From the 331 facebook page:
Mayor R.T. Rybak is coming to Drinking Liberally Thursday 7:00-9:00pm. He wants to sell us on his Stadium proposal. Come on down and tell him what you think...

What do you say about showing up early and asking him why no one is pressuring them about soccer, which would bring in twice the games as the Vikings?

This idea is a good one, and Wes is smart for thinking of it. Anything I've ever been to where RT talked I got straight poop from the guy, so if he's got any info or opinions about including other sports in his stadium proposals, this would be an excellent place to hear about it.

I'm 50/50 on being able to make that date. Anybody that can go for sure?

i can probably make it, at least for a little bit.

If they want to push soccer the Linden Ave. site is definitely the place to build it.

Let's make this happen. I am in.

I went ahead and posted this on dark-clouds.com .

Depending on how my exams go this week, I will try to make it. I think the case we need to make is simple. "Hi Mayor. I think you're the [censored] [or if you don't think he's the [censored], then ignore this part and comment on the weather]. I know that there are a lot of concerns with the stadium. One thing that hasn't been talked about is why no one has pushed Zygi on his lipservice to bringing an MLS team to Minneapolis. MLS is the sports league with the 3rd highest attendance and would bring more than 18 home games to the stadium. Plus, Portland and Seattle have a MLS team and since everyone says Portland is just like Minneapolis but with less snow, doesn't that piss you off?"

18+ home games
Zygi was into it
Linden Ave best for soccer?
[censored] Portland.

Got it.

Our focus should remain the same clear, direct request we've had since the outset of the stadium plans.

Any new stadium should be a true multi-purpose stadium:

Fifa regulation full sized pitch, with grass.

Read: [censored] Portland.

I know where RT lives...in case you can't make it and want to drop by his house and let him know.

@BQ, why is Linden Avenue the best location? I find that area a jumpled mess from an infastructure standpoint. Where am I going to park my car? You have to remember, I don't believe in taking a bus or a trolley.

Soccer Boy- the over 20,000 parking spots within one mile should do the trick.

he doesnt walk either.

http://m.startribune.com/news/?id=137938123&c=y

Dayton says it's the Dome site or LA.

BQ, do you have some insight into why that's suboptimal? Or is it just that brand new construction has a better shot at accommodating a full-size grass pitch?

I'll do my best to get there.

I haven't kept up on agrostology but the only indoor stadiums I can think of that have grass fields are in Arizona and in Japan and both of those have retractable fields. Can stadiums with(or without) retractable roofs have natural grass fields without having retractable fields?

It's the best location because it will teach you how to use public transportation.

I believe one study showed that location having the most benefit to the downtown businesses just as Target field has. It's very urban and close to uptown which is an area that holds a large number of your target market for MLS. Being close the other Target Center, Target Field, the North End Loop and the Warehouse district doesn't hurt either. Plenty of parking and of course as mentioned, public transportation which will indeed be important to that target market.

I have talked with a few people who are keeping an eye on this situation from a soccer/MLS perspective and it seems this is their location of choice with the Metrodome being the 2nd choice and the Arden Hills location their last choice.

I have talked with anyone that has a rational sense of understanding and they all agree that both downtown locations are better than Arden Hills.

I talked to a guy walking briskly away from me about it and he didn't seem to have an opinion.
"DON'T YOU F*CKING CARE?" I asked and he began to run.
So, I don't know who BQ and superrookie are talking too, but they seem to be "in" with people.

I talked with someone and they had something important to say, and I am going to point out that I knew about it before any of you. So, there!

seems like you did mostly everything right wes. next time, try asking someone walking towards you. just an idea.

RYBAK! RYBAK! DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!

"Within one mile." I don't like taking public transportation and I don't like walking one mile to get to the game. It might be fun walking a mile when you are going to Wrigley Field, but not a football game when it is -10. The Arden Hills site would have over 20,000 parking spots within 100 yards of the front gates, with tailgating, and all the other stuff that makes sporting events fun.

