OT: AC Milan to play Panathinaikos at the Silverdome
I'm sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I just got an e-mail from my brother that AC Milan is set to take on Panathinaikos at the Pontiac Silverdome on August 6th.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSale?action=switchSeatSelectionMethod&selection_method=byPriceLevel
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.
"Apostolopoulos also said preliminary discussions for bringing an MLS team for Metro Detroit are underway."
From The Detroit News:
if they're looking to make their bid as one of the host cities if the US chases the next bid on a World Cup.
Detroit is not one of the final cities on the US bid for 2018/2022
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...
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.
They probably benefit......financially. And I'm sure that's all they care about.
I think I might actually have to buy tickets to this game.
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!
...you have proven yourself to be a wonderful granddaughter and sister. But we already knew that after you went out of your way for your brother's birthday gift.
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
... it's great when a present can truly be a gift.
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.
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?
...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."
See, that's what happens when you don't read the article.
...you get me to read it for you. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
that they are bringing in grass.
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.