN too...


Since soccer attendance drops slightly below what the NFL draws every Sunday, why can't they find another venue....like maybe Chabot College or Golden Gate Park?

I'm beginning to think that this concept of "They play in an entirely different season" factor.

------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a better equation. Soccer team also leasing space on the field = more income for the Stadium Authority. In essence, more income means more money to maintain the stadium, which the city would pay for from the Stadium Authority's income. Even more importantly, it solidifies the argument of being able to attract new sources of entertainment to the stadium outside of just our team.

[NinerRider]

umm....:whistling:


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a351/MarcusCA420/comingamerica2.jpg
"Personally, I dont like any sport where you cant use your hands."

"But it is real cute the way you all bounce that ball off your head."
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a351/MarcusCA420/1-4.gif:lightning:

"What do you guys do for fun? Chase the monkey?"

[Mr Spoons]

If you're worried about the lines, an amateur Football team over here in the UK use a local professional Soccer team's ground to play on and part of the agreement was that they use some special water soluble paint to paint the lines on the pitch and then they just wash them off afterwards.

[Fromthe3rdRow]

I dont see a problem with it as long as the niners are not affected in anyway. At least with soccer it should not affect the pitch too much not like baseball does.
If it means the club get some extra revenue and help to repay back a fraction of the costs for the new stadium then so be it.:smile:

Also the 49ers get to call the shots!!:wink:
Actually, football fields are commonly "crowned". i.e. Higher in the center and sloping away to the sides. The design is intended to help drain the field of play when games are played in rough weather.

A modern soccer pitch is designed to be as uniform and level as possible. It is intended to minimize negative impacts upon on a fast moving ball which is frequently in contact with the field.

Despite these differences, football can be played quite well on a uniform level field if modern drainage techniques are employed.

[sats0]

Actually if you read the presentation the 49ers made to the city of Santa Clara, it assumes that there will be at least 14 other events at the stadium every year besides the 49ers games. If you consider what will happen to the field if there is a tractor pull or flea market or concert, having a soccer game sounds like the least damaging.

I just went back and checked the 49ers financial presentation. It lists:

Soccer (2 events)
Bowl game (1 event)
Motor sports (1 event)
College football (1 event)
Concerts (3 events)
Festivals (3 events)
Other Events (3 events)

These events are needed in order to generate revenue. If we share the stadium with a soccer team, maybe we can get rid of some of the other more potentially damaging events. Lets not forget that $160M Santa Clara has to come up with. Anything that can ease that financial burden will make it that much easier to get it approved.

[Peter Proud]

The East/West Shrine Game and The Senior Bowl are just a couple of events that could be held in a new stadium.

[tbone420]

I live in NJ and the NY Metrostars (or they called Red Bull or something now?) used to play at Giant stadium.

Lets say the grass got really torn up during those games.....and same thing was happening at Gilette Stadium where I think Bob Kraft's soccer team plays.

That would be my only concern

That was not grass. The Red Bulls play on field turf. Always have. Now, how on earth did carpet get torn up?

[Giant9erShark]

I don't see that big of a problem with this what i'm thinking is it would be hard to get a team to play there

[sipote]

i think itll be good revenue a us vs japan soccer game in sbc park almost sold out for 37.000 plus a mexico vs venezuela game in qualcomm stadium brought 67.000 people in for just a friendly the mexico ecuador game sold out the soccer capacity in the raiders stadium for 47.000 plus people with so many hispanic in california the niners can make some money on the side if they have a soccer size field i dont see how it could be bad

[fabie]

http://forums.49ers.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=25534:whistling:

[leothedog]

Personally, i think this is a terrible and lame idea.
I know most will disagree since many dont mind leaving
home here in SF but, man......
sharing with a soccer team?

He spent a lot of money and wants to get some money back.
Seems fair enough.
But, I don't know.
It just seems like he doesnt understand the feeling of
a being at your teams stadium.

Goooooooooooooal...lllllllrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:(

I don't have a problem with it as long as it doesn't impact the Niners.
Besides, Soccer is a great game. I've watched my kids play it for the last 13 years.

[AlaskaNinersFan]

Whatever gets the stadium built,besides,no reason to let the nice facility go to waste.

