Whitecaps MLS news - Page 7

twoNeurons · #**121** Posted **Mar 19, 2009, 5:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locked In

What does 'race' have to do with it? Hockey tends to attract people who grow up or live in countries in which hockey is the predominant sport, regardless of whether those people are German, Japanese, Kenyan or Indian (just like soccer tends to attract people where it is the predominant sport - which is almost everywhere).

British people like soccer. Lots of Caucasians there.

I think one would have an easier time arguing in favor of climate than anything else. Hockey is more popular in the North, for reasons that should be obvious.

LeftCoaster · #**122** Posted **Mar 19, 2009, 8:24 PM**

Regarding the name change, I caught Bob Lenarduzzi on Rock 101 this morning and he clarified the name change. Apparently all the Whitecaps are doing right now is seeing if anyone is interested in changing the name, as this would be the appropriate junction, but he admitted himself that there is almost no chance the name will change.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetMapel

Like I said in that NBA Grizzlies thread, the impact to Canucks will be minimal because hockey is still mostly a Caucasian sport than an Asian sport.

And soccer isn't a Caucasian sport? When did I miss that one?

Pinion · #**123** Posted **Mar 19, 2009, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locked In

What does 'race' have to do with it? Hockey tends to attract people who grow up or live in countries in which hockey is the predominant sport, regardless of whether those people are German, Japanese, Kenyan or Indian (just like soccer tends to attract people where it is the predominant sport - which is almost everywhere).

Yup, I was watching one of those Hindu religious shows filmed in Vancouver and they were using the Canucks in analogies to answer questions from callers about the religion. It was great.

I grew up in Australia and was a big rugby fan. Then I moved to Canada and became a big hockey fan. If you're a sports fan in general, you're going to gravitate to whatever gets the most coverage where you live.

djmk · #**124** Posted **Mar 19, 2009, 8:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetMapel

Ok, I will be clearer. When I say Asians, I meant EAST ASIANS like Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese... etc. Also, you're telling me that hockey is bigger than soccer in Asia ? lol

and yes, hockey attracts more CAUCASIANS (as in white people). You don't think most of the hockey fans and players are all Caucasians ? Please don't make my comment sound like some racist statement

you must forgive me. it is just that i hate the word "caucasian". i have no idea what it means because absolutely no person (lets say person from european decent) uses it to describe themselves.

are italian, portuguese, turkish, argentinian, brazialian, spanish caucasians? all great soccer nations. none of them refer to themseles as caucasians.

Vancity · #**125** Posted **Mar 19, 2009, 9:05 PM**

I was just wondering about the MLS. It's great, wonderful news that Vancouver got an MLS franchise. I just heard on the TEAM1040, that Portland is getting the 18th franchise. I read somewhere (I forget where - maybe Vancouversun, or Province) that in 2012, that MLS wants to add 2 more teams. That would bring the league to 20 teams. I'm not so certain that the MLS should expand so quickly. If they continue expanding at this rate, wouldn't there be an eventual demise of the MLS? I don't know why the NASL fell apart in 1983, but could the same happen to MLS if they're not careful? That would suck horribly.

cornholio · #**126** Posted **Mar 19, 2009, 10:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetMapel

Ok, I will be clearer. When I say Asians, I meant EAST ASIANS like Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese... etc. Also, you're telling me that hockey is bigger than soccer in Asia ? lol

and yes, hockey attracts more CAUCASIANS (as in white people). You don't think most of the hockey fans and players are all Caucasians ? Please don't make my comment sound like some racist statement

There is only one country in the world where hockey is the number 1 sport. Thats Canada, and Canada also just happens to be one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Soccer is the number one sport in Europe, the "caucasian" home base, its the number one sport in Czech republic, Sweeden, Russia, Slovakia and Finland, all the countries where hockey is also a important sport(but second tier to Soccer).

djmk · #**127** Posted **Mar 19, 2009, 10:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancity

