Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis is on the air tonite at 9:30 pm on Channel 55. Guests include BRIAN CHING, DOMINIC KINNEAR and former DYNAMO ALEJANDRO MORENO now with the COLUMBUS CREW. Lots of playoff talk, highlights and we hear from you the fan. Don’t miss it.
As if anyone expected NE to pull anything off against Chicago tonite at Toyota Park.
Lets face it, between injuries and dealing with the additional games due to international competition it has been a tough second half of the year for NE. They are always hard to count out when managed by STEVE NICOL and PAUL MARINER but it came down to one thing. Their eleven players were just not good enough, just not experienced enough. Goals from CHRIS ROLFE, WILMAN CONDE and GONZALO SEGARES sealed the deal. CHICAGO will take on the winner of COLUMBUS AND KC a game that you can see on HDNET.
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Something for the record here. As I flew back from Kansas City this past weekend I sat in the plane wondering, baffled and somewhat outraged as to why the stadium issue has dragged on so pathetically. What is the hold-up of our elected officials. It is what prompted me to write my column in the Chronicle this past weekend but also to question why this amazing opportunity just might slip through the hands of Houston.
It also led me to pursue interviews with key players in this . County Commissioners, elected officials SYLVIA GARCIA and EL FRANCO LEE should be questioned and ask to do their civic duty and speak on an issue that effects many. An issue that goes beyond the soccer community , an issue that is “opportunity” for Houston to develop, benefit economically, bring dollars to the city as well as the national and international spotlight. It’s an opportunity to continue to develop and grow downtown, grow property values and create jobs. And these are only a few of the benefits.
Sylvia Garcia has campaigned in the past on developing downtown. Finally to her credit Garcia agreed to an interview which quite frankly I was shocked to realize that this Hispanic leader whom so many follow…well really seems to be out of touch with the love that Hispanic fans have for soccer. What this sport means and could possibly mean in the long term to this city.
Not to mention what the amazing support from fans from Mexico, Central American and beyond have done to create an amazing sports environment. Could she be this out of touch on this issue?
Commissioner Garcia seemed to not want to take any responsibility for much of anything by putting it back on the city or County Commissioner El Franco Lee. She suggests putting the issue to a vote by spending huge dollars on a brochure and city-wide campaign. Just another way of saying that she is not behind this.
Remember we are talking about 10 million dollars here not the 200 million that it took for Toyota Center…..Not to mention that the risk is being assumed in the majority by AEG whom intend to put in the neighborhood of 70 million dollars into a 100 million dollar stadium.
Ms. Garcia should say yes or no so that this franchise fairly can plot it’s future. Like I have said many times before…the only thing worse than a no, is a slow no!
The same carries for Commissioner El Franco Lee…. Sir step up to the plate. I know you can remain in your job till eternity but certainly you and Ms. Garcia do not want to have the legacy of losing an amazing professional sports asset in this town on your head. Answer your constituents by doing your job and speaking out on this issue.
It seems that both Garcia and Franco have not really convened and discussed this issue much, or lets just say that is what I took out of the interview with Garcia.
Many civic groups in both of these areas are supportive of new development in the area (East End Chamber of Commerce, East End Management, East Downtown Management District, Hispanic Chamber, Empresarios Latinos) and why wouldn’t they be? But for some reason both Ms. Garcia and Mr. Lee have not seemed to want to pay attention and are filibustering…….I chose to try and bring the issue back to the forefront because of “politics” that are being played and this continual “blow off” that seems to be occurring on an issue that encompasses more than just the soccer culture and the Dynamo and more than just “soccer fans”. Of course I want the stadium because I am involved with soccer and want the sport to grow in a city that is “The Gateway” to Mexico, Central America and South America but I am not naive to think that this is just a Dynamo/Soccer issue, this is an issue that regards the city of HOUSTON. Many would probably like it to remain only a “soccer” issue.
This has to do with growing our city also both nationally and internationally.