[Khannie112]

That was not grass. The Red Bulls play on field turf. Always have. Now, how on earth did carpet get torn up?

from Wikipedia:
To accommodate these varied events, Giants Stadium has sported various playing surfaces in its history. AstroTurf was the original surface for the playing field. This surface was covered by Bermuda grass sod for the World Cup in 1994, identical to that at the Rose Bowl where the other semifinal and the finals were held (so that both teams in the finals would have played on identical surfaces). The grass was removed after the World Cup, as it would have died in the New Jersey winter. The MetroStars, however, installed a grass field each spring, but was removed prior to the football season, forcing the team to play its final home games each year on AstroTurf. The AstroTurf was replaced in 2000 by and a system of interchangeable grass trays was implemented from 2000 to 2002, but was considered a failure, since the quality of the field worsened as the NFL season progressed. (Part of the problem may have stemmed from the fact that the original AstroTurf field was kept in place under the grass, to help in drainage.) It was replaced by a new artificial surface, FieldTurf, in 2003.

...BOO YAH!

[MarcusCA420]

"What do you guys do for fun? Chase the monkey?"

:falldownlaugh:

[sipote]

they might as well do it is not like the soccer team will be there for long alot of mls teams are getting their own stadiums anyway is gonna be temporary the most theylle share it will be like 5 years

[Iamavictory]

I don't what the harm couyld be. As long as the stadium is ready on game day.

[matineematt]

If Lew Wolff is willing to throw some money at the Santa Clara stadium, and in exchange we just have to let them play a few games at our place, why not? Plus, this helps the team make the case that the stadium will be used for more than just the ten or so home games we have each season. I only hope we can erase the annoying soccer markings on our game days.

Baseball would be a horrible match, with the outfield dimensions and dirt infield in place through October, and no one wants to work with Al Davis. The new Earthquakes make for an ideal partner, if they accept our terms.

[Dynastic]

OR MAYBE JUST CONTINUE HOGGING UP PUBLIC PARKS AND KICKING THEIR BALLS INTO MY BACKYARD!:bubble: WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I REMEMBER MY OLDER BROTHER KNOCKING OUT THIS MEXICAN DUDE AFTER HE HOPED OUR BACKYARD FENSE TO GET HIS BALL OUT OF OUR POOL WITHOUT COMING TO OUR DOOR OR ANYTHING. IT FREAKED ME OUT AS A LITTLE KID BUT, I'LL NEVER FORGET THE BIG COMMOTION IT CAUSED. HE WAS OUT COLD FOR LIKE 5 MINUTES
I KNOW I KNOW:N1offtopic:

Your brother sounds borderline retarded.

[49erfan88]

If they use a natural grass field then it is a bad idea but if it is a turf field then i wouldn't have a problem.

[MarcusCA420]

Your brother sounds borderline retarded.

Yeah, remember that if theres ever someone randomly in your backyard without you knowing.:nolisten:

[dalglish1]

Actually, football fields are commonly "crowned". i.e. Higher in the center and sloping away to the sides. The design is intended to help drain the field of play when games are played in rough weather.

A modern soccer pitch is designed to be as uniform and level as possible. It is intended to minimize negative impacts upon on a fast moving ball which is frequently in contact with the field.

Despite these differences, football can be played quite well on a uniform level field if modern drainage techniques are employed.


Not sure which 'soccer' grounds you have been to lately, but they are designed exactly the same as you describe the design of american football fields, for precisely the same reason... Therefore, this issue makes no difference, rather, it is a reason for going ahead with the groundshare...

[sipote]

OR MAYBE JUST CONTINUE HOGGING UP PUBLIC PARKS AND KICKING THEIR BALLS INTO MY BACKYARD!:bubble: WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I REMEMBER MY OLDER BROTHER KNOCKING OUT THIS MEXICAN DUDE AFTER HE HOPED OUR BACKYARD FENSE TO GET HIS BALL OUT OF OUR POOL WITHOUT COMING TO OUR DOOR OR ANYTHING. IT FREAKED ME OUT AS A LITTLE KID BUT, I'LL NEVER FORGET THE BIG COMMOTION IT CAUSED. HE WAS OUT COLD FOR LIKE 5 MINUTES
I KNOW I KNOW:N1offtopic:

i have no idea what this has to do with the stadium

[verbicide]

If you're worried about the lines, an amateur Football team over here in the UK use a local professional Soccer team's ground to play on and part of the agreement was that they use some special water soluble paint to paint the lines on the pitch and then they just wash them off afterwards.

