|  Wys³any: 2018-12-08 03:30:25 Temat postu: aled in comparison to whats gone on
MINNEAPOLIS - The Super Bowl has been secured. Now the Minnesota Vikings have set their sights on soccer. With construction underway on their new stadium, the Vikings have intensified their pursuit of a Major League Soccer franchise for the NFL facility that team owners designed in hopes of accommodating both sports. Co-owner Mark Wilf met this week with MLS officials, the latest dialogue between the two parties. The Vikings also announced a partnership with promoter Relevent Sports, a major player in the soccer world that is helping sell an international tournament game between two European teams to be played at the University of Minnesota in August. "We like to go to new markets," Revelant Sports CEO Charlie Stillitano said Wednesday. "It seems like wherever we go an MLS team follows, and I think its a good thing." Most MLS teams, 15 of the current 19, play in soccer-specific stadiums for around 20,000 fans in a more intimate setting, but the Vikings have been touting their plan to classily cover the upper bowl of their new venue and reduce capacity from 65,000 to between 20,000 and 25,000. The translucent roof and five pivoting glass doors on the front of the building -- plus seats and suites close to the action -- give the facility a more vibrant feel. "Theres a real opportunity there, and we really have a lot of respect and admiration for the ownership group," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said earlier this year. Atlanta will begin play in 2017 at that citys new retractable roof NFL stadium to be built for the Falcons, whose owner Arthur Blank acquired the soccer club. Plans there will convert the 71,000-seat football facility to a soccer capacity of 29,000 by only using the lower bowl. With the regular season starting in March and the MLS Cup held in December, a roof would be ideal for a team in Minnesota. When Sporting KC won the championship game outside last year, the game-time temperature in Kansas City was 22 degrees with a wind chill of 12 that plummeted as the sun set. The MLS has added five teams in the last five years with a goal of 24, and New York City and Orlando will make 21 next season. Miami has also granted a franchise to former star David Beckham, contingent on a soccer-specific stadium being built there. That only leaves one spot left, and Garber said earlier this year Sacramento, California, San Antonio and San Diego are also under consideration. MLS executive vice-president for communications Dan Courtemanche said theres no specific deadline for awarding the next franchise. "There is no shortage of demand for future MLS expansion teams, and many markets and potential ownership groups have contacted the league office to inquire," he said. Criteria for MLS expansion include a committed local viable ownership group with a comprehensive stadium plan it controls, in an appropriate market attractive to sponsors and television networks with a history of strong fan support. The Twin Cities area currently has a team, Minnesota United FC, in the North American Soccer League, a level below the MLS. "We think our stadium is the perfect fit for MLS. We also think that Minneapolis-St. Paul has tremendous potential for MLS," Vikings vice-president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said. The legislation authorizing funding for the stadium included a five-year window from the opening during which the Wilfs have exclusive rights to bring an MLS franchise to the venue. That doesnt mean another group couldnt beat them to it at another site. Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire, the former CEO of United Health Group, has been linked with Minnesota Twins owner Jim Pohlad as potential partners in an MLS franchise. But that would require money for and construction of yet another new sports facility in a crowded market. Vikings officials will use the Aug. 2 match between Manchester City FC and Olympiacos FC, part of the Guinness Cup tournament, as an opportunity to gain more knowledge of and grassroots support for the sport. About 20,000 tickets have been sold so far, Stillitano said. Wholesale Hawks Jerseys . The 23-year-old restricted free agent appeared in all 48 games last season, finishing second among all Sabres skaters with 15 goals and 34 points. Authentic Trae Young Jersey . The win puts Arsenal four points clear of Everton in fourth place with two games to play in the Premier League, a position which would qualify the club for Europes top competition for the 17th straight year. http://www.cheaphawksjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-dikembe-mutombo-jersey. No, the San Antonio star didnt announce retirement plans during an off day at the NBA Finals on Wednesday. Authentic John Collins Jersey .A. Happ. The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to improve the starting rotation ahead of next season and pitchers like Happ have a chance to show they belong as the disastrous 2013 campaign draws to a close. Authentic Justin Anderson Jersey . 