Whitecaps MLS news

[agrant]

So you guys buying tickets... is this just a first year commitment, because of the honeymoon effect, or are you thinking at all about seasons beyond?

[cc85]

this is a long-term commitment. some people think before they act.

[Overground]

I'll be going to as many games as possible for as long as there is a club and I'm living here.


Touching on shirt sponsors. It's not just European football leagues that have shirt sponsors. Every major league in the world from Japan, China, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, and every other league in between has shirt sponsors. Why shouldn't MLS?

Sponsors on shirts put much needed money into MLS clubs' coffers and helps pay for better players that can then assist in the club being successful and therefore attract more fans. It's a win win. The shirt sponsorships for some like TFC, LA, and what the Caps will pull in, are worth more than their operating income.

The NHL(Canucks, Calgary, Detroit, Chicago), NBA, and NFL have caught onto this "global" idea and now use them on practice shirts. They say it may not be too far off when you see their game shirts with sponsors on them. Remember when boards in hockey arenas didn't have ads on them? Well they do now and arenas also have sponsor names. I guess people forget that eh?! Instead, it's MLS is trying to copy Europe.

NBA Sacramento Kings owner said last year, “It’s a new economic climate now. Any time you can generate revenue in the right way, you should be able to do it. You have to. If we can find the right partner, why not?

[Locked In]

Electronic Arts announced a partnership with the Whitecaps today - from the Vancouver Sun article:

...
the Whitecaps are their first North American soccer club to partner up with the video game giant. ...

Whitecaps FC and BC Place Stadium will be included in FIFA Soccer 12, enabling fans to play with the Whitecaps MLS team in their new home before the stadium is actually complete. In addition, a limited number of FIFA Soccer 12 games will be available in B.C. in specially designed Whitecaps FC branding.

Source: Vancouver Sun

[SpikePhanta]

That is going to give the whitecaps and MLS HUGE HUGE advertising in Europe and abroad.
FIFa EA games are now the premier Football game on the planet (EA finally working on improving the game to be better than Pro Evo Soccer)
Many gamers gave EA a bad rep a few years ago but after the new CEO worked on improving the game qualities, EA has won gamers over.

[Nutterbug]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

That is going to give the whitecaps and MLS HUGE HUGE advertising in Europe and abroad.

Why would a European care for North American soccer any more than a Japanese would for Bulgarian sushi?

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

That is going to give the whitecaps and MLS HUGE HUGE advertising in Europe and abroad.
FIFa EA games are now the premier Football game on the planet (EA finally working on improving the game to be better than Pro Evo Soccer)
Many gamers gave EA a bad rep a few years ago but after the new CEO worked on improving the game qualities, EA has won gamers over.

MLS has been part of the EA FIFA games for at least a few years now. I think it may have started in '09. One of the TFC palyers was the main player of the North American cover of FIFA '09, BMO jersey and all.

[KPELLY]

It's kind of funny because this isn't the first time that the Whitecaps have been in a Fifa EA Sports game. I remember playing as the Whitecaps in Fifa 99 on N64. They had the USSF teams in it.

[canucks23]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Why would a European care for North American soccer any more than a Japanese would for Bulgarian sushi?

Because knowing that the Bulgarian sushi exists is better than thinking they didn't have any at all

I actually think thats really cool that they will be in the game. Who cares if Europeans don't need MLS, its exciting news regardless.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Why would a European care for North American soccer any more than a Japanese would for Bulgarian sushi?

FIFA is a hit with casual gamers, who wouldn't care about the continents that much and about the type of soccer (they aren't soccer snobs and not die hards.)

Originally Posted by KPELLY

It's kind of funny because this isn't the first time that the Whitecaps have been in a Fifa EA Sports game. I remember playing as the Whitecaps in Fifa 99 on N64. They had the USSF teams in it.

FIFA soccer games suckked in the 80's, this generation has seen FIFA gone from not to hot.

Originally Posted by vanlaw

MLS has been part of the EA FIFA games for at least a few years now. I think it may have started in '09. One of the TFC palyers was the main player of the North American cover of FIFA '09, BMO jersey and all.