A mid- level size multi- purpose stadium with the Dynamo in it will be a HUGE asset for this city that will be capable of holding concerts, high school football, college football (TSU will get a sweetheart deal)…..TSU is the school that both SYLVIA GARCIA and EL FRANCO LEE graduated from.
This issue has been on the table since July2 (see prior blog for official letter).
I have also phoned El FRANCO LEE’s office 7 times to ask him on the radio show and have been told they have my number and they would get back to me. Finally prior to the show this past Wednesday I asked for a yes or no and couldn’t get that. I will hopefully get him on the radio next Wednesday night. By the way, he does not have an email while most all the other City and County workers do. I say workers because they work for constituents.
This is an important issue and should be at the forefront and others in the city and county need to start doing their duty and homework on the oportunity that stands before them and not just follow Sylvia Garcia’s lead because quite frankly she does not seem to have a good handle on this and it’s impact. As a leader she has lots of consituents that trust her judgement. Many that trust her judgment are passionate followers of soccer and attend soccer matches and Dynamo games.
Seven applications from diverse, deep pocket ownership has been accepted by MLS . These groups are fighting for two expansion slots. Rest assured they are looking at weak links or teams struggling to get stadium deals done in hopes of buying a franchise. Arthur Blank the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and BARCELONA of Spain are two that want in.
The suburbs is fine and dandy for a Dynamo Stadium but you will lose alot. There is no telling what AEG wants and quite frankly if that is where it ends up it is a letdown and a missed opportunity and it can be the legacy that political leaders leave. And believe me many will not forget.
Houston this is coming to a head and as constituents and tax payers of this city you deserve an answer from elected officials. Not double talk.
Contacts: Sylvia_Garcia@pct2.co.harris.tx.us Phone: 713-755-6220
El Franco Lee Phone: 713-755-6111
*Interesting note out of COLORADO…seems GARY SMITH will be retained as the head coach. How do we know this because the Rochester Rhinos Steve Guppy who played prior at DC let the cat out of the bag in Rochester saying he was moving on to be an assistant coach to Smith in Colorado. Guppy had been hanging around Rapids training.
Another PR disaster.
*Word has Greg Berthalter coming back to MLS but what will the league pay for a 35 year old defender and who would be interested? I have always been fond of a veteran/young player combo in central defense. A “guider”, “teacher” and the wise learner.
*HERCULEZ GOMEZ will miss the KC/COLUMBUS match this weekend after recieving a red card in the last match. Ohio State midfielder Roger Espinoza could come off the bench as he has played this year, veteran Kerry Zavagnin also could be employed central with Davey Arnaud going wide in midfield though Arnaud and Jack Jewsbury have been working will central.
*Word has meager playoff ticket sales in Columbus of only 6000 so far for Saturday’s playoff match against KC…Come on CREW fans, you have to get UP for this!!!
*Dynamo are well over 23,000 tickets out for this weekends match against NY and will easily be the highest attended MLS match of the weekend. Take notice County Commissioners. In fact I invited both Sylvia Garcia and EL Franco Lee to the game this weekend. Be prepared for football lines at the “ROB” as UH takes on Tulane the day prior.
The Dynamo will want to soften up the field with it being rolled and watered prior to Sunday at 2pm.
If the DYNAMO get past NEW YORK then again the following Sunday they will host the WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL and again the day prior UH has football scheduled. Can’t control scheduling, concessions, parking, merchandising etc. without your own stadium.
* Back to NE, are the Revs really trying to secure a stadium or is it just a smoke-screen. I sure hope they are but with only 3000 people at their playoff match in Foxboro and not the best of general attendance one has to wonder if the KRAFT FAMILY is just enjoying playing in Gillette rent free. If that is the case then this is TRULY NOT GROWING THE SPORT OF SOCCER. Sunil Gulati is on the payroll and maybe we should ask him what is going on.