Uhhhmmm, what do they do if it's raining?

[verbicide]

From a soccer point of view, playing in an NFL stadium isn't ideal. The Niners would need a 70,000+ capacity stadium, but I doubt a soccer team would get anywhere near to filling it. It's not the end of the world, but you want a stadium to be full for every event. In fact, Juventus (who were one of the top teams in Europe until they got caught bribing refs, lol) recently moved to a smaller stadium, and last seasons drop in attendence for FA Premier League games was the cause of much soul searching, not because the clubs weren't making enough money (they get most of their money from TV) but because people just don't like empty stadia. The other slight problem is that NFL games require a huge amount of people on each sideline, which means big spaces to accommodate those people, but most soccer stadia are designed to get the fans as close to the action as possible.

However, these potential problems are quite niggly and not really massive. If sharing the site helps get the Niners a new stadium it can only be a good thing.

[VAborn9er]

Business wise, They should want to share with as many teams as possible!!!

[loren]

You mean like when the Giants played at Candlestick? Soccer pitches take up real estate, which unlike Candlestick, remove the fans from the game a little further. I love the stick because we are closer to the game than most other stadiums. I love watching games in old delapitated arenas. Large super stadiums are good for shopping and eating and look good on the brochures, but I go for the raw game, nothing else.

[TheWiz]

Actually, football fields are commonly "crowned". i.e. Higher in the center and sloping away to the sides. The design is intended to help drain the field of play when games are played in rough weather.

A modern soccer pitch is designed to be as uniform and level as possible. It is intended to minimize negative impacts upon on a fast moving ball which is frequently in contact with the field.

Despite these differences, football can be played quite well on a uniform level field if modern drainage techniques are employed.

You have a very good point there.

However, the level of the crown is entirely up to debate based on the field and location and arena. Your typical high school, community college, and division III school will feature a heavy and noticable crown. On the other hand, bigger colleges with newer stadiums and NFL stadiums feature better drainage. Before dirt and turf is planted, artificial or not, a base of pipework and attached vaccuums and sewage lines are attached in any new stadium. In colder climates even heating pipes for creating softer turf in December and January are employed as well. Unlike other sports the NFL can't afford to reschedule and thus acts to prevent any and all adverse effects. By having exceptional subterranean draining heavy crowning isn't needed as much as other venues.

Howerver, crowning still persists because gravity is still a powerful force. A little crowning reduces strain on suction and helps keep the middle of the field naturally less soggy with good draining underneath.

Keep in mind the point of developing Astro-Turf. It was designed for domes, indoor stadiums with no weather and un-crowned fields, they had to reason to drain water, none would ever appear! In newer age stadiums there are retractable roofs so teams added not only more porous, new-aged synthetic turfs but simple drainage systems below. Once draining was developed and improved the need for crowned fields reduced and now more pro stadiums have less noticable crowns.

Soccer teams prefer flat field without crowning and also why so many teams have signed lease with indoor NFL teams.

Actually if you read the presentation the 49ers made to the city of Santa Clara, it assumes that there will be at least 14 other events at the stadium every year besides the 49ers games. If you consider what will happen to the field if there is a tractor pull or flea market or concert, having a soccer game sounds like the least damaging.

I just went back and checked the 49ers financial presentation. It lists:

Soccer (2 events)
Bowl game (1 event)
Motor sports (1 event)
College football (1 event)
Concerts (3 events)
Festivals (3 events)
Other Events (3 events)

These events are needed in order to generate revenue. If we share the stadium with a soccer team, maybe we can get rid of some of the other more potentially damaging events. Lets not forget that $160M Santa Clara has to come up with. Anything that can ease that financial burden will make it that much easier to get it approved.

On one end, that was a preliminary projection of the types of events the stadium. It also showed how likely it is to get other events into the stadium annually. The point was to show how such a small array of a few events could be benefitial. Could it host a bowl game or a D2 game? Of course! It could easily hold 3 summer tour events for concerts and so on.

They're not requisite for the Stadium Authority to operate. Based on our rent on the lease the Stadium Authority can easily maintain the stadium for the first decade. The fact that we can draw a MLS team now only shows how easily we can draw those meager events to a stadium. Those vents not only make stadium maintance less of a problem but easily pay for the extra police, fire, and EMT presence at games as well as traffic concerns.

