Some thoughts on the Riverhounds
My comments are behind the cut:
http://www.riverhounds.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1163709751
Washington, PA - The Riverhounds FC, professional soccer team, announced Thursday they will not play competitive soccer during the 2007 season.
“We need to accomplish a number of things during the year,” said John Swiatek, president and managing partner of the organization. “We will take advantage of this time to secure a presenting sponsor for the team and to develop more support from the community.”
The Riverhounds moved to Falconi Field in December of 2004 when Sports Facility, LLC, acquired the team. The team played at the field for two years, even adding turf for a special exhibition match against Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew during August.
“The Riverhounds FC has been a very professional and successful organization these past two seasons,” said Steven Thompson, Director of Professional League Operations for the United Soccer Leagues. “We are committed to working with this group to make sure that their reorganization project makes progress and we hope to see their return really make professional soccer more viable in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania.”
“We believe in soccer, and we want to see it succeed in the tri-state area,” added Swiatek. “At this point, however, we need time to reorganize. By adding our own formula of affordable family fun, we have been able to grow attendance and revenues for the club, but not yet to a point where the Hounds can be self-sustaining.”
The Riverhounds’ coaching and development staff will remain intact, offering youth training and tournaments. “We will keep head coach Gene Klein and youth development director Csaba Feher on board as we move through the next year,” said Swiatek. “We haven’t given up on the project, and these two key members of the organization will be helpful as we continue to grow the youth development arm of our business.”
The HOUNDS® hired Gene Klein as the head coach for the 2006 season. Under Klein the team advanced to post-season play.
“The Riverhounds have offered young players the opportunity to see professional soccer as well as allowing them to aspire to becoming a pro player,” added Tim McCoy of PA West Soccer. “I’m glad they’re going to continue their involvement in the soccer community with their youth development programs. We genuinely enjoy working with their staff, and we know they’ll continue to offer a quality product.”
The Riverhounds offer youth camps and tournaments throughout the year for area youngsters. Players and coaches work with young soccer players on their skills at the Iceoplex at Southpointe and the Vernon Neal Youth Complex, located near Washington Park, as well as a number of other area venues.
“Our goal is to see the Riverhounds back on the field in 2008,” said Swiatek. “My partners and I are committed to soccer; we will explore all options and strategic alternatives necessary. In the meantime, we will continue with our youth development, and we will look at ways to enhance the support of professional soccer in the area.”
Season ticket holders were advised of the change in operations Wednesday
OK, I'll admit that I've not attended a soccer game in a while. Or have been visiting the site or keeping up with any Soccer related news in a long time. The reason is simple really. I didn't care anymore.
I have been back in Pittsburgh since 1999, they have been a constant in my life since that time and I have been associated with the team in one form or another since then. I volunteered for them, wrote match reports for www.a-league.com (which later became www.uslfans.com) as well as for other sites. I promoted the team and really felt that they liked the efforts fans like me put into promoting the sport.
Then they started to slide, this was due to the owner at the time having some medical issues and the economy but the Hounds were moving forward for the most part. But the team owners decided to sell them to the same group that owns the Washington Wild Things baseball club.
I heard the death knell nearly 3 years ago. The two sports just don't mix. The fans are different, the marketing is different. Everything frankly, is different.
Every USL team that has been bought by a baseball team to my knowledge has folded within 2 years. Why would the Hounds be different.
Well I hate to tell you so, but I told you so.
What really bothers me is that if the Hounds ownership couldn't keep a soccer guy like me interested in the team then how could they look to attract new fans? Answer they couldn't.
So am I sad to see the Hounds go? Yes, yes I am. Do I expect to see another pro team anytime soon? Honesty I don't know how to answer that.
Soccer is the sport of the future, we all agree on that. Baseball is dead and even football is showing some cracks (more kids are playing soccer than both sports combined right now is some areas).
I guess it depends on how they want to market it. If they market it to the children (the scourge of soccer marketing it seems) then no, I can not support it. Soccer is not a sport for the weak, the players have to be strong - you try running for 90 minutes almost constantly while getting banged into and kicked and elbowed. Generally speaking the guys are sexy too, and if I was in marketing I would pull out the old Rod Stewart chesnut "Hot Legs" ( http://www.google.com/musics?lid=efmtbkqBYf&aid=qDW_B8lxQmD&sid=tK5hDV1lz6O&sa=X&oi=music&ct=result) and shoot several TV ads with young ladies in mind!