I was just wondering about the MLS. It's great, wonderful news that Vancouver got an MLS franchise. I just heard on the TEAM1040, that Portland is getting the 18th franchise. I read somewhere (I forget where - maybe Vancouversun, or Province) that in 2012, that MLS wants to add 2 more teams. That would bring the league to 20 teams. I'm not so certain that the MLS should expand so quickly. If they continue expanding at this rate, wouldn't there be an eventual demise of the MLS? I don't know why the NASL fell apart in 1983, but could the same happen to MLS if they're not careful? That would suck horribly.

this is true.

there are a few things that are very similar to the NASL and MLS. one, both were/are going through periods of expansion, and two, both spent big money on aging non-american stars (pele, beckham)

however, soccer was very new to american audiences in the 1980's. yes, NASL changed this but it was a little too late. i think now there is more acceptance of soccer south of the border after their World Cup, all the Mexicans and now tons of kids playing the sport.

but in the end, i think its management that will make or break this league.

rather_draconian · #**128** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 2:21 AM**

I'm sorry if everyone else knows this, but does the Whitecaps playing in BC Place mean the proposed WhiteCaps stadium on the waterfront is dead?

jlousa · #**129** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 2:32 AM**

Officially they are still pursuing the waterfront stadium...

LeftCoaster · #**130** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 5:16 AM**

Thanks for the ellipses at the end there

Rusty Gull · #**131** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 6:05 AM**

Unofficially...

...well, they are probably in no rush to move forward. Afterall, they are committed to BC Place until 2015. And they have met brutal resistance from The Port Authority in terms of making a deal for the land.

Let's not kid ourselves. The waterfront stadium, for all intensive purposes, is dead. It will have little support from the province (due to their investment in BCP); it has marginal support from The City (though Robertson seems to be bigger advocate for the stadium than Sammy was), and it has the Nimbies working against in Gastown. Meanwhile, Kerfoot and company have bigger fish to fry. They have to find a way to make their MLS team a success after having forked over $35 million to the league.

Stingray2004 · #**132** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 7:27 AM**

From a financial and business perspective, with the BC Place upgrades, the Whitecaps will continue to have their new home at BC Place thereafter.

I strongly doubt that Kerfoot's original waterfront stadium idea has any more traction with both him and the city/port. It's obviously a dead duck.

Vancity · #**133** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 7:34 AM**

this is true. I think the waterfront stadium, is dead, even though Lenarduzzi continues to say the right things in that they are continuing talks with the Port - what else is he going to say?

If the whitecaps stadium does get built. it will probably be built after 2015, as the above poster stated that the agreement with BC Place is until that time. that's a good 5-10 years down the road. i really am annoyed with the politics of this city. when something good comes along, it almost seems like the city doesn't want the gift that's being given to them for free. is there something with that mentality, or is it just me?

LeftCoaster · #**134** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 7:40 PM**

It's just you, the city had nothing to do with this not going through...

Distill3d · #**135** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 7:42 PM**

CBC has a poll up on whether the Whitecaps should keep their name. so far 84% of those polled have said yes..

here is the link to cast your vote

djmk · #**136** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 8:54 PM**

that link lead me to

"Do you feel safe with Bacons on the loose?"

and i voted for sausage.

Regarding the Waterfront Stadium... I think it will be resurrected. i really think BC Place is a temporary gig

LeftCoaster · #**137** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 9:01 PM**

A stadium will eventually be built, it just probably wont be built on the current site.

leftside · #**138** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

And soccer isn't a Caucasian sport? When did I miss that one?

Those small continents, Asia, South America and Africa tend to play a little soccer as well... or football as the rest of the world likes to call it.

Distill3d · #**139** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djmk

that link lead me to

"Do you feel safe with Bacons on the loose?"

and i voted for sausage.

Regarding the Waterfront Stadium... I think it will be resurrected. i really think BC Place is a temporary gig

heh i guess they updated the link...oops.

LeftCoaster · #**140** Posted **Mar 20, 2009, 9:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftside

Those small continents, Asia, South America and Africa tend to play a little soccer as well... or football as the rest of the world likes to call it.

Yes, but your post implied that Caucasians wouldn't leave the ice rink to go watch a soccer game because ice hockey is a Caucasian sport, implying that soccer is not.

FYI South America is primarily a Caucasian continent.