1 player in the world. So Duval gutted it out Thursday at the Byron Nelson Championship despite the pain from a muscle issue in his right elbow, a day after his stepson had to drive him because he couldnt even use that arm.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors will wrap up their whirlwind series Saturday night with Game 7 at the Staples Center. This series has been mostly about the Clippers and the horrid situation with owner Donald Sterling. Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling from the NBA for life on Tuesday, then the Clips won Game 5 to take the series lead. You can catch all the action live on TSN2 at 10pm et/7pm pt. On Thursday, the Warriors staved off elimination with a 100-99 home victory. "Im fighting for my life. My guys are fighting for their basketball lives this year. One thing I told the guys this morning, this group will never be together again, our group. So weve got to do whatever it takes to find a way to prolong this thing, to find a way to advance. Dont rob ourselves," said Golden State coach Mark Jackson. He explained further that the team would be different based on draft picks, players leaving and new players coming into the fold. There has been plenty of speculation surrounding Jacksons job security should the Warriors lose in the first round. But those sideline stories paled in comparison to whats gone on with the Clippers. After silent protests and lifetime bans, the Clippers now have one game to extend their championship hopes. "We let one slip away, but we fought hard all season to have a Game 7 at home," said Clippers forward Matt Barnes. "Now, weve just got to take care of business." Stephen Curry poured in 24 points and handed out nine assists to lead the Warriors to victory in Game 6. Andre Iguodala added 15 points and Draymond Green finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and four assists for the Warriors, who shot just 39.3 percent from the field (35-of-89). Jamal Crawford scored 19 points off the bench and Barnes added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Chris Paul struggled to post just nine points and eight assists and DeAndre Jordan added nine points and 19 boards in the setback. Blake Griffin scored 17 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists before fouling out. After three Crawford free throws to start the fourth tied the game at 70-70, the Warriors opened a 15-7 burst to go up 85-77. Klay Thompson capped the surge with a transition layup. The Clippers shot their way back into it as Crawfords 3-pointer had LA within 899-86 with just over 5 1/2 minutes to go.dddddddddddd Iguodala and Green made back-to-back baskets to open a 93-86 edge moments later. J.J. Redick, who had just missed back-to-back wide open 3-pointers, buried a contested try to get the Clippers back within two possessions with 3:18 left. Iguodala had a shot at a four-point play after Griffin was whistled for a controversial foul on Iguodalas trey from the corner, but he missed the free throw and the Warriors lead stayed at 96-89. Crawford buried a deep 3, and after Curry missed a step-back jumper, he found Barnes cutting to the basket for an easy layup that made it 96-94 with 1:43 to go. Green grabbed an offensive rebound on the other end and was knocked to the floor by Jordan. Green made both free throws to make it a four-point game with 1:19 left, but Crawford found Jordan for a quick alley-oop slam to make it 98-96 at the 1:10 mark. Harrison Barnes drove to the hoop on the next possession and drew a foul on Redick before sinking both shots from the charity stripe to open a 100-96 lead with 55.6 seconds left. Paul couldnt cash in on an opportunity to cut the Clippers deficit to two. After blowing by a defender, Paul had his layup swatted away by Thompson. Curry turned it over on the other end with 20.9 seconds left, but the Clippers missed two open 3-point attempts before Matt Barnes desperation heave with 2.5 seconds left made it 100-99. The Clippers immediately fouled Curry on the inbounds pass and sent him to the line with 0.4 seconds left. Curry missed the first free throw before intentionally missing the second. The ball bounced off the rim and was swatted to half court as time expired. "It wasnt a very well played game by either team, but I felt both teams played extremely hard. I honestly thought they played, I dont know if it was harder than us -- we played hard -- but they won the 50-50 game in a big way," said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. "Every big rebound they got. They made the big plays." Jermaine ONeal was injured in the victory on a play many Warriors believed was dirty when LAs Glen Davis hit him in the knee. ONeal underwent an MRI on Friday that revealed a bone bruise of his right knee cap and he is listed as questionable. The Warriors havent played a Game 7 since the 1977 Western Conference semifinals, while the Clippers are 1-1 in their last two Game 7s. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' ' |
aled in comparison to whats gone on 