Like anything, Dayton is being a complete moron and can't provide leadership when it counts. Somehow I think Rybak has some dirt on the guy and is using this as blackmail.

I suppose you won't be happy until the stadium is within two steps of your front door... well, except that you won't be happy that a stadium is in your neighborhood.

SB I assume your house is somewhere within the "Shoppes at Arbor Lakes" complex because I have no idea how you've survived thus far otherwise.

Also what the hell does 19th century US expansionism have to do with the Stars?

Here's some general info on the subject:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080103174423AAA8eiY

http://www.iavm.org/facility_manager/pages/2006_Dec_Jan/Feature_3.htm

http://www.usu.edu/cpl/research_turf.htm

Miller Stadium (baseball) here in Milwaukee has a retractable roof and natural grass:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_Park_(Milwaukee)

http://onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/millerparkgrass.html

Here's some more info on such stadiums:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Stadium#Pitch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veltins-Arena

http://www.westcoastturf.com/pdfs/tr0901.pdf

http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/artic...mes-1710386.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nxer1Iiq-A

Finally, a bit about flooring to protect natural turf in stadiums:

http://www.stadiumflooring.com/natural-turf-protection.php

"Nice warm-up for my combine research," thinks

That little old jersey collector

Me.

"...the ball has broken 50/50 for Kevin Keegan." - David Coleman, BBC Sports

Good thing you've got season tickets to your living room, then.

I would actually have a preference for redeveloping the Dome site. My second pick would be Arden Hills. I thank God every day that the owner of Metro Gun Club refused to sell to Zigi and threatened to sue if they tried to used eminent domain to take his land.

Quite frankly, the Linden Ave site is stupid, stupid, stupid. Maybe that is why Dayton supports its.

For your information coldfuse, I have lived in Washington DC just off of Capitol Hill and was never once concerned for my safety.

You guys sound about as organized around one common point as a republican debate.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/138015128.html
Well, according to the internet machine news place, Dayton supports the Metrodome, so I'm sure you'll feel satisfied about being on his side.
More importantly, no one really wants a rehash of who thinks what site works and no one really cares about anyone else's politics on this board. This thread was started to figure out who wanted to attend an event with Rybak at it and try to push for soccer to be part of the discussion.
The attempted politics baiting that goes on is really freakin' boring and extremely not-clever.

Baiting? Whatever...

excellent
thanks for all the info uhclem
definitely gonna go through it all
I've actually been to Miller Park and completely forgot about it.

hey, i can't make it to this on thursday.

but for those of you who do try to catch the mayor's ear, don't forget to mention a FULL SIZE, FIFA REGULATION GRASS PITCH.

having an MLS team in mpls might not get the mayor feeling all warm and tingly, but hosting world cup games might.

not to mention usmnt games and international club friendlies.

This times 1000.

Also seconding Wes's comment: Let's cut partisan debate out of our discussion. It's divisive and irrelevant.

I had some [censored] happen, can't make it tonight. Sorry.

I too, got tied up with a pre-funeral dinner. I'd rather be drinking with Rybak or doing a thousand other things.

Is anyone going? If no ones going I can try to reshuffle.

I am not

I will be there. It's just down the block and I think I have this exam stuff all covered. I promise to get absolutely blasted and yell at Rybak.

I'll still try to make it there, work is just crazy this week.

Otherwise, I'll be all alone, Pfutz and I'll need backup if I'm going to yell and fight tonight. Academicals have to stick together.

don't even mention mls.
specifically talk about the need for A FULL SIZE FIFA REGULATION PITCH!!!!!
rt would love to say he brought the world cup to minneapolis.

Dude, since you're not coming, I am going to talk about whatever the hell I want. That includes, but is not limited too:
Why are those rascally kids down the block so damned loud!?
Why is that garbage truck so damned loud!?
Why does Jim Reusse have a job!?
Who does your hair!?
WHY WON'T ZYGI GIVE US MLS!?

I know you're just joking... Kinda?