*I was about to direct a neighbor of mine who is a huge EPL fan to watch last weeks MLS PRIME TIME THURSDAY match in NE but decided against it because I knew the attendance would be poor in NE with the football lines. Didn’t want him to get a bad impression. He will attend an MLS Dynamo playoff match instead. First impressions mean alot.
Danish Inspirations
Fiesta Mart
Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute
Nuesion.com
SportTalk 790
Zukowski, Bresenhan & Sinex, L.L.P.
So what do you suggest the fans do? Write letters (since El Franco Lee doesn’t have email)?
A march to El Franco Lee’s office may be more of an attention getter.
Glenn, thank you for accelerating the stadium issue this week and pushing to get action and/or answers.
I am encouraged however that the Dynamo have at least acknowledged that it is not “DOWNTOWN OR BUST” on the stadium issue. We do need to keep our options open if this deal just cannot get done for whatever reason. Downtown is the best location but it might just not be feasible for whatever reason.
I have a feeling that all of the referendum and other public vote talk is a way for the commissioners to get cover for not doing the deal or deferring the issue until it goes away. I hope it is not some crazy TSU power play to try and get a diproportionate share of the stadium revenues.
I am not a big supporter of public monies going to stadiums in large doses but what the County and City get for a relatively minimal investment is just mind-boggling on this one, especially since the County is getting TIRZ revenue and not coming out of general fund revenues!
Lastly, I’ve kind of thought that it would be a nice story for Columbus to show success as a smaller market team that has struggled in recent years but if they can only generate 6,000 in advance sales when they have a two-week window to sell tickets as Supporters Shield winners, I question what kind of market that has turned out to be. And Ohio State football is not at home!
Did anyone get to vote on using TIRZ money to contribute to the Houston Pavilions? I may be wrong and need to do more research on this, but I think in the neighborhood of $6 Million was spent on that project without a referendum being required. And just how does a Public Servant not have an email address in this day and age?
I think that there’s something going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about. I wonder if the Astros organization is paying off Garcia and Franco to reject the soccer downtown idea since they will be in direct competition!
Ok, looks like it was 5.5 Million from the County.
My favorite: “The BlackRock Realty Tower Fund is the principal financial partner of Houston Pavilions, LP and Houston Catalyst, LP is also an investment partner. Houston Pavilions, LP has lined up an $8.8 million development grant from the City of Houston and $5.5 million from Harris County as partial funding. The site of the development will be part of the Main Street/Market Square Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. In addition, the project secured $140 million in construction financing from North Houston Bank in October of 2006.
“We will transform this prime downtown location into a destination for Houstonians looking to experience innovative dining, retail and office opportunities,” Denton said. “Houston Pavilions will provide a shot in the arm to downtown convention booking, drawing groups from all over the world to downtown’s top-notch meeting facilities.”
Found at: http://www.houstonpavilions.com/releases/General%20Release.pdf
So it is fine to build a shopping center downtown with public money because people from all over the greater Houston area are going into downtown to shop? I kind of doubt that but what do I know.
How frustrating! Where is the leadership from the Dynamo on this? I applaud their commitment and the 70% they are willing to put towards the stadium. But, how hard would it be for them to host a grass roots effort on this? I’m sure that there are thousands like me that would fight tooth and nail for our team to get a home, including putting up a PSL fee to help get that final $10 Mil for the stadium. But, where do I fit that in? between work, four kids and their schooling and soccer training/games, my other community commitments, etc., I’m doing great just getting to the games and paying for my third year of season tickets (saving for my fourth season now!).
I say to H*ll with the County and those loser politicians (I’ll deal with them at the next election opportunity – I WILL NOT FORGET!). Let’s get the Dynamo to host one of the community activits in our ranks by supplying a website, email, printing material for game handouts, targeted marketing on the Chron or your radio show, recruitment of the TA and EB forces, etc. We can and should take this into our own hands and show the MLS that there is no better fan base than our Dynamo’s. The economy might keep me up at night but losing the Dynamo will give me nightmares! Where do I send my PSL money?