I guess I have no one but me to blame really. I didn't support them as much as I possibly could have towards the end. And I will be sad to see them go so that being said. Thanks guys. It's been a good ride.
http://www.riverhounds.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1163709751
Washington, PA - The Riverhounds FC, professional soccer team, announced Thursday they will not play competitive soccer during the 2007 season.
“We need to accomplish a number of things during the year,” said John Swiatek, president and managing partner of the organization. “We will take advantage of this time to secure a presenting sponsor for the team and to develop more support from the community.”
The Riverhounds moved to Falconi Field in December of 2004 when Sports Facility, LLC, acquired the team. The team played at the field for two years, even adding turf for a special exhibition match against Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew during August.
“The Riverhounds FC has been a very professional and successful organization these past two seasons,” said Steven Thompson, Director of Professional League Operations for the United Soccer Leagues. “We are committed to working with this group to make sure that their reorganization project makes progress and we hope to see their return really make professional soccer more viable in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania.”
“We believe in soccer, and we want to see it succeed in the tri-state area,” added Swiatek. “At this point, however, we need time to reorganize. By adding our own formula of affordable family fun, we have been able to grow attendance and revenues for the club, but not yet to a point where the Hounds can be self-sustaining.”
The Riverhounds’ coaching and development staff will remain intact, offering youth training and tournaments. “We will keep head coach Gene Klein and youth development director Csaba Feher on board as we move through the next year,” said Swiatek. “We haven’t given up on the project, and these two key members of the organization will be helpful as we continue to grow the youth development arm of our business.”
The HOUNDS® hired Gene Klein as the head coach for the 2006 season. Under Klein the team advanced to post-season play.
“The Riverhounds have offered young players the opportunity to see professional soccer as well as allowing them to aspire to becoming a pro player,” added Tim McCoy of PA West Soccer. “I’m glad they’re going to continue their involvement in the soccer community with their youth development programs. We genuinely enjoy working with their staff, and we know they’ll continue to offer a quality product.”
The Riverhounds offer youth camps and tournaments throughout the year for area youngsters. Players and coaches work with young soccer players on their skills at the Iceoplex at Southpointe and the Vernon Neal Youth Complex, located near Washington Park, as well as a number of other area venues.
“Our goal is to see the Riverhounds back on the field in 2008,” said Swiatek. “My partners and I are committed to soccer; we will explore all options and strategic alternatives necessary. In the meantime, we will continue with our youth development, and we will look at ways to enhance the support of professional soccer in the area.”
Season ticket holders were advised of the change in operations Wednesday
OK, I'll admit that I've not attended a soccer game in a while. Or have been visiting the site or keeping up with any Soccer related news in a long time. The reason is simple really. I didn't care anymore.
I have been back in Pittsburgh since 1999, they have been a constant in my life since that time and I have been associated with the team in one form or another since then. I volunteered for them, wrote match reports for www.a-league.com (which later became www.uslfans.com) as well as for other sites. I promoted the team and really felt that they liked the efforts fans like me put into promoting the sport.
Then they started to slide, this was due to the owner at the time having some medical issues and the economy but the Hounds were moving forward for the most part. But the team owners decided to sell them to the same group that owns the Washington Wild Things baseball club.
I heard the death knell nearly 3 years ago. The two sports just don't mix. The fans are different, the marketing is different. Everything frankly, is different.
Every USL team that has been bought by a baseball team to my knowledge has folded within 2 years. Why would the Hounds be different.
Well I hate to tell you so, but I told you so.
What really bothers me is that if the Hounds ownership couldn't keep a soccer guy like me interested in the team then how could they look to attract new fans? Answer they couldn't.
So am I sad to see the Hounds go? Yes, yes I am. Do I expect to see another pro team anytime soon? Honesty I don't know how to answer that.
Soccer is the sport of the future, we all agree on that. Baseball is dead and even football is showing some cracks (more kids are playing soccer than both sports combined right now is some areas).
I guess it depends on how they want to market it. If they market it to the children (the scourge of soccer marketing it seems) then no, I can not support it. Soccer is not a sport for the weak, the players have to be strong - you try running for 90 minutes almost constantly while getting banged into and kicked and elbowed. Generally speaking the guys are sexy too, and if I was in marketing I would pull out the old Rod Stewart chesnut "Hot Legs" ( http://www.google.com/musics?lid=efmtbkqBYf&aid=qDW_B8lxQmD&sid=tK5hDV1lz6O&sa=X&oi=music&ct=result) and shoot several TV ads with young ladies in mind!
I guess I have no one but me to blame really. I didn't support them as much as I possibly could have towards the end. And I will be sad to see them go so that being said. Thanks guys. It's been a good ride.