Make sure you wear your - I'm A Drunk English Football Hooligan hoodie Wes, and leave the Minnesota Stars FC shirt at home.

Operation Glad-Hand was a success.
I shook RT's amazingly smooth hand before and after. I waited until the conversation had moved from the more intense parts (you don't want to follow a woman who went through foreclosure with a "when do we get MLS!?!?" question) and then I struck. I said, Zygi has spoken in the past about bringing MLS to Minnesota or even using this stadium for WC games, but we heard this for TCF...blahblah, what can you tell me about this? Plus I threw in something about how, while I think bringing a team would be great and it would bring 18 games from the league with the 3rd highest attendance... blahblah, why wouldn't we want a staiudm that can be used for more than just football?
His response was great. 1. He really wants an MLS team 2. Just yesterday there was discussion with Zygi about soccer 3. He knew that TCF couldn't be used for WC (which I guess I assumed he wouldn't know) 4. I told him about the Stars home opener and he wants to come.
I had one before, but now it's confirmed: I have such a huge man-crush on that dude.

Thanks for speaking up Wes. I was working tonight but it's great that you sent the message for both us and the soccer community. Next time he does something like this I will certainly be there, as more of us should be.

RT Rybak is a good guy, I think he can be sold on making soccer a priority here, and I think we can help that along.

Thanks again.

Gold star, Wes. Thanks for doing the democracy bit for us.

Dittos! Thanks very much for doing this. Good work. And I agree pfutz, he is a good guy and I totally think he could be sold on soccer, NASL or MLS, in Mpls. and he would be a fan.

BTW, I know this is crying over spilt milk, but here is a very good commentary on why the Lindan Ave. site would have been GREAT!

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/138084753.html

Nice job Wes, thanks for being an ambassador for jackassery!

(I mean that in all seriousness, thanks)

If RT and Zigi supported soccer, you would think they would come to a match or two. I have never seen either of the at a Thunder/Stars match. Also, remember RT is a politican. He cannot be trusted!

I made it over for the second half of the talk, so I got to see Wes in action. My favorite part went like this:

RT (to Wes): You're a very smart person. [...]
Wes: The Stars are playing their season opener at the Dome. You should come.
RT: Yes, I know. I want to go.
Wes: You will go.

Wes and I came up with a plan afterward. We are going to send RT four tickets to the opener along with a DC scarf. I talked to Djorn and he is giving us some tickets for the cause. We're going to send a pair of tickets to all the other people Soccer Boy hates too. We'll send them on behalf of the supporters club.

Well now That might take a lot of tickets Andy.

Really? You must never come over on the east stands, they're both there every time.

EVERYONE ON THE BOARD GETS FREE TICKETS.

I was really happy with the conversation with RT. By the way, I think his approach to selling the idea of the stadium is a fantastic work of politicking. I haven't seen it written about in the papers yet (though I tend to avoid articles about the stadium). I don't feel like writing it out here, but essentially he's trying to package it as part of a larger shift of dropping property taxes and extending the hospitality tax.

That said, I think this is a great opportunity to find all sorts of ways to simultaneously promote the MLS4MN idea with the Stars. That means targeting people like Rybak and engaging them as fans and voters. That also means returning to the idea of other people like Mark Wheat (I don't care if you think he's a flake...). None of them is going to be a silver bullet, but this should be one of the ways we try to promote both causes.

The people I hate:

1. Michelle Bachmann
2. Rush Limbaugh
3. George W. Bush
4. Dick Cheney
5. Newt Gingrich
6. Mitt Romney
7. Antonin Scalia
8. Clearence Thomas
9. Tim Pawlenty
10. Myself

I also hate JW7. He abandon me with a group of rather annoying soccer people and i aint talking about the DCs.

Just out of political curiosity, where do Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and Ronald Regan rank?

I had your daughter lined up with a better team but you chose to say at 100 year club... Not my fault.

No more politics. Not even jokey politics, because all of a sudden someone will make a joke about Reagan and then the internet will explode.