If they use a natural grass field then it is a bad idea but if it is a turf field then i wouldn't have a problem.

Putting fake turf of any kind in an open air stadium is like tongue kissing your sister. Sure, it's physically possible but why in the heck would you do it?!

Not sure which 'soccer' grounds you have been to lately, but they are designed exactly the same as you describe the design of american football fields, for precisely the same reason... Therefore, this issue makes no difference, rather, it is a reason for going ahead with the groundshare...

First of all, even a little crowning can be fixed annually. It's called taking out the sod, leveling the field, and replanting the sod and dointg that each winter before the MLS season starts. Sure, soccer fields are of comparable dimensions but the crowning can also be addressed. It's just a matter of dirt level between the hash marks.

From a soccer point of view, playing in an NFL stadium isn't ideal. The Niners would need a 70,000+ capacity stadium, but I doubt a soccer team would get anywhere near to filling it. It's not the end of the world, but you want a stadium to be full for every event. In fact, Juventus (who were one of the top teams in Europe until they got caught bribing refs, lol) recently moved to a smaller stadium, and last seasons drop in attendence for FA Premier League games was the cause of much soul searching, not because the clubs weren't making enough money (they get most of their money from TV) but because people just don't like empty stadia. The other slight problem is that NFL games require a huge amount of people on each sideline, which means big spaces to accommodate those people, but most soccer stadia are designed to get the fans as close to the action as possible.

However, these potential problems are quite niggly and not really massive. If sharing the site helps get the Niners a new stadium it can only be a good thing.

Excellent post! I agree completely. An NFL team has as many as 35 players on the sidelines, a dozen coaches, and not to mention waterboys, cable carriers, the occasional celebrity/fan, and a bunch of souind dish carriers, audio technicians, and camera snappers. Soccer sidelines don't have nearly as many players, a fraction of the coaches, and almost none of the media.

But it's not like an NFL stadium won't do. Adding in retractable seats along the sideline walls in a necessity. Not only to get the same affect for soccer matches but also for concerts.

Business wise, They should want to share with as many teams as possible!!!

Exactly. If we can get contract offers and proposals well before stadiums are built, then we're talking.

[funky-monk]

Im not going to pretend to be some sort of soccer guy, but do the 2 sports even overlap each other in the seasons? the little league soccer has been playing here for a month, and I know football doesnt even start here till early august. I dont know if the soccer is long and overwinded like baseball, but if it is more like football, then the 2 seasons shouldn't overlap much or at all.

[Niner Jan]

Nice to hear all different potential aspects of the opportunity. One of the better threads I've seen in a long time with very few NEGATIVE rippers.

After all, what has to be considered is that the stadium has to be PAID by the 49ers and with help from the City of Santa Clara and the NFL. We're not talking about a pittance of a cost but close to a billion dollars. Every possible angle has to be taken into consideration in order to make the new stadium a REALITY.

In the long run, it doesn't matter what individual fans think about the sharing idea. There has to be revenues from more than 10-12 events a year to warrant building a stadium. So, fans have to be mature in accepting some ideas that they would prefer not to think about, like sharing the field with soccer teams.

There's a soccer field right next to the 49ers Facility. So, it seems most appropriate to have soccer games across the street from it in the new stadium (if built).

This sounds like a brilliant idea to me...but I don't really pretend to know anything about soccer. I just want the stadium to be built for our Niners.

[tarkaba]

I don't want this to happen. It would increase the U.S. chances to get the World Cup in 2018. I want Mexico to get it, it's our turn.


:laugh:

[Nilsen31]

The Steelers share their stadium w/ college sports and soccer.

it tears the crap out of the field.


so i don't think its a good idea...however if it's only one soccer team sharing the stadium then maybe...

cuz a bunch of teams play at Heinz Field, so maybe 1 won't be that bad.

[Nilsen31]

Putting fake turf of any kind in an open air stadium is like tongue kissing your sister. Sure, it's physically possible but why in the heck would you do it?!


...Cuz she's hot.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/joe_dirt/_group_photos/david_spade1.jpg

[sipote]

I don't want this to happen. It would increase the U.S. chances to get the World Cup in 2018. I want Mexico to get it, it's our turn.


:laugh:

na ya already got it twice