I dont think so...
Edu I'm certain was on the North American cover for FIFA 09

[agrant]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

FIFA soccer games suckked in the 80's, this generation has seen FIFA gone from not to hot.

FIFA soccer games didn't exist in the 80's.

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

I dont think so...
Edu I'm certain was on the North American cover for FIFA 09

Actually, I think it is Ronaldinho, with a TFC Player, and another player (not Edu). Edu was so not in the limelight when 09 came out. So I doubt it. Easy enough to research. He's with Benfica, I believe. I'm pretty sure much of the hype that surrounded him back in 2004 has died down since then.

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

I dont think so...
Edu I'm certain was on the North American cover for FIFA 09

Yes, Edu in the TFC uniform.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by agrant

FIFA soccer games didn't exist in the 80's.

Actually, I think it is Ronaldinho, with a TFC Player, and another player (not Edu). Edu was so not in the limelight when 09 came out. So I doubt it. Easy enough to research. He's with Benfica, I believe. I'm pretty sure much of the hype that surrounded him back in 2004 has died down since then.

Typo, I was replying to someone mentioning the 90's so yeah, and plus FIFA games only started being the premier soccer game with 09.
Edu is playing for the rangers. And the other player is Guillermo Ochoa

Originally Posted by vanlaw

Yes, Edu in the TFC uniform.

Edu was in US uniform...

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

Typo, I was replying to someone mentioning the 90's so yeah, and plus FIFA games only started being the premier soccer game with 09.
Edu is playing for the rangers. And the other player is Guillermo Ochoa


Edu was in US uniform...

No, he was in a TFC uniform:

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/08/ea_...over_change-2/

http://sports.ign.com/articles/896/896597p1.html

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Why would a European care for North American soccer any more than a Japanese would for Bulgarian sushi?

They have Sushi in Bulgaria!!! I wanna try me some of that!

Knowing Japan, they'd actually be kind of curious, as they like to know what people think of Japan. Then, they would compare it with Japanese Sushi and determine the Japanese sushi is of much better quality... and only be tempted to try the Bulgarian sushi again if it was cheaper... which it would be.

Then they'd take the parts of the Bulgarian sushi and Japanize it and incorporate it as part of regular Japanese sushi menus... well, maybe.

[agrant]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

No, he was in a TFC uniform:

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/08/ea_...over_change-2/

http://sports.ign.com/articles/896/896597p1.html

Oh, that's Maurice Edu... I was thinking of the US kid...

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

No, he was in a TFC uniform:

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/08/ea_...over_change-2/

http://sports.ign.com/articles/896/896597p1.html

Read the article, Ea changed the covers because Edu signed for the Rangers
All retailers have the game with Edu wearing the USA jersey.

http://reviews.bestbuy.com/3545/9056...ws/reviews.htm
http://www.amazon.com/FIFA-Soccer-09.../dp/B001AZ7RK0

[djmk]

i just check out the virtual stadium to see what kind of tickets are still available.

lots of seats are already taken. it looks like i'm not going to get what i want 2 days from now

[vanlaw]

The selection was open on Saturday/Sunday, I believe for current season ticket holders, then it shut down Monday-Tuesday and reopened today.

I checked on Sunday night, and a good chunk of the "cheap" seats were already gone, and actually a lot of the mid field expensive seats were already gone as well. I wasn’t planning on getting into the $589 range, but it looks as though that may be the case. I pick tonight at 7:45.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

The selection was open on Saturday/Sunday, I believe for current season ticket holders, then it shut down Monday-Tuesday and reopened today.

I checked on Sunday night, and a good chunk of the "cheap" seats were already gone, and actually a lot of the mid field expensive seats were already gone as well. I wasn’t planning on getting into the $589 range, but it looks as though that may be the case. I pick tonight at 7:45.

i pick friday afternoon. few of my buddies have deposits and we are trying to sit near each other. We wanted to sit near the southsiders (for the excitement) but not exactly with them yet not pay through the nose.

hey vanlaw, perchance, are you a lawyer?