James Burrill Angell

June 16th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^

With all the youth soccer leagues plus the large Greek population in metro D it will be an interesting test of the local market for soccer. Have to wonder if the new owners of the Silverdome are thinking of an MLS expansion team and testing the waters by playing games like this.

Bryan

June 16th, 2010 at 9:40 AM ^

Soccer is big and all, but they won't sell more than 65k seats that Ford Field has, and the Lions do not play there for a few more weeks...

Raback Omaba

June 16th, 2010 at 9:47 AM ^

of the Silverdome is a Greek guy from Toronto and is a huge soccer fan. He purchased the Silverdome with the intent of bringing soccer to the D and is contractually obligated to hold events at the stadium.

 

Count me as a skeptic at this point until I see how AC Milan/Panathinaikos benefit from playing in Pontiac as opposed to the Meadowlands, Soldier Field etc.

 

It would be cool if it happens though.

MGoJen

June 16th, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^

I just bought two tickets for my grandpa and brother in section 101, row 16.  With all of the fees they cost me $307.50. 

While that price makes my stomach hurt, my grandpa loves nothing in the world more than soccer and this will be an epic (late) Father's Day gift!

MGoJen

June 16th, 2010 at 10:20 AM ^

My dad died when I was 8 so my grandpa has pretty much been my father figure.  I think I posted this in a different thread, but my grandparents are from the former Yugoslavia and he played soccer for many years.  He was scouted by Red Star Belgrade in the 50s but had to turn that down to work on the family farm.  He's super active and thank God is in awesome health (he beat cancer!) but when he's not doing home improvement/lawn/gardening stuff he's watching one of his like 10 international soccer channels, haha. 

He will freak out when he finds out about this game, I can't wait! <3

samsoccer7

June 16th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^

I picked up 2 tickets to this game late last night.  I bought them in the upper bowl, section 321 I think, but first row and very close to mid-field.  They were $45 each after surcharges.  I thought this was a good deal compared to the $125-$150 seats at midfield in the lower bowl.

bronxblue

June 16th, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^

As an honest question, what type of field will they use at the Silverdome.  Last time I was there (and this is about a decade), they still had that Astroturf-type hybrid carpet, which probably works for football but may not for soccer.  Will they/have they installed some synthetic grass like other stadiums? 

MGoShoe

June 16th, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^

...from the DetNews article:

The playing surface on which the match will be played no longer is a big concern. In 1994 the price to import natural grass to the Silverdome was more than $1 million. Faulkner said it'll cost less than $100,000 this time.

"It's not as complex as it was in 1994 when we shipped grass in from California," Faulkner said. "There's experience with grass fields being laid and being there three or four days."

 

samsoccer7

August 2nd, 2010 at 5:55 PM ^

Hey fellow mgobloggers, I can't make it to this game this Friday night.  My tickets are section 321, first row, mid-field.  I'll sell them at face value.  Please inquire, I think they are $95 total all in.

Brodie

August 2nd, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^

Honestly, they only need to pull 25,000 people at those prices to make a profit (according to Newsweek)and that would be enough to demonstrate adequate MLS interest, too.