Thanks for your own leadership on this Glenn! I read some comments asking you to put this topic in the open and you’ve really stepped up to show your passion for the game and for Houston and the Dynamo. You’ve got my support and appreciation.
Go Dynamo!
WELL SAID, Glenn! Thank you!
Where is the Mayor’s Office statement on this? Where is Mr.Lee’s statement?? (along with email!?) We already have Ms. Garcia’s non-statement. I will assume that the Dynamo office is doing what it can pretty much behind the scenes on this but more news would be nice. The fans need to get moving….phone, write, petition…something, people! Sign petitions at the game???
See you all Sunday! Go Orange!
I am going to highlight two of the comments made by Glenn in this post and see if anyone else notices the paradox:
“A mid level size multi purpose stadium with the Dynamo in it will be a HUGE asset for this city that will be capable of holding concerts, high school football, college football (TSU will get a sweetheart deal)……”
“Can’t control scheduling, concessions, parking, merchandising etc. without your own stadium.”
How exactly can the organization control scheduling, concessions, parking, merchandising, etc. if they can’t even control who gets to play on the pitch ?
i think the main arguement should be look what the other stadiums have done for our city! we poured millions of dollars into reliant, toyota, and minute maid and that investment has more than paid off with a super bowl(no doubt another one coming) and two all star games. that alone brought back the money to the city that was intially invested.
the dynamo have one of the strongest fan bases in the MLS and they deserve a home of their own. and at ten million dollars, that money will be returned two years after the stadium is completed when it will without a doubt host a all star game and MLS Cup!!! not to mention we will get more international games to be played in houston!!
I emailed Sylvia, maybe she can
try to fit it into her busy schedule.
**********
Vote yes or vote no, but just
VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christoper,
Appreciate the comments
In order to get a stadium in downtown you have to prove that it is a stadium that reaches beyond the soccer community and can involve others.
It’s a nice dream to think the Dynamo and soccer should get it on their own merits . They should but that won’t work on this political landscape.
This is about getting a stadium deal done in dowtown and in order to build a dossier you have to involve all other groups and sports .
Hopefully the Dynamo can control their schedule as primary tenants.
First things first, lets get it done and it won’t get done without others.
Glenn
I drafted a letter and e-mailed it to the County leadership. I encourage all to do likewise. And pass on the links to your friends. NOTE: Mr. Lee’s executive assistant’s e-mail is all I have.
Ed Emmett: judge.emmett@cjo.hctx.net
El Franco Lee: Janet_Duran@cp1.hctx.net (exec. assistant’s email)
Sylvia Garcia: sylvia_garcia@pct2.co.harris.tx.us
Steve Radack: pct3@hctx.net
Jerry Eversole: Jerry. Eversole@hcp4.net
Glenn, How do you realistically expect the Dynamo control the games scheduled if the stadium is built with the understanding that it will also be used to host high school football [played on Friday nights], college football [played on Saturdays], and/or outdoor concert events ? Accepting them into the fold in an attempt to help cover costs merely makes you one of three or four interested parties holding events at the venue.
How many times have you railed against watching MLS games with football lines on the pitch, or complained about playing surfaces ? How would you feel about a Sunday afternoon Dynamo game [complete with football lines] after HISD tore up the pitch on Sat, followed by a college football game on Sunday ?
Christopher,
Remember AEG is putting up 70 million, I think it\’s safe to say that they will be more than just a tennant, but also the stadium\’s owner. They will get revenue from parking and concessions at all events, and, while they may have to give consideration to all these other events, they would have contraol over the scheduling of the events (like U of H does now).
Even a 100% owned AEG facility would be looking for events and tennants to maximize the profit potential, and would need to work them around the Dynamo schdule.
Kirk, then I’ll ask you the same question: ” How would you feel about a Sunday afternoon Dynamo game [complete with football lines] after HISD tore up the pitch on Sat, followed by a college football game on Sunday ?”