List of people who aren't funny:

1. Take a guess.

There's a reason that I stopped visiting BigSoccer, and this thread is spot on that target, PLEASE, let's just enjoy the game we love, with friends in futbol, who may or may not share any other of our points of view.

Take it elsewhere, and Dan, please just purge this topic as it has certainly expired and perspired to a rank state.

So much for free speech. The thread started with jokes and that should allow for more jackassery. What got up your shorts this morning?

#OccupyFreeSpeech. This takes jackassery to a new level. Bring out the censors. [censored] the First Amendment. Some people need to get a life and a sense of humor!

Wes, seriouly get your head out of your butt. The topic here revolves aroind a stadium. A political issue with politicians involved.

What are the sub issues: how to pay for it. You options are:

1. Cut a government program to fun a stadium.
2. Raises taxes.
3. Raciono/ gambling.

Who are the actors- mostly politicans:

1. Rybak. Democrat myor of Minneapolis. Very liberal and never really amoiunted to much as far as achievements are concerned.
2. Tony Bennett. I know Tony well. Tony was the US Marshall under George HW Bush and lonstanding Republican Ramsey County Commisssioner. Tony's claim to fame is getting paid as much as he can and do as little as possible. He really should not have to do all that much becuase he has long accepted he is a political hack and has no accomplishments to show for being in office for a long time. Hey, he makes a great salary and works about 10 hours per week. Life is good.

3. Mark Dayton. Voted the worst US Senator and spend his share of the family fortune running for office. He basically was asked to leave the US Senate after making as ass out of himself and outspent Tom Emmer to win the governors office by 2000 votes. Not bad when you are running against ans idiot like Tom Emmer

4. The House Republicans. They never say a tax increase they liked and 3/4 of them dont like their Republican colleauges in the state Senate.

5. The Senate Republicans. This group is hopeless. Their former leader was a great campaigner but was doing the wild thing with one of the biggest pricks in GOP state hisotry. She leaves in disgrace and noe the State Senate is runnig around like chickens with their heads cut off.

6. Zigi. He is the local pimp. Hes got his mind on his money and his money on his mind. He knows what he wants and he will get it or he is out of hear.

Wes, i know you are young and wet behind the ears, but I really tried to dumb this down for you. Good for you; you scored two tickets to a soccer match for a millioniare-yeah that is RT. He is a millionaire. Not realy the 1%, but the guy has money. So what, RT shows up for the first 15 monutes of the Stars. Answers som auestions at half time and is gone before the Stars take the pitch in the second half. (For the record, I doubt he shows.)

Okay, so pat you self on the back buddy, but this issue... Really is abpolitical one. Now take your hash-tags you have posted in the past (which are political) and be a little more consistent. Oh, sorry for hijacking yur little post. O guess I will ask for permission next time I want to comment. I amazes me how tolerant you are when someone offers a differing viewpoint, or do you only beleive in conformity.

I sadly cant force my kids to do eeruthig I want. Trust me, I am fristerated. #OccupyYouthSoccer

This thread was started to A) inform people about what news we heard of the stadium people talking about soccer B) think of other ways to get people like Rybak out to the game because B2) that would probably be a good thing.
I think bringing politics into this is a bad idea and I think the above responses show why. I have never talked about my politics on this board because I am sure no one cares about what I think. I save my commentary for fart jokes and rarely stray from my niche.

No room for jokes around here.

Wes sets the rules and the double standards on this boards...I guess.

Someone close this thread before the echo chamber of JW7 and Soccer Boy reaches critical mass, implodes, and sucks us all into a bizzaro dimension where their caricature-like online personalities are something more than just a surging torrent of garbage posts and spelling errors that exist only on the internet like the legendary goatse or storied "2 girls 1 cup"

That's "Soccer Boy" you moron, not "Soccerboy."

"caricature-like online personalities" -wanta be

Hey there is another attempt at humor.

That's jw7 perfect one.

Done !