The Dynamo fan in this town has gone from having no team at all, to having one playing in a local college football stadium and winning two championships, from a team [hardly] lobbying for their own facility, to one clearly accepting a shared facility complete with lines and shoddy pitch. We had such high aspirations for a facililty, clearly one our won, to accepting a facility shared with multiple sports and multiple types of events (outdoor concerts ? Is there really a market for an outdoor concerts at a soccer stadium ) – why can’t we have our own pitch, carefully groomed and cared for 24/7/365 ? Why must we accept a ’shared’ concept ? Is Rio Tinto or the Home Depot Center or the NYRB facilty being shared with high schools and city colleges ?
glenn,
Is it not possible for AEG/other owners to get a company to invest in the stadium by giving them naming rights to the stadium etc? I don’t think it is unrealistic for a company to put 10 million to have there co. name for the stadium, but I have no clue if that would work or not. Just don’t see the city taking any action, hell I sent 25 e-mails the past 2 days to Mrs. Garcia and just got a reply from her assistant/secratary who reads her e-mails that she has gotten 25 e-mails from me the past 2 days and attached one e-mail (the other 24 were just ignored). This is your city government Houston!!!
Its seems pretty obvious that Ms. Garcia (or someone in power) now has other plans for the downtown TIRZ. Moreover, now that she and the county know the city has 15M to kick in, don’t be too surprised if an alternative development project pops up once the Dynamo pull out of the downtown stadium project.
You heard it here first.
Berhalter to the Galaxy. You heard it here first.
I think both Offebacher and Steve have hit the nail on the head. This is too good an opportunity for the city to pass up without some form of outside “influence”. Pushing the responsibility for it onto a vote when clearly TIRZ reinvestment money does NOT need voter approval is a political duck and cover game. Political office campaigns require donations which come from many well connected “influential” local people. Mayor White, El Franco, and Sylvia are selling the fans and people of this city out for personal political advantage. Thank you Glenn for getting them on record (or at least trying to). I do hope that we remember this when elction time comes around. In this age of the Bush debacles and sell outs, it is apparent that we have local Democrats who will screw the public for theirs and their “buddies” profits. If I am too harsh or wrong, prove me wrong Mayor, Sylvia, and El franco.
Glenn,
Having the stadium downtown would bring all of the benefits you’ve just described, but above all, we want to keep the team in Houston, and we have to be open-minded to having a stadium in the suburbs. It would not be as big a disappointment as some people think. Our city doesn’t have a true center anyway. It never has. We are the fourth largest city in the country with a multitude of hard-core soccer fans. There’s no reason why you couldn’t fill-up a 22,000 seat venue in Pearland or Sugarland as long as you offer an attractive product on the field. Empty stadiums in the suburbs are due to an organization’s failure to create a buzz around the team–not because of driving distance.
Christopher,
first of all – I’m not trying to be negative,wea all want a stadium and want the Dynamo to have the best home in MLS. How great is it that fans are so keyed up!!
Of course we would all like a soccer only stadium, but that’s not reality. I can’t speak to RSL’s plans for Rio Tinto, or NYRB but I can tell you that Columbus holds events other than MLS as does Chicago, and Home Depot does concerts (though I don’t think any host football). AEG is on record as wanting a multipurpose stadium, they already plan to build it to try to attract other revenue streams – it’s their 70 million-if that’s what they want to build then thats what they are going to get…wherever they build it. I don’t think Glenn was saying that the stadium WOULD host high school football, just that it could for a special event.
Regarding football lines..no I would absolutely hate seeing that, and I would not want to partner with TSU if that was going to have to be the case. But there are options. They bring in grass to play on in stadiums withoout natural turf. I think they did it in Reliant for the US Mexico game last year, and there was somewhere during the World cup – I’ll have to research that. I guess I just believe that as passionate as Houston is about Soccer and as savy as AEG is they will find a way to give the Dynamo an appropriate playing surface, and one we can be proud to have seen on National TV. But, Maybe I’m just a dreaming. Just keep my team here, and